Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
We, SIEGFRIED MARCUS, of Mondscheingasse 4, Vienna VII, Merchant, and
LOUIS PATZ, and RUDOLF GREENER, both of Frankenberggasse 8, Vienna IV,
Austria, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improvements in galvanic batteries, hereinafter described, are based on the
fact that the internal resistance of a cell or element increases as the distance apart
of the electrodes is increased, and that particularly only those parts of the surface
of the electrodes are electrically active or useful which are turned towards one
another.
The increase in the activity of the elements or cells to be attained by the present
improvements is effected by arranging the electrodes in such a manner as to allow
of the oppositely situated parts of the electrodes being brought very close together.
This proximity of the electrodes can only be partial, having regard to the
depolarising material to be filled in between them.
This is effected in the most simple way, by giving to the one electrode a
cylindrical form and to the other a prismatic form. Greater activity can also be
obtained by providing one or both of the concentrically arranged electrodes with
internal, or it may be external, projections, bosses or ribs which serve at the same
time as guides or lateral supports for the separating porous or perforated
diaphragms or baskets which are arranged between the electrodes. But a cell or
element will allow of the greatest possible output when one electrode suitably
formed, is arranged between two electrodes of the opposite kind in such a manner
that the electrode surfaces which are situated opposite to one another are brought
into the greatest possible proximity to one another, regard being of course had to
the necessary space for the depolarising material such as granulated brown stone
or peroxide of manganese. These improvements may be applied to so called "dry
cells or batteries.
In one form of cell constructed according to this invention, the zinc electrode is
surrounded by a porous or perforated diaphragm or basket, outside of which the
carbon electrode is situated. One of the electrodes is of cylindrical shape, the
other being in the form of a triangular, square or other suitable prism, so that
the two electrodes come into close proximity at certain points round the same
whilst between these points hollow spaces are left between the two electrodes for
the reception of the depolarising material.
I sometimes provide a carbon electrode having internal ribs or projections which
is designed to surround the zinc electrode which is surrounded by a diaphragm or
basket. In this case the places of least resistance are at the aforesaid ribs or
projections. The hollow spaces enclosed by the diaphragm, carbon electrode, and
the ribs, or projections are charged with the depolarising material.
The converse arrangement to the foregoing may be employed, in which the
ribbed carbon electrode is enclosed by the diaphragm or basket and the hollow
cylindrical zinc electrode. As in the preceding case the places of smallest
resistance are at the ribs, while the intermediate spaces between the diaphragm,
the carbon electrode, and the ribs or projections, serve for the reception of the
depolarising material.
In cells having electrodes which are active on both sides, it is preferable to
arrange the carbon electrode between two zinc electrodes, the outer one of which
serves at the same time as the enclosing or containing vessel for the whole element,
since the carbon is by far the worst conductor of electricity, and in this manner

page_text: both the outer and the inner surfaces of the carbon are arranged so as to be
electrically active.
A cell of this kind may be constructed with a U-shaped carbon electrode in
which is arranged an inner electrode of zinc surrounded by a diaphragm or basket,
and inserted through an upper rubber covering plate. The perforation in the
rubber plate serves also to facilitate the replenishing of the element with exciting
liquid. At a suitable distance from the outer sides of the U-shaped or hollowed
out carbon electrode and surrounding the same, is a second porous or perforated
diaphragm or basket this being surrounded by the outer zinc electrode which serves
as a casing.
In other arrangements the carbon electrode is surrounded by a zinc electrode,
whilst it in turn surrounds an inner zinc electrode. The hollow carbon electrode
which may be of cylindrical or prismatic form, is provided with internal and
external ribs against which rest an inner basket and an outer basket respectively.
The latter basket is made of circular or square shape in cross section, to suit the
shape of the carbon electrode. Within the inner diaphragm or basket is situated
the inner zinc electrode which is also preferably provided with rib-like projections,
and is arranged in such a manner that these projections are situated opposite to
the internal ribs of the carbon electrode and form places of the closest approach of
the electrodes and consequently of smallest electrical resistance. External to the
outer diaphragm or basket is arranged the outer zinc electrode which serves as a
casing and completes the element or cell. The spaces between the carbon electrode
and the diaphragms at both sides thereof, are divided by the projecting ribs of the
carbon electrode into separate compartments which serve for the reception of the
depolarising agent.
