Improvements in or relating to Primary Electric Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Primary Electric Batteries.
I, WALTER ROWBOTHAM, of 47 Vittoria Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention has reference to that class of primary electric batteries in which
the main body of the exciting fluid is separated from the portion contained in the.
active part of the cells by partitions having near their upper and lower ends apertures,
through which a circulation of the exciting fluid takes place owing to the increase in
temperature that arises in the active portion of the cells when the batteries are
supplying current.
According to my present invention I divide the portions of the outer vessel
within which the main body of the exciting fluids is contained, into compartments
or sections, by means of transverse partitions having apertures therein for the
reception of tubes which are advantageously arranged horizontally. These apertures
are so situated that the tubes in one partition break joint with those in the other, the
said tubes serving the purpose of offering considerable resistance between the aforesaid
various compartments or sections without however entirely cutting off communication
between these compartments or sections. In this way the electrical resistance between
each compartment is increased to a maximum.
In some cases I so construct the said apertures or tubes that the extent of their
openings can be conveniently regulated. This may be effected by means of rotary
rods extending through the apertures or tubes and having appropriate cavities
therein. These cavities when brought into suitable position relatively to transverse
or other openings formed in the tubes (or formed in sockets extending from the
apertures if no tubes be employed) will more or less close or entirely shut off the
communication between the various compartments or sections. Any other suitable
device may however be employed for this purpose.
Another part of my present invention has reference to the exciting fluids for use in
batteries of this or other kinds in which carbon and metal elements such as iron, in
particular, or other base metals are employed.
For the carbon elements I employ a fluid comprising the following ingredients
viz.:-
Bichromate of soda
Nitric acid
Sulphuric acid
Water
-
Potassium chlorate
Instead of the bichromate of soda I may employ chromic acid.
32 ozs.
55 "
150 "
320
"
4
وو
For the metal elements I employ a solution of any suitable alkaline chloride but
prefer to use a solution composed of about 1 oz. of potassium chlorate to about 60 ozs.
of a saturated solution of ammonium chloride or potassium chloride.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the proportions of the
ingredients set forth above as these are only approximately stated.
Dated this 4th day of November 1895.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Primary Electric Batteries.
I, WALTER ROWBOTHAM, of 27 Vittoria Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Electrician, 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 :-
This invention has reference to that class of primary electric batteries in which
the main body of the exciting and depolarizing fluids is contained in reservoirs
separated from the portion contained in the active part of the battery by partitions
having near their upper and lower ends apertures through which a circulation
of the exciting and depolarizing fluids takes place during the working of the
battery as set forth in the Specifications of prior Patents No. 107, 7600" and 13730º.
According to one part of my present invention I divide the said reservoirs into
compartments or sections by means of transverse partitions having apertures
therein through which comparatively long tubes pass horizontally and break joint
with each other. Or the said apertures may be provided with means whereby
they can be simultaneously opened or closed by external contrivances for the
purposes of simultaneously filling and emptying a number of cells contained in one
battery, and keeping each cell insulated from the other.
In order that this part of my invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect 1 will describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional plan and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section thereof.
Figures 3, and 4 are similar views shewing a modification.
Figure 5 is an elevation and Figure 6 a plan shewing a further modification.
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
A is the outer vessel of the battery. BB' are longitudinal partitions dividing the
outer vessel into three main compartments. Each of these inain compartments is
divided by transverse partitions into subsidiary compartments a b c.
DD are
transverse porous partitions with which each compartment 6 is provided. In the
spaced between these porous partitions the metal elements are placed and in the
spaces outside then the carbon elements are placed. a'a' are the circulation openings
in the partition B by which communication is established between the compartments a d;
and c c are the circulation openings in the partition B' by which communication is
established between the compartments b and c, the aforesaid circulation openings
being arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth in the hereinbefore
enumerated prior patents.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 each of the transverse partitions C
is provided with an aperture near its lower end through which is passed a
horizontal tube E which is of such a length that its ends almost reach the contiguous
partitions. The relative position of the various tubes E is also such that the end of
one tube breaks joint with the end of another tube in the same compartment as
clearly shown in Figure 1. F F are taps for enabling the exciting and depolarizing
fluids to be drawn off and the battery emptied when desired.
In the modification illustrated at Figures 3 and 4 I employ long rods G having
sorew threaded portions g g where they pass through each of the partitions C. Each
of these screw threaded portions is also formed with a slot g' which is so situated that
when the rods occupy the position shewn in Figure 4 all the cells in the
compartments a and c respectively will be in communication with one another
through the aforesaid slots. One end of each of the said rods extends through the.
wall of the outer vessel and is provided with a suitable head 9 for enabling it to
be readily revolved. The said outer vessel is also provided with bosses A' through
which the rods pass and these bosses have opening A' at their lower side through

page_text: which the fluids in the battery can escape when each rod is in the position shown
in Figure 4.
When it is desired to fill the cells with fluids the aforesaid rods are revolved in the
reverse direction until the slots at the ends of the rods are brought into such a position
that the outlets A³ are closed, without completely closing the apertures in the
partitions C. It will be obvious that the filling of all the cells can be effected by
admitting the fluid into any one of the cells in the compartments a or c. After the
filling operation the said rods are further revolved to bring them into the position.
indicated in Figure 3 and then each cell of the battery will be isolated from the
other.
In the further modification illustrated by Figures 5 to 8 each of the apertures in
the transverse partitions C is provided with a plug H similar to an ordinary tap-plug.
The stems of these plugs extend through the wall of the outer vessel A and carry
worm-wheels h which gear with worms h¹ formed on a longitudinal shaft h². This
shaft is carried in bearings h³ and is provided with a hand wheel * for revolving it.
When the said shaft is revolved in one direction all the apertures are simultaneously
opened and the fluids in the battery can flow out by the openings h³ h (Figure 6)..
By turning the shaft in the opposite direction all the aforesaid openings will be
closed.
Another part of my invention has reference to the exciting and depolarizing fluids.
for use in batteries of this or other kind in which carbon and metal elements of iron
or other cheap metal, are employed.
For the carbon elements
viz. —
Bichromate of soda
Nitric acid
Sulphuric acid
Water
-
Potassium chlorate
employ a fluid comprising the following ingredients.
Instead of bichromate of soda I may employ chromic acid.
32 ozs
55 "
150
320 "
"
"
For the metal elements I employ a solution of any suitable alkaline chloride but
prefer to use a solution composed of about 1 oz. of potassium chlorate to about 60 ozs..
of a saturated or diluted solution of ammonium chloride or potassium chloride.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise proportions
of the ingredients set forth above as these are capable of variations."
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. In an electric battery of the kind hereinbefore stated the construction of the
reservoirs or compartments a and c with transverse partitions having tubes arranged
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. The modification of our invention in which the aforesaid transverse partitions
are provided with openings which can be opened or closed by external means.
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
3. The construction of the outer vessel of an electric battery substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 5 to 8 of the
accompanying drawings and for the purpose specified.
4. For use with an electric battery in which carbon and metal elements are
employed the exciting fluids composed of the hereinbefore stated ingredients.
substantially in the proportions specified.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.