IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING ELECTRIC BATTERIES OR GENERATORS IN WHICH THE LIQUIDS ARE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
which the Liquids are Automatically Renewed.
I, EMILE GUITTON, of 59 Brompton Crescent, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF ACTING ELECTRIC BATTERIES OR GENERATORS IN WHICH THE LIQUIDS ARE
AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED" (a communication to me from abroad by Marcel Sappey,
of 4 rue Traversière prolongée à Billancourt, Paris, in the Republic of France) to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement of electric battery or generator
combined with means for automatically supplying and discharging the liquids from
the cells and to a novel and improved construction or form of porous vessel for use
in such batteries.
In batteries of this description it has been found difficult to ensure a regular
discharge of the exciting liquid which becomes heavier or denser in proportion as it
is more strongly impregnated with salt owing to the action of the battery. This
difficulty is overcome according to this invention by increasing the height of the
entering column of liquid so that the pressure of the entering liquid slightly but
invariably preponderates and overcomes that resulting from the greater density of the
exhausted and outgoing liquid. This result is obtained by employing a form of porous
vessel which acts as an inverted siphon with unequal legs the fresh liquid being
supplied through the longer leg as hereinafter explained. In order to cause the
depolarising and exciting liquids to circulate under the most favourable conditions
these liquids are caused to circulate in a zigzag or sinuous direction in an enclosed
space of determined limits and as narrow or contracted in width as possible so as to
be completely exhausted on leaving the cell. A complete immersion of the electrodes
is provided for in order to prevent as far as possible formation of salts or efflorescence
upon their surfaces and obviate the crystallisation resulting from evaporation and the
Gradual exhaustion of the liquids.

page_text: The improved cell is composed of a trough of enamelled porcelain or other suitable
material containing a porous vessel of peculiar form. The trough is provided with a
lip by which the liquids are discharged after they have done duty in the battery. The
porous vessel placed in the trough is made higher than the sides of the trough and is
composed of a porous material such as porcelain enamelled or rendered impervious at
every part with the exception of the two sides which face the carbon electrodes. The
interior of the porous vessel forms a chamber or central compartment having two
partially porous sides but impervious at the ends and at the upper part. Along the
line dividing the porous from the impermeable parts of the sides of the vessel there
are formed holes which connect the interior or central compartment of the vessel
with passages formed in the thickness of the sides leading from a funnel shaped
opening or vertical passage at one end of the vessel. A zinc electrode is placed in
the central compartment of the vessel and the exciting liquid supplied to the funnel
enters the central chamber or compartment through the said passages and holes and
completely covers the zinc. The said liquid can rise in the upper or non porous part
of the central compartment of the vessel. The salts of zinc that are formed in this com-
partment being heavier than the fresh exciting liquid tend to fall to the bottom of the
compartment. The exciting liquid supplied intermittently to the funnel and the
excess of comparatively light liquid accumulating in the enamelled upper part of
the vessel above the holes creates an extra pressure which is sufficient to drive out the
heavier part of the liquid accumulated in the bottom of the vessel. This heavier and
denser liquid then ascends a vertical passage from which the liquid is discharged from
the battery after it has done its work. The porous sides of the central compartment
of the vessel present externally recesses or hollows on both sides of the vessel which
are covered or closed in by thin plates of carbon and form two narrow compartments
on opposite sides of the central compartment containing the zinc electrode. Webs
or ridges projecting from the sides of the vessel form partitions in these narrow com-
partments and compel the liquid to flow in a zigzag direction so as to produce a
thorough circulation of liquid in every part of the compartment. The two lateral
compartments thus formed are supplied with liquid through orifices communicating
with a vertical passage from which the liquid flows through the lateral compartments
in a zigzag or sinuous path and being thus brought in contact with a relatively large
area of surface is thoroughly exhausted by the time it reaches an outlet orifice at the
further end of the compartment. The height of the column of liquid in the vertical
passage is such as to ensure a regular discharge of the liquid from the cell.