The two zinc poles are connected together by a suitable conductive piece or
bridge. Of the two diaphragms (which may each consist of a baked earthenware
cell or vessel) or baskets serving to separate the electrodes, the inner.one is fixed
to a rubber ring which serves to retain in place the rubber stopper through whose
central perforation the inner zinc electrode passes, the internal ribs of the carbon
electrode serving as a guide for this inner diaphragm.
In order to insulate the element or cell at its upper end, the mouth of the vessel
formed by the outer zinc electrode is covered with a layer of suitable insulating
substance as for example shellac which allows the upper end of the inner zinc pole
to project together with the aforesaid india rubber ring and india rubber stopper
and an upper projection on the carbon electrode, this latter projection serving for
connection to the circuit conductor.
Elements or cells constructed as described, may as in the case of elements or
cells heretofore in use, be filled with a solution of sal-ammoniac .as .the exciting
liquid.
They possess the advantage of considerably higher activity and smaller internal
resistance, than the known elements. of this kind, and are particularly suited for
incandescence effects of short duration, for signalling purposes, firing mines,
operating inductors, and other purposes of a like nature.
Dated this 11th day of April 1891.

page_text: Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
We, SIEGFRIED MARCUS, of Mondscheingasse 4, Vienna VII, Merchant, and
LOUIS PATZ, and RUDOLF GREBNER both of Frankenbergasse 8, Vienua IV,
Austria, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
Imanner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
These improvements in galvanic batteries are based on the fact that the internal
resistance of a cell or element increases as the distance apart of the electrodes is
increased, and that particularly only those parts of the surface of the electrodes
are electrically active or useful which are turned towards one another.
The increase in the activity of the elements or cells attained by the present
improvements is accordingly effected by arranging the electrodes in such a manner
as to allow of the oppositely situated parts of the electrodes being brought very
close together. This proximity of the electrodes can only be partial, having regard
to the depolarising material to be filled in between them. This is effected in the
most simple way, by giving to the one electrode a cylindrical form and to the other
a prismatic form. Greater activity can also be obtained by providing one or both
of the concentrically arranged electrodes with internal, or it may be external,
projections bosses or ribs which serve at the same time as guides or lateral supports
for the separating porous or perforated diaphragms or baskets which are arranged
between the electrodes. But a cell or element will allow of the greatest possible
output when one electrode suitably formed, is arranged between two electrodes of
the opposite kind in such a manner that the electrode surfaces which are situated
opposite to one another are brought into the greatest possible proximity to one
another, regard being of course had to the necessary space for the depolarising
material, such as granulated brown stone or peroxide of manganese.
The accompanying drawings illustrate dry elements or batteries arranged
according to this. invention.
Figs. 1 and 2 are horizontal cross sections illustrating cells in which the object
of the invention is attained by making the inner and outer electrodes of different
shapes in cross section.
Fig. 3 illustrates an outer electrode provided with internal ribs and
Fig. 4 illustrates an inner electrode provided with external ribs.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement in which there is a carbon
electrode of U-shaped cross section open at one side, enclosing an inner zinc electrode
and surrounded by an outer zinc electrode.
Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of an element also having an intermediate
electrode which is active on two sides.
Figs. 7 and 8 are two horizontal sections with electrodes of different shapes in
cross section.
Referring to the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Z is the zinc electrode
which is surrounded by a porous or perforated diaphragm or basket D outside of
which the carbon electrode K is situated. In each case one of the electrodes is
of cylindrical shape, the other being triangular (Fig. 1) or square (Fig. 2) so that
the two electrodes come into close proximity at a (Fig. 1) or B (Fig. 2), whilst
between these points hollow spaces A are left between the two electrodes for the
reception of the depolarising material.
I sometimes provide a carbon electrode, having internal ribs or projections K
which is designed to surround the zinc electrode which is surrounded by a diaphragm
or basket. In this case the places of least resistance are at the aforesaid ribs or

page_text: projections k.
The hollow spaces enclosed by the diaphragm, carbon electrode,
and the ribs, or projections are charged with the depolarising material.
The converse arrangement shown in Fig. 4, may be employed, in which the
ribbed carbon electrode is enclosed by the diaphragm or basket and the hollow
cylindrical zinc electrode. As in the preceding case the places of smallest
resistance will be at the ribs k, while the intermediate spaces between the diaphragm,
the carbon electrode, and the ribs or projections, serve for the reception of the
depolarising material.
