Improvements in Galvanic Cells.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Cells.
I, WILLARD ERASTUS CASE, of the Town of Scipio, Cayuga County, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention consists in a galvanic cell of the form known as a two-fluid
cell, and it consists in an arrangement, which is indicated in the accompanying
drawing, forming a part of this specification. The drawing illustrates one form
of apparatus which will serve to carry out this invention.
Within a suitable containing vessel, D, is placed an aqueous solution of ferric
chloride, preferably acidulated by the addition of a small quantity of free hydro-
chloric acid; a porous cup, C is immersed in this solution, and this cup is filled
with an aqueous solution of ferrous chloride, acidulated like the other solution.
An electrode of platinum is placed in this ferric chloride solution; and an elec-
trode of platinum, in the ferrous chloride solution.
Now, upon closing the exterior circuit between the two electrodes, an elec-
trical current is produced: after this operation is continued for a certain length
of time, the ferric chloride solution becomes partially reduced to the ferrous
condition. A current of oxygen, preferably a current of air, is now blown through
this solution by means of the bellows, G, and the tube, H, and is allowed to
bubble up through the same. The oxygen, introduced in this way, restores the
ferric chloride solution to its original condition, and maintains the cell in
operative condition.
In operation, the ferrous solution in the porous cup becomes gradually ferric,
and, for the purpose of regenerating it, this solution is removed and is shaken
up with carbon in powdered form by which it is reduced and thus restored to
its original ferrous condition.
As the carbon is shaken up with the ferrous solution, which has become par-
tially ferric, carbon-dioxide is generated and bubbles up through the solution.
Thus, it will be seen that the atmospheric oxygen introduced to the ferric solution
finds its way into combination with the carbon used to restore the ferrous solu-
tion forming carbonic-dioxide at normal temperatures, the fluids serving as
carriers of oxygen for this purpose.
Carbon introduced in proper quantity and time will effectually prevent this
oxidation of the ferrous to the ferric chloride, maintaining it permanently in the
ferrous condition.
The only essential of the plates, B, and E, is that they be practically indestruc-
tible by the fluids used and possess the property of electrical conductivity.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is: :-
(1) The process of producing electrical energy by means of a two-fluid galvanic
cell by acting upon the electrolytic fluids respectively with carbon and oxygen
separately, and with resultant combination of the carbon and oxygen at normal
temperatures.
(2) The process of producing electrical energy by means of a two-fluid galvanic
cell containing ferrous chloride and ferric chloride solutions, as the liquid elec-
trodes, by acting upon these solutions respectively with carbon and oxygen;
separately, and with resultant combination of the carbon and oxygen at normal
temperatures.
(3) A two-fluid galvanic cell, having solutions of ferric and ferrous chloride,
separated from each other by a porous medium and having a platinum electrode
immersed in the ferric chloride solution, and an electrode of platinum immersed
in the ferrous chloride solution, and means for passing oxygen into said ferric
solution, for the purpose of maintaining the efficiency of the solution.
(4) The process of maintaining the operative efficiency of a two-fluid galvanic
cell by passing atmospheric oxygen into one of the fluids and acting upon the
other fluid by carbon at normal temperatures.
Dated this 10th day of June 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.