IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING, OR EVOLVING, COLLECTING, STORING, AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC ENERGY, FOR LIGHTING AND FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH COAL GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isac Louis Pulvermacher of 194 Regent Street in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, for an invention of IMPROVED MEANS
AND APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING, OR EVOLVING, COLLECTING,
STORING, AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC ENERGY, FOR LIGHTING AND FOR GENERAL
PURPOSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH COAL GAS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1882.
ISAC LOUIS PULVERMACHER of 194 Regent Street in the County of Middlesex
Electrician "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
OR EVOLVING, COLLECTING, STORING, AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC ENERGY, FOR
LIGHTING, AND FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COMBI-
NATION WITH COAL GAS
"
The object of my Invention is improved means and appliances or apparatus for
producing or evolving, collecting, storing and utilizing electric energy for lighting,
and for general purposes, partly applicable for use in combination with coal gas.
The first part of my invention relates to the construction or arrangement of
elements and of their connection with each other in voltaic order or conduction to
form a battery of any required power.
For this purpose I stamp a plate of, say, copper at or about the centre of its length
so as to form two tongues or lip pieces which I fold outwards as distancing pieces to
bear against the zinc of the neighbouring battery in making up the pile or battery.
The plate thus stamped is folded near to its centre so that the slot or aperture
formed by the turning out of one tongue or lip piece serves to receive a strip of
insulating material, say vulcanite which just fits the aperture. The plate thus
folded receives the zinc of the element by a pinch or nip of the three plies of metal
together, the zinc having previously had a thread spun or twisted thereon to
prevent derived.currents from metallic contact. The insulated material is in stick

page_text: form and may be hinged or otherwise fitted to a box containing a conducting liquid
or otherwise.
According to the second part of my invention, I make a cylindrical and
tubular wire element in the following manner:-I wind, first, wire of a negative
metal on a mandril in single helice each winding being three or four times the 5
wire's thickness apart from each other. I cover this helice with parchment paper
or asbestos paper and I paint its outer surface with platinum black. I wind on the
painted paper slow pitch helices in opposite directions (four or more wires at equal
distances from each other) and fasten the same by winding another single helix
thereon but placed between the spirals of the first single helice. This outer helice is 1
previously surrounded by loose small helices and I fasten their ends with the ends
of the slow pitch helice, the tube thus formed is made watertight by being stopped
at one end. This wire fabric is united to the parchment paper by pinching the
latter between the covered inner spirals. This tubular wire fabric represents the
porous cell and the negative part of the element. By placing within the cylinder,
an amalgamated rod of positive metal and by filling it with an exciting liquid,
energetic depolarization takes place through the contact of the outer spirals and
the coating of platinum black a constant current of electricity being produced
when closing the circuit.
I make elements to produce electricity without using zinc and in lieu thereof
I use gases of opposite chemical nature, say, Hydrogen and Oxygen or aqueous or
alcohol vapours with or without pressure. For this purpose I use a similar fabric
united to parchment paper which is lined out by a compound spiral similar to the
last outside layer of the cylinder above described. The inside of the parchment
paper or asbestos paper is coated with platinum black as well as the outside. The
element (open at both ends) is to be damped or wetted only with sulphuric acid;
Hydrogen having access to the interior the outer being in contact with the
atmosphere & current of electricity is produced as soon as the spirals of the inner
wire are set in contact with those of the outer wire.
When pure Oxygen gas is allowed to come into contact with the outer spiral
and the platinum black, a current of greater energy is produced.
For accumulating and storing electric energy I use tubular fabrics of the above
description but I dispense with the parchment paper or its equivalent and fill the
interstices of the spirals by smearing or otherwise with oxide of lead or its
equivalent and fit a number of such fabrics within a vessel capable of withstanding
great internal pressure of air, the vessel being also charged with an acid or other
conducting liquid. Instead of using the above prepared fabric in the vessel, Istamp
or cut thin metal plates, strips or sheets in such a manner that innumerable loops
formed in them can bold the oxide of lead or its equivalent when smeared or
plastered thereon; The electrolytical charge in a nascent state will thus be retained
in large quantities by the oxide of lead or its equivalent favoured by the atmospheric
pressure artificially produced which also greatly increases the storage.
