Improvements in Electric Batteries,
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries,
I, HENRI GEORGES CHARLES SERRIN, of Neuilly-en-Thelle in the Republic
of France, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to primary and secondary electric batteries.
The improved battery constructed according to this invention is a wet battery
presenting all the advantages of dry batteries, but none of their inconveniences,
because the liquid is not rendered immovable, which facilitates the chemical
reactions.
I have represented in the accompanying drawing by way of example, several
arrangements of my invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my battery contained in a block of wood.
Figure 2 shows the corresponding plan.
The battery as represented in these figures comprises two elements ab located
in the interior of two separate cavities c d formed in a block of wood e.
The positive electrode of each element is constituted by a piece of carbon ƒ
extending into a mixture of carbon and depolarizing material, such as for example
The contact is formed
manganese, this mixture being enclosed in a cloth bag g.
by an electrolytic deposit of nickel afterwards covered with tin; and the whole is
covered with wax, resin or mastic (cement) to ensure the indefinite duration of the
battery.
The negative electrode is constituted by a piece of zinc h of any suitable form.
It may surround the carbon or be a simple bar or rod; but the zinc and the carbon
must not extend beyond the upper part of the cavities c d.
The whole is covered with an impermeable cloth u, special paper or any other
substance preventing the evaporation of the liquids (Figure 5). This cloth is
partly fixed by means of fasteners o p. The terminals are preferably placed at
the corners m n for facilitating the handling and packing.
For obtaining an hermetically closed battery I provide a tube of any suitable
material, such as for instance glass, lead, indiarubber, which is wound to a spiral
form and is open at its extremities. This tube surrounds the upper part of the
bag g and terminates exteriorly upon the upper part of the battery.
The cavity cord being filled with a certain quantity of liquid it will be
understood that if a drop of the latter is introduced into the tube i it will tend at
the moment when the apparatus is turned over to form a vacuum behind it and
cannot fall.
In the normal position occupied by the battery when in operation the gas can
enter the tube and easily escape to the outside.
The lower extremity of this tube may be bent upwards as shown in Figure 3.
This is done in case it is feared that too much liquid may be put in the vessel;
under these circumstances a drop in the curved portions of the said tube will
owing to the pressure of the gas pass out at the moment when the battery being
placed again in the normal position which it occupies when in operation, the gas
will escape, but this will only be a drop, and subsequently the gas will escape
alone.
In the position shown (Figures 1, 2) the two elements are connected in series.
The upper part of the battery is made quite air-tight, being covered with a
thick layer of wax only leaving the orifice j of the tubes free.
Figure 4 represents a single element arranged in a similar manner.
The

page_text: receptacle may be made of glass, ebonite or other suitable material. The mouth
is likewise closed as hereinbefore described.
Such being the general arrangement of my improved battery, it is evident that
may vary its forms, dimensions and details, without departing from the nature of
my invention.
J
Dated thin 0th day of
obo 1800
HASELTINE; LAKE & Co.,.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
1, HENRI GEORGES CHARLES SERRIN, of Neuilly-en-Thelle in the Republic.
of France, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and.
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to primary and secondary electric batteries.
The improved battery constructed according to this invention is a wet battery
presenting all the advantages of dry batteries, but having none of their incon-
veniences in consequence of the liquid not being rendered immovable, which
facilitates the chemical reactions.
I have represented in the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification
several arrangements of my invention by way of example.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my battery contained in a block of wood.
Figure 2 shows the corresponding plan.
The battery as represented in these figures comprises two elements ab located
in the interior of two separate cavities c d formed in a block of wood e.
The positive electrode of each element is constituted by a piece of carbon f
extending into a mixture of carbon and a depolarizing material, such as for
example manganese, this mixture being enclosed in a cloth bag g. The contact is
formed by an electrolytic deposit of nickel afterwards covered with tin; and the
whole is covered with wax resin or mastic (cement) to ensure the durability.
The negative electrode is constituted by a piece of zine of any suitable form.
It may surround the carbon or be a simple bar or rod but the zinc and the carbon
must not extend beyond the upper part of the cavities c d.
The whole is covered with an impermeable cloth u, special paper or any other
substance preventing the evaporation of the liquids (Figure 5). This cloth is
partly fixed by means of fasteners o p. The terminals are preferably placed: at
the corners m n for facilitating the handling and packing.
For obtaining an hermetically closed battery I provide a tube of any suitable
material, such as for instance glass, lead; or indiarubber, which is wound to a
spiral form and; is open at its extremities. This tube surrounds the upper part of
the bag g and terminates exteriorly upon the upper part of the battery.
The cavity e or d being filled with a certain quantity of liquid it will be
understood that if a drop of the latter is introduced into the tube it will tend at
the moment when the apparatus. is turned over, to form a vacuum behind it and
cannot fall.
In, the normal position occupied by the battery when in operation the gas can
enter the tube i and easily escape to the outside.
The lower extremity of this tube may be bent upwards as shown in Figure 3.
This is done in case it is feared that too much liquid may be put in the vessel
under these circumstances a drop in the curved portions of the said tube will
owing to the pressure of the gas pass out at the moment when the battery being
placed, again in the normal position which it occupies when in operation, the gas
will escape, but this will only be a drop, and subsequently the gas will escape

page_text: alone. In the position shown in (Figures 1, 2) the two elements are connected
in series.
The upper part of the battery is made quite air-tight being covered with a thick
layer of wax only leaving the orifice of the tubes free.
Figure 4 represents a single element arranged in a similar manner.
receptacle may be made of ebonite or other suitable material.
likewise closed as herein before described.
The
The mouth is
Such being the general arrangement of my improved battery, it is evident
that may vary its shape dimensions and details, without departing from the
nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A battery comprising a wooden vessel e which contains a positive
electrode and a negative electrode formed as hereinbefore described, this
vessel being closed by an impermeable cloth or paper u for preventing the
evaporation whilst enabling the renewal of the constituent elements of the
battery.
Second. An hermetically closed primary or secondary battery comprising a
vessel e of any suitable material, and characterized by a tube a having a small
diameter and enabling the escape of the gases, whilst preventing the loss of the
liquid.
Dad his dow of ..., 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.