IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Henry Emmens, of Argyll Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Actuary for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
BATTERIES"
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Henry. Emmens at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1882.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS of Argyll Street in the County of Middlesex, Actuary,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES"
My invention relates to an improved form of battery cell, and to certain novel
combinations of electrodes and electrolytes and depolarizing agents to be employed
therein.
My cell is preferably cylindrical in form, and is closed at both ends. It is
constructed in two parts, cut across the axis of the cell, and these parts are screw-
threaded or otherwise formed to unite or separate at will. The lower part
constitutes the battery, whilst the upper part is a reservoir, into which fluid
electrolyte may be made to flow by inverting the cell, and the battery part thus
deprived of an element, and rendered inactive. The two parts are divided by a
diaphragm, pierced to allow of the passage of the fluid electrolyte. Underneath
this diaphragm is an annular rib, on either side of which are fitted the electrodes,
and in the chamber thus formed the electrolyte is placed. The poles may be
carried through the walls of the cell at any convenient points, and a safety valve
may be fitted to allow escape for the gases freed, should their accumulation become
excessive.
This cell may be employed for known descriptions of battery, but is capable of
certain advantageous modifications, which are as follows:-
First I make the outer electrode of zinc and the inner electrode of carbon, either
in the shape of a cell, or in that of a rod placed in a porous pot. This carbon cell
or porous pot I fill with liquid arsenic acid, to serve as a depolarizing agent, and use
sulphuric acid as the exciting agent or electrolyte. In this form I place an inverted
D

page_text: glass cylinder or cell above the diaphragm, so that when my cell is inverted, the
acids may be kept from mixing.
Second I form similarly to the first named, but I fill the central electrode with
bichromate of potash.
Third. I form similarly to the first named, but I fill the central electrode with
nitric acid.
Fourth I form the outer electrode of zinc or lead, and the inner electrode of
compressed peroxide of lead.
Fifth. I form the outer electrode of zinc, and the inner electrode of carbon,
coated by electrolysis with oxide of manganese.
My cells are capable of employment in primary and secondary combinations; for,
after discharge, they may be recharged by electrolysing the saturated electrolyte.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Henry Emmens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th February 1883.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Argyll Street, in the County of Middlesex, Actuary,
IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
My Invention relates to an improved form of battery cell, and to certain novel
combinations of electrodes and electrolytes and depolarizing agents to be employed
therein, which I find to be advantageous in batteries of usual form.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
My cell is preferably cylindrical in form, though it may assume any form
suitable for subjecting the escaping gases to any desired treatment, and it is closed
at both ends. Figures and 2 show a sectional elevation and perspective view
respectively of one form, aud Figure 3 shows an outside elevation of a second form.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the figures. My cell is constructed in
two parts or chambers A and B, cut across the axis of the cell as at C, and these
parts are screw-threaded, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or otherwise formed to
unite or separate at will. The lower part B constitutes a chamber containing
complete generating elements, whilst the upper part A constitutes a chamber into
which fluid electrolyte may be made to flow by inverting the cell, and the battery
thus deprived of an element and rendered inactive, or the upper part A may
constitute a chamber for any desired treatment of the gases escaping from the
lower chamber B whilst the battery is active. It is obvious that for this latter
purpose the reservoir chamber need not necessarily be over the generating chamber,
but may be situated at the side of it and connected thereto by a neck. The two
parts are sometimes conveniently divided by a diaphragm, D, pierced to allow of
the passage of the fluid electrolyte in the one case, or of the escape of the gases
in the other case. Underneath this diaphragm is an annular rib E, on either side
of which are fitted the electrodes, and in the chamber thus formed the electrolyte
is placed. The poles may be carried through the walls of the cell at any convenient
points, for instance as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a safety valve F may be
fitted to allow escape for the gases freed should their accumulation become
excessive.
This cell may be employed for known descriptions of battery, but is capable of
certain advantageous modifications in regard to the elements etc., which I find to
be applicable in cells of ordinary construction, and which are as follows:-
First. I make the outer electrode G of zinc, and the inner electrode of carbon,
either in the shape of a cell, or in that of a rod K placed inside a porous pot H.
This carbon cell or porous pot I fill with liquid arsenic acid, to serve as a
depolarizing agent, and use dilute acid as the exciting agent or electrolyte. In
this or similar form I place an inverted glass cylinder or cell L above the
diaphragm, so that when my cell is inverted, the acids may be kept from mixing.
This cylinder or vessel may be a continuation of the porous cell, the upper balf
being glazed.
Second. I form similarly to the first named, but I fill the central electrode with
bichromate of potash; but this chemical compound I find to have been already used
and therefore do not claim.
Third. I form similarly to the first named, but I fill the central electrode with
nitric acid

page_text: Fourth. I form the outer electrode of zinc or lead, and the inner electrode of
compressed peroxide of lead in plates, rods, or granules, employing my hereinbefore
specified or other known fluids as electrolytes and depolarizers.
Fifth. I form the outer electrode of zinc, and the inner electrode of carbon,
coated by electrolysis with oxide of maganese, employing my hereinbefore
specified or other known fluids as electrolytes and depolarizers.
My cells are capable of employment in primary and secondary combinations, for,
after discharge, they may be recharged by electrolysing the saturated electrolyte.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention, and the manner of its performance, be it known that what I consider
novel and desire to protect by my letters patent is:-
First. The Construction of a galvanic cell in two separable parts or chambers,
one containing complete generating elements, and the other constituting a chamber
to serve either as a reservoir, or a chamber for the treatment of escaping gases,
substantially as specified.
เ
Second. In a galvanic battery the combination of known elements, or alternative
special elements specified in relation to my fourth and fifth modifications, with
arsenic acid as a depolarizer, substantially as specified in relation to my first
modification.
Third. In a galvanic cell constructed in separable parts or chambers, the combi-.
nation with known elements, or alternative special elements specified in relation
to my fourth and fifth modifications, of nitric acid (either alone or mixed with
other agents) substantially as specified in relation to my third modification.
Fourth. In a galvanic cell tho.combination with known elements, or alternative
special elements hereinbefore specified, of respective electrodes of peroxide of lead
compressed into suitable form, and of zinc, lead, or other suitable metal, substantially
as specified in relation to my fourth modification.
Fifth. In a galvanic cell the combination with known elements, or alternativo"
special elements hereinbefore specified, of respective electrodes of zinc and carbon
electrolytically coated with oxide of manganese, substantially as specified in relation
to my fifth modification.
In witness whereof I the said Stephen Henry Emmens have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty seventh day of February in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three
Witness
S. P. WILDING.
23 Rood Lane, Fenchurch St..
London. E.C..
Patent Agent.
STEPHEN H. EMMENS (L.S.)
1