In an apparatus according to this invention a series of cells grouped together are
automatically supplied with fresh liquid independently of one another by means of a
distributer delivering a determined quantity of liquid at fixed intervals so that
the cells or elements of the batteries are always working under the same conditions
and a maximum of useful effect is thus obtained with a minimum expenditure of
materials. The grouping together of a certain number of these cells forms an electric
generator of small size and relatively great power being capable of being applied to
various purposes such as lighting, telegraphy, telephony, electro plating and the like.
The apparatus may be conveniently enclosed in an ornamental case or cabinet forming
an article of furniture which can be placed in a hall or antechamber for example as it
gives off neither smell nor vapour and is perfectly silent in its action. This improved
electric generator comprises a certain number of cells arranged below two tanks
containing the exciting and depolarising liquids. These tanks are combined with a
compartment containing mechanism controlling the automatic and intermittent supply
of liquids to a rocking or tilting trough or distributer from which the liquids are
distributed or delivered to the cells. The vertical passages or funnels in the porous
vessels are situated directly beneath the discharge openings of distribution funnels
supplying the exciting and depolarising liquids from two tanks in the upper part of
the case or cabinet communicating with a rocking trough or distributer constructed
with two troughs or channels provided with a series of orifices through which the
liquids are supplied alternately to the said distribution funnels. The liquids are
caused to flow flom the tanks to the battery cells at regular intervals by means of a

page_text: clock movement which at end of certain predetermined periods closes an electric
circuit (connected with the batteries in the cabinet for example) by means of a
revolving arm electrically connected with one pole of the battery and which being
rotated at a fixed rate (say one revolution per hour) by the clock movement makes
contact successively with a series of fixed contacts alternately connected with the
other pole of the battery.
At the expiration of a certain period calculated according to the rate at which the
liquids become exhausted the arm on the clock arbor makes a contact and closes the
circuit of a magnet which attracts an armature and draws down the arm of a lever
thus opening a valve in the bottom of the tank containing the exciting liquid for
example. The exciting liquid in this tank then flows into the distributer and fills the
channel on one side of the centre of the rocking trough. When this channel is thus
filled the weight of the liquid tilts the trough until it is inclined to one side. The
exciting liquid in the distributer trough then flows into the battery cells displacing a
corresponding volume of exhausted liquid and at the same time by the aforesaid
tilting or rocking movement of the distributer a contact is broken and the magnet
being thereby disconnected and ceasing to attract its armature the lever returns to its
normal position and closes the delivery valve in the bottom of the tank. The arm on
the clock movement next comes in contact with a pin connected with another electro
magnet. This magnet now attracts an armature operating a lever which opens a
valve in the bottom of the tank containing the depolarising liquid. Depolarising
liquid then flows from this tank to the distributer and fills the channel on the higher
side of the latter. The weight of this liquid then tilts the distributer to this side
thereby opening the circuit of the second magnet and making contact at the point
where the circuit of the first magnet was previously opened. The valve in the
bottom of the depolarising tank then closes the liquid in the distributer flows to the
several cells displacing a corresponding quantity of exhausted depolarising liquid and
the parts remain in this position in readiness to supply the cells with a fresh charge of
exciting liquid when the arm on the clock movement reaches the next contact pin.
In order to retain the distributer in an inclined position and prevent it from tilting
or rocking from one side to the other before the distributing channel that is being
filled has received the proper quantity of liquid a catch arrangement acting as a brake
is provided which consists for example of a T shaped arm rigidly connected to the
rocking trough and a pair of sliding spring latches which may slide in arms pivotted
to the case and likewise controlled by springs. When the trough inclines to the right
for example the right hand extremity of the arm engages with the corresponding
latch which holds down this end of the arm and prevents the distributer from rocking
or tilting in the opposite direction until a sufficient weight of liquid has been collected
in the channels of the distributer to overcome the resistance of the adjustable
spring or springs which tend to retain the latch in position for holding down
the arm.
When the weight of the liquid overcomes the resistance of the spring or springs
the latch releases the arm and allows the distributer to tilt over to the other side
whereupon the other extremity of the arm engages with the latch on that side and
the distributer prevented from returning until the channel on the other side has been
similarly filled.
