Year: 1897

page_text: I, VICTOR JEANTY, of 19 Rue Turgot, Paris, in the Republic of France, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The main distinguishing feature of the electrical battery which forms the subject
of this invention is, that its exciting liquid is, chemically speaking, kept separate
from the depolarizing liquid, although, electrically, the electrodes are directly
connected; while as regards the relative quantities of the liquids, contained in the
cells, constant and uniform proportions are maintained.
This arrangement, therefore, affords a means for removing the inconvenience
attaching to the batteries now in use, comprising porous vessels or jars whereby the
separation of the liquids is effected, or wherein such liquids are superposed in an
order of succession determined by their density, or specific gravity. Besides,
current of great intensity and uniformity of tension is obtained at a minimum cost.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, so that there may be no
doubt as to its nature; and the manner in which it may be applied to both primary
and secondary batteries, I will hereinafter describe the same in detail.
A negative or insoluble electrode, formed of one or more parallel wires, rods or
laminae, of copper, carbon or any other material suited to the nature of the
depolarizing liquid employed; such wires, rods or laminae being connected and
secured in any convenient manner to a common cross bar, serving as a collector;
and
A positive or soluble electrode, formed of one or more parallel laminae of zinc
or any other metal that may be effected by the exciting liquid employed; such
laminae being connected in any convenient manner to a collector, which may be a
transverse rod similar to the rod or bar serving as the first mentioned collector
or a mercury bath.
The wires rods or the like are placed at the bottoms of baths; such baths being
of elongated shape, narrow and low, and communicating below, each at one end,
through an orifice with a feeding reservoir to which the said baths are properly
fitted. The baths and reservoir, forming jointly a connected whole, are con-
structed of India rubber, porcelain, glass, polished wood or any other material

page_text: being originally, or having been made, acid-proof. The negative collector is
secured to the receiver by any suitable means; such receiver having a false bottom
situated a little distance below the upper edge of the baths.
The laminae of the soluble electrode are interposed-preferably erect-between
the baths mentioned above, so that, their upper edges are level with the tops of
the said baths, or a little distance above or below the same. To this end they rest
upon supports integral with the baths, or supported in any other convenient
manner.
The whole arrangement is placed in a receiver of glass, porcelain, India-rubber
or other acid-proof material, the shape and dimensions of which should be suited
to the nature of its contents.
The bath-bottoms should be at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the
receiver, a result which is attained by the interposition of suitable feet or supports.
Opposite the vessel or chamber, or in any other convenient situation, the receiver
is provided with a partition, which does not reach down to the bottom, and ahead
of which is situated a compartment having an orifice for the overflow hereinafter
more fully referred to. Or, instead of such compartment, discharge-tubes, answer-
ing the same purpose, may be provided.
Into the supply-reservoir slightly acidulated water is admitted, which, through
the perforations, is distributed to the several baths, until both the baths and the
receiver are completely filled. Under the influence of this acidulated water,
electrical action will immediately become manifest, seeing that the two electrodes
(zinc and copper, for example) are immersed in the exciting liquid.
Upon the false bottom of the vessel or reservoir crystals of sulphate of copper
are placed. These gradually dissolve, to form the depolarizing liquid, which, on
passing through the orifices, rises to the level of the rods of the negative electrode.
This depolarizing solution little by little supplies the place of the exciting liquid,
which, eventually, occupies only the upper part of the baths, its loss being com-
pensated for by the sulphate of copper crystals, the metal of which settles upon the
negative electrode.
As a result of the action of the acidulated water, or exciting liquid, upon the
bars of the positive electrode, there forms a salt of the metal constituting the
electrode; and this salt, whilst dissolving in the liquid, yet, owing to its specific
gravity, descends to the bottom of the receiver, so that it can in no case enter the
baths containing the depolarizing liquid. The denser portion of the exciting
liquid, by passing underneath the partition, enters the compartment, the overflow
escaping through the orifice. Where delivery tubes are employed, the effect will
be identical.
Electrical action takes places incessantly, the negative electrode being constantly
depolarized, while the positive electrode is acted upon with the utmost regularity,
since it plunges in a liquid the specific gravity of which continues practically
without any variation, owing to the constant discharge of the saturated parts,
according as they form.
It will thus be seen that this action takes place between the feeding, baths the
walls of which are impervious; for, as the plates or wires of the positive electrode
are level with the said baths, or, indeed, remain below the level of such baths, it
follows that the salt which is formed, being of greater specific gravity than the
exciting liquid, cannot rise and must fall to the bottom of the receiver. No
mixture of the cupric solution with the salts, of zinc, which, would form were the
latter metal to dissolve, is therefore, apt to occur.here.
