Year: 1899

page_text: I, ERNST WALDEMAR JUNGNER, of Brabegatan 7A, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, Professor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The faults of electrical batteries, whether primary or secondary, although manifested
in different ways, may be said to be originally due to chemical alterations which occur
in the electrolyte on or during passage of the electric current. These chemical changes
alter the relation of the materials of the liquid to the active mass or electrodes. The
lead accumulator and Lalandes secondary element (copper oxide-iron protoxide
hydrate in alkali) form exceptions only so far as the chemical quality of the
electrolyte is concerned, but not as regards the quantity or volume of the electrolyte
as the same alters in degree of concentration. In the one instance the radical of the.
lead sulphate (SO) and in the other case the hydroxyl radical (OH) of the iron
oxide hydrate (Fe (OH),) alters the constitution of the electrolyte forming
alternately part of the liquid or the solid constituents of the element. The same
is also well known to occur in Cailletet's and Collardeau's element with platinum
electrodes.
The present invention is intended to produce an electrical element, whether
for use as primary or secondary element in which on charging or discharging the
electrolyte remains throughout the same both in quality and quantity. The electrolyte
does not here take part in the chemical action but rather fulfils the role of a con-
ductor of secondary order between the electrodes and its relative weight can thus be
reduced to a minimum. The advantages of this element thus lie in the fact that
the working material (active mass and electrolyte) suffer no variation in their condition
of aggregation as in other elements.
To fulfil this object the following is necessary:-
The electrolyte must be one which under all circumstances only, on electrolysis,
suffers separation of its solvent, water, only. The active materials must be capable
of taking up or giving up oxygen (or hydroxyl) direct. The inactive holders of
the active materials should not be attackable by the oxygen or the hydrogen
developed.
The above is founded therefore on the simple transfer of oxygen (or hydroxyl) from
one active material of the one electrode to the other active material on the other
electrode and from the latter to the former.
A hydrate of a metal whose metal radical is capable of decomposing water, such
hydrate being soluble in water will fulfil the above purpose, for example potassium or
sodium hydrate.

page_text: It will thus be seen that the electrolyte has undergone no alteration in either chemical
constitution, concentration or volume.
The inactive carriers may be of nickel or copper or in general any metal whose
oxides are insoluble in alkali.
The following is an example of a secondary electrical element (accumulator) based
upon this invention.
Silver peroxide (so called-ozenized silver) in powder is pressed into a net of nickel
wire and made to adhere by any suitable binding material, its porosity being pre-
served. The net is provided with a woven in or inserted wire for conducting the
current. The negative pole is formed of a copper wire net into which finely divided
copper is pressed as in the other electrode. These electrodes are separated from one
another by porous asbestos paper interleaved between them and a suitable number
of such pairs are placed in a case of ebonite or the like, the paper being soaked in
the alkali hydrate solution. The wires from the electrodes of similar sizes are
collected together and connected to terminals. The case is sealed with a suitable
cement, a hole being left for escape of gas, which however will only be formed by
overcharging. The hole can be closed by a plug of rubber.
On discharge the following reactions occur:-
Ag.0, + 2 KOH + 2 Cu = Ag₂O + K₂O + 2.CuÓH
кO + H₂O = 2 KOH; 2 CuỔH
Cu₂O + H₂O.

page_text: The electromotive force is from 95 to 1 volt. So long as there is copper present
for reduction of the silver oxide the following reaction will also occur.
It will be seen that the electrolyte remains unaltered and the only change that
occurs is a transfer of oxygen from the one to the other active mass.
If there is used for the active mass of one of the electrodes a metal whose oxide
forms a hydrate stable in alkaline solution for example Fe (OH), the other electrode
must be provided with an equivalent quantity of a metal hydrate for example
Mn (OH), in order, that when the current passes there may be no separation of a
hydroxylhydrate without equivalent combination thereof at the other pole.
With such hydroxyl combinations in the active mass the reaction
as follows:-
Fe (OH), + KOH + Mn(OH),
=
Fe (OH), + KOH + Mn (OH)¸
On charging the reaction is reversed, it will also be seen that the liquid remains
unchanged and there is only a transfer of hydroxyl from one electrode to the
other.
The advantages of this invention are are follows:-
The above accumulator will give an energy of 40 to 50 Watt hours per kilogram of
total weight and a current of 5 to 10 Watts per kilogram. This relatively high
efficiency for so small a weight arises first from the small weight of electrolyte, secondly
since the carriers are relatively light and thirdly the masses form the greatest part
of the weight of the accumulator.
The internal resistance is small owing to the small quantity of liquid necessary and
the resistance on charging is relatively low. The small alteration of volume in the
active masses during charge or discharge gives the accumulator a high grade of
stability. As no secondary reactions can take place in this accumulator and there is
also no possibility of chemical action the accumulator will stand charged for a long
time without loss.
The principal of the invention involves the fact that the electrolyte only plays a
subsidiary part, it may be made dry (gelatinized or soaked up in porous stuff) with-
out loss of effect. The accumulator inay also, except for overcharging, be closed air-
tight and thus carried about in this condition.
It receives no damage from interrupted or too long charging or use of too strong
a charging current, or interrupted or excessive discharge, or from long rests, it is
also not affected by moisture or conditions of temperature or the like and requires
very little care or supervision; in short it answers the requirements of practice in the
fullest manner.
Dated this 14th day of April 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Batteries,
I, ERNST WALDEMAR JUNGNER, of Brahegatan 7, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, Candidate of Philosophy, 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 faults of electrical batteries, whether primary or secondary, although manifested
in different ways, may be said to be originally due to chemical alterations which occur
in the electrolyte on or during passage of the electric current. These chemical changes
alter the relation of the materials of the liquid to the active mass or electrodes. The
lead accumulator and Lalandes secondary element (copper oxide-hydrated protoxide
of iron in alkali) form exceptions only so far as the quality of the electrolyte is
concerned, but not as regards quantity, for the electrolyte alters in degree of con-
centration. In the one instance the radical of the lead sulphate (SO4) and in the
other case the hydroxyl radical (OH) of the hydrated peroxide of iron Fe (OH),
alters the constitution of the electrolyte forming alternately part of the liquid or the
solid constituents of the element.
The present invention is intended to produce an electrical element, whether for
use as primary or secondary element in which, on charging or discharging, the
electrolyte remains throughout the same both in quality and quantity. The
electrolyte does not here take part in the chemical action but rather fulfils the role
of a conductor of secondary order between the electrodes, and its relative weight can
thus be reduced to a minimum. The advantages of this element thus lie in the fact
that the working material (active mass and electrolyte) suffer no variation in their
condition of aggregation as in other elements.
To fulfil this object the following is necessary:-The electrolyte must be one which
under all circumstances of electrolysis only suffers separation of its solvent, water.
The active materials must be capable of taking up or giving up oxygen (or hydroxyl)
direct. The inactive holders of the active materials should not be attackable by the
oxygen or the hydrogen developed.
The above is founded therefore on the simple transfer of oxygen (or hydroxyl) from
one active material of the one electrode to the other active material on the other
electrode and from the latter to the former.
A hydrate of a metal whose metallic radical is capable of decomposing water, such
hydrate being soluble in water will fulfil the above purpose, for example potassium
hydrate or sodium hydrate.
On electrolysis of a solution of potassium hydrate the following reactions take