The cells are connected with a suitable switch or commutator operated by turning a
handle or lever in the front of the cabinet by which the cells can be instantaneously
thrown out of action when required and may be combined with accumulators or
secondary batteries to prevent waste of energy.

page_text: which the Liquids are Automatically Renewed.
I, EMILE GUITTON of 59 Brompton Crescent in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (which has been commu-
nicated to me from abroad by Marcel Sappey of 4 Rue Traversière prolongée, à
Billancourt, Paris in the Republic of France) to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement of electric battery or generator
combined with means for automatically supplying and discharging the liquids from
the cells, and to a novel and improved construction or form of porous vessel for use
in such batteries.
In batteries of this description it has been found difficult to ensure a regular
discharge of the exciting liquid which becomes heavier or denser in proportion as it it
is more strongly impregnated with salt owing to the action of the battery. This
difficulty is overcome according to this Invention by increasing the height of the
entering column of liquid so that the pressure of the entering liquid slightly but
invariably preponderates and overcomes that resulting from the greater density of the
exhausted and outgoing liquid.
This result is obtained by employing a form of porous vessel which acts as an
inverted siphon with unequal legs, the fresh liquid being supplied through the longer
leg as hereinafter explained.
In order to cause the depolarizing and exciting liquids to circulate under the most
favourable conditions these liquids are caused to circulate in a zigzag or sinuous
direction in an enclosed space of determined limits and as narrow or contracted in
width as possible so as to be completely exhausted on leaving the cell.
A complete immersion of the electrodes is provided for in order to prevent as far as
possible formation of salts or efflorescence upon their surfaces and obviate the
crystallization resulting from evaporation and the gradual exhaustion of the
liquids.
The improved cell is composed of a trough of enamelled porcelain or other suitable
material containing a porous vessel of peculiar form. The trough is provided with
a lip by which the liquids are discharged after they have done duty in the
battery.
The porous vessel placed in the trough is made higher than the sides of the trough
and is composed of a porous material such as porcelain enamelled or rendered
impervious at every part with the exception of the two sides which face the carbon
electrodes.
The interior of the porous vessel forms a chamber or central compartment having
two partially porous sides but impervious at the ends and at the upper part. Along
the line dividing the porous from the impermeable parts of the sides of the vessel

page_text: there are formed holes which connect the interior or central compartment of the
vessel with passages formed in the thickness of the sides leading from a funnel shaped
opening or vertical passage at one end of the vessel.
A zinc electrode is placed in the central compartment of the vessel and the exciting
liquid supplied to the funnel enters the central chamber or compartment through the
said passages and holes and completely covers the zine. The said liquid can rise in
the upper or non-porous part of the central compartment of the vessel. The salts of
zinc that are formed in this compartment being heavier than the fresh exciting liquid
tend to fall to the bottom of the compartment.
The exciting liquid supplied intermittently to the funnel and the excess of com-
paratively light liquid accumulating in the enamelled upper part of the vessel above
the holes creates an extra pressure which is sufficient to drive out the heavier part of
the liquid accumulated in the bottom of the vessel. This heavier and denser liquid
then ascends a vertical passage from which the liquid is discharged from the battery_
after it has done its work.
The porous sides of the central compartment of the vessel present externally
recesses or hollows on both sides of the vessel which are covered or closed in by thin
plates of carbon and form two narrow compartments on opposite sides of the central
compartment containing the zinc electrode. Webs or ridges projecting from the
sides of the vessel form partitions in these narrow compartments and compel the
liquid to flow in a zigzag direction so as to produce a thorough circulation of liquid
in every part of the compartment.
The two lateral compartments thus formed are supplied with liquid through orifices
communicating with a vertical passage from which the liquid flows through the lateral
compartments in a zigzag or sinuous path and being thus brought in contact with a
relatively large area of surface is thoroughly exhausted by the time it reaches an outlet
orifice at the further end of the compartment.
The height of the column of liquid in the vertical passage is such as to ensure a
regular discharge of the liquid froin the cell.
