IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, INTENSIFYING AND ACCUMULATING OR STORING ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter de Villiers, of Lancaster Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, INTENSIFYING AND ACCUMULATING OR STORING
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter de Villiers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1882.
PETER DE VILLIERS, of Lancaster Road, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of
Medicine, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING INTENSIFYING AND
ACCUMULATING OR STORING ELECTRICAL ENERGY
"
My Invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for generating
and accumulating or storing electrical energy. The said apparatus comprises an
electric generator, an exciter or device designed to develop the greatest possible
quantity of electricity from the generator, and an accumulator for storing the
electricity produced by the generator and developed or intensified by the exciter.
According to my said invention I provide a drum of iron or steel divided
internally into any suitable even number of compartments or chambers by means
of partitions mounted upon an axle which passes through the said drum in the
direction of its length. These partitions are formed of iron and copper applied one
against the other, so that the first chamber is lined with copper, the second with
iron, and so on. The partitions are perforated at various points with holes of
about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and are fixed to the sides of the drum.
The said drum is partially filled (say about three fourths) with an extremely fine
powder of lead chemically pure mixed with crushed or ground bones. This mass
is impregnated with highly diluted sulphuric acid or with an alkaline solution.
The drum is closed and made tight at its extremities by means of two iron plates,
each of which is provided externally with a journal also of iron, designed to
permit rotary motion to be imparted to the said drum. These two journals are
mounted in bearings but are insulated therefrom by suitable material such as
wood, for example. The plates of iron and copper may be replaced by other
Priced 1

page_text: metals and the lead and crushed or ground bones, as well as the acid liquid used
in the interior of the drum, can be replaced by any suitable substance and
solution. This part of the apparatus forms the generator of electricity.
The exterior of the drum is covered with rings of iron or steel and copper of
triangular transverse section fitting accurately upon the surface of the drum,
copper and iron or steel alternately. The partitions in the interior and the rings
on the exterior are fixed to the drum by means of rivets which pass through its
entire thickness and form projections on opposite sides, those which secure the
partitions being in contact with the rings and those which fix the rings passing
into the interior of the drum. The parts formed of iron or steel should be fixed
by copper rivets, and those of copper by iron rivets. The drum thus constructed
is placed in a cylinder or casing of iron the inside of which is also provided with
rings of iron and copper alternately, of the same dimensions as those which
surround the drum, and placed in such a manner that they correspond with those
upon the drum and are in contact therewith so as to produce a slight amount of
friction when the drum is rotated. They are fixed to the cylinder or casing in the
manner above described, that is to say, the iron rings by means of copper rivets,
the copper rings by means of iron rivets, but with this difference that these rivets
all form projections of one inch upon the opposite walls of the cylinder or casing.
This part of the apparatus, that is to say the two series of copper and iron
rings constitute the exciter or device for developing the greatest amount of or
'intensifying the electricity from the generator.
The first cylinder or casing formed as above described is placed within a second
and much larger cylinder or casing also of iron. They are connected to one
another by means of iron plates so as to form a perfectly tight receptacle. The
interior of this receptacle is entirely lined with lead and is filled with a mixture
of powdered lead chemically pure and crushed or ground pumice stone moistened
with highly diluted sulphuric acid or an alkaline solution. Two or more openings
(but always an even number) are made in one of the plates which form the double
cylinder or casing, to permit the passage of wires which communicate in the
receptacle with cones of carbon and of "Pyrolusite" or peroxide of manganese,
*placed at the two opposite extremities, the carbon cones on one side, the cones of
pyrolusite on the other. These wires serve as conductors. This part of the
apparatus forms the accumulator.
:
The complete apparatus therefore comprises first a drum divided into compart-
ments by metallic partitions, the said compartments containing powdered lead
mixed with crushed or ground bones and an acid or alkaline liquid; and the said
drum being covered with rings of metal of triangular transverse section; the
whole mounted upon two journals; second, a cylinder or casing upon the inside of
which are fixed rings of metal of triangular transverse section corresponding with
the rings upon the drum; third, a second cylinder or casing forming with the first
a tight receptacle containing powdered lead mixed with crushed or ground pumice
stone and moistened with an acid or alkaline liquid, having moreover upon
opposite sides one or more cones, of carbon, on one side, and of pyrolusite on the
other, communicating with metallic conductors.
I sometimes use other substances instead of the mixture contained in the said
drum, or in the said receptacle, and I may modify the said drum, and make it with
any suitable number of partitions, or I may dispense with them altogether, and
place in the interior either a single electric armature or a series of armatures which,
when rotated by suitable mechanism and placed in communication with the sides
of the drum, will produce electricity; in this case, the rings of iron are magnetized,
or I may use the said armatures with one or more magnets.