'
"
The advantage of a battery of this construction, as compared with, existing
batteries, may therefore be described as follows:-
(1) The absolute severance in the operating battery of the depolarizing, from
the existing liquid, chemically speaking, notwithstanding that the two liquids
remain connected electrically; whereby a mixture of them, as well as secondary
reactions of an objectionable character, is avoided in other words, both, the
chemicals employed in forming the cell, and the bye-products, are kept entirely.

page_text: apart, while the electrodes continue in electrical connection through the medium
of the liquid which serves as a vehicle for the depolarizing agent.
(2) The omission of any porous partition, which (where it exists) invariably
gives rise to a resistance to the passing current.
(3) The utilization, to full advantage, of the depolarizer employed, without loss
or waste of any sort, since, however small may be the quantity of liquid contained
in the baths, the rods of the negative electrode are yet invariably surrounded by it.
(4) A reduction of the expenditure of depolarizing liquid, or of the amount of
such liquid strictly required to effect depolarization; inasmuch as such liquid is
never in the condtiton of an oversaturated solution.
(5) The facility for reducing or increasing at will the internal resistance of the
cell and, consequently, the amount of "active" substances such cell consumes, by
either diluting the exciting liquid more or less, or by increasing or reducing the
surface of the negative electrode.
When an insoluble depolarizing agent is used, as in single-liquid batteries, my
arrangement offers the advantage of protecting the liquid, in which the depolarizer
is steeped, from having its purity impaired by the products formed by the action
exercised upon the soluble electrode; whereby a constant supply of electrical
energy is ensured.
Where insoluble depolarizers are employed, the supply reservoir is dispensed
with, since such reservoir can be of use only where depolarizing solutions,—in any
suitable liquid,--are utilized.
In the case of secondary batteries the baths are not connected with a supply
reservoir, which is non-existent, and the two electrodes may both be insoluble.
Thus the positive electrode for example, is of porous metallic lead, while the
negative electrode is lead surrounded with lead peroxide. The baths are fitted
with such electrodes alternately; the electrodes being connected in any convenient
manner and the complete arrangement being enclosed in a suitable receiver, unpro-
vided with any means of delivery or discharge, and containing a suitable liquid,
the evaporation of which may be prevented in any convenient manner.
There
may be superposed a number of tiers of baths, if desired.
In secondary batteries thus arranged the materials employed will be well retained
in place and prevented from falling off their supports, and the capacity of the cell
may be considerably increased, since it is unnecessary to employ any metal as
dead weight" conductor, as happens in the case of the ordinary plates; the con-
ductor being well protected from any chemical action, by being surrounded with
"active". material on all sides. In secondary batteries such as these the lead
peroxide may be employed as an insoluble negative electrode, and the zinc or other
metal or alloy, as a positive electrode. The soluble metal dissolves without the
solution of its salt mixing with the peroxide of lead, and when the battery is
charged, the electrolysis of the solution will deposit the metal upon the plate,
lamina or wire, without there being any possibility of internal contacts arising
between electrodes of opposite polarity; such electrodes being separated from each
other by insulating material, while the electrolytic deposit forms towards the
lower part of the positive electrode by reason of the reduced resistance. Besides,
no irregularity in the metallic deposit need be feared, in contradistinction to what
happens in the secondary batteries hitherto used, where the support of the positive
metal is immersed in a solution composed of layers the specific gravity of which
increases in proportion as they near the bottom. In the present arrangement the
upport of the metal plunges in a liquid of uniform specific gravity, since it is
retained at the top of the liquid over the whole of its surface, while the bulk of the
solution produces a perfectly even electrolytic deposit upon the lamina or wire.
This arrangement of secondary batteries also admits of the employment, for
electrodes, of semi-liquid or liquid amalgams, as well as of liquid metal, such as
mercury, for example. It enables the zinc to be kept well amalgamated through-
ut and the metal deposit to be received upon the liquid mercury.
The following is a further example of an arrangement of secondary batteries;

page_text: within baths there may be placed a lamina or rod of lead garnished with points
or teeth, so as to distribute the current over the wholes mass or body of the
depolarizer, the conductibility of which is less than that of the metal; and the
baths should then be filled with peroxide of lead. The positive electrode comprises
zinc plates or wires interposed between the baths and plunging into the acidulated
water solution. The plates or wires constituting each electrode are respectively
connected to a collector the extremity of which serves to admit the current.