In an apparatus according to this Invention a series of cells grouped together are
automatically supplied with fresh liquid independently of one another by means of a
distributer delivering a determined quantity of liquid at fixed intervals so that the
cells or elements of the batteries are always working under the same conditions and a
maximum of useful effect is thus obtained with a minimum expenditure of
materials.
The grouping together of a certain number of these cells forms an electric
generator of small size and relatively great power being capable of application to
various purposes such as lighting, telegraphy, telephony, electro plating, and
the like.
The apparatus may be conveniently enclosed in an ornamental case or cabinet
forming an article of furniture which can be placed in a hall or antechamber for
example as it gives off neither smell nor vapour and is perfectly silent in its
action.
This improved electric generator comprises a certain number of cells arranged below
two tanks containing the exciting and depolarizing liquids. These tanks are combined
with a compartment containing mechanism controlling the automatic and intermittent
supply of liquids to a rocking or tilting trough or distributer from which the liquids
are distributed or delivered to the cells.
The vertical passages or funnels in the porous vessels are situated directly beneath
the discharge openings of distribution funnels supplying the exciting and depolarizing
liquids from two tanks in the upper part of the case or cabinet communicating with a
rocking trough or distributer constructed with two troughs or channels provided with
a series of orifices through which the liquids are supplied alternately to the said
distribution funnels.
The liquids are caused to flow from the tanks to the battery cells at regular
intervals by means of a clock movement which at the end of certain predetermined
periods closes an electric circuit (connected with the batteries in the cabinet for

page_text: example) by means of a revolving arm electrically connected with one pole of the
battery and which being rotated at a fixed rate (say one revolution per hour) by the
clock movement makes contact successively with a series of fixed contacts alternately
connected with the other pole of the battery. At the expiration of a certain period
calculated according to the rate at which the liquids become exhausted the arm on
the clock arbor makes a contact and closes the circuit of a magnet which attracts an
armature and draws down the arm of a lever thus opening a valve in the bottom of
the tank containing the exciting liquid for example. The exciting liquid in this
tank then flows into the distributer and fills the channel on one side of the centre
of the rocking trough. When this channel is thus filled the weight of the liquid
tilts the trough until it is inclined to one side. The exciting liquid in the
distributer trough then flows into the battery cells displacing a corresponding
volume of exhausted liquid and at the same time by the aforesaid tilting or rocking
movement of the distributer a contact is broken and the magnet being thereby dis-
connected and ceasing to attract its armature the lever returns to its normal position
and closes the delivery valve in the bottom of the tank.
The arm on the clock movement next comes in contact with a pin connected with
another electro magnet. This magnet now attracts an armature operating a lever
which opens a valve in the bottom of the tank containing the depolarizing liquid.
The depolarizing liquid then flows from this tank to the distributer and fills the
channel on the higher side of the latter. The weight of this liquid then tilts the
distributer to this side thereby opening the circuit of the second magnet and making
contact at the point where the circuit of the first magnet was previously opened. The
valve in the bottom of the depolarizing tank then closes, the liquid in the distributer
flows to the several cells displacing a corresponding quantity of exhausted depolar-
izing liquid and the parts remain in this position in readiness to supply the cells
with a fresh charge of exciting liquid when the arm on the clock movement reaches
the next contact pin.
In order to retain the distributer in an inclined position and prevent it from
tilting or rocking from one side to the other before the distributing channel that is
being filled has received the proper quantity of liquid, a catch arrangement acting
as a brake is provided which consists for example of a T shaped arm rigidly
connected to the rocking trough and a pair of sliding spring latches which may
slide in arms pivotted to the case and likewise controlled by springs.
When the trough inclines to the right for example the right hand extremity of
the arm engages with the corresponding latch which holds down this end of the
arm and prevents the distributer from rocking or tilting in the opposite direction
until a sufficient weight of liquid has been collected in the channels of the distributer
to overcome the resistance of the adjustable spring or springs which tend to retain
the latch in position for holding down the arm. When the weight of the liquid
overcomes the resistance of the spring or springs the latch releases the arm and allows
the distributer to tilt over to the other side whereupon the other extremity of the arm
engages with the latch on that side and the distributer prevented from returning
until the channel on the other side has been similarly filled.
