CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO- DUCTION OR DEVELOPEMENT OF ELECTRICITY AND THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY FOR THE OBTAINMENT 07 ILLUMINATION AND MOTION
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. FREDERICK
DE MOLEYNS of Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester Esquire Send
Greeting.
WHEREAS er Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing date at Westminster
the twenty first day of August 1841 in the fifth year of her Reign did give
and grant unto me the said Frederick De Moleyns my exors admors and
assigns Her especial licence full power sole privilege and authority that. I the
said Frederick De Moleyns my exors admors and assigns or such others as
I the said Frederick De Moleyns my exors admors and assigns should at
any time agree with and no others from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term of years therein mentioned should and lawfully might take
use exercise and vend within that part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England the Dominion of Wales and Town of
Berwick upon Tweed my Invention being "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OR DEVELOPEMENT OF ELECTRICITY AND THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY
FOR THE OBTAINMENT 07 ILLUMINATION
AND MOTION" in which said letters
patent there is contained a proviso that the said Frederick De Moleyns
shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed by an Instrument in writing under
my hand and seal to be inrolled in Her Majestys High Court of Chancery

page_text: within six Calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent as reference being thereunto had will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE that in compliance with the said proviso the said
Frederick De Moleyns do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following instrument in writing.
My Improvements as embraced by the Title of the said Letters Patent may
be resolved into three branches namely Improvements in the production or
developement of Electricity by certain novel Combinations of known substances
whereby the Electric Power is largely developed by small quantities and
superficies of those substances with the important advantages of nearly perfect
Freedom from the noxious effluvia arising from certain Combinations previously
known avoidance of the use of Mercury and of undiluted Acids and the preser-
vation of equal power for a long period-Secondly the application of the
electric power or principle whether produced by the improved combinations
above referred to or by previously known combinations to a new and
improved mode of producing what is commonly called Electric light" whereby
that light may be sustained and increased so as to make it available for
lighting apartments or for any other Fluminating purpose-Thirdly Improve-
ments in the application of Electricity in its voltaic form when developing
Magnetic Power in Iron to the production of a motive force of increased effect
by means of improved modes of producing Magnetism in Iron and of arranging
and combining the Electro Magnets-For convenience I shall describe my
improvements in each branch separately but before detailing the nature of
those relating to the production of Electricity will recount briefly the most
improved combinations hitherto known and publicly used in order that the
Improvements and modifications effected by me may be the more readily
comprehended and distinguished. Electricity as produced by metalic com-
bination with Fluids was first developed in quantity by the Pile of volta which
consisted of two metals with moistened Flannel interposed and piled in series-
Cruikshank's and Wollastons Batteries succeeded at intervals which are
troughs divided into compartments-acidulated water being interposed
between the Zine and Copper-the difference between the latter and former
being that in Wollastons Battery both sides of the zine are brought into
action by being surrounded by Copper whereas in Cruikshanks only one
side of the zinc had a copper surface opposed These Batteries variously
modified by Hare Faraday and others were in general use in Great Britain
until 1836 but the powers of all diminished greatly after a few minutes