I use the tubular fabric inside of platinum wire as above described without the
parchment paper in electric lamps.
Instead of using wire for the construction of my tubular fabric as before
explained I employ threads of cotton stiffened by a carboniferous substance and
prepare it for lighting purposes in a similar manner as the filaments are now
prepared.
The tubular fabric of wire platinum alloyed with iridium and without parch-
ment paper or its equivalent I employ in connection with gas burners for
increasing the brilliancy of the flame by passing a current of electricity through
the fabric.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th January 1883. .
ISAC LOUIS PULVERMACHER of 194 Regent Street in the County of Middlesex
Electrician "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
OR EVOLVING, COLLECTING, STORING, AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC ENERGY FOR
LIGHTING AND FOR GENERAL PURPOSES-PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COMBI-
NATION WITH COAL GAS,"
The object of my Invention is improved means and appliances or apparatus for
producing or evolving, collecting, storing and utilizing electric energy for lighting
and for general purposes, partly applicable for use in combination with coal gas.
The first part of my invention relates to the construction or arrangement of
elements and of their connection with each other in voltaic order or conduction to
form a battery of any required power. This first part is clearly shown at Figures
1 and 2 of the annexed drawings in elevation. For this purpose I stamp a plate
say copper A at or about the centre of its length so as to form a tongue or lip
piece B which I fold outwards to bear against the zinc C of the neighbouring
element in making up the pile or battery, other bent out pieces B' B¹ of tripod cr
angled shape bear against the insulated material of the next element to act in
conjunction with the tongue B as distance pieces. The plate A thus stamped is
folded near to its centre so that the slot or aperture formed by the turning out of
the tongue or lip piece serves to receive a rod or strings of insulating material, say,
vulcanite, which just fits the aperture; or the series of elements may be held in
voltaic connection by threads or cords E E. The plate A thus folded receives the
zinc C of the element by a pinch or nip of the three plies of metal together, the
zine C having previously had a thread spun or twisted thereon to prevent derived
currents from metallic contact. The insulated material if in stick form may be
hinged or otherwise fitted to a box containing a conducting liquid or otherwise.
According to the Second part, which I show at Figure 3, I make a cylindrical
and tubular wire element in the following manner-I wind first a wire F of a
negative metal on a mandril in single helix, each winding being three or four times.
the wire's thickness apart from each other. I cover this helix with parchment.
paper or asbestos paper G and I paint its outer surface with platinum black H. I
wind on the painted paper slow pitch helices I I II in opposite direction (four
or more wires at equal distances from each other) and fasten the same by winding
another single helix J thereon but placed between the spiral of the first single
helix F. This outer helix J is previously surrounded by loose small helices and I
fasten their ends with the ends of the slow pitched helices. The tube thus formed
is made watertight by being stopped at one end.
The wire fabric is united to the parchment paper by pinching the latter between
covered inner spirals; this tubular wire fabric represents the porous cell and the
negative part of the element.
By placing within the cylinder an amalgamated rod of positive metal and by
filling it with an exciting liquid energetic depolarization takes place through the
contact of the outer spirals and the coating of platinum black a constant current of
electricity being produced when closing the circuit. As a modification of the above
I make a negatively painted diaphragm said paint being composed of platinum
black or plumbagine powder, or a powder of any negative metal insoluble in dilute
sulphuric acid making a single liquid element or elements in which depolarization
of the carbon negative is obtained by direct action of the oxygen of the atmospheric

page_text: "
air. I form on a mandril a cylindrical envelope of parchment or asbestos paper G
Figure 4 sized by a weak solution of celluloid in acetic ether or its equivalent.
The more or less quantity dissolved in the latter, gives to the porous asbestos
more or less porosity in stiffness. I paint the outer surface of this paper cylinder
or it may be a porous clay cylinder with a mixture of platinum black or fine
plumbagine powder and a weak solution of celluloid in acetic ether in order to
give to the mixture of plumbagine powder adhesiveness so that when painted on
one surface and dried prevents the black coating from being washed off, by the
diluted sulphuric acid, leaving at the same time, the black coating with sufficient
porosity, for a liquid to permeate. I mount on one end of the porous cylinder,
while on the end of a mandril à leaden cap K and on the other end of the cylinder
a leaden ring with a rim L and I connect both (cap and ring) by fastening thereon
four or more silver wires in a suitable manner. I then coil on the space between
the cap and the ring a metal wire such as platinum, silver, lead, and others
insoluble in diluted sulphuric acid I attach the ends of this coil to the ring and
the cap respectively.
