Year: 1887

page_text: We ARTHUR FRENCH ST. GEORGE of Red Hill in the county of Surrey Electrician
& CHRISTEN REES BONNE of 26 Mark Lane London Merchant do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in improvements in the construction and method of arrange-
ment and use of primary and secondary galvanic batteries (the latter sometimes
called storage batteries or accumulators) so as to obtain from them a current of
constant strength for a long period of time without having to frequently recharge
them with chemicals and material employed therein.
In order to construct a primary galvanic cell according to our invention we take a
piece of noncorrosible material preferably carbon or platinum of suitable shape and
this we employ as the negative element of the cell but it is not necessary that the
negative element of the cell shall be absolutely non-corrosible as iron for instance
according to our invention may be used. For the positive element we take a suitably
shaped piece of tin preferably a hollow cylinder with a solid bottom of this metal.
We place the tin cylinder in a suitable cell or jar preferably of glass and within the
tin cylinder but not in contact with the tin we place the negative element preferably
a rod of carbon. We fill up the space between the surface of the carbon and the
interior of the tin cylinder with a powder or paste which we manufacture by the
process described as follows or substantially so.
Upon a quantity of tin foil we pour a sufficient quantity of nitric acid of commerce
and a violent chemical reaction ensues leaving as the result a dry or damp white
powder which is ordinarily well known to and called by chemists metastannic
hydrate and for which there have been used sometimes to distinguish it the
symbols H₂ Sn, O20.
This white substance so formed we take in a powdered or pasty condition and pack
it within the galvanic cell as described and in order to generate a powerful electric
current we damp the paste or powder with nitric acid preferably slightly diluted with

page_text: water. The damp paste or powder acts with great chemical energy upon the tin
element of the cell and when a circuit from the poles of the cell is completed the
electric current passing within the cell from the tin element through the paste to the
negative element to a certain extent tends to convert portions of the paste into finely
divided metallic tin or tin oxides.
By supplying nitric acid to the cell from time to time we cause the particles of
tin or tin oxide to be dissolved by the acid and reconverted into fresh particles of
metastannic hydrate or practically and apparently its equivalent and by constantly
maintaining a proper supply of nitric acid to the cell by means of tubes or by
injection of the acid or by such suitable devices as we shall hereinafter describe we
maintain the cell in practically a constant and perfect electrical and chemical
condition fit for generating an electric current. The chemical reconversion of the
tin or tin oxide particles into metastannic hydrate powder or paste serves to maintain
constancy of electro motive force and the dampness caused by the acid renders the
cell sufficiently conductive from element to element so that a proportionately large
amount of current may pass without encountering so much resistance in passing
through the paste from tin element to carbon element as it would if the paste were
permitted to become dry. In the working of this galvanic cell according to our
invention we counteract adhesion of hydrogen to the negative element (the carbon for
instance) and occlusion of hydrogen in the pores of the negative element by using a
suitably shaped piece of carbon with a cavity within it which we fill with nitric acid
and the carbon being porous the acid soaks into its substance appearing upon the
surface exposed to the paste within the cell and there coming in contact with the
adhesive hydrogen the latter by chemical action is dissolved and dispersed. In order
to thoroughly damp both the paste and the carbon with nitric acid for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth we fit the cell with a small glass tube passing from without the
cell through the centre of its bottom in a vertical direction to the interior of the cell
where it enters the substance of the carbon element by a hole and communicates with
a vertical cavity therein which is pierced at its sides with numerous small holes
extending from the surface of the carbon in contact with the paste to the cavity
within the carbon.
In working the cell according to our invention we immerse it in a bath of nitric
acid to a sufficient depth to cause the acid to rise in the vertical tube within the cell
and to fill the cavity of the carbon element with which it communicates. By
immersing the cell at various depths in the nitric acid the dampness of the cell may
be controlled at will. This device causes nitric acid to thoroughly soak the carbon
and through the small holes to penetrate to and moisten the paste both for the
purposes herein before set forth. We do not confine ourselves to this particular
method of maintaining the cell in constant working order as it is obvious that many
modifications for the purpose may be adapted to a cell constructed upon the principles
of our invention. Sometimes we employ reservoirs of nitric acid connected with the
galvanic cells by means of dripping or pouring tubes and valves or by capillary
threads such as cotton or asbestos wick in order to convey the nitric acid to
the cells.
In order to construct a galvanic cell according to our invention which shall have
of itself an extremely low electrical internal resistance that is to say that resistance
which the electric current meets in passing within the cell from the tin to the carbon
element we employ a solution of the metastannic hydrate paste or powder in nitric
acid mixed preferably to the consistency of cream or milk and by thus using the
metastannic hydrate paste in solution the internal resistance of the cell is greatly
reduced and we employ this form and arrangement of our galvanic cell when the
electrical conditions of a circuit to which it is connected and of which it forms a part
are such as to require the employment of a galvanic battery of low internal resistance
and composed of many cells joined together electrically in series that is to say the
carbon of one cell to the tin of the next and so on terminating in two poles negative
and positive respectively: viz. the tin pole of the first cell and the carbon pole of
the last cell of the series.