page_text: which limited their application to Scientific research-In 1829-Becquerel of
Paris discovered the possibility of obtaining a constant Current by the use of
two metals and two fluids with a diaphragm interposed and his voltaic
combination consisted of a solution of Nitrate or other Salt of Copper in
contact with the Copper separated by a diaphragm of animal membrane or
Plaster of Paris from a Solution of Sulphate of Zinc in contact with the Zine
The diaphragm prevented the adhesion of positive elements to the negative
surface and the nascent Hydrogen was removed.by deoxydating Copper-This
grand discovery laid the foundation of various modifications and improvements
subsequently effected in the voltaic Battery-In 1836 Daniel's Constant and
Mullins's sustaining Batteries were brought forward both being similar in
principle to Becquerel's in the use of two fluids two metals and the diaphragm
the fluids in Daniels being solution of Sulphate of Copper and acidulated water
with amalgamated Zinc and Copper the Fluids in Mullins's being a weak
solution of Muriate of Ammonia the use of which obviated the necessity of
anialgamating the Zine and using acids) Sulphate of Copper in solution Zinc and
Copper-In 1838 Grove introduced the nitric acid Battery which consisted
of Platina in undiluted Nitric Acid both being contained in a porous diaphragm
amalgamated Zine and water acidulated with sulphuric acid. This the most
powerful combination of any hitherto known is not fitted for extensive use
by reason of the noxious fumes arising from the decomposition of the Nitric
Acid-the inconvenience in the use of the acid itself-the impossibility of
preserving an equally powerful current for a long period and the use of
mercury in amalgamating the Zinc. It now only remains to describe the
combination I have discovered which obviates the greater part of the incon-
veniences arising from the use of other Batteries and at the same time
developes extraordinary power. To one pound of Nitrate of Ammonia
twelve fluid ounces of soft water and as soon as the salt has fully dissolved
I add to one measure thereof the like quantity of pure sulphuric acid of
Commerce taking the precaution to place the vessel containing the solution
in Ice or salt and water or some other frigorific mixture and gradually
introducing the acid so as to prevent the mixture from attaining a high tem-
perature-the fluid is to be stirred as the acid is poured in-and as soon
as the preparation above named has been added the vessel is to be placed
in a cool place until liquor becomes cold-it is then to be put into
stoppered bottles and is fit for use it may be well to observe that
as what is called the pure sulphuric acid of Commerce is never really pure
and as the same objection applies to the Nitrate of Ammonia a sediment
will be found in the bottles at the end of a few days and the liquor will
add

page_text: then be perfectly clear and colorless in such circumstances it will be
adviseable to decant the liquid into other bottles before laying by for use-
I next prepare a saturated Solution of Hydrochlorate of Ammonia which is to
be filtered and then bottled for use the Battery Combination of which the
liquids before named form part and which I find most economical and powerful
is arranged as follows-In a strong glass or well glazed porcelain or cemented
wooden vessel three inches by two and a half internal measurement and three
and a half deep is placed a piece of Mosselmans Sheet Zinc of the annexed
form the sides being nearly the height and width of the vessel and the
narrow part or bottom one and a half inch wide within this upturned sheet
of zinc and resting on it is a cell of seasoned Sycamore or porous biscuit ware
three fourths of an inch internal diameter and of the depth and breadth of the
zinc which surrounds it-within this cell is suspended by a binding screw from
a lacquered brass or gilt metal bar which crosses the outer vessel and rests
thereon a piece of thin sheet platina cut so as to pass freely into the cell and
of similar depth-the Battery is now perfect and to put it in action the
Nitrate of Ammonia acidulated solution is to be poured into the cell holding the
platina to within half an inch of the top of the cell-the saturated solution of
muriate of ammonia is to be poured into the Glass vessel in contact with the
zinc until it attains a level with the other solution, a binding Screw with a
Copper Shank is to be rivetted to the zinc as preferable to soldering and on
closing the voltaic Circle the Battery is in immediate and powerful action and
will preserve its original strength until the nitrate solution assumes a very light
green color when it will be requisite to draw off by means of a Syphon arrange-
ment or syringe the exhausted liquor and replenish with fresh while it is in
the act of passing off which can be done without any difficulty or loss of
power by many simple contrivances which are well known the Muriate
solution may be removed similarly but will not require to be changed unless
the Battery is maintained in action more than twelve hours, what I here
observe in regard to changing the solutions is only applicable to the simple and
diminutive form of Battery which I have been describing. In Batteries of a
larger size the plates of which are five or six inches square and the containing
vessels large in proportion (which size bc it observed is best adapted for the
production of powerful electro magnetic effects) the Nitrate liquor may be
preserved in its original strength by a convenient apparatus attached to the
Battery which will gradually supply the inner and outer compartments with a
given quantity of Fresh Fluids in a given time while the weak liquors are
carried off in a reservoir connected with the Battery for the purpose of
obtaining therefrom by simple Chemical operations various substances whose

