Year: 1888

page_text: I, JAMES NOAD, of East Ham, in the County of Essex, Electrician, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in Galvanic Batteries for generating
electricity, and has especial reference to improved forms and to an improved
arrangement of the positive and negative elements or electrodes, and to an
improved mode of charging the battery with exciting salts and oxides, which
improvements permit of the condition of the battery being at any time examined
and of the spent salts and oxides being withdrawn without disturbance of the vessel
containing the electrolyte. The Invention also has reference to an improved method
of controlling the action of the battery, (without removal of any parts or disturbance
of the containing vessel) in such a manner as that it may be prevented from acting
chemically in the generation of electricity, excepting when required to do external
work or to so act, thus preventing waste of the materials of the battery when not
wanted for use and consequently rendering the battery of comparatively longer
duration.
This latter part of the Invention consists essentially in the application to the battery
of means for causing an accumulation within the vessel, of the gases generated by the
action of the battery while it remains in action, in such a manner as that the pressure
thereby occasioned shall be effective in displacing the electrolyte from submerging the
exciting salts and consequently stopping the continued generating action of the battery
until the latter is again required to be used when the battery may be immediately
restarted.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1.
represents a sectional elevation of a battery constructed in accordance therewith.
Fig. 2. represents a plan view thereof. Fig. 3. represents an elevation of the parts
of the battery constituting the negative electrode. Fig. 4, represents a plan view
thereof. Fig. 5. represents an elevation of the positive electrode showing the same
as supported by the lid of the said containing vessel, and the application of a simple
modification of the said controlling means.

page_text: 8, represents a containing vessel, which is preferably made of metal and placed in
a suitable insulated case.
9. represents a removable tray or pan which is formed of negative metal and
supplied with a charge in the form of an oxide, and is placed in and rests on the
bottom of the vessel 8, and has rivetted or otherwise suitably connected with it a
cylindrical, square or other suitably shaped hollow column, 10, also of negative metal,
and which is continued upwards to within a short distance of the top of the vessel, 8,
and is connected to a wire, band or cable, 11, which passes through an airtight hole
or opening, 12, in an insulated lid or cover, 19, applied to the vessel, 8, and is con-
nected to a terminal, 13. The lower part of the column, 10, is cut away at parts, as
at, 14, and is perforated or equivalently formed, as at, 15, for permitting of the free
circulation of the electrolyte, and in its upper part is cut an opening or opposite
openings, 16, which is or are adapted with a perforated bottom or shelf, 17, in which
opening or openings and on which shelf is placed a perforated or open removable
basket or crate, 18, which may be charged with any suitable exciting salts, and may
be otherwise equivalently supported at the upper part of the vessel, 8. Such parts
constitute the negative electrode of the battery..
To the said cover, 19, is screwed or otherwise fitted a depending casing, 2", of
positive metal which surrounds and is concentric with the column, 10), and is air-tight
to a short distance below the bottom level of the crate or basket, 18, containing the
exciting salts. The lower depending part of such casing is cut away at parts as at, 21,
and is perforated or equivalently formed, as at, 22, in like manner as the column, 10,
to permit of the free circulation of the electrolyte, and to this positive casing is
connected a wire, band or cable, 23, which is connected to the terminal, 24. Such
casing constitutes the positive electrode of the battery.
When the said crate and tray are charged respectively with a suitable salt and
oxide, the outer vessel may be charged with water so as to submerge the exciting
salts when the battery will start in operation, but if the battery when thus first
charged is wanted for immediate use the water may be rendered slightly saline with a
suitable exciting salt or salts.
The cover of the vessel, 8, is also provided with a vent pipe, 25, which opens into
within the casing, 20, and is fitted with a controlling tap, 26, or any equivalent means
of control, which, when the battery is desired to be kept in action, is opened, so as to
let the gas generated in the action of the battery have free escape through such vent
pipe, which allows of the electrolyte keeping a uniform level throughout the
vessel, 8, and submerging both the said salts and oxides; but if it is desired to stop
the action of the battery, the tay, 26, is turned off or its equivalent is set in operation,
whereupon the gases which continue to be generated while the battery remains in
action are caused to accumulate within the positive casing, 20, and to be effective in
driving the electrolyte downwards within the casing, 20, to below the level of and
out of contact with the salts in the crate, 17, and upwards around the casing, 20,
between it and the sides of the vessel from which the gas there imprisoned can escape
under the lid or cover or a hole therein, and thus the action of the battery is
stopped.
When it is desired to restart the battery, it is only necessary to turn on the tap, 26,
or to operate the equivalent controlling device to allow of the escape of the gases pent
up in the casing, 20, upon which the electrolyte immediately recovers its normal level
and the battery is at once restarted.
27, represents a discharge tap applied to the vessel, 8, and by which the spent
solution can be run off.
As among the principal advantages of the present improvements, may be mentioned
that they permit of the battery being conveniently discharged, recharged or examined
without removal of the containing vessel, the cover, 19, to which the positive electrode
is fixed being fitted with handles, 28, by which it and the positive. electrode can be
removed at pleasure, so as to permit of the withdrawal of the. negative column and
tray and of the same being examined and recharged if necessary.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described improved arrangement or construction of galvanic
battery.
2. The hereinbefore described improved forms of the positive and negative elements
or electrodes and the application and use thereof in galvanic batteries.
3. The hereinbefore described improved mode and means of charging a galvanic
battery with exciting salts and oxides and of withdrawing the spent salts and oxides
therefrom.
4. The hereinbefore described improved method of controlling the action of the
battery as required for the purposes referred to.
5. Causing an accumulation of gases generated by the action of the battery within
the containing vessel to be effective in displacing the electrolyte from submerging the
exciting salts for the purpose hereinbefore referred to.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.