IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY
Year: 1876

page_text: A
LETTERS PATENT to Frank Darkin, of the Firm of Ulrich, Plambeck, and
Darkin, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineers and
Machinery Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY."
communication from abroad by Jose Santiago Camacho, of Paris, in France,
Engineer.
Sealed the 4th July 1876, and dated the 5th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Darkin at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1876.
FRANK DARKIN, of the Firm of Ulrich, Plambeck, and Darkin, of Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineers and Machinery Agents. "IMPROVED
ELECTRIC BATTERY." (A communication to me from abroad by Jose Santiago
Camacho, of Paris, in France, Engineer).
This Invention consists in so arranging the elements and component parts of a
bichromate of potass battery as to cause a continuous circulation of the bichromate
solution through each of the cells containing the carbon element, and by this means
rendering the battery constant in its action.
In the ordinary arrangement of a bichromate battery the current of electricity
evolved, although of considerable power and intensity, is 80 intermittent and
uncertain in its action as to be unfit for any purpose requiring a powerful and
continuous current. This is due to the rapid deposition upon the surface of the
carbon element of one of the chromic oxides or salts.
Many attempts have been made to remedy this defect by alternately raising and
lowering the carbon, agitating the bichromate solution, and so forth, but the result
has only been a temporary improvement, the battery only giving out its best results
immediately after such agitation, but by this Invention the constant changing of
the fluid or renewing of the activity of the carbon surface is maintained by causing
the bichromate solution to circulate continuously through and between pieces of
porous graphite or retort carbon which are placed in juxtaposition with the plate or
prism of graphite which forms the nucleus of the negative element of the battery.
This is effected by means of allowing a continuous flow of bichromate solution from
a reservoir into the upper stratum of broken carbon in the porous cell or lining
through which it descends, and displaces an equal amount of fluid which passes
Price 61

page_text: through a duct or channel from the bottom of the cell, the outlet of which is at the
same level as the surface of the liquid.
Where a series of cells are employed they are placed in a row, each being a little
below the preceeding one. The outlet tube has attached to it a conducting tube,
spout, or conveyor, which conveys the liquid from one cell to another, thus
circulating in the manner above described, and being finally received by a reservoir
which is placed at the bottom of the range.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Darkin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July 1876.
FRANK DARKIN, of the Firm of Ulrich, Plambeck, and Darkin, of Queen
Victoria Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineers and Machinery Agents.
"IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY.". (A communication to me from abroad by Jose
Santiago Camacho, of Paris, in France, Engineer).
This Invention consists in so arranging the elements and component parts of a
bichromate of potass battery as to cause a continuous circulation of the bichromate
solution through each of the cells containing the carbon element, and by this means
rendering the battery constant in its action.
In the ordinary arrangement of a bichromate battery the current of electricity
evolved, although of considerable power and intensity, is so intermittent and
uncertain in its action as to be unfit for any purpose requiring a powerful and
continuous current. This is due to the rapid deposition upon the surface of the
carbon element of one of the chromic oxides or salts.
Many attempts have been made to remedy these defects by alternately raising
and lowering the carbon, agitating the bichromate solution, &c., but the result
is only a temporary improvement, the battery only giving its best effects
immediately after such agitation; but by this Invention the constant changing of
the fluid or renewing of the activity of the carbon surface is maintained by causing
the bichromate solution to circulate continuously through and between pieces of
porous graphite or retort carbon, which are placed in juxtaposition with the plate
or prism of graphite which forms the nucleus of the negative element of each cell.
This is effected by allowing a continuous flow of bichromate solution from a
reservoir into the upper stratum of broken carbon in the porous cell or lining
through which it descends, and displaces an equal amount of fluid which passes
through a duct or channel from the bottom of the cell, the outlet of which is at the
saine level as the surface of the liquid.
Where a series of cells are employed they are placed in a row, each being a little
lower than the preceding one. The outlet tube has attached to it a conducting
tube or spout, which conveys the liquid from one cell to another, thus circulating in
the manner above described, and being finally received by a reservoir which is
placed at the bottom of the range of cells.
The accompanying Drawings explain the details and application of the above
arrangement.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shew a single cell of the battery in section and plan
respectively.
A is a porous cell or lining constructed with an inside channel B extending from
the top of the cell to within a short distance of the bottom, and having at its upper
extremity a pipe C; D is the outside cell which may be made of stoneware, glass,
or any substance which will resist the action of acids; E is a prism of retort
carbon, to which is attached in electrical contact the terminal binding screw F;
G is a plate of zinc bent so as to present a surface to each side of the porous lining
around which it is placed, and having attached to it a strip of copper H, in order
to form a connection by means of the binding screw with the carbon element of the
next cell.

page_text: MODE OF CHARGING THE BATTERY.
The porous lining A is filled with coarsely powdered retort carbon, say the size
of a pea, the prism of retort carbon E being embedded in the powder to the depth,
as shewn in the Drawing Fig. 1, and the intervening space is filled up with
bichromate solution to the level of the line I. The porous lining A thus prepared
is placed in the exterior cell D, together with the zinc plate G which envelopes the
porous lining A. The outside cell D is then filled with a solution consisting
preferably of 14 parts water and 1 part sulphuric acid. The cells thus prepared
are placed in a row, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, each cell being a little lower than the
previous one. A little above the top cell is placed a reservoir L' containing a
solution of bichromate of potass and water with a little sulphuric acid. The tap M,
which must be made of glass or some other non-corrosive substance, is then turned
on, and the solution is allowed to drip into the porous lining of the uppermost cell,
an equal amount of liquid thus displaced runs out of the cell through the pipe C,
and by means of the conducting tube N is conveyed to the porous lining of the
next cell, and so on, until it reaches the end of the range of cells, the number of
which may vary according to circumstances. Below the last and lowest cell is
place a second reservoir L2 which receives the solution after it has passed through
the range of cells. If a sufficient quantity of bichromate solution is provided a
battery thus prepared will work continuously until the acid solution in the outer
cell requires renewing. The porous cell or lining need not of necessity be con-
structed as shewn in the Drawing. The pipe C may proceed from either of the
four sides of the cell, in order to suit the arrangement of the battery under special
circumstances, and the internal channel may be omitted, and a glass or other tube
substituted; or if preferred, an india-rubber or other tube may be attached to a hole
at the bottom of the porous cell, and brought up through the acid solution in the
outer cell, in which case both the pipe C and the channel B would be dispensed
with, and although for the sake of compactness it is preferable to use rectangular
cells it is obvious that cells of any other form may be employed.
I may here remark that the outer cell may be made the medium of circulation
instead of the porous lining, and that other variations may if deemed desirable and
practicable be made as to the disposition of the carbon and the bichromate solution
in the cells or battery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that
I claim the Invention of "Improved Electric Battery," as herein-before set forth
and described, by which Invention I obtain the constant renewing of the
bichromate fluid in contact with the carbon element of the battery, as herein-before
stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Darkin, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent-right Association, Lª.,
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.
F. DARKIN. (L8)