In the case of semi-liquid or liquid amalgams, these are placed in the baths, in
contact with a rigid conductor of any suitable material; each conductor thus
arranged being connected with a main collector.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that my novel electrical battery
arrangement is as readily applicable to primary as to secondary batteries, which, I
wish it distinctly understood, may be carried out in any shape, and upon any scale,
no matter how large or small.
It will also be understood that the baths, of which my invention involves the
employment, may be varied at will in number and in sectional area or outline;
and, further, that they may be arranged or combined in any convenient manner;
say, in the case of secondary batteries, in a number of superposed tiers; and
that they may be of either rectangular or circular shape, and connected, or not,
with a feeding or supply reservoir: and that they may be enclosed in a chamber
or receiver containing the exciting liquid, provided, or unprovided, with such
means for the discharge or delivery of the liquid, as will draw off the liquid from
the bottom. And, lastly, it must be understood that I propose to construct the
baths of any acid-proof material that I may under given circumstances deem
preferable.
OXUL 1
SV 1907
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, VICTOR JEANTY, of 19 Rue Turgot, Paris in the Republic of France, Chemist,
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:
The main distinguishing feature of the electrical battery which forms the subject
of this invention, is, that its exciting liquid is, chemically speaking, kept separate
from the depolarizing liquid, although, electrically, the electrodes are directly
connected; while as regards the relative quantities of the liquid, contained in the
cells, constant and uniform proportions are maintained.
This arrangement, therefore, affords a means for removing the inconveniences
attaching to the batteries now in use, comprising porous vessels or jars whereby
the separation of the liquids is effected, or wherein such liquids are superposed in
an order of succession determined by their density, or specific gravity. Besides,
current of great intensity and uniformity of tension is obtained at a minimum cost.
In order that my invention may be readily understood so that there may be no
doubt as to its nature, and the manner in which it may be applied to both primary
and secondary batteries, I will hereinafter describe the same in detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view representing by way of example, a
primary battery constructed in accordance with my invention.

page_text: Figure is a partial longitudinal section snowing the
positive electrode.
arrangement
UI
Figure 3 is a representation of a modified arrangement for coupling together the
constituent parts of the positive electrode, and
Figure 4 is a partial cross-section showing the respective positions of the con-
stituent elements of both the negative and positive electrodes.
A primary battery embodying my invention comprises the following parts:-
A negative or insoluble electrode, formed (as shewn in Figure 1) of one or more
parallel wires, rods or laminae, a, a', a² a, of copper, carbon, or any other
material suited to the nature of the depolarizing liquid employed, such wires, rods
or laminae being connected and secured in any convenient manner to a common
cross-bar, serving as a collector; and
A positive or soluble electrode, formed of one or more parallel laminae such
as b, 61, 68.. 6, of zinc or any other metal that may be effected by the exciting
liquid employed; such laminae being connected in any convenient manner to a
collector, which may be a transverse rod, such as B (Figures 1 and 2), similar to
the rod or bar A, or a mercury bath such as B¹ (Figure 3).
The wires rods or the like a, a, a2 ax are placed at the bottoms of
baths c. c. . c*, respectively; such baths being of elongated shape, narrow
and low, and communicating below, each at one end, through an orifice x, with a
feeding reservoir C to which the said baths are properly fitted. The baths and
reservoir, forming jointly a connected whole, are constructed of India-rubber,
porcelain, glass, varnished wood or any other material being originally, or having
been made, acid-proof. The collector A is secured to the receiver C by any
suitable means, such receiver C having a false bottom f situated a little distance
below the upper edge of the baths.
The laminae b, b1, b2. . . 6x of the soluble electrode are interposed preferably
erect, between the baths mentioned above, so that, as shewn in Figure 4, their
upper edges are level with the tops of the said baths, or a little distance above or
below the same. To this end they rest upon supports s. s¹ integral with the baths,
or supported in any other convenient manner.
The whole arrangement is placed in a receiver R of glass, porcelain, India-
rubber or other acid-proof material, the shape and dimensions of which should be
suited to the nature of its contents.
The bath-bottoms should be at a predetermined distance from the bottom of
the receiver, a result which is attained by the interposition of suitable feet or
supports. Opposite the vessel or chamber C, or in any other convenient situation,
the receiver R is provided with a partition r, which does not reach down to the
bottom, and ahead of which is situated a compartment having an orifice for
the over-flow hereinafter more fully referred to. Or, instead of such compart-
ment discharge-tubes as 72 (Figure 3), answering the same purpose, may be
provided.
