IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

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I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES A communication to
me from abroad by Jules Cerpaux of 16 Boulevard du Nord, Brussels, Electrical
Engineer and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to this Invention an Electric battery possessing great resistance and a
constant current is obtained capable of driving sewing and other machines and for
lighting by electricity, practically, economically and regularly, private houses,
railway carriages and other vehicles without the use of steam or other engines or
machines, without inconvenience danger smell or noise.
The invention refers to the composition of a new electric battery having great
resistance with a constant current. This Battery is composed of a vessel made of
glass, earthenware, or of any other suitable material, of a ring of zinc amalgamated
or not, of a porous vase, and of carbon with metal head.
The novelty in the Invention consists in the employment of the different
materials which are placed and superposed in the porous pot or vase.
These
combined materials form a new combination. They are mercury, sulphate of
copper, peroxide of manganese in grains or granulated, sulphate of zinc, peroxide
of manganese mixed in grains or granulated and powder, with crushed carbon from
retorts, the whole covered with a layer of lead. Another part of the novelty of the
Invention also consists in the employment of a long lead wire inside the porous vase
or pot and formed into a spiral at the bottom of the said vase or pot successively
traversing all the above named materials downwards and upwards. This lead wire
thus forms two rods stopping level with the porous vase or pot and it holds
magnetically the different materials contained in the porous vase or pot.
The accompanying drawings fully illustrate the manner in which the Invention
is carried into effect. Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the centre of a
Battery constructed according to this Invention the lead wire being in section at
the spiral and the carbon whole or in elevation. A is the lead wire, B a layer of
mercury of say one sixteenth of an inch in thickness, O is a layer of sulphate of
copper of say three quarters of an inch in thickness, D is a layer of peroxide

page_text: of manganese in grains of about three quarters to 1/8th inch in thickness, E is a
layer of sulphate of zinc or of bisulphate of mercury or other analogous salts of
about the 16th or rather more of an inch in thickness. The depths of these
layers may be varied according to requirements, F is a layer of peroxide of
manganese in grains and powder mixed with crushed retort carbon of from about
21 to 2 inches and G is a layer of sulphate of lead covering the whole.
The central carbon is marked with the letter H; it may be made of any suitable
shape; it is paraffined at the upper end and a piece of copper or other analogous
material may be substituted for it. The drawing shows this carbon of hexagonal
shape. P is the porous pot. I is the slit zinc ring amalgamated or not fitted
with a copper ribbon i having a slot for coupling. J is the vase or pot
containing all.
Figure 2 shows the form given to the lead wire A according to the width and
length of the porous vase or pot.
Figure 3 shows a porous vase or pot made with small holes in the bottom which
can also be used.
Figure 4 shows the porous vase or pot in vertical section through the centre
without the piece of carbon and showing the layers of the different materials.
These proportions and materials are relative to the size of the battery. The
dotted lines show the lead wire.
A Battery thus constructed is of great resistance and has a constant current.
Several of these Batteries combined give resistance that has not hitherto been
obtained. This battery is charged with water saturated with chloride of sodium
or any exciting salt. To obtain a good result the salts should be melted in boiling
water and used when quite cold. The form of the pot or vase may be that of
trough or other convenient form.
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 :-
First The construction and employment of electric batteries before described
composed of the above mentioned materials viz mercury, sulphate of copper, per-
oxide of manganese in grains or granulated and in powder crushed retort carbon,
sulphate of zinc or bisulphate of mercury and sulphate of lead and the employment
thereof in the order named or in any other order or other suitable proportions
substantially as set forth.
Second-In electric batteries the employment of lead wire resting upon one or
several spirals, in a porous vase or pot substantially as before described.
Third The construction and employment of electric batteries substantially as
herein before described of any convenient proportion and shape.
Dated this First day of November 1884.