Improvements in Electric or Galvanic Elements or Cells
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb.,. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric or Galvanic Elements or Cells
I, Dr. PAUL SCHOOP, of Hottingen, Zurich, Switzerland, Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The current generated by the usual electric or galvanic cells results from the
difference of potential of couples or combinations with either a liquid or a gas The
electrolyte is usually an acid, often a solution of a salt, occasionally an alkaline liquid.
In couples or cells having porous partitions, two or more different electrolytes are
often used The employment of partitions, such as unglazed porcelain, parchment
paper, paper pulp, sand or gypsum is not necessary when the electrolyte is a solid
mass such as iodide of zinc and alkalies.
By the use of solid bodies which conduct the current as electrolytes, convenient
and powerful cells can be produced. Materials which are not attacked by ions (jonen)
such as carbon platinum, iron, nickel or other bodies of conducting or non-conducting
material serve as electrodes or supports When non-conducting material is used
it is covered with a layer of one of the substances mentioned.
These dry cells can be divided in two groups: 1st. Those in which the ions (Jonen)
are simply separated on the polar plates and are thus in a state to form an extra
current having a similar or opposite direction to the original current 2nd Those
in which the ions (jonen) combine physically or chemically with the material of the
electrodes and hence produce a current having a similar or opposite direction to that
of the original current From the hitherto usually known cells containing one or
several liquids, the partitions can be eliminated by the addition to the solutions of
substances which cause a solidification of the liquid Certain bodies which have a
small conductibility, such as gypsum, and further those that are liable in course of
time or by the action of the current to become decomposed, or those that are liable
to be decomposed by the mass of the electrolyte, (Acids, salts or alkalies) such as
for instance gelatine and glue are unsuitable for the purpose of solidifying the
solutions.
In order to convert diluted sulphuric acid, for example, into a state suitable for use
as a solid electrolyte an addition of water-glass is made thereto The fluid mixture
is gradually converted into a solid gelatinous mass which conducts the current as
well as the original fluid electrolyte. When it is required to convert a saline solution
such as solution of sal ammoniac, into a similar state water-glass is simply added
thereto, or a mixture of water glass with an acid is added. Alkaline liquids can also
be gelatinized by sulphate of iron with hydrate of soda, or water glass
In all cases
the chief object is to produce masses as solid as possible in order that the mixture
may be rendered stiff without increasing the resistance
The use of solid electrolytes or of those whose solutions can be converted into a
gelatinous or otherwise solid state can be carried out equally well in primary or
partly regenerative cells as in secondary or polarizing cells. In order for instance,
to form a primary cell, zinc is used in a spongy form as the negative electrode, and
peroxide of manganese as the positive electrode. The cell is fitted with a mixture
of sodic water glass of a specific gravity of 1 10 and sulphate of ammonia of a specific
gravity of 120. After the mass is solidified a cover of wax, resin or paraffin is applied
as a closure upon the surface of the cell
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric or Galvanic Elements or Cells.
I, Dr. PAUL SCHOOP, late of Hottingen, Zurich, Switzerland, but now of
Victoria Works, Victoria Road, Charlton, Chemist, 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
As is well known the electric current generated by the usual electric or galvanic
elements or cells results from the difference of potential of couples or combinations.
The exciting body is usually an acid, often a solution of a salt, occasionally an
alkaline liquid. In couples or cells having porous partitions, two or more different
exciting bodies are often used If however the exciting body be a solid, semi-solid,
or plastic mass, such for example as iodide of zine or alkalies, the employment
of porous partitions, such as unglazed porcelain, parchment paper, paper pulp, sand
or gypsum is not necessary
By the use of solid, semi-solid, or plastic bodies which conduct the current as
electrolytes, (and hereinafter referred to generally as solid electrolytes) convenient
and powerful cells can be produced. In such cells materials such as carbon, platinum,
iron, nickel or other bodies of conducting or non-conducting material which will
not be attached by the ions serve as electrodes or supports. When non-conducting
material is used for this purpose it must be covered with a layer of a conducting
substance such as those mentioned.
Electric or galvanic cells can be divided into two groups.
1st Those in which the ions are simply deposited upon the electrodes by a charging
current and are thus in a state to form an extra current having an opposite
direction to the original current.