This coil of wire is in close contact with the blackened or coated cylinder. The
wire coil when set in contact with the zinc C inside the cylinder filled with diluted
sulphuric acid collects the electricity thereby produced. The very thin layer of
porous black paint allows a very slight accumulation of hydrogen and is quickly
oxidized by the oxygen of the atmospheric air.
In order to give a more ready access of the atmospheric air to the negative
surface of the black paint the wire is previously to its winding converted into a
helix in the interior of which is placed a thin plain wire or thread capable of
resisting the corrosive action of the diluted sulphuric acid. This thread inside
along the helix-coil over the painted surface of the paper cylinder holds them thereɔn
giving to the whole a compactness and durability. These porous negatively-conted
and wire covered cylinders can be compounded into a multi-elemental galvanic
battery in the following manner:-A series of holes are formed in a loose fitting
top M of a trough N, said holes being adequate to the number and size of the
elements so that they can be suspended by means of the protuding brim of the
leaden rings L. In the hollow of these cylinders are placed amalgamated zinc
rods C or open cylinders according to the space available, For preventing false
contact with the leaden cap or bottom of the cylinder a disc P of insulating
material is placed thereon previous to the zine C being slipped in. The latter are
set in contact in the usual manner with the lead rings of the next cylinder.
Each cylinder is filled with exiting liquid which will permeate through it and
the black paint when of adequate porosity and collect at the bottom of the trough
from which it can be led away by the opening of a cock placed near the bottom so
as not to reach a level with the lower end of the cylindrical elements.
.
Instead of winding the spirally wound wire (platinum silver or lead) on the
black painted cylinders I coil then sometimes direct on to the mandril and then
cover the so formed wire cylinders with the above prepared paper as at Figure 6
this being painted with the porous black paint on the inside which comes in
contact with all the helices at their outside. The cylinder thus made is inserted
in a porcelain or other liquid holding vessel Q and between the cylinder and the
vessel I insert an open ended zinc cylinder C to occupy the annular space thereof.
The lead ring R of the cylinder is set in contact with the zinc of the next element
and so on.
According to the next part of my invention I make batteries in which electricity
is generated by means of gaseous or liquid material of an opposite electro-chymical
nature for instance hydrogen and oxygen gas etc. I form tubular electrodes of
platinum or other suitable wire as at Figure 7 produced by winding it helically
round a mandril and covering the same with the paper similar to that above
described. The paper cylinder is in this case painted inside and outside but so as
to prevent conductible contact between both coating. I then arrange on the
outside of the painted cylinder a second layer of helical wire spirals which is of a

page_text: metal to suit the kind of chemical fluid or gaseous substances to be used. I
surround this porous tubular electrode arrangement by an impermeable cylinder
which gives a passage and access for the gas to the outer spiral and coatings of the
material used. The wire if of lead or of platinum is electro-chemically coated by
spongy platinum.
The inside of the parchment paper or asbestos paper is coated with platinum
black as well as the outside; the element (open at both ends) is to be damped or
wetted only with sulphuric acid, hydrogen having access to the interior the
outer being in contact with the atmosphere a current of electricity is produced as
soon as the spirals of the inner wire are set in contact with those of the outer
wire. When pure oxygen gas is allowed to come into contact with the outer spiral
and the platinum black a current of greater energy is produced.
The cylinder may be open at both ends for the passage of a gas through the
interior, or one end may be closed as at Figure 8 and the two opposite gases may
be forced in and be held under pressure.
For accumulating and storing electrical energy I use tubular fabrics of the
above description but I dispense with the parchment paper or its equivalent and
fill the interstices of the spirals by smearing or otherwise with oxide of lead or its
equivalent and fit a number of such fabrics within a vessel capable of withstanding
great internal pressure of air the vessel being also charged with an acid or other
conducting liquid.