I sometimes replace the system of rings forming the exciter, by a system of
metallic brushes, preferably of iron or steel and copper, some of which cover the
exterior of the drum and the others the interior of the inside cylinder or casing.
The apparatus being suitably mounted, the drum is rotated by means of toothed
wheels or other suitable mechanism the speed of which may be regulated at will.

page_text: The electricity produced in the interior of my said apparatus is actively developed
or intensified by the rotation, and, by means of the communication established with
the metallic rings at the exterior, is communicated to the rings of the cylinder or
casing, whence, by the rivets which project into the receptacle formed by the two
cylinders or casings, it escapes and is stored or accumulated (under a tension which
can be regulated at will and rendered very great if necessary) in the substance with
which the said receptacle is filled.
It is then easy, by means of conductors, to conduct the electricity thus
accumulated into suitable apparatus to be utilized, for lighting, heating, motive
power, or other purposes.
The apparatus must be insulated by means of suitable material applied to its
exterior, such as felt, asbestos, plaster, cement, paper, silicate, or other suitable
material.
The accumulator is of any suitable form, according to circumstances, such as
round, square, or octagonal.
In some cases, I place in the interior of the accumulator one or more sheets of
lead either pure or amalgamated with another metal or other suitable substance,
folded or rolled, and perforated, if desired, in order to increase the surfaces. The
entire apparatus may be used to produce its own movement, that is to say, by
arranging in connection with the conductors of the accumulator, mechanism which
it will cause to move, this mechanism communicating with the journals upon which
the drum turns, will impart the necessary rotary motion thereto. The result is
that, the production of electricity being constant, the motion will also be constant.
A pendulum or other device is fitted to the mechanism to regulate the same.
In order to facilitate the use of the apparatus, it may be placed either in a
horizontal or a vertical position relatively to the axle of the drum.
The preparation of the lead in powder is effected by means of the precipitation
of the metallic lead from one of its solutions. In preparing the lead to be mixed
with pumice stone, I place the latter in the receptacle in which I operate upon the
solution, and it becomes impregnated with lead during the operation. I withdraw
it before effecting the precipitation of the metal and I cause it to dry slowly, the
two substances thus prepared are mixed when they are to be used. The lead is
prepared alone when it is to be mixed with fragments of bone.
The use of zinc for precipitating the lead, is disadvantageous because the former
is liable to communicate or transfer its impurities to the powdered lead. I prefer
therefore to obtain the desired result by the employment of iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Peter de Villiers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th February 1883.
PETER DE VILLIERS, of Lancaster Road, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of
Medicine, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, INTENSIFYING AND
ACCUMULATING OR STORING ELECTRICAL ENERGY
The object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for generating,
intensifying and accumulating or storing electrical energy. The said apparatus
comprises an electric generator, an exciter or device designed to intensify the
electricity from the generator, and an accumulator for storing the electricity
produced by the generator and intensified by the exciter.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which are shown
two forms or modifications of the said apparatus.
Figure 1 is a horizontal section of one form or modification, in which I employ
a battery as the generator.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation illustrating another form or modification in which I
employ a dynamo-electric machine as the generator; and
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
A represents a drum of sheet iron or steel divided internally into six (or it may
be divided into any suitable even number) of compartments or chambers a by means
of partitions b mounted upon an axle c which passes through the said drum in the
direction of its length. These partitions are formed of iron and copper applied one
against the other, in such a manner that the chambers are lined with copper and
iron alternately, or so that each chamber is lined on one side with copper and on the
opposite side with iron. These partitions are each perforated with a number of
holes about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and are fixed to the sides of the
drum. The drum is closed and made water-tight at its extremities by means of
two iron or steel plates d, outside of which are the journals, which are mounted in
bearings to permit rotary motion to be imparted to the said drum, but are insulated
from the said bearings by suitable material, such as wood. The drum may, however,
be stationary if desired.
The said drum is partially filled (say about three fourths) with an extremely fine
powder of chemically pure lead mixed with crushed or ground bones; and this
mass is impregnated with highly diluted sulphuric acid or with an alkaline solution.
The semi-liquid mass thus formed can pass from one chamber to another through
the said holes.
The plates of iron and copper may be replaced by plates of other metals, and,
instead of the lead and crushed or ground bones, and the acid or alkaline liquid
used in the interior of the drum, any suitable substance and solution can be
employed.
This part of the apparatus forms the generator of electricity, the semi-liquid
mass acting upon the iron and copper plates forming the partitions. I may use
any suitable electric battery in the said drum, in place of that above described.