page_text: As active materials insoluble oxides of metals or finely divided (chemically or elec-
trolytically precipitated) metals are used.
Suppose that on the one pole finely divided copper is used and on the other copper.
oxide (CuO) the following would be the reaction.
CuO + 2 KOH + 2 Cu= Cu₂O + K₂O +2 CuOH.
It will thus be seen that the electrolyte has undergone no alteration
chemical constitution, concentration or volume.
CIUOCT
:
The inactive carriers may be of nickel or copper or in general any metal whose
oxides are insoluble in alkali.
The following is an example of secondary electrical element (accumulator) based
upon this invention,
Silver peroxide (so called-ozenised silver) in powder is pressed into a net of nickel
wire and made to adhere by any suitable binding material, its porosity being pre-
served. The net is provided with a woven in or inserted wire for conducting the
current. The negative pole is formed of a copper wire net into which finely divided
copper is pressed as in the other electrode. These electrodes are separated from one
another by porous asbestos paper interleaved between them and a suitable number of
such pairs are placed in a case of ebonite or the like, the paper being soaked in the
alkali hydrate solution. The wires from the electrodes of same polarity are collected
together and connected to terminals. The case is sealed with a suitable cement, a
hole being left for escape of gas, which however will only be formed by overcharging.
The hole can be closed by a plug of rubber.
On discharge the following reactions occur:-
:

page_text: If there is used for the active mass of one of the electrodes a metal whose oxide
forms a hydrate stable in alkaline solution, for example Fe (OH)2, the other electrode
must be provided with an equivalent quantity of a metal hydrate for example
Mn (OH), in order that when the current passes there may be no separation of a
bydroxylhydrate without equivalent combination thereof at the other pole.
meh hydroay! combinations in the active mass the reaction is as follows:
ayurvayi
The active SS Che reaction is as IOLLOWS:
Mn(OH)¸.
Fe(OH), + KOH + Mn (OH), = Fe (OH), + KOH + Mn (OH)
On charging the reaction is reversed. It will also be seen that the liquid remains
unchanged and there is only a transfer of hydroxyl from one electrode to the other.
The advantages of this invention are as follows:-
The above accumulator will give an energy of 40 to 50 Watt hours per kilogram
of total weight and a current of 5 to 10 Watts per kilogram. This relatively
high efficiency for so small a weight arises first from the small weight
of the electrolyte, secondly, since the carriers are relatively light and thirdly the
active masses form the greatest part of the weight of the accumulator.
The internal resistance is small owing to the small quantity of liquid necessary
and the resistance on charging is relatively low. The small alteration of volume in
the active masses during charge or discharge gives the accumulator a high grade of
stability. As no secondary reactions can take place in this accumulator and there is
also no possibility of chemical action the accumulator will stand charged for a long
time without loss.
The principle of the invention involves the fact that the electrolyte only plays a
subsidiary part it may be made dry (gelatinized or soaked up in porous stuff) without
loss of effect. The accumulator may also, except for overcharging, be closed air-
tight and thus carried about in this condition.
It receives no damage from interrupted or too long charging or use of too strong a
charging current or interrupted or excessive discharge or from long rests. It is
also not affected by moisture or conditions of temperature or the like and requires
very little care or supervision: in short it answers the requirements of practice in
the fullest manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An electrical element, for use as primary or secondary element, the holders of
the active materials of which are not attackable by the alkaline solutions used as
electrolyte, the active material of both electrodes consisting of finely divided metals
insoluble in the electrolyte, or oxides of metals which do not give up free hydrogen
when the battery is active and of which the. hydroxyl combinations cannot exist in
the electrolyte, thus preventing change as regards quantity and chemical constitution
in the electrolyte and thereby in the conductivity of the latter.
2. A form of the element in Claim 1 in which oxyhydrates of metal which are stable
in the electrolyte are added to the active materials in such proportions, that the
charging or discharging current causes a simple transfer of hydroxyl and the
electrolyte remains unchanged as regards chemical constitution and quantity.
Dated this 12th day of January 1900.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.