This construction of secondary or storage battery is made as follows. I use
filament of lead or what may be termed lead wire S this I spin upon a core T also
of lead in equal spiral order. This spirally spun. lead wire upon a lead wire-is
itself coiled upon a mandril as to form an open ended cylinder. as clearly shown at
Figure 9 of the annexed drawing and in order to make the cylinder of a rigid
character I sett the spirals of the each coil to lodge themselves between the spirals of
the next adjoining coil (as the teeth of wheels gear into each other) so that each
coil locks itself with that of the next and so on for the length of the cylinder
which when removed from the mandril is sufficiently rigid to retain its cylindrical
form.
In order that this locking shall be permanent I fit a flat washer of lead at one
end and a disc of insulated material at the other and connect them by longitudinal
stems TT of celluloid or other convenient insulating materials not affected
by acids.
The cylinders thus produced and made of several diameters can be arranged
one within the other to any desired number four being shown in the figure. The
celluloid stems serve to insulate one cylinder from the next.
Lead cylinders thus formed are intended to furnish the maximum acting surfaces
of lead with the lightest weight and the smallest volume and when immersed in a
vessel containing dilute sulphuric acid and charged by a generator the maximum
effect is produced when used as a Planté secondary battery or if prepared by a
chemical paste the innumerable cavities between the spirals holds such a paste most
tenaciously and increases the duration of the electric charge. In order to connect
these secondary elements into a battery of high electric tension without any loss
of electric energy I provide each element with a cylindrical envelope of insulating
material and place them together side by side in a frame of wood or other. I then
fill the inner space with diluted sulphuric acid and inake the connections in a
manner suitable for the purpose in view.
By fitting a zinc core of solid zinc or a core made up of zinc wire in any suitable
manner into the centre of a spun and coiled lead wire cylinder forming an element
and connecting them in proper order an electric power generator and accumulator
can be formed a porous insulated cylinder with one closed end being between
the lead and the zinc. The lead spun and wire coated cylinder facing the zinc has
5 its cavities filled with peroxide of lead. A battery thus formed is particularly.
suitable to be placed in the stand of an electric lamp as at Figure 12.
Instead of using the above prepared fabric in the vessel I cut or stamp thin

page_text: metal plates, strips, or sheets in such a manner that innumerable loops see Figure 10
formed in them can hold the oxide of lead or its equivalent when smeared or
'plastered thereon. The electrolytical charge in a nascent state will thus be
retained in large quantities by the oxide of lead or its equivalent favoured by
the atmospheric pressure artificially produced which also greatly increases the
storage.
For incandescent lamps I take the material from which the filaments are made
and cover the filaments in distance spirals, by asbestos thread, the material thus
prepared is coiled so as to mutually support the asbestos thread which insulates
and keeps the filament coils apart. The coiled material is then treated by the
carbonizing process and fitted into lamps as shown at Figure 11. The upper end
of the coil is connected by a central wire passed through the socket with one pole
of a battery and the lower end of the coil with the other pole.
Instead of the carbon filament in cover form before mentioned I spin asbestos
thread on a very thin wire made of an alloy of irridium and platinum and coil
this as shown at Figure 11.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim
First The method of stamping, folding and making up plates as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 to form galvanic elements as and for the purposes
set forth.
Secondly: The construction and arrangement of a compound cylindrical element
shown at Figure 3 and the modified construction or arrangement shown at Figure 4
as described for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly The element shown at Figure 5 and Figure 6 constructed and arranged
in the manner described.
Fourthly. The cylindrical element Figure 7 and its modification Figure 8 in or
by which gases of electrical generating properties can be used as described.
Fifthly Specially I claim The self supporting lead wire cylinder in which
the spirals or helices of one coil are locked between the helices or spirals of the
next coil both above and below as described with reference to Figure 9 of the
drawings and whether said constructed cylinder be used as a battery of
secondary currents or as a battery of primary currents as set forth. This lead wire
cylindrical battery is specially applicable for enclosing in a lamp stem or socket
for lighting purposes as at Figure 12.
Sixthly I claim. The pressed or punched plate forming indents or recesses on
one side and innumerable loop like projections on the other as described with
reference to Figure 10 for holding peroxide of lead or other lead oxide as
set forth.
Seventhly I claim The application of platinum black or fine plumbagine
powder or other negative metal in fine powder as a paint for coating porous
diaphragms for forming a negatively acting surface in the element as described.
In witness whereof I the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher have hereunto set
my hand and seal this sixth day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.