The exterior of the drum A is covered with rings e of iron or steel, and rings fof
copper, of triangular transverse section, fitting accurately upon the surface of the
said drum, the rings of copper and iron or steel being, preferably, arranged alter-
nately. The partitions in the interior and the rings on the exterior are fixed to
the drum by means of rivets g, h, which pass through its entire thickness, the

page_text: rivets which secure the partitions being in contact with the rings, and those which
secure the rings projecting about half an inch into the interior of the drum. The
parts formed of iron or steel are fixed by copper rivets g, and those of copper by
iron rivets h.
The drum, covered in this manner, is placed in a cylinder or casing B of sheet
iron or steel, the inner circumference of which is also provided with rings e¹, f', of
iron or steel and copper arranged alternately, and of the same transverse section as
those which surround the drum. These rings are placed in such a manner that
they correspond with, and fit into, the grooves formed by the rings upon the drum
and are in contact therewith so as to produce a slight amount of friction when the
drum is rotated. They are fixed to the cylinder or casing in the manner above
described, that is to say, the iron rings e¹ by means of copper rivets gl, and the
copper rings f¹ by means of iron rivets h¹, but with this difference, that these
rivets all form projections of about one inch long on the exterior of the said
cylinder or casing.
This part of the apparatus (that is to say, the two series of copper and iron
rings) constitutes the exciter or device for intensifying the electricity from the
generator.
The cylinder or casing B, provided with rings as above described, is placed
within a second cylinder or casing C, also of iron or steel; and these two cylinders
are connected to one another by means of iron or steel plates i, so as to form a
perfectly watertight annular receptacle. The interior of this receptacle is, by
preference, entirely lined with lead, and is filled with a mixture of chemically pure
powdered lead and crushed or ground pumice stone moistened with an acid or an
alkaline solution. Two or more openings (but always an even number) are made
in one of the end plates of the said receptacle to permit the passage of wires which
communicate in the receptacle with cones or other suitably shaped pieces of carbou
and "Pyrolusite" or peroxide of manganese and of carbon alone. In the apparatus
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the carbon is shown in the form of long flat bars
k, k, every alternate bar l' having a strip or piece of pyrolusite attached to it
on each side. These bars of carbon, or of carbon and pyrolusite, form collectors
and are connected to wires forming the terminals at one end of the external circuit,
the terminals at the other end of the said circuit being connected to lead plates
also placed within the said receptacle.
This part of the apparatus forms the accumulator.
The complete apparatus, therefore, comprises first, a drum divided into compart-
ments by metal partitions, the said compartments containing powdered lead mixed
with crushed or ground bones and an acid or alkaline liquid, the said drum being
covered with rings of metal of triangular transverse section, and the whole being
mounted upon a slfaft or axle; second, a cylinder or casing upon the inside of
which are fixed rings of metal of triangular transverse section corresponding with,
and fitting into, the grooves formed by the rings upon the drum; third, a second
cylinder or casing forming, with the first, a watertight receptacle and containing
powdered lead mixed with crushed or ground pumice stone and moistened with an
acid or alkaline liquid, and having arranged within it one or more plates or pieces
of carbon and of carbon and pyrolusite and sheets of lead communicating with
metal conductors.
I sometimes substitute for the series of rings forming the exciter, a system of
metallic brushes, preferably of iron or steel and copper, some of which cover the
exterior of the drum and the others the interior of the inside cylinder or casing.
The apparatus being suitably mounted, the drum is rotated by means of any
suitable mechanism the speed of which may be regulated at will.
The electricity produced in the interior of my improved apparatus is actively.
developed or intensified by the rotation, and, by means of the communication
established with the metallic rings at the exterior, is communicated to the rings of
the cylinder or casing, whence, by the rivets which project into the receptacle,
formed by the two cylinders or casings, it escapes into the same and is stored or

page_text: accumulated (under a tension which can be regulated at will and rendered very
great if necessary) in the substance with which the said receptacle is filled. It is
easy, by means of conductors, to discharge the electricity thus accumulated into
suitable apparatus to be utilized for lighting, heating, motive power or other
purposes. The apparatus must be insulated by means of suitable material applied
to its exterior, such as felt, asbestos, plaster, cement, paper, silicate, or the like.
The accumulator may be of any suitable form, according to circumstances, such as
round, square or octagonal.
In some cases,
I place, in the interior of the accumulator, one or more sheets of
lead either pure or amalgamated with another metal or other suitable substance,
folded or rolled and perforated, if desired, in order to increase the area of surface
acted upon by the solution.
The entire apparatus may be used to effect, or assist in effecting, its own move-
ment, that is to say, by arranging in connection with the conductors of the
accumulator, mechanism to which the electricity therefrom will impart motion,
this mechanism, if suitably connected with the journals upon which the drum
turns, will impart the necessary rotary motion thereto. The result is that the
production of electricity being constant, or approximately constant, the motion will
also be constant, or approximately so. A pendulum or other device may be fitted
to the mechanism to regulate the same.
