Improved Storage or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Improved Storage or Secondary Batteries.
We, WILLIAM BARNUM HOLLINGSHEAD of Brouxville in the Township of East
Chester in the State of New York, Electro-Metallurgist, and SYDNEY HOWARD
CARNEY of the City, County and State of New York (201 West 55th Street) United
States of America Physician 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 :-
Referring to the accompanying drawing which represents in three sectional
elevations, an accumulator or storage battery as it may be arranged in as many
different forms in accordance with our invention, two elements are taken, one a,
composed of manganese dioxide, and the other b, of metallic iron, they are
immersed in water having in solution preferably potassium bi-chromate to act as a
conveyor or electrolyte, but permanganate of potash, cyanide of potash or other
equivalent conveyor, or electrolyte may be used.
In process of electrical action in charging, the manganese dioxide constitutes the
negative pole, the iron the positive or the reverse.
The hydrogen eliminated from the positive element reduces the manganese dioxide
to a lower oxide producing water, while the oxygen of the negative element oxidizes
the iron.
The potassium bi-chromate or other conveyor or electrolyte is separated into its
alkaline and acid constituents, the chromic anhydride being deposited upon the iron
or negative (during reverse action) element in conjunction with the ferric oxide,
while the alkaline radical passes to the manganese dioxide or positive (in reverse
action) element, producing caustic potash which acts as a conveyor or electrolyte
during reverse action.
In fig. 1, of the drawing we have represented the manganese dioxide in solid mass,
but it may be used as well in plates or in granular or pulverulent form as in figures 2
and 3, in which case it will be applied in the battery in a crib or porous cup c, or
other holder of any approved kind that will not be acted on by the solution, and will
have a carbon or iron conductor d.
The manganese dioxide may also be placed in the porous cup c, located in the
bottom of the jar e, with a porous plate f, above and the iron element 6, above the
porous plate as in fig. 3, with the carbon conductor d, embedded in the element a.
The iron element may also be in small particles if desired and provided with con-
ductor d, as in fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The combination in a voltaic accumulator or storage battery of a plate or mass of
manganese dioxide and a plate or mass of metallic iron and an electrolyte or conveyor
composed of water having in solution an acid salt, which on decomposition deposits
an insoluble compound on the negative or iron element, and a soluble compound on
the manganese dioxide element acting as an electrolyte or conveyor during reverse
action or discharge.
2nd. The combination in a voltaic accumulator or storage battery of a mass of
manganese dioxide a conductor therefor substantially as described, a plate or mass of
metallic iron, and an electrolyte or conveyor composed of water having in solution an

page_text: acid salt which on decomposition deposits an insoluble compound on the Degative or
iron element, and a soluble compound on the manganese dioxide element acting as an
electrolyte or conveyor during reverse action or discharge.
Dated this 25th day of February 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Associate Agent.