Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, MANUEL ANCIZAR, of 34, Princess Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Rafael Zerda-Bayon, of Bogotá, Republic of Colombia,
South America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries.
One arrangement of this battery comprises (1) an outer vessel of glass, gutta-
percha, vulcanite, or paraffined earthenware, that is to say of any insulating
impermeable material, and having a contracted mouth; (2) an inner porous vessel
made of unglazed pottery containing a central prism or plate of conducting carbon
secured in that position in the porous vessel by a surrounding packing composed of
a mixture of dry vegetable carth, nitrogenated and mixed with 10% of chloride of
sodium in powder. This mixture must be very homogeneous and after being filled
into the space around the carbon in the porous vessel it is to be gently compressed
in order that it may not be rendered impermeable to liquids by excessive com-
pactness. The carbon occupies the centre and projects from the surface of the
earth. Instead of using the ordinary lead cap, the connection with the carbon is
made by means of screws of tinned brass, which pass perpendicularly through the
axis of the carbon to a certain distance below its upper extremity so as to prevent
their becoming too weak at this point, the connection being completed by means of
muts screwing on to these screws; (3) a cylindrical rod of ordinary zinc amalgamated,
terminating at its upper extremity in a band of copper ending in a tinned fork for
connection with the binding screws of the carbon of the next element when
mounted in tension; (4) a completely saturated aqueous solution of chloride of
sodium.
The porous vessel, with its carbon in the centre, occupies the centre of the outer
vessel, the surrounding annular space being three parts filled with
solution of chloride of sodium in which the rod of zinc is immersed.
be secured to the porous vessel by two or three india-rubber rings.
so constituted may be mounted in tension or quantity as desired.
the saturated
The zinc may
The elements
Another form of battery for field use, or for the inspection of lines, is a real dry
pile and does not contain a porous vessel. The outer vessel is of soft india-rubber
in order that it may be folded up and carried in a small space. The couple consists
of a rod of zinc, of a prism or plate of carbon, likewise perforated at its upper
extremity, traversed by a tinned screw with nut, and of a thick band of woollen,
linen, silk, or cotton fabric, of sufficient thickness to keep the zinc and the carbon
parallel and separated without contact, the whole being held together by india-
rubber rings. The couple so constructed is placed in the centre of the india-rubber
vessel, being kept in that position by means of a mixture of nitrogenated earth
which contains 20% of chloride of sodium which must be compressed well at the
bottom and lightly at the top in order that they may be kept in the direction of
the vertical, their centre of gravity not leaving the supporting base. When it is
desired to develop a current, the earth is moistened with ordinary water sprinkled
round the couple. These batteries are connected in the same way as the one
previously described. By a phenomenon of capillarity in the earth and in the
texture of the intermediate fabric, which must always be moist, a good degree of
moisture is retained for a long time in the whole mass.
Batteries with natural sulphate of alumina or earth-alum are exactly the same
as those first above described except that the earth is mixed with 20% of earth-
alum. This class of battery arranged in tension does not undergo change, even
in a closed circuit.

page_text: Chemical theory of the battery. The chemical composition of manured earths
being so variable and complex, the chemical phenomena which occur between the
chloride of sodium the earth and the zinc of the couple are complicated; after
this class of battery has been working for some time there is formed at the surface
of the carbon and of the zine which remain exposed to the action of the atmo-
sphere abundant crystals of carbonate of soda. It has not been possible to make
an analysis of the earths which are used before mounting the batteries, nor after
any time of the chemical action which takes place in it, so as to be able to
explain with full precision the chemical phenomena which give rise to these
currents. It is not a question, as will be seen, of the telluric currents which, with
so much irregularity, cross the earth's crust in all directions hence, as will be
seen, the electric phenomena of these batteries are circumscribed within limited
spaces in which chemical phenomena occur which have no connection with the
general currents which originate in the earth. It is indispensable therefore to
search out the causes which create the currents of these batteries, and these causes
must be the chemical phenomena which occur in them. The facility with which
oxygen and atmospheric nitrogen enter into combination to form nitric acid is well
known. The nitrogen and the oxygen combine in presence of a base under the
influence of electricity. The presence of nitric acid in the atmosphere has been
demonstrated at various times by a great number of observers and without
discussing or analyzing what is the first to be formed, whether it be ozone or nitrous