The cells are connected with a suitable switch or commutator operated by turning a
handle or lever in the front of the cabinet by which the cells can be instantaneously
thrown out of action when required, and may be combined with accumulators or
secondary batteries to prevent waste of energy.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 represents
an elevation partly in section of the battery.
Figure 2 is a plan of the battery.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the line y, y, of the porous cell.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the line a, x, of the battery.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the zinc and the carbon electrodes of the battery.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of one example of generator of electricity comprising:
fourteen cells enclosed in a cabinet representing an article of furniture.
Figure 8 is a plan of this generator.

page_text: Figure 9 is a view indicating the electric mechanism which effects the intermittent
action of the outlet valves of the exciting and the depolarising liquids, also the
distributor of the liquids to each of the battery cells.
Figure 10 is a section of the distributor of the exciting and the depolarising
liquids to the battery cells.
Figures 11 and 12 are end elevations of the balanced distributor in two positions
with the mechanical and electrical parts which cause the intermittent flow of the
liquids to the battery cells.
Figure 13 represents on enlarged scale, the mechanism which maintains each of
the balanced distributor platforms in the position necessary for the flow of the liquid
into the battery cells.
The automatic feed and discharge battery A is composed of a rectangular basin a of
enamelled porcelain or other suitable material, into which a porous vase B is placed.
This rectangular basin has a lip for the constant outflow of the used or spent.
liquids.
The porous pot or vase which is placed in this basin is also rectangular in shape,
and much higher than the outer basin. It is formed of porous porcelain enamelled
over all its parts except on the two longer rectangular faces, against which the carbons
are placed. In the centre of this porous pot B is a rectangular trough c which is
porous at the bottom and on two of its opposite faces, but non-porous at the upper
part. On the line of separation of these porous and non-porous parts and along the
longer sides of the rectangle are holes d forming communication between the
inside of the trough c and internal gutters e leading from a funnel f. In this trough c,
is placed the zinc C which is connected to the terminal B. The exciting liquid from
the funnel flows into the trough c by the holes d and totally immerses the zinc C.
This liquid may rise in the trough c up to the upper part of the porous pot B.
The zinc salts formed are more dense or heavier than the exciting liquid and fall
to the bottom and the exciting liquid which flows intermittently by the orifice f forms
an additional weight or pressure above the orifices d in the enamelled or non-porous
part of the porous pot until it is enabled to force out by pressure (through the orifice g)
the heavy liquids which have accumulated in the bottom portion of the trough c.
These heavy liquids flow into the vertical channel by the lip h¹ projecting over the
lip of the basin A and discharging the used or spent liquids outside.
The lateral porous parts of the trough c are dished out and provided with baffle
pieces k terminated by hollow swellings k¹, and on these ribs and swellings are placed
flat rectangular carbons E which are fixed by gutta percha. There are thus formed
between the carbon E and the walls of the porous pot B small hollows hermetically
closed by the carbons E. These hollows communicate with the funnel i by holes j,
through which the depolarising liquid is introduced, which is compelled to take a
sinuous path as indicated by the arrows (Figure 1) in such manner that all its active
parts flow over the whole surface of the carbons E and are discharged completely
exhausted by the opposite holes ¹ surmounted by the siphon j" which empties into
the basin a of the battery.
The extra quantity of depolarising liquid in the funnel i causes the liquid to over-
flow from the lip b in proportion as it becomes exhausted in the battery. Orifices k¹¹
are provided to allow the escape of air from the hollows.
The carbons E are connected together at the terminal.
The elements of the electric generator shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 are
placed on a carriage I with rollers J which may be drawn out to facilitate examina-
tion and maintenance of the battery.
