Im- PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ford Stanley, of 5, Great Turnstile,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.”
Sealed the 3rd January 1873, and dated the 25th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ford Stanley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th July 1872.
I, WILLIAM FORD STANLEY, of 5, Great Turnstile, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of the class of electric
batteries which generate dynamic electricity so as to render them more
portable, and in the manner of connecting bells, coils, and other apparatus
therewith.
First part of this Invention consists in making the cell (jar or bottle)
which contains the woltain couple of about double the internal length of

page_text: the active portion of the plates, which will be generally of zinc and
carbon. The plates, if they extend beyond the half the interior, must be
insulated from action of the exciting fluid, or they may be half length
and be fixed either in the top or the bottom of the cell. The purpose of
this part of the Invention is that the battery may be turned upside
down, and in such position there will be no electrical action, as the
fluid (or fluids in case of an inner pot) will not then touch the
plates.
Second part of this Invention consists in scaling over fluid batteries
in such a manner that the fluid cannot escape with some clastic sub-
stance, blowing of the glass, or otherwise, but placing within the scaling
or in some way connected with the interior of the cell a valve, so fixed
that the internal gases may escape at less pressure than would break the
cell or the sealing thereof; this valve to consist of a tube with a piece
of sheet india-rubber tied over it as an air pump valve; the novelty
being the application of this valve to a sealed battery cell.
Third item of this Invention consists in placing in the water-tight
covering of the cell described a small screwed cap or two screwed caps,
which will be generally of vulcanite. The cap will close down air-tight
and cover an opening of sufficient size to admit of renewing the zinc or
fluid, or a capsule of salts for strengthening the fluid; in the interior of
the cap is a female screw into which the zinc is screwed, the zinc being
tapped for the purpose; the conductor is hermetically sealed or screwed
in the cap.
Fourth item of this Invention consists in making a recepticle for the
cells described, which will be a wooden box in which the cells are
packed tightly by wool or other matter. The box is not left open as
usual at the top, but has a lid which can be screwed down ready for
conveyance. There are no terminals with screws for wire as asual, but
the terminals are plates of brass screwed solidly on the box, generally at
the bottom. The purpose of this part of the Invention is that a battery
if sent by conveyance may be set down in a prepared position in con-
nection with other apparatus, and will be in action at once without any
screw connection.
Fifth item. For connection of batteries with apparatus to form a
portable bell. For this a box is divided into two parts, one to contain
the battery, which is closed, and the other to contain the electrical bell

page_text: and a roller to roll up the conducting wires with touch. This part has a
door which closes the apparatus when out of use, and a handle above for
carrying the whole.
The
Sixth item. For connection of battery to work a Ruhmkorff coil. In
this the apparatus is similar to the above, the coil taking the place of
the bell, but the battery being an intensity one (bichromate generally)
it is required by my new method to be reversed when in action; there-
fore I place a flush turn down handle on the bottom of the case.
purpose of this part of the Invention is that when the handle is upper-
most, as for carrying, the exciting fluid occupies the upper part of the
jar, as described (first part), and consequently there is no electrical
action; but when the handle is turned down and this is made the bottom
of the case the coil is in action. This part is particularly described for
a coil, but similar arrangement will be followed with other apparatus.
Seventh item. My portable battery, complete as fourth item, in con-
nection with telegraphs, bells, and other fixed apparatus. For this the
battery is placed complete in its wooden case immediately in connection
with apparatus it is to work, in a recepticle fitted for the purpose,
either to drop into it or to slide into it as a drawer. The novelty of this
part of the Invention being to have the battery contained in two cases
instead of one, the one being portable.
Generally, I claim any one of these items to be used and applied
separately, any combination of one or more, or the combination of the
whole into one apparatus, or any item attached to other electrical
apparatus; the separate novelties being a long cell, half active; a sealed
cell with a peculiar valve; a water-tight cap for cells; a closed recepticle
with solid terminals for cells; a bell rendered portable; a portable coil
set in motion by by reversing the apparatus; and a double receptacle for
battery. The last three being novelties as instances of application of
the previous parts.
The materials for construction may be varied, those described being