Into the supply-reservoir C slight acidulated water is admitted, which; through
the perforations is distributed to the several baths, until both the baths and the
receiver R are completely filled. Under the influence of this acidulated water,
electrical action will immediately become manifest, seeing that the two electrodes
(zinc and copper, for example) are immersed in the exciting liquid.
Upon the false bottom of the vessel or reservoir C crystals of sulphate of copper
are placed. These gradually dissolve, to form the depolarizing liquid, which, on
passing through the orifices rises to the level of the rods of the negative electrode.
This depolarizing solution little by little supplies the place of the exciting liquid,
which, eventually, occupies only the upper part of the baths, its loss being com-
pensated for by the sulphate of copper crystals, the metal of which settles upon
the negative electrode.
As a result of the action of the acidulated water, or exciting liquid, upon the
bars of the positive electrode, there forms a salt of the metal constituting the
electrode; and this salt, whilst dissolving in the liquid yet, owing to its specific

page_text: gravity, descends to the bottom of the receiver R, so that it. can in no case enter
the baths containing the depolarizing liquid, the denser portion of the exciting
liquid, by passing underneath the partition r, enters the compartment r¹, the
overflow escaping through the orifice . Where delivery tubes ² Figures 3 are
employed, the effect will be identical.
+5°
Electrical action takes place incessantly, the negative electrode being constantly.
depolarized, while the positive electrode is acted upon with the utmost regularity,
since it plunges in a liquid the specific gravity of which continues, practically
without any variation, owing to the constant discharge of the saturated parts,
according as they form.
It will thus be seen that this action takes place between, the feeding baths the
walls of which are impervious for as the plates or wires of the positive electrode are
level with the 'said baths, or, indeed, remain below the level of such baths, it
follows that the salt which is formed, being of greater specific, gravity than the
exciting liquid, cannot rise and must fall to the bottom of the receiver R. No
mixture of the cupric solution with the salts of zinc,-which would form were the
latter metal to dissolve--is therefore apt to occur here.
The advantage of a battery of this construction, as compared with existing
batteries, may therefore be described as follows:-
(1) The absolute severance in the operating battery of the depolarizing, from
the exciting liquid, chemically speaking-notwithstanding that the two liquids
remain connected electrically; whereby a mixture of them, as well as secondary
re-actions of an objectionable character is avoided in other words, both, the
chemicals employed in forming the cell, and the bye-products, are kept entirely
apart, while the electrodes continue in electrical connection through the medium of
the liquid which serves as a vehicle for the depolarizing agent.
(2) The omission of any porous partition, which (where it exists) invariably
gives rise to a resistance to the passing current.
(3) The utilization, to full advantage of the depolarizer employed, without loss
or waste of any sort, since, however small may be the quantity of liquid contained
in the baths, the rods of the negative electrode are yet invariably surrounded by it..
(4) A reduction of the expenditure of depolarizing liquid, to the amount of such
liquid strictly required to effect depolarization; inasmuch as such liquid is never
in the condition of an over-saturated solution.
(5) The power of reducing or increasing at will the internal resistance of the
cell and, consequently, the amount of "active" substances such cell consumes, by
either diluting the exciting liquid more or less, or by increasing or reducing the
surface of the negative electrode.
When an insoluble depolarizing agent is used, as in single-liquid batteries, my
arrangemen offers the advantage of protecting the liquid, in which the depolarizer
is steeped, from having its purity impaired by the products formed by the action
exercised upon the soluble electrode; whereby a constant supply of electrical
energy is ensured.
Where insoluble depolarizers are employed, the supply reservoir C is dispensed
with, since such reservoir can be of use only where depolarizing agents, in solution
in any suitable liquid, are utilized.
In the case of secondary batteries the baths c are not connected with a supply-
reservoir C, which is dispensed with, and the two electrodes a and b may both
be insoluble. Thus the positive electrode b, b¹, 6x for example, is of porous
metallic lead, which the negative electrode, a, a', a³ a is lead surrounded
with lead peroxide. The baths c, c¹, c². care fitted with such electrodes
alternately the electrodes being connected in any convenient manner and the
complete arrangement being enclosed in a suitable receiver, K, unprovided with
any means of delivery or discharge, and containing a suitable liquid, the evapora-
tions of which may be prevented in any convenient manner.
There may be a
superposed a number of tiers of baths, is desired.