page_text: mercantile value will tend to reduce considerably the cost of the Battery con-
sumption in this combination there are various advantages which I do not
believe to be attainable in any other Battery known the use of a saturated
solution of Mnriate of Ammonia in contact with the zine obviates the unwhole-
some troublesome and expensive process of amalgamation for there is no
local action therefore the zine lasts much longer in this combination than in
any other again wooden cells or partitions which are the most durable dia-
phragms of any may be used with the prepared liquor the noxious fumes
produced by the Nitric acid Battery are avoided the action is sustained without
a Tresh supply of Fluids for a long period and the Electric effects are so propor-
tioned in regard to quantity and intensity that the electricity developed is
peculiarly applicable to the production of great Electro magnetic power it is
to be particularly observed that although I have hitherto confined myself to
the description of the effects of the combination of certain proportions of Nitrate
of Ammonia water and Sulphuric acid 1 do not restrict myself to the use of
those particular proportions for I frequently use the Salt of Ammonia in various
other proportions with water and sulphuric acid although I prefer the mixture
described herein neither do I confine myself to the use of Nitrate of Ammonia
alone for usc Nitrate of Potash and other Nitrates in combination with
Sulphuric acid but prefer the Nitrate of Ammonia as most effective and most
manageable in consequence of no precipitate being formed while the battery
is in Action neither do I restrict myself to the use of Muriate of Ammonia in
connection with the zinc for use occasionally Mnriate of Soda and Sulphate
of Zinc in saturated solutions but none of the Muriates or Sulphates aid in
developing a current nearly so strong as the volatile alkaline salts herein before
described I would here remark that whenever the action is stopped it will be
proper to remove the diaphragm cell and place it in water slightly acidulated
and in any form of battery where the diaphragm is not moveable then to draw
off the liquid contents and pour in acidulated water.
The Second part of my Invention consists of the application of Electricity-
no matter by what combination it may be produced to the attainment of
continued light by the adoption of a mode of arrangement which enables that
light to be maintained and regalated and applied to any purpose for which
light may be required. It is very well known that electric light (so called) of
great intensity has been frequently produced by the instrumentality of powerful
voltaic combinations but beyond establishing the fact the light itself was of
no use inasmuch as the arrangements by which it was developed were imper-
fect which prevented the light from being sustained the usual mode of
exhibiting this electrical effect was by arming the Electrodes of a powerful

page_text: voltaic Battery with Charcoal points or one Charcoal point and a fine platina
wire which points were brought into Contact either in the atmosphere or
in an air pump vacuum and then removed slightly apart when an arc or
brush or starlike light was developed which however ceased or declined
after a few seconds and was only renewed by bringing other parts of the
Electrodes into contact now my Invention consists of the follow arrange-
ments A Glass globe similar to that in present use for shewing electric light
in vacuo is similarly furnished with two brass Caps in opposite parts of the
Sphere through which communication may be made with the interior and by
one of which the Globe may be exhausted at pleasure we will suppose the
caps to be in vertical line when the globe is fixed on its stand and the
upper cap to contain a glass or insulated metal tube which passes through
the cap and reaches nearly to the centre of the interior of the sphere
this tube is made to taper cone-like from within an inch of its internal
extremity to the extremity itself so that the opening at that end shall
not be more than an eighth of an inch in diameter through this tube a
thick copper wire working in an air tight collar in the brass cap is
made to pass until it reaches within a quarter of an inch of the conical
end of the tube where it is united to a fine platinum wire which projects
beyond the tube being wound into a spiral form externally the coiled
part being one eighth of an inch in diameter and a quarter of an inch in length-
The thickness of this wire (and this remark applies to the other proportions of
the apparatus) must depend upon the power of the battery and quantity of
light required for its object being to develope a white heat when acting as the
positive electrode if too thin it would be liable to melt if too thick it would
not produce sufficient heat. Opposed to this wire which forms one electrode of
the Battery) is another thick copper wire passing through the opposite brass
cap and also through an air fight colar having at its extremity within the
globe a coil of thin platina wire similar to that already described and for a
similar purpose and with this difference only that within this coil is a small
piece of spongy platinum, these electrodes can be made to touch or separate
by means of screw arrangements in the caps-The Glass or other tube already
described is now be filled with finely pulverized box-wood-charcoal or
plumbago and on, connection being established between the electrodes and the
battery one of the fine platina coils becomes white hot the charcoal which falls
through and around both coils is ignited and a light pure and intense is
thus obtained which is kept up by the continually changing points of contact
of the Coils with the Charcoal powder as by its gravity it descends slowly
through the tube and falls to the bottom of the sphere thence to be withdrawn