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Ford Stanley in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 22nd January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FORD STANLEY, of 5, Great Turnstile, Holborn, in the County of 1
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Ford Stanley, Her special licence
that I, the said William Ford Stanley, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Ford Stanley, my
oxecutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ircland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN Electrical Apparatus," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Ford Stanley, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Ford Stanley, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 consists in the construction of the class of clectric
batteries which generate yinamic electricity so as to render them more
portable, and in the manner of connecting bell coils and other apparatus
therewith.
First part of this Invention consists in making the cell (jar or bottle)
which contains the voltaic couple of about double the internal length of

page_text: the active portion of the plates which will be generally of zinc and
carbon. The plates if they extend beyond the half, the interior must be
insulated from action of the exciting fluid, or they may be of half the
length and be fixed either in the top or in the bottom of the cell. The
purpose of this part of the Invention is that the battery may be turned
upside down, and in such position there will be no electrical action, as
the fluid (or fluids in case of an inner pot) will not then touch the
plates, this battery is shewn complete at A, Fig. 1.
Second part of this Invention consists in scaling over fluid batteries in
such a manner that the fluid cannot escape with some elastic substance,
blowing of the glass or otherwise, but placing within the sealing or in
some way connected with the interior of the cell a valve so fixed that
the internal gases may escape at less pressure than would break the cell
or the sealing thereof; this valve will consist of a glass tube with a
piece of india-rubber tube drawn over it shown at B, B, B, B, on
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or a valve of similar construction; the novelty being
this application of this valve to a scaled battery cell, the valve extending
half way down the cell so as to be in the axis of jar, thereby allowing
gases to escape whether the battery is right or wrong way upwards.
Third item of this Invention consists in placing in the water-tight
covering of the cell described a small screwed or two screwed caps which
will be generally of vulcanite. The cap will close down air-tight, and
cover an opening of sufficient size to admit of renewing the zinc or fluid;
in the interior of the cap is a female screw into which the zinc is
screwed, the zinc being tapped for the purpose; the terminal is her-
metically sealed or screwed in the cap. This is shewn at O, Fig. 1, and
in detail Fig. 2, the novelty being screwing or fixing of the zinc into a
movable cap; the detail may be varied, for instance a female screw may
be made in the zinc and the terminal screwed into this. For the
renewal of the zinc a separate box of zincs is supplied with a scaled tube
containing the charge for the renewal of the battery.
Fourth item of this Invention consists in making a receptacle for the
cells described, which will be a wooden box in which the cells are packed
tightly by wool or other matter. The box is not left open as usual at
the top, but has a lid which can be screwed down ready for conveyance.
There are no terminals with screws for wire as usual, but the terminals
are studs or plates of brass screwed solidly on the box, generally at the
bottom. The purpose of this part of the Invention is that a battery if sent

page_text: by conveyance may be set down in a prepared position in connection
with other apparatus, and will be in action at once without any screw
connections. Fig. 5 shews the principle of this new arrangement. (The
two carbons are united by a conductor which is shewn, carried down to
the bottom of the box, terminating in a stud which presses upon a plate
by the weight of the battery). The conducting wire is led off from this
plate in the outer case. Fig. 6 shews the plates on the surface of the
battery inverted.
Fifth item described, as seventh in the Provisional Specification, my
portable battery complete as fourth item in connection with telegraphis,
bells, and other fixed apparatus. For this the battery is placed complete in
its wooden caso immediately in connection with apparatus. It is to work
in a receptacle fitted for the purpose either to drop into it or to slide into
it as a drawer. The novelty of this part of the Invention being to have
the battery contained in two cases instead of one, the one being portable.
One modification of this part of Invention is shewn by the double cases
of Fig. 5.
Sixth item. For connection of battery with apparatus to form a portable
bell. For this box is divided into two parts, one to contain the battery
which is closed, and the other to contain the electrical bell, and a roller
to roll up the conducting wires with touches; this division has a door
which closes the apparatus when out of use, and a handle above for
carrying the whole. It is shewn in section at Fig. 3.
Seventh item. For connection of battery to work a Ruhmkorff coil. In
this the apparatus is similar to the coil taking the place of the bell, but a
the battery being an intensity one (bichromate generally) it is required
by my new method to be reversed when in action, therefore I place a
flush turn down handle on the bottom of the case. The purpose of this
part of the Invention is that when the handle is uppermost as for
carrying, the exciting fluid occupies the upper part of the jar as described a
(first part), and consequently there is no electrical action, but when the
handle is turned down and this is made the bottom of the case, the coil
is in action. This part is particularly described for a coil but similar
arrangement will be followed with other apparatus. This modification
shewn completo Fig. 1.
I claim for the principles conveyed in the several parts carried out by
1
3

page_text: I claim any one of these items to be used separately. Any combination
of two or more, or the combination of the whole Invention into one
apparatus, or any part applied to apparatus of known construction.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ford Stanley, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-second day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.