The elements, whilst at work, project above the vertical side of the cabinet and their
funnels and are beneath the tubes f¹ of the funnels m² n¹ of the exciting and
depolarising liquids distributors which are stored in the reservoirs F and G, from
whence they flow intermittently into their respective troughs m and n of the rocking
distributor K. Beneath the reservoirs F and G and at the back of the elements A,
boxes may be placed for the reception of accumulators of any description to be
employed when the generator of electricity is to be applied to lighting.

page_text: The exciting and depolarising liquids from the reservoirs F and G flow into
cylindrical receivers u and by cocks s and t with floats indicating the level of the
liquids in the reservoirs F and G. The liquids rise in these receivers during the time
that the valves " and " at the bottom of the receivers are raised which is effected
by working the lever L¹ (Figures 7 and 8) which by oscillating raises the rod 1, the
cross piece w, and the two rods u¹ and v¹ attached to it, and which carry the valves ull
and. This operation starts the working of the electric generator.
From these receivers and the liquids are distributed intermittently by the auto-
matic raising of the valves and y" in the two troughs m and n of a
platform K, each trough having as many triangular compartments with inclined
rocking
bottom as there are battery cells in the generator of electricity.
This balanced distributor (Figures 8, 11 and 12) rocks alternately to one side and
to the other caused by the quantity of liquid conducted by the necks a or y into the
cups or the said liquid causing the rocking platform from its inclined position
to assume a horizontal position, in such manner that it presses on the weighted lever Q
which retains it until the necessary quantity of liquid falling into the trough on the
rocking platform established an equilibrium with the weight of the lever Q, and con-
tinuing to flow, it overcomes the weighted lever and oscillating the platform, empties
automatically exciting or the depolarising liquid into each of the cells by means of
funnels m¹ and n¹ directly above the orifices i and f of the cells B.
In order that the flow of the exciting and depolarising liquids by the tubes ¹ and f¹
shall take place periodically and uniformly in each of the cells, the trough of each
rocking platform is only charged intermittently when the cock or y is opened by
the electrical mechanism to be afterwards described. At the moment the platform
oscillates to empty the liquid, a lever connected with the electrical mechanism
mentioned, closes the cock a or y by the interruption of the current.
This automatic electrical distribution mechanism is enclosed in a central case H
containing the receivers u and " of the exciting and depolarising liquids. At the
bottom of these receiver valves all and y" (Figures 7, 9 and 10) are arranged which
are fitted at the ends of rods x and y attached respectively by the upper ends to
armatures of electro-magnets M and N in electrical connection on one hand with the
terminal 1 and the terminals 7, 8 and 9 (Figures 11 and 12) and with the battery
cell P¹ of the electric generator; and on the other hand with the terminals 2 and 3
and the metallic discs 4 and 5, insulated from each other, of a clock L the hand or
needle of which makes one revolution per hour. The pivot 6 of the hand or needle
communicates with the opposite pole of the battery cell P', whilst its flexible point
successively makes contact in its rotation with metal pins c¹ and c¹ inserted into and
projecting from the metal discs 4 and 5.
By these successive contacts of the needle point with the pins, an electric current
is caused to pass successively through the electro-magnets M and N, the armature ell
of which is thereby attracted and raises the rods a¹ and y¹ to which they are attached,
opening a passage for the liquids by the cocks and y into the troughs m and n of
the distributing rocking platform and from thence into the porous cells. The current
starting from the battery cell P¹ and passes to the terminal 1, and from thence through
metallic levers (Figures 11 and 12) each fixed to bottoms R of the casing of the 4
rocking platform K. This lever oscillates around the axis 9 carries a metal rod 8,
which presses against a flat metal spring attached to the terminal 7 which is
connected to the terminal 1 (Figure 9). A spiral spring maintains the lever con-
stantly against the spring. The lever is held at a distance from the spring
a rod
g
by
fixed to each of the troughs m and n of the rocking platform K and partakes 5
of the oscillating motion produced by the flow of the liquid into each of the troughs m
and n successively.
Consequently when the trough m or n falls, its pin g pushes aside the lever l¹ and
the current from the battery cell P₁ is broken, the electro-magnet M or N no longer
attracts its armature and the valve or y falls onto its seating, intercepting the flow 5
of the liquid from the receivers u or by the tubes or y into the corresponding
trough m or n of the rocking platform.

