IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1882. A communication
from Georg Leuchs, Chemist a person resident at Nürnberg in the Empire of
Germany.
FRANK WIRTH of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors at
Frankfort on the Maine in the Empire of Germany, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
BATTERIES." [A communication from Georg Leuchs, Chemist a person resident at
Nürnberg in the Empire of Germany]
This Invention relates first to improvements in existing carbon manganese cells,
I substitute for the small rod of zinc usually employed in these cells, zino having
a large surface, and for the solution of sal ammoniac a solution of caustic potash
or soda. I thus obtain without sacrificing the good properties of the manganese
carbon cells, electrical batteries of far greater power which allow of the regeneration
of the negative electrode without washing in water, and at the same time the
regeneration of the potash lye and the production of zinc white. The use of zinc
exposing the largest possible surface, hinders the deposit of compact suboxide of
zine on the positive electrode and the diminution of the electric current to
one-third of its strength.
The potash lye which after use contains zinc in solution is to be regenerated by
agitating it in a suitable vessel with protoxide or hydrated protoxide of zinc at
ordinary room-temperature, whereby all the zinc is precipitated as protoxide of zinc
mixed with a little carbonate of zinc. The potash lye can then be decanted for
use again. The sediment which remains consisting of protoxide of zinc still mixed
with a little lye, is to be boiled, washed with water, and dried at a suitable
temperature. By these operations a high class zinc white is obtained which can
be advantageously sold.
I effect the regeneration of the negative electrode by exposing it to the air
without previous washing, but this regenerating oxidation likewise takes place
under the potash lye in both cases by oxidation.
The Invention relates secondly to the substitution for the carbon manganese in
the above batteries of other negative electrodes. I use metallic hydroxidules or
hydroxides which are of themselves or in combination with each other in potash
lye (or rather in potash lye containing oxide of zinc) insoluble and which possess

page_text: the property of absorbing oxygen from the air. All metals can be used for this
purpose except alkaline and alkaline earthy metals.
1st I precipitate in the chemical way these metallic hydroxides or hydroxidules
from their combinations with acids by using potash lye, either—
(a) in artificial porous charcoal, or
(b) in lead pencil or crucible graphite.
Or 2nd I mix the pure hydroxides with coke, graphite or charcoal powder
binding them with kaolin and tar and burn from this mass electrodes of any form
desired.
Or 3rd I mix these hydroxidules with slaked marble lime and spread it in a
thin layer on carbon lead pencil or crucible graphite or on iron, copper, silver or
other metals and then expose it to an atmosphere containing carbonic acid.
Or 4th carbon lead-pencil or crucible graphite, iron, copper, silver or other metals
are to be immersed in natural or artifical mineral waters containing carbonic acid
(e.g Karlsbader Strudel) until they are encrusted with a porous and compact layer
of iron hydroxide and carbonate of lime.
The Invention relates thirdly to making secondary batteries (Accumulators) from
negative electrodes described under the first or second heads of this Specification
or combinations of the first and second or of the second head with each other.
I place the said electrodes in potash lye the one opposite or near the other and
charge them with electricity from any source whatever..
•
Solutions of potash or soda mixed with potassium or sodium bicarbonate can
be used instead of the potash lye. Especially suited for this purpose is a
combination of equal molecules of mercury hydroxide with lead hydroxide for
both poles.
The Invention relates fourthly to the formation of secondary cells (Accumulators)
according to the first and second heads of this Specification.
I produce excellent accumulators by using primary cells which are made as
described under the first and second heads of this Specification but not regencrated
as mentioned above. The regeneration is effected by charging them with
electricity from any source whatever. For this purpose the zinc is put in con-
nection with the negative pole and the negative electrode with the positive pole.
By this operation the zinc is deposited in a compact and uniform metalic layer
upon the zinc, thus explaining the fact that these accumulators retain the electric
power received much longer than any other existing accumulator.
A combination especially suited for this purpose is mercury hydroxide alone or
mixed with zinchydroxide.
The Invention relates fifthly to the arranging in galvanic batteries of differently-
named-electrodes or plates in a right line side by side and those of the same name
parallel to each other.