2nd Those in which the ions combine physically or chemically with a portion
of the material forming the electiodes and are capable of afterwards producing a
current
From cells of known construction containing partitions and one or more liquids,
the partitions can be eliminated by the addition to the exciting solution or solutions
of a substance or substances which will cause a solidification of the liquid. Bodies
which have a small conductibility such as gypsum, and also those that are liable in
course of time, or by the action of the current, to become decomposed, or those as for
example gelatine or glue that are liable to be decomposed by the electrolyte,
(acids salts or alkalies) are unsuitable for the purpose of solidifying the solution or
solutions.
Now my invention has reference to the use of a certain substance or substances
whereby the exciting solutions or electrolytes used in primary, partly regenerative,
and secondary or polarizing electric cells can be solidified or caused to assume a
thick gelatinous or practically solid state without materially increasing the resistance
of the cell.
For this purpose I mix with the exciting solution or electrolyte a solution of
water glass, (e silicate of potash or soda) or a solution of sulphate of iron either
alone, or mixed with hydrate of soda or potash or with water glass. The nature of
the solid or gelatinous electrode thus produced can be varied and will depend upon
the kind of cell in which such electrode is to be used and upon the material of
which the poles or electrodes of the cell are constructed, thus the electrolyte may be
acid, neutral, or alkaline, as may be necessary for any particular cell.
In order to convert dilute sulphuric acid, for example, into a state suitable for
use as a solid electrolyte an addition of water glass is made thereto. The fluid
mixture is gradually converted into a thick gelatinous mass which conducts the
current as well as the original fluid electrolyte A solid electrolyte suitable for use
in a secondary cell can be formed by mixing one volume of water glass having
a specific gravity of about 1:20 with three volumes of sulphuric acid having a
specific gravity of about 122. Asbestos fibre may be added to the mixture, if

page_text: desired, with a view to binding the gelatinous mass into a compact body. A
suitable proportion of asbestos for this purpose is about 5% of the weight of the
mixture of acid and water glass.
When it is required to convert a saline solution such as a solution of a salt of
ammonia into a thick gelatinous state, water glass is simply added thereto, or a
mixture of water glass with an acid is added. A solidified saline mass suitable for use
in a primary cell having a negative pole of zinc and a positive pole of peroxide of
manganeso can be prepared by mixing say one volume of a solution of water glass having
a specific gravity of about 1 10 with say from two to three volumes of a solution of
sulphate of ammonia having a specific gravity of about 1.20 After the mass is solidified
a cover of wax, resin, or paraffin may be applied to the surface of the solid electrolyte
to serve as a closure to the cell.
An alkaline liquid can be converted into a thick gelatinous state for use as an
exciting body or electrolyte by adding thereto a solution of sulphate of iron either
alone or mixed with a solution of hydrate of soda or with a solution of water glass.
Thus to obtain a solid alkaline electrolyte with ammonia as the alkali, one volume of a
solution of sulphate of iron having a specific gravity of about 1.10 is mixed with
three volumes of strong ammonia solution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An electric or galvanic element or cell having an acid or saline exciting body or
electrolyte in a solidified or thick gelatinous state produced by adding water glass
(1.e. silicate of potash or of soda) to a solution of an acid or of a saline substance
substantially as herein described.
2. An electric or galvanic element or cell having a solidified or thick gelatinous
alkaline exciting body or electrolyte produced by adding to an alkaline liquid a
solution of a salt of non such as sulphate of iron either alone or mixed with hydrate
of soda or water glass substantially as herein described.
3 The production of an exciting body or electrolyte such as bereinbefore referred
to, by the conversion of an acid or saline solution into a solidified or thick gelatinous
mass by means of a solution of water glass substantially in the manner herein
described for the purpose specified
4. The production of an exciting body or electrolyte such as hereinbefore referrei
to by the conversion of an alkaline solution into a solidified or thick gelatinous mass
by means of a solution of a salt of iron such as sulphate of iron with or without
admixture therewith of hydrate of soda or of water glass substantially as herein
described
•
5 In the production of an electric element or cell of the kind hereinbefore referred
to, the use of fibrous substance such as asbestos fibre in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1889.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per FJ Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C, Agent for the Applicant.