IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Gustavus Baron de Overbeck of 23 Ryder Street Saint
James's in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GALVANIC BATTERIES the result partly of invention and discovery made by
himself and partly of a communication from abroad made to him by Doctor F.
Hornung of Magdeburg in the Kingdom of Prussia
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1883.
GUSTAVUS Baron de OVERBECK of 23 Ryder Street, Saint James's in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES" [the result
partly of invention and discovery made by himself and partly of a communication
from abroad made to him by Doctor F. Hornung of Magdeburg in the Kingdom of
Prussia]
This invention has for its object improvements in galvanic batteries.
I construct a primary battery composed of elements the one electrode of which
consists of carbon alone, or platinum alone, or carbon covered with platinum, or
lead or any other metal or substance covered with platinum placed in an oxidising
fluid or solution yielding chlorine-the other electrode consisting of aluminium
metal placed in a solution of alkalies and alkaline carbonates.
I prefer that the carbon electrode should be immersed in a mixture of chromate
of potash, sulphuric acid and water, and the aluminium electrode immersed in a
soda solution.
The general formula for the arrangement of this battery is :-
Carbon-oxidising fluid-alkaline fluid-aluminium.
Other metals which remain unattacked in an oxidising liquid can replace the
carbon.
In place of soda other alkaline or saline solutions may form the surrounding fluid
of the aluminium.
In place of the soda solution or other alkaline fluid the aluminium may be
immersed in hydrochloric acid or a mixture of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, or
a mixture of sulphuric acid and some chloride which is soluble in water. Or further
[Price 4d1

page_text: the aluminium may be immersed in a soluble chloride alone or in a mixture of
some such chloride with other salts.
Instead of carbon immersed in an oxidising fluid, copper or lead may be
employed immersed in a solution of sulphate of copper, and with or without the
use of a diaphragm separating the two liquids inasmuch as if the proper degree of
concentration of the fluids be employed, the specific gravity of the respective.
solutions will effect their separation without the use of a diaphragm.
The element may also be constructed as a single fluid battery by employing
carbon with pyrolusite (the dioxide of manganese) as the positive, and aluminium
as the negative electrode, both immersed in a solution of some chloride.
The carbon may be here also replaced by platinum, solid or as a coating as before
stated, and the solution of some chloride may also be replaced by some oxidising
fluid as the liquid in which both electrodes are immersed.
The combination of two or more of such elements to form a battery does not
need any explanation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1883.
"
GUSTAVUS Baron de OVERBECK of 23 Ryder Street, Saint James's in the
County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES The result
partly of invention and discovery made by myself and partly of a communication
from abroad made to me by Doctor F, Hornung of Magdeburg in the Kingdom of
Prussia
This Invention has for its object improvements in galvanic batteries.
I construct a primary battery composed of elements the one electrode of which
consists of carbon alone or platinum alone, or carbon covered with platinum or
lead or any other metal or substance covered with platinum placed in an oxidising
fluid or solution yielding chlorine the other electrode consisting of aluminium metal
placed in a solution of alkalies and alkaline carbonates.
I prefer that the carbon electrode should be immersed in a mixture of bi-chromate
of potash, sulphuric acid and water, and the aluminium electrode immersed in a
soda solution.
The general formula for the arrangement of this battery is :-
Carbon-oxidising fluid-alkaline fluid-aluminium. Other metals which remain
unattacked in an oxidising liquid may replace the carbon.
In place of the soda solution other alkaline or saline solutions may form the
surrounding fluid of the aluminium.
In place of the alkaline fluid the aluminium may be immersed in a mixture of
hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, or a mixture of sulphuric acid with some chloride
which is soluble in water. Or further the aluminium may be immersed in a soluble
chloride alone, or in a mixture of some such chloride with other salts.
Instead of carbon immersed in an oxidising fluid copper or lead may be
employed, immersed in a solution of sulphate of copper and with or without the
use of a diaphragm separating the two liquids, inasmuch as if the proper degree of
concentration of the fluids be employed the specific gravity of the respective
solutions will effect their separation without the employment of a diaphragm.
The element may also be constructed as a single-fluid battery by employing
carbon with Pyrolusite-the dioxide of manganese-as the positive and aluminium
as the negative electrode both immersed in a solution of some chloride.
The carbon may be here also replaced by platinum solid or as a coating, as before
stated, and the solution of some chloride may also be replaced by some oxidising
fluid as the liquid in which both electrodes are immersed.
The combination of two or more such elements to form a battery does not
need any explanation.
I hereby claim as new and important features of the above invention;—
First, in Galvanic elements with two fluids.
1. Aluminium in an alkaline fluid (solution of alkalies and alkaline carbonates)
carbon in an oxidising fluid or solution yielding chlorine.
2. The same with platinum, solid or as a coating, instead of carbon.
3. Aluminium in a mixture of hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, or in a mixture
of sulphuric acid with a chloride carbon or platinum solid or as a coating in an
oxidising or chlorine-yielding fluid.
4. Aluminium in chlorides or other salts with the addition of chlorides carbon or
platinum as before.
5. The same as in 1, 3, 4 but instead of carbon or platinum in an oxidising or
other fluid copper or lead in sulphate of copper,

page_text: 6. The same as in 3, 4, 5 but in place of the diaphragm the separation of the
two liquids by their different specific gravities.
Secondly, in galvanic elements with a single fluid.
7. Carbon with Pyrolusite (manganese dioxide) and aluminium in a chloride.
8. Carbon or platinum solid or as a coating and aluminium in an alkaline
oxidising fluid or an oxidising fluid yielding chlorine.
9. The same as 8 but instead of an alkaline oxidising fluid an acid oxidising fluid
containing chlorine.
In witness whereof I the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck have hereunto set
my hand and seal this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three