Figs. 5 6 7 and 8 illustrate cells having electrodes which are active on both
sides. In such arrangements it is preferable to arrange the carbon electrode
between two zine electrodes, the outer one of which serves at the same time as the
enclosing or containing vessel for the whole element, since the carbon is by far
the worst conductor of electricity, and in this manner both the outer and the inner
surfaces of the carbon are arranged so as to be electrically active.
Fig. 5 illustrates a cell of this kind with a U-shaped carbon electrode in which
is arranged an inner electrode of zinc surrounded by a diaphragm or basket D¹
and inserted through an upper caoutchouc covering plate The perforation in
the caoutchouc plate serves also to facilitate the replenishing of the element with
exciting liquid. At a suitable distance from the outer sides of the U-shaped or
hollowed out carbon electrode K and surrounding the same, is a second porous or
perforated diaphragm or basket D this being surrounded by the outer zinc electrode Z
which serves as a casing.
In arrangement shown in Figs. 67 and 8, the carbon electrode K is surrounded
by a zinc electrode Z, whilst it in turn surrounds an inner zinc electrode Z'. The
hollow cylindrical (Fig. 7) or hollow prismatic (Fig. 8) carbon electrode K is
provided with internal and external ribs k against which rest an inner basket D¹
and an outer basket D respectively. The latter basket is made of circular
or square (Fig. 8) shape in cross section, to suit the shape of the carbon
electrode. Within the inner diaphragm or basket D' is situated the inner zine
electrode which is also preferably provided with rib-like projections and is
inserted in such a manner that these projections are situated opposite the internal
ribs of the carbon electrode and form places of the closest approach of the
electrodes and consequently of smallest electrical resistance. External to the outer
diaphragm or basket D is arranged the outer zinc electrode Z which serves as a
casing and completes the element or cell. The spaces between the carbon electrode
and the diaphragms at both sides thereof, are divided by the ribs of the carbon
electrode K into separate compartments which serve for the reception of the
depolarising agent.
The two zine poles Z & Z¹ are connected together by a suitable conductive
piece or bridge. Of the diaphragms (which may each consist of a baked
carthenware cell or vessel) or the baskets D D serving to separate the electrodes K
and Z Z the inner one (D) is fixed to a caoutchouc ring which serves to retain
in place the caoutchouc stopper D' through whose central perforation the inner zinc
electrode Z passes, the internal ribs of the carbon electrode serving to guide the
diaphragm D
In order to insulate the element or cell at its upper end, the mouth of the vessel
formed by the outer zinc electrode Z is covered with a layer of suitable insulating
substance (as for example shellac) L, which allows the upper end of the inner
zinc pole Z to project, together with the caoutchouc ring d and caoutchouc
stopper and the upper projection on the carbon electrode K this latter
projection serving for connection to the circuit conductor. Elements or cells
constructed as described, may as in the case of elements or cells heretofore in use,
be charged with a solution of sal-ammoniae as the exciting liquid. They possess the
advantage of considerably higher activity and smaller internal resistance than the
known elements of this kind, and are particularly suited for incandescence effects
of short duration; for signalling purposes, firing mines, operating conductors, and
other purposes of a like nature.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A galvanic element in which for the purpose of bringing the two electrodes
into close proximity whilst at the same time leaving sufficient space for the reception
of the depolarising materials, (a) the inner electrode is made as a cylinder, and the
outer electrode as a hollow prism, or the inner electrode is made as a prism and
the outer electrode as a hollow cylinder; or (b) ribs or projections are formed
on the inner or outer, or both surfaces of the carbon electrode of hollow cylindrical
or hollow prismatic shape, the arrangement in each case being such that there
are produced at the tangential points (a, Fig. 1) or corner points (ẞ, Fig. 2) or at
the projections k, (Figs. 3 and 4) points of the greatest possible proximity of the
two electrodes which are there separated only by the diaphragms or baskets, and
hollow spaces (A Figs. 1 and 2, or A and A Figs. 7 and 8) are formed
between the electrodes for the reception of the depolarising material as set forth.
2. A galvanic element in which for the purpose of reducing the resistance of the
element and obtaining large active surfaces, a hollow cylindrical or hollow prismatic
carbon electrode K provided on its two surfaces with rib-like projections k, which
serve to guide inner and outer porous diaphragms or baskets D' and D, is used in
conjunction with two zinc electrodes Z' and Z one of which is situated opposite
the inner surface of the carbon electrode, and the other is situated opposite the
outer surface thereof as set forth.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved galvanic
elements or cells substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively
to and shewn in Fig. 5, in Fig. 6, in Fig. 7 and in Fig. 8 of the drawings
annexed.
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