page_text: In order to construct a secondary or storage or accumulator galvanic cell according
to our invention we construct the two elements of the cell of tin in suitable shape
and upon each tin element we spread or attach to it a layer of the metastannic paste
or powder and we immerse the elements thus compounded in close proximity to but
not touching each other in a suitable jar or cell containing acid or acidulated
water.
Sometimes we employ only one tin element for a secondary cell using for the
other element preferably carbon or other suitable material. We do not confine
ourselves to these particular methods of construction and arrangement of a secondary
cell according to our invention as the construction and method of arrangement of the
tin elements or their parts may obviously be varied to suit different conditions of
working.
We prefer to enclose a galvanic cell or series of cells according to our invention
in an air tight chamber or containing box of non corrosible material such as glass
or porcelain in order to avoid the escape of nitrous fumes and within the chamber
or in a seperate chamber connected with it by means of a pipe we place in a suitable
position a quantity of tin or tin foil preferably in small fragments.
The nitrous fumes and gases evolved by the galvanic cells while in operation act
chemically upon the tin fragments being gradually absorbed by them and ultimate
forming a quantity of free metastannic hydrate paste or powder.
By this device we take advantage of the fumes for the manufacture of metastannic
hydrate paste or powder and the fumes which if they were allowed to pass off into
the air would be highly injurious to health and corrosive upon surrounding objects
are absorbed.
We prefer to exhaust the containing chamber or its separate chamber or both of
air as completely as possible before sealing it up airtight for use.
From time to time
the free metastannic hydrate paste or powder thus formed may be withdrawn from
the chamber and utilised for the manufacture of galvanic cells constructed according
to our invention. Upon withdrawing such paste or powder a fresh quantity of tin
fragments may be introduced into the chamber there to remain while the battery
continues in operation and to be withdrawn when converted into metastannic hydrate
paste or powder.

page_text: COBIT LULE DI MCIFICATION.
Improvements in Primary and Secondary Galvanic Batteries.
We ARTHUR FRENCH ST. GEORGE of Redhill in the County of Surrey Electrician
and CHRISTEN REES BONNE of 41. Eastcheap, London and formerly of 26 Mark Lane,
London, Merchant 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 :--
Our invention consists in improvements in the construction and method of arrange-
ment and use of primary and secondary galvanic batteries (the latter sometimes called
storage batteries or accumulators) so as to obtain from them a current of constant
strength for a long period of time without having to frequently recharge them with
chemicals and material employed therein. In order to construct a primary galvanic
cell according to our invention we take a piece of non-corrosible material preferably
carbon or platinum of suitable shape and this we employ as the negative element of
the cell but it is not necessary that the negative element of the cell shall be absolutely
non-corrosible as iron for instance according to our invention may be used. For the
positive element we take a suitably shaped piece of tin preferably a hollow cylinder
with a solid bottom of this metal. We place the tin cylinder in a suitable cell or
jar C in Figure 1 preferably of glass and within the tin cylinder but not in contact
with the tin we place the negative element preferably a rod of carbon B in Figure 1.-
We fill up the space between the surface of the carbon and the interior of the tin
cylinder with a powder or paste D in Figure 1 which we manufacture by the process
described as follows or substantially so or by any convenient process producing
practically or substantially the same chemical product.
Upon a quantity of tin foil we pour a sufficient quantity of nitric acid of commerce
and a violent chemical reaction ensues leaving as the result a dry or damp white
powder which is ordinarily well known to and called by chemists metastannic hydrate
and for which there have been used sometimes to distinguish it the symbols H, Sn, O₂
This white substance so formed we take in a powdered or pasty condition and pack it
within the galvanic cell as described and in order to generate a powerful electric
current we damp the paste or powder with nitric acid preferably slightly diluted with
water.
20
The damp paste or powder acts with great chemical energy upon the tin element of
the cell and when a circuit from the poles of the cell is completed the electric current
passing within the cell from the tin element through the paste to the negative element
to a certain extent tends to convert portions of the paste into finely divided metallic
tin or tin oxides.
By supplying nitric acid to the cell from time to time we cause the particles of tin
or tin oxide to be dissolved by the acid and reconverted into fresh particles of
metastannic hydrate or practically and apparently its equivalent and by constantly
maintaining a proper supply of nitric acid to the cell by means of tubes or by injection
of the acid or by such suitable devices as we shall hereinafter describe we maintain