page_text: The troughs
m and n of the rocking platform K are arranged so as to fall over
completely when they are full and to remain in that position (Figure 12) when empty,
the cocks x and y being set in such a manner, that the feed may take place even in an
inclined position.
When the trough opposite to that which has just fallen is being charged with
liquid, it levels itself and tends to rock over, but this is prevented by a lever Q
(Figures 8 and 13) which is weighted or counter balanced in such a way that the
trough is not allowed to fall or rock over until the predetermined quantity of exciting
or of depolarising liquid has flowed into this trough and by varying the tension of
spring d¹, a larger or smaller quantity of liquid may he caused to flow into the trough
as desired, independently of the height of the liquid in the reservoirs or the duration.
of its flow from the cocks .or y.
The example of lever. Q shown movable around the axis a' comprises an oscillating
head held in place by a spring c¹; a spiral spring d' returns the lever Q to its
original position limited by the pin e. The head babuts against a rib 6¹¹ fixed to
the rocking platform a little above its axis.
By leaving intervals or spaces between the pins c¹ c¹¹ (Figure 9) on the discs 4
and 5 a regular and intermittent flow of the exciting and depolarising liquids into
the troughs m and n of the rocking platform K is ensured, corresponding to the con-
sumption of these liquids in the cells of the electric generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An electric battery with automatic discharge of the heavy liquids resulting from
the working of the battery, in which the zinc and the carbon are completely immersed
in order to avoid efflorescence of the salts, the chief features being a porous pot standing
higher than the rectangular basin of the battery, and which is porous only on its two
longer parallel sides facing the zinc; the extra height of this porous pot above the
rectangular basin constituting a reservoir where the exciting liquid is stored to act
by its weight or pressure on the heavy liquids at the bottom of the porous pot and
drive them out through a siphon the porous walls of this pot being provided with ribs
acting as baffles on which the carbons are affixed, so as to form hermetically sealed
hollows between the walls and the carbons in which the depolarising liquid circulates
and is discharged by an orifice emptying into the basin of the battery, the whole
arranged to obtain a maximum electric power.
2. The arrangement shown (Figures 1 to 6) of battery with automatic discharge of
the heavy liquids, thus preventing the effloresence of the salts, and consisting of a
basin with a discharge lip, and a porous pot (partly enamelled and partly porous)
standing higher than the basin, containing a central porous trough in the bottom,
which receives the exciting liquid from a funnel at the side through holes placed on
the line separating the porous parts from the enamelled or non-porous parts; this
trough being provided with a siphon tube, which discharges outside the basin the
heavy liquids taken from the bottom. The porous sides of this trough are ribbed
or filletted on the outside and receive carbons, which form lateral hollows, into which
a lateral funnel distributes the depolarizing liquid, the liquid escaping after exhaustion
into the basin of the battery, the whole as described and for the purpose specified.
3. A generator of electricity automatically its feed or renewal, and discharge,
consisting of a number of the batteries above claimed, arranged on a carriage in the
form of a drawer of a cabinet or piece of furniture of which the upper parts serve as
reservoirs for the exciting and depolarising liquids which flow intermittently, effected
by means of electric mechanism with a clockwork movement, into gutters from
whence they are distributed by a rocking platform into each of the batteries, as
described and as shown Figures 7 and 8.
4. In a generator of electricity with automatic feed and discharge of the liquids,
the application of a rocking platform with two troughs for distributing regularly and
B

page_text: automatically into each of the battery cells, small equal quantities of liquids at the
same periods of time, whatever the height of the column of liquid and the duration of
its flow may be, as described and shown.
5. The mechanical and electrical arrangements for distributing periodically equal
quantities of liquids into a number of cells, irrespective of the duration of flow of
these liquids, as described and as shown in Figures 7, 9, 10, 11, and 13.
6. The arrangements of the battery and generator of electricity above described and
shown, and for the purpose specified.