In order to facilitate the use of the apparatus, it may be placed with the axle
of the drum either in a horizontal or a vertical position.
The preparation of the lead in powder is effected by means of the precipitation
of the metallic lead from one of its solutions. In preparing the lead to be mixed
with pumice stone, I place the latter in the receptacle in which I operate upon the
solution, and it becomes impregnated with lead during the operation. I withdraw
it before effecting the precipitation of the metal and allow it to dry slowly; the
two substances thus prepared are mixed when they are required for use.
is prepared alone when it is to be mixed with fragments of bone.
The lead
The use of zinc for precipitating the lead is disadvantageous because the former
is liable to communicate or transfer its impurities to the powdered lead. I prefer
therefore to obtain the desired result by the employment of iron.
An apparatus constructed upon the principle above described gives satisfactory
results, but, by adopting the arrangement hereinafter described, that is to say, by
employing a suitable dynamo-electric machine as the central part of the apparatus,
in place of the battery contained in the drum, much more considerable results are
obtained, as regards either intensity or quantity, in the production of the electricity.
In this case, I arrange the apparatus as follows, that is to say:-An armature D
(Figures 3 and 4), formed of one or more sections, is placed in the central part of
the apparatus and is mounted in such a manner that it can easily be caused to
rotate. The construction of this armature does not present any special peculiarities,
it can be modified in various manners, especially as regards the thickness and length
of the wires, according to the intensity of the current it is desired to obtain.
Outside of the armature and entirely surrounding it like a sleeve are a number of
rings m arranged one against another and fixed together by rods or bolts n thus
forming a homogenous cylinder. These rings are made of soft iron polished and
present externally flat (or triangular) projections having a space hetween them.
Any suitable means may be employed for imparting to the armature a movement
of rotation, according to the purpose for which the machine is designed. In the
interior of the said cylinder and firmly secured to the rings, are mounted magnets o,
the form and arrangement of which may be varied to make the magnetic field
proportionate to the power of the armature. According to circumstances I employ
either straight, triangular or other suitably shaped projections, and I prefer to so
arrange the apparatus that the poles of the magnets will be as near as possible one
to another. Outside of the cylinder, constructed, as above described, with the
armature D, the magnets o and the iron rings m, another cylinder is formed by
connecting a number of copper rings m³ the flat (or triangular) parts of which

page_text: correspond with, and fit into, the spaces between the flat (or triangular) parts of
the said iron rings. These copper rings are fitted one within another and are held
together by rods or bolts n¹ so as to form a homogeneous cylinder. This part of
the apparatus (namely the two series of rings and the magnets) is stationary, or
the magnets and the series of iron rings may be rotated in the opposite direction
to the armature. The copper rings form the interior wall of the accumulator above
described and diagonal grooves or notches are made in the internal circumference
of the copper rings, and in the external circumference of the iron rings. When the
necessary connections are established between the armature and the field-magnets
and between the system of rings and the accumulator on the one hand, either by
means of extremely soft metallic brushes or other suitable devices, and, on the
other hand, by means of metallic communicators, the armature is caused to rotate
by means of any suitable mechanism which permits of imparting the velocity of
movement that may be deemed necessary. The electricity produced is then
distributed and discharged rapidly through the different parts of the machine into
the accumulator whence it may be discharged and utilized in any well known
manner for producing heat, light or motive power.
Without entering into calculations and scientific demonstrations which do not
require to be given here, it will be easily understood that, according to the arrange-
ment above described, the improved apparatus combines, as above stated, a generator
of electricity an exciter or intensifier and an accumulator.
The dynamo electric machine will if its armature is driven at an economical speed,
generate more electricity than the accumulator can receive, I therefore provide any
well known means whereby the excess of electricity will be utilized to assist in
imparting motion to the said armature.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim.
First: The improved apparatus consisting of a rotating or stationary battery
enclosed within a drum or cylinder and arranged in combination with an exciter
or device for intensifying the electricity from the generator, and an accumulator, for
the purposes set forth.
Second: The modification of my invention wherein I combine, with the exciter
and accumulator, a dynamo or other electric machine, substantially as set forth.
Third-The exciter or intensifying device constructed substantially as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, or as in Figures 3 and 4, for the purposes set forth.
Fourth-In the accumulator, the employment of the plates or blocks k of carbon,
in combination with the plates or blocks k¹² of carbon and pyrolusite or peroxide
of manganese, and with the sheets or plates of lead and the mixture of powdered
lead and pumice stone, all substantially, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Peter de Villiers have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty seventh day of February in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
PETER DE VILLIERS. (L.S.)