page_text: for future use for the better understanding of the arrangement just described
I annex a sectional view of the apparatus AA represents the Glass
Globe B the glass or metal tube with conical end holding pulverized Charcoal,
CC brass caps through which the electrodes and glass tube pass through air-
tight collars D D Copper electrodes to which the terminal platina coils are
attached EE the thin platinum wires coiled F F bending screws
connect electrodes with battery. It will be apparent that the apparatus
described may be constructed in divers forms so as to fit it for the various
illuminating purposes to which it may be applied the annexed form attached
to an ornamental stand is applicable to the lighting of public or private
apartments.
to
The third part of my Invention consists in certain improvements in the
application of electricity to the obtainment of motion-The first improvement
consists in a mode of constructing electro magnets by which from a given
weight of iron more attractive power may be obtained than has been hitherto
developed in any other known form of electro magnets thick Copper or other
wire covered with Cotton or ribbon or from eight to ten very thin wires bound
together and similarly covered are laid upon a strip of Sheet iron previously
softened say six inches in width three feet long and one eighth of an inch
thick the wires are placed parallel to each other and to the sides of the Sheet
iron and separated by intervals of one eighth of an inch or more (or laid close
together) and by an interval of half an inch in the centre of the strip before
the wires are so laid one end of the strip of iron is to be rolled upon a
Cylindrical rod of iron or other substance of half an inch or an inch in diameter
according to the size of the magnet required so as that upon the withdrawal
of the rod one end of the sheet shall form a hollow Cylinder the wires are
then to be laid as before described upon the remaining length of the strip and
that part of the iron which has been already turned up is to be rolled on thus
enclosing the wires previously laid upon its surface and when rolled to the
other end presenting a compact electro-magnet each wire having a surface of
iron on both sides and thus exercising a double magnetising effect when the
electric current is sent through it an enormous surface in a given weight of
iron is thus obtained and the course of the current being short upon this
encreased surface it will be evident that in the construction of large electro
magnetic Engines immense power may be obtained in small space and much
unnecessary weight and cost of iron got rid of it will be observed that the
strip of iron when rolled up is hollow in its centre this hollow may be filled
when desired with a solid rod of iron or a bundle of iron wires which will
increase the magnetic effects and the roll of iron itself may be covered on the

page_text: so as to
outside with insulated wire like any common electro magnet-The annexed
diagram represents the strip of iron before rolling. A A A A. The strip
of sheet iron laid flat B B one end of the sheet rolled once
leave a hollow for the introduction of a rod of iron or a bundle of wires-C C
the covered wires laid upon the sheet before rolling their ends being turned
out at each end of the Sheet for the purpose of connection with the battery or
with each other-It is to be borne in mind that the iron strip may be of any
degree of thickness that will admit of its being rolled that it may be of any
length of any breadth or that very thin strips may be laid one on the other
and rolled up together and should the sheet iron beyond a certain thickness
prove refractory in rolling and danger of injury to the intervening wires be
apprehended this difficulty is easily obviated by placing a strip of lead or other
soft metal upon the sheet iron in the first instance then rolling the iron upon
the Lead then melting out the Lead and finally coiling and packing the wires
in the spaces occupied previously by that metal.
My second Improvement is a modification of the first and is simply a com-
bination of soft iron hollow Cylinders of quarter inch or any thinner substance
upon which covered wire is coiled singly from end to end and one Cylinder so
covered introduced into another a size larger-the larger covered in a similar
manner and introduced into a third of greater diameter and so on until the
combined Cylinders attain the size required the whole are then bound together
by a screw passing through their centres from side to side of the external
Cylinder.
My third Improvement consists in applying the above described Electro
magnets or any others to the production of motion in machinery by an improved
anode of arrangement whereby greater force is obtained than by any of the
methods in present use. A series of Electro magnets as above described or
any others are passed through circular holes at regular distances all round the
felloes or rim of a wooden wheel fixed in a metal or other frame and parallel
to its axis an equal portion of each magnet projects at either side of the rim
of the wheel and fixed in frames on each side of the wheel and parallel to it.
are a number of Electro magnets of equal size and strength corresponding
with the number in the wheel and of equal strength. The spokes of this
driving wheel are of sullicient substance to admit of a certain number of
Straight Electro magnets being passed through them also parallel to its
axis and in the frame work on each side of this wheel are fixed electro-
magnets radiating from a centre formed by the axis of the driving wheel
which works in the frame and in their relative distances from each other
corresponding with the magnets fixed in the driving wheel-The poles of the