page_text: one cent in practicamy a constant and perfect electrical and chemical
generating an electric current. The cell most effectually recovers its original chemical
and electrical condition and efficiency when damped with nitric acid and allowed to
rest without conducting the electric current away from it. The chemical reconversion
of the tin or tin oxide particles into metastannic hydrate powder or paste serves to
maintain constancy of electro-motive force and the dampness caused by the acid also
renders the cell sufficiently conductive from element to clement so that a proportionately
large amount of current may pass without encountering so much resistance in passing
through the paste from tin element to carbon element as it would if the paste were
permitted to become dry-In the working of this galvanic cell according to our
invention we counteract adhesion of hydrogen to the negative clement (the carbon for
instance) and occlusion of hydrogen in the pores of the negative element by using a
suitably shaped piece of carbon as for instance B in Figure 2 with a cavity B² within
it which we fill with nitric acid and the carbon being porous the acid soaks into its
substance appearing upon the surface exposed to the paste within the cell and coming
in contact with the occluded and adhesive hydrogen the latter is by chemical action
dissolved and dispersed.
In order to thoroughly damp both the paste and the carbon with nitric acid for the
purposes herein set forth we fit the cell with a small glass tube B3 passing from without
the cell through the centre of its bottom in a vertical direction to the interior of the
cell where it enters the substance of the carbon element B by a hole and communicates
with the cavity B2 therein which is pierced at its sides and bottom with numerous
small holes shewn in Figure 2 at 3. 4. 5. 6 &c. extending from the surface of the carbon
in contact with the paste to the cavity B² within the carbon B. In working the cell
according to our invention we immerse it in a bath of nitric acid (or dilute nitric
acid) E Figure 2 to a sufficient depth to cause the acid to rise in the vertical tube B³
within the cell and to fill the cavity B of the carbon element B with which it com-
municates By immersing the cell at various depths in the nitric acid the dampness of
the cell may be controlled at will-This device causes nitric acid to thoroughly soak
the carbon and through the small holes 3. 4. 5. 6 &c. to penetrate to and moisten the
paste both for the purposes hereinbefore set forth-We do not confine ourselves to
this particular method of maintaining the cell in constant working order as it is obvious
that many modifications for the purpose may be adapted to a cell constructed upon
the principles of and according to our invention--Sometimes we employ reservoirs of
nitric acid connected with the galvanic cells by means of dripping or pouring tubes
and valves or by capillary threads such as cotton or asbestos wick in order to convey
the nitric acid to the cells.
Referring to Figure 3-A is the tin cylinder B the carbon cylinder perforated with
many small holes as at 3. 4. 5. 6 &c.
B is a metallic collar cast or fitted so as to embrace the carbon cylinder and lined
within where it clamps the carbon with platinum and attached is a connecting
wire B².
We find particularly in performing our invention that the metal collar lined with
platinum maintains a perfectly steady and non-corrosible contact with the carbon which
latter is sometimes according to our invention impregnated with nitric acid and this
latter would corrode an ordinary metal collar or pole-piece but does not affect the
platinum lining which we provide.
C is the cell containing A. and shielding it from the acid in the bath E.
The bath E is filled with nitric acid pure or diluted to the level shewn by dotted
lines at E. F is a glass syphon tube packed loosely with cotton or asbestos wick
extending from F to F. The acid creeps by capillary action of the cotton wick from
the bath E and drips gradually into the carbon cylinder B keeping the latter and
the surrounding metastannic paste continuously wet. When sufficient acid has
accumulated in B the syphon tube may be lifted out of the cell to be replaced when
the acid in B has soaked away and become consumed. Figure 4 represents a syphon
tube, which we sometimes pack with cotton or asbestos wick, provided with a tap at F2
where it dips into the carbon cylinder B so that the supply of acid from the bath E as