page_text: "
In secondary) batteries thus arranged the materials employed will be well
retained in place and prevented from falling off their supports, and the capacity
of the cell may be considerably increased, since it is unnecessary to employ any
metal as "dead weight" conductor, as happens in the case of the ordinary plates:
the conductor being well protected from any chemical action, of being surrounded
with "active" material on all sides. In secondary batteries such as these the
lead peroxide may be employed as an insoluble negative electrode, and the zinc
or other metal or alloy, as a positive electrode. The soluble metal dissolves without
the solutions of its salt mixing with the peroxide of lead, and when the battery
is charged, the electrolysis of the solution will deposit the metal upon the plate,
laminae or wire, without there being any possibility of internal contacts arising
between electrodes of opposite polarity; such electrodes being separated from each
other by insulating material, while the electrolytic deposit forms towards the
lower part of the positive electrode, by reason of the reduced resistance.
Besides, no irregularity in the metallic deposit need be feared, in contradis-
tinction' to what happens in the secondary batteries hitherto used, where the-support
of the positive metal is immersed in a solution composed of layers the specific
gravity of which increases in proportion as they near the bottom. In the present
arrangement the support of the metal plunges in a liquid of uniform specific
gravity, since it is retained at the top of the liquid over the whole of its surface,
while the bulk of the solution produces a perfectly even electrolytic deposit upon
the laminae or wire.
This arrangement of secondary batteries also admits of the employment, for
electrodes of semi-liquid, or liquid amalgams, as well as of liquid metal, such as
mercury for example. It enables the zinc to be kept well amalgamated through-
out, and the metal deposit to be received upon the liquid mercury."
The following is a further example of an arrangement of secondary batteries;
within baths c, c¹, c c there may be placed a lamina or rod of lead garnished
with points or teeth, so as to distribute the current over the whole mass or body of
the depolarizer, the conductibility of which is less than that of the metal; and the
baths should then be filled with peroxide of lead. The positive electrode comprises
zinc, plates or wires interposed between the baths and plunging into the acidulated
water solution. The plates or wires constituting each electrode are respectively
connected to a collector, the extremity of which serves to admit the current.
In the case of semi-liquid or liquid amalgams, these are placed in the baths, in
contact with a rigid conductor of any suitable material; each conductor thus
arranged being connected with a main collector.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that my novel electrical battery
arrangement is as readily applicable to primary or to secondary batteries, which,
I wish it distinctly understood, may be carried out in any shape, and upon any
scale, no matter how large or small.
It will also be understood that the baths, of which my invention involves the
employment, may be varied at will in number and in sectional area or outline;
and further, that they may be arranged or combined in any convenient manner;
say, in the case of secondary batteries, in a number of superposed tiers, and
that they may be either rectangular or circular shape, and connected, or not, with
a feeding or supply reservoir; and that they may be enclosed in a chamber or
receiver containing the exciting liquid, provided, or unprovided, with such means
for the discharge or delivery of the liquid, as will draw off the liquid from the
bottom. And, lastly, it must be understood that I propose to construct the baths
of any acid-proof material that I may under given circumstances deem preferable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) In electrical batteries (primary or secondary) the provision of separate im-

page_text: pervious baths of either circular or rectangular shape, arranged horizontally and
adapted to contain depolarizing or any other suitable liquid, as well as one of the
electrodes, as specified.
(2) The electrical battery arrangement hereinabove referred to, mainly
characterized by the combination of a negative electrode laid horizontally in an
impervious bath containing the depolarizing agent at the bottom,-with a positive
electrode arranged parallel to the bath, and level therewith, or reaching to a little
distance below or above its level; the complete combination being plunged in a
receiver containing the exciting liquid its effect being to chemically insulate the
agents employed, whilst maintaining the electrical connections between the
electrodes as specified.
(3) The arrangement, for primary batteries with a soluble depolarizer of one or
more impervious batteries, as claimed in the first claim, in combination with: a
supply or feeding reservoir containing the depolarizing agent; each bath con-
taining a part or element of a negative electrode, connected with a collector,
and communicating with the said reservoir through a perforation made in the
bottom part of such bath.
"
"
(4) In constructing primary batteries, the combination of one or more impervious
baths connected to a feeding reservoir comprising plates or lamina which form
constituent parts or "elements" of the positive electrode, connected to a collector
of any suitable construction.
(5) The novel arrangement of the exciting liquid receiver, comprising a com-
partment, or a set of tubes, for delivering or drawing off the liquid automatically
from that part of the liquid body at which its specific gravity is greatest.
(6) The primary battery as hereinabove described and shewn in the accompany-
ing drawings, both in its complete form and in its details, such battery being fitted
with a supply reservoir, or not, according as the depolarizer used is; or is not, soluble.
(7) The secondary battery, as hereinabove described, whether taken as a whole
or in its details, the construction of which has been illustrated by a few examples..
Dated this 7th day of July 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.