acid, the demonstrated fact is that in moisture and in presence of a base there is a
formation of acid under the influence of causes common to all places. According
to the experiments of Schonbein the evaporation of water suffices in order that the
formation of nitrous acid and nitrite of ammonia may take place. The slow
oxidations likewise form nitrous acid and ammonia; in vegetable respiration an air
rich in ozone is formed which is consequently in a state to enter into combination with
the nitrogen to form nitric acid. To sum up, nitric and nitrous acids and ammonia
are formed by the combination of nitrogen and oxygen or the former with hydrogen
in diverse circumstances, and this explains the formation of nitre in artificial
saltpetre works. The formation of nitric acid being demonstrated, the chemical
theory of these batteries is not difficult to explain; the nitrogenated substances of
the earth and the atmospheric nitrogen enter into combination with the oxygen to
form nitrogen acids, the water decomposes oxidising the zinc and this oxidation
accelerates the formation of the nitrogen acid to combine with the oxide of zinc and
to form nitrate and nitrite of zinc and even nitrate of ammonia through the nascent
hydrogen which arises from the decomposition of the water; but the chloride of
sodium fulfils a no less important task, its chlorine likewise goes to the zinc to
form chloride of zinc, the sodium, with the atmospheric oxygen and that of
the oxygenated substances of the earth, forms soda which, in combination with
the atmospheric carbonic acid and that of the earthy carbonates, forms the
crystals of carbonate of soda which accumulate at the free extremities of the couple.
The carbon does not play a passive part in these phenomena; its free extremity
being covered with paraffin in order to protect its surface from the action of the
air, the current developed in a couple which is thus arranged is very soon weakened
and is intermittent. It is believed that the carbon is an accumulator of oxygen, a
reserve deposit or storehouse of this gas, in consequence of its great gas-absorbing
properties within its pores phenomena are produced which chemists have indicated
by the name of catalysis or the action of presence, in which the carbon only
intervenes as a condensing agent of the atmospheric oxygen ozonified in this case.
This oxygen is distributed combining with the hydrogen proceeding from the
decomposition of the water to form it in proportion as zinc decomposes therein with
the same gas and nitrogen to form ammonia and with the nitrogen of the earth and
the atmospheric air to form nitric acid. The carbon is not, therefore, considered a
passive element which serves simply to collect the positive electricity developed by
the chemical operations which take place in the interior itself of every element.
From this it is deduced that, in order that the batteries may work well, the free

page_text: As
action of atmospheric air is required and that the temperature, especially the
pressure, must increase the intensity of the currents which are generated.
regards the zinc, the metal being attacked, it collects the negative electricity
arising from these chemical phenomena. Notwithstanding all this, this theory is not
emitted without reserve because it is only by making a chemical analysis of the
earths before and after the circuit has been working for a long time that a real
knowledge of the chemical theory of the batteries can be arrived at.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1890.
MANUEL ANCIZAR.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, MANUEL ANCIZAR, of 34, Princess Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion to me from abroad by Rafael Zerda-Bayon, of Bogotá, Republic of Colombia,
South America), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries characterized by the
combination, with a carbon anode, of vegetable or nitrogenous earth mixed with a
salt as hereafter described.
One arrangement of battery comprises (1) an outer vessel of glass, gutta-percha,
vulcanite, paraffined earthenware, or other suitable material (2) a porous jar of
unglazed pottery, containing a central prism or plate of conducting carbon
surrounded by a mixture of dry earth containing vegetable or nitrogenous sub-
stances, together with 10% of chloride of sodium in powder. This mixture
must be very homogeneous and after being filled into the space around the carbon
in the porous vessel it should be compressed gently so as not to be rendered
impermeable to liquids by excessive compactness. The carbon projects about.
two inches from the earth and instead of the ordinary lead cap, which has serious
disadvantages, the carbon has a terminal screw of tinned brass fixed centrally in
the end of the carbon (3) a completely-saturated aqueous solution of chloride of
sodium (4) an amalgamated zinc rod which is connected, by a copper strip having
a tinned forked end, with the binding screws of the carbon of the next element
when mounted in series.
The porous jar, filled with a mixture of nitrogenous earth and chloride of sodiumm
packed around the carbon anode, is placed in the outer vessel which is three parts
filled with the saturated solution of chloride of sodium. The zinc rod is immersed
in the electrolyte and may be secured to the porous vessel by india-rubber rings.
The elements so constituted may be mounted in quantity or intensity series, as will
be well understood.