page_text: magnets in the frames are opposed to the poles of the magnets in the wheel
during the revolution of which attraction is converted into repulsion by a
change in the polarities of the fixed magnets effected by a Commutator worked
by the wheel. I deem it proper to add that I prefer suspending or cutting off
the Electricity of the fixed magnets to changing their polarities but am pre-
vented applying this method in my improved Engine it being Patented by
another party-The fixed magnets are worked by one battery or series of
Batteries and the moving or wheel magnets by another and the connections
with the batteries are effecied by those modes which are generally known and
adopted in Electro magnetic motive arrangements.
Having thus fully described and set forth the nature of my said Improve-
ments and the manner of carying out the same I will now explain what I
claim as my Invention.
First claim as my Invention the developement of the Electric principle
by means of a combination consisting of a liquor composed of Nitrate of
Ammonia or Nitrate of Potassa or other soluble Nitrate water and Sulphuric
Acid in the proportions herein before described and also in other proportions
(those however herein given being the best) in association with platina or
other negative metal or precipitate of one metal upon another or other sub-
stance not metallic which may be substituted for the negative metal and
which is capable of resisting the action of such compound Fluid and further
consisting of a saturated aquous solution of muriate of ammonia or muriate of
Soda or other soluble muriate or Sulphate or Nitrate in association with zinc
or other positive metal the whole forming a voltaic Circle or Combination con-
sisting of the acidulated Nitrate solution Platina saturated solution of muriate
of ammonia and zinc with the addition of a wooden or other Diaphragm and
I not only claim this particular combination as my Invention but I also
claim specially as my Invention the compound liquor of which nitrate of
Ammonia Sulphuric acid and water from the ingredients in the proportions
herein before set forth (which I consider best) or in varying proportions-or of
which a different soluble Nitrate-a different acid-and water are the ingredients
inducing however when combined a similar play of Chemical affinities during
the development of electricity in a closed voltaic Circle.
Secondly claim the application of Electricity whether produced by my
combination or by any other to the development of a sustained light by the
mode herein before set forth and explained that is to say by the use of
pulverized Charcoal or Plumbago in connection with Fine Platina or other wire
or spongy Platinum or both and also the mode or mechanical means whereby

page_text: the Charcoal is brought into contact with the Platinum or other metallic
Electrode.
Thirdly I claim as my Invention the two modes of forming powerful Electro
magnets herein described and also the particular modes of arrangement of the
said improved Electro magnets or other forms of Electro magnets in the Electro
magnetic Engine herein described.
And I further claim as my Invention the particular mode of construction of
the motive apparatus herein before set forth as intended to convey motive
power to machinery and to display the greatly encreased force produced by the
described arrangement of the Electro magnets.
In witness whereof the said Frederick De Moleyns have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty first day of February in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two.
FREDERICK (L.S.) DE MOLEYNS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED that on the twenty first day of February in
the year of our Lord 1842 the aforesaid Frederick De Moleyns came before our
said Lady the Queen in her Chancery and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said and all and every thing therein contained and specified in form above
written and also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the twenty finst day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and forty two.