page_text: in Figure 3 may be cut off and turned on at will. The acid bath may with advantage
be arranged separate from the cell and preferably standing at a higher level so as to
obtain a greater fall of the liquid.
In order to construct a galvanic cell according to our invention which shall have of
itself an extremely low clectrical internal resistance that is to say that resistance which
the electric current meets in passing within the cell from the tin to the carbon element
we employ a solution of the metastannic hydrate paste or powder in nitric acid (or
nitric acid diluted with water) mixed preferably to the consistency of cream or milk
and by thus using the metastannic hydrate paste in solution the internal resistance of
the cell is greatly reduced and we employ this form and arrangement of our galvanic
cell when the electrical conditions of a circuit to which it is connected and of which
it forms a part are such as to require the employment of a galvanic battery of low
internal resistance and composed of many cells joined together electrically in series
that is to say the carbon of one cell to the tin of the next and so on terminating in
two poles negative and positive respectively the tin pole of the first cell and the
carbon pole of the last cell of the series. In order to enable the paste or powder to
hold a very considerable amount of acid moisture we sometimes mix with it a small
quantity of absorbent earth such as is usually employed to absorb dynamite or blasting
oil or we mix sand or other suitable material to avoid the paste or powder precipitating
down from the acid when the latter is in excess particularly and becoming solid
and so preventing the plunging in or out of the tin or carbon element as required
sometimes.
Sometimes according to our invention we place the elements in a pot of porous
earthenware which we fill with the paste or powder and in order to damp it with nitric
acid we immerse the porous pot in a bath of nitric acid which soaking through the
porous earthenware acts upon the metastannic material as desired.
Sometimes according to our invention we construct a dry battery of the metastannic
powder with tin and a carbon negative element but this form of our battery is suitable
only in cases where internal electrical resistance of the battery is not objectionable
Sometimes we pack the metastannic powder tightly in the cell rendering it portable
without risk of spilling as the powder may form a solid substance so arranged. In
order to construct a secondary or storage or accumulator cell according to our invention
we construct the two elements of the cell of tin in suitable shape and upon each tin
element we spread or attach to it a layer of the metastannic material and we immerse
the elements thus compounded in close proximity to but not touching each other in a
suitable jar or cell containing preferably nitric acid or diluted nitric acid but other
acids may be used.
Sometimes we employ only one tin element for a secondary cell using for the other
element preferably carbon or other suitable material.
In order to cover the element of tin of a secondary cell with the metastannic
material we prefer to dip the tin element into a bath of the metastannic hydrate in
solution with nitric acid and removing it from the bath after a sufficient time a film of
metastannic hydrate material becomes securely attached to the tin element and repeated
dippings afford a sufficiently thick layer upon the tin.
We do not confine ourselves to these particular methods of construction and arrange-
ment of a secondary cell according to our invention as the construction and method of
arrangement of the tin elements or their parts may obviously be varied to suit different
conditions of working.
We prefer to enclose a galvanic cell or series of cells according to our invention in
an air tight chamber or containing box of non-corrosible material such as glass or
porcelain in order to avoid the escape of nitric fumes and within the chamber or in a
separate chamber connected with it by means of a pipe we place in a suitable position
a quantity of tin or tin foil preferably in small fragments.
The nitrous fumes and gases evolved by the galvanic cells while in operation act
chemically upon the tin fragments being gradually absorbed by them and ultimately
forming a quantity of free metastannic hydrate paste or powder. By this device we
take advantage of the fumes for the manufacture of metastannic hydrate paste powder

page_text: or solution and the fumes which if they were allowed to pass off into the air would be
(in large quantity) injurious to health and corrosive upon surrounding objects are
instead absorbed and usefully employed. We prefer to exhaust the containing chamber
or its separate chamber or both of air as completely as possible before scaling it up
airtight for use.
From time to time the free metastannic hydrate paste or powder thus formed may
be withdrawn from the chamber and utilised for the manufacture of galvanic cells
constructed according to our invention-Upon withdrawing such paste or powder a fresh
quantity of tin fragments may he introduced into the chamber there to remain while
the battery continues in operation and to be withdrawn when converted into meta-
stannic hydrate material suitable for use according to our invention.
Sometimes we manufacture metastannic hydrate material for our metastannic cell
by submitting fragments of tin or tin foil to the action of the fumes only of nitric acid
or diluted nitric acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.-
1. In the construction and use of a galvanic primary or secondary cell the com-
bination with one or more tin elements of metastannic hydrate solid, powder, pasto or
material or solution substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In the construction and use of a galvanic primary or secondary cell the com-
bination of metastannic hydrate material and nitric acid pure or diluted arranged and
actuated substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination of the negative element of the metastannic cell with the nitric
acid pure or diluted and the metastannic hydrate material arranged and actuated
substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. The combination of a perforated or porous negative element with the metastannic
hydrate material arranged and actuated substantially as and for the purposes
described.
5. In the construction and use of the metastannic hydrate cell the combination with
the elements of the cell and the metastannic hydrate material of capillary, syphon,
dipping, soaking and charging devices substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. In a primary or secondary galvanic cell the combination with the metastannic
hydrate material of a hollow element for containing acid substantially as and for the
purposes described.
7. Combining sand or absorbent earth or other suitable material with the meta-
stannic hydrate material wet or dry substantially as and for the purposes
described.
8. Absorbing the fumes of a metastannic hydrate cell and utilising them to
manufacture metastannic hydrate material substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 26th day of Sentunber 1888