The dimension of the element may, for the smaller size, be as follows-The outer
vessel is ten centimetres internal diameter (contracted at the mouth to eight cen-
timetres) by sixteen centimetres high. The porous vessel is five centimetres
diameter by sixteen centimetres high and the zinc is one centimetre diameter by
sixteen centimetres long, the connecting strip being one centimetre wide, a quarter
of a millimetre thick, and sixteen centimetres long.
Elements may be constructed with sulphate of alumina in exactly the same way
as those above described, except that the earth is mixed with 20% of sulphate of
alumina.
Another form of battery for field use, or for the inspection of lines, is a dry pile
and does not contain a porous vessel. The outer vessel is of soft india-rubber in
order that it may be folded up and carried in a small space. The zinc and carbon
separated by a thick piece of woollen or other fabric of sufficient thickness and held

page_text: together by india-rubber rings, are placed in the centre of the india-rubber vessel
and surrounded by a mixture of porous earth containing vegetable or nitrogenous
matter with 20% of chloride of sodium or sulphate of alumina which should be
compressed well at the bottom and lightly at the top in order to keep the couple in
position. When it is desired to develop a current the earth is to be moistened by
sprinkling with ordinary water. By the capillarity of the earth and the texture of
the intermediate fabric, which must always be moist, a good degree of moisture is
retained for a long time throughout the whole mass. These elements have terminals
and are connected in the same way as the one previously described.
CHEMICAL THEORY OF THE BATTERY,
The chemical composition of manured earths being so variable and complex, the
chemical phenomena which occur between the chloride of sodium the earth and the
zinc of the couple are complicated, and it is therefore impossible to explain with
full precision the chemical action which produces the current but it may be men-
tioned that after this class of battery has been working for some time there is
formed, at the surface of the carbon and of the zinc which remain exposed to the
action of the atmosphere, abundant crystals of carbonate of soda. It would appear
that the nitrogenated substances of the earth and the atmospheric nitrogen enter
into combination with the oxygen to form nitrogen acids, the water decomposes,
oxidizing the zinc and this oxidation accelerates the formation of the nitrogen acid
to combine with the oxide of zinc and to form nitrate and nitrite of zinc and even
nitrate of ammonia through the nascent hydrogen which arises from the decom-
position of the water; but the chloride of sodium fulfils a no less important task,
its chlorine likewise goes to the zine to form chloride of zince, the sodium with the
atmospheric oxygen and that of the oxygenated substances of the earth, forms soda
which, in combination with the atmospheric carbonic acid and that of the earthy
carbonates, forms the crystals of carbonate of soda which accumulate at the free
extremities of the couple. The carbon does not play a passive part in these
phenomena. If its free extremity were covered with paraffin in order to protect its
surface from the action of the air, the current developed would be intermittent and
would very soon become weakened. The free access of the atmospheric air is
therefore necessary and under these circumstances the carbon acts as an accumulator
of oxygen, a reserve deposit or storehouse of this gas, in consequence of its great
gas-absorbing properties; within its pores catalytic phenomena are produced in
which the carbou only intervenes as a condensing agent of the atmospheric oxygen
ozonified in this case. This oxygen combines with the hydrogen proceeding from
the decomposition of the water by the zinc and with the nitrogen of the earth and
the atmospheric air to form nitric acid ammonia being also formed. The carbon is
not therefore a passive element which serves simply to collect the positive electricity
developed by the chemical operations which take place in the interior of the element.
In order therefore that the battery may work well, the free action of atmospheric
air is required, the temperature, and especially the pressure, increasing the intensity
of the currents which are generated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A galvanic couple whereof the anode is of carbon surrounded by a mixture
composed of a porous earth containing vegetable or nitrogenous substances and a
soluble salt, preferably chloride of sodium, the whole contained in a porous vessel
which is immersed in an electrolytic liquid, preferably a saturated solution of
chloride of sodium, wherein a zinc cathode is also immersed, all substantially as
described.
2nd. A pocket dry pile consisting of a carbon anode and zinc cathode separated
by a fabric and surrounded by moistened porous earth containing vegetable or

page_text: nitrogenous material and a soluble salt, preferably chloride of sodium, the whole
being contained in a soft india-rubber bag, as described.
3rd. The use of a porous earth impregnated with vegetable or animal nitrogenous
material in combination with chloride of sodium or sulphate of alumina in the
manufacture of galvanic cells or piles, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd de-
1001
M. ANCIZAR.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53. Chancery Lane. London, Patent Agents.