provements in or connected with Electric Batteries,
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries
,
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer, FRANK LAURENCE MARSHALL,
Gentleman, and JOHN COOIER Gentleman all of No 8, Furnival Inn, in the
City of London, and Jouv LASKEY DOBгLI of Tiaine, Modbury in the
County of Devon, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
-
This invention relates to that class of electric batteries in which the dis olving
or positive electrode is compo ed of carbonaceous material, and the negative element
of non or other suitable metal or material, and in which the exciting fluid is
a nitrate of a suitable metal, or a mixture of such nitrates fused by the aid of heat
and caused to continuously circulate through the battery
In batteries of this class, the efficiency falls as the oxygen of the nitrate or
nitrates is consumed by combining with the carbon and it has previously been
proposed to recuperate or restore the fused salt or salts to a state saturated with oxygen
by introducing fresh oxygen by the aid of a suitable carrier such as for instance
nitric acid fumes which readily give up part of their oxygen to the fused salt and
pass off as nitrous acid fumes
According to a former invention of ours, the circulation of the nitrate or nitrates
through the battery is effected by means of a jet of nitric acid fumes, or, when
dilute nitric acid is used, of combined nitric acid fumes and steam under pressure,
such nitric acid fumes or nitric acid fumes and steam being obtained by vaporisation
of nitric acid or dilute nitric acid in a suitable vessel or vapouriser, which was
heated by immersion or partial immersion in the fused mitrate and supplied with
nitric acid or the like in regulated volume from an elevated reservoir, and these
acid fumes at the same time recuperated the nitrate which had been reduced by
the chemical action of the battery
In batteries of the character above described, the carbons or positive electrodes
were suspended from the cover of the vessel or cell within the fused nitrate
between the metal partitions or plates partly constituting the negative electrodes,
and the fused nitrate was caused to circulate over the partitions and between the
surfaces thereof and those of the carbon electrodes
Now, the object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the con-
struction of the battery
In carrying the present invention into effect, a cell consisting of a vessel or
trough of non preferably wrought or malleable cast iron is employed which cell is
by preference oblong and rectangular in form
Within this vessel or trough are fixed, at suitable intervals, transverse plates or
partitions of iron or other suitable material which extend from the bottom upward
to a point below the level of the fused nitrate and such plates are part of or are in
efficient electrical contact with the general body of the cell and constitute therewith
the opposite (or negative) electrode to the carbonaceous plates which form the
dissolving or positive electrode
The carbonaceous plates instead of being suspended unenclosed from the cover
within the divisions or spaces formed by the metal partitions as heretofore, are
according to the present invention suspended within suitable porous cells or Jars

page_text: which are suspended from the lid or cover of the battery and the cells or Jirs are
formed of such dimensions that sufficient space is provided for the circulation of
the fused salt between them and the metal plates and between the lower end
thereof and the bottom of the cell to admit of the requisite cuculation of the
fused salt
By thus enclosing the carbon or positive electrodes within porous cells or jars,
the fused salt immediately surrounding such electrodes is kept in a comparatively
quiescent state whilst the carbonic acid gas resulting from the chemical combustion
of the carbon readily escapes at the cover of the porous cell ot jar free from other
gases or vapours
The top of the cell or vessel is surrounded by a flange or seat upon which is fixed
in an au-tight manner a non-conducting of insulating rim and upon this rim is
removeably fastened in an au-tight manner the cover
The cover is formed with a number of slots or operings one corresponding with
each division of the cell and through each slot a porous cell or jar is introduced
and each cell oi Jai is at its upper end formed or provided with a flange which
rests upon and is cemented to the cover and thus suspends the porous jar in the
fused nitrate
Around each slot or opening in the cover is a vertical rim or wall, and fixed
upon and in electrical contact with the upper end of each carbonaceous plate or
elec iode is a corresponding cover which embraces of fits upon the um suntounding
the slot and surrounding the entire group of carbonaceous plates and their covers
and fixed with the main cover of the trough or cell is another rim thus forming
around each slot or opening a channel within which is introduced so as to flow
around the im. enclosing the porous jars a quantity of a suitable metal or alloy
which will melt or become fused at a comparatively low temperature and be
maintained in its fused condition by the general heat of the battery and this fusea
metal or alloy thus forms an electric connection between the whole of the
carbonaceous or positive electrodes of the battery, and at the same time seals the
cover, whilst a terminal constituting one part of the battery is connected with one
part of the main trough on cell, and a terminal constituting the other pole of the
battery is electrically connected with the metal cover
One end of the cell or vessel is connected with the upper part of the opposite
end thereof by means of an inclined circulation pipe thus allowing the fused nitrate
after having passed through the cell or trough to enter into the circulation pipe at
its lower put at one end of the cell and to be circulated or caused to flow through
the inclined circulation pipe back to the upper part of the cell or trough at the
opposite end thereof and at this end the cuiculation pipe is formed with a lateral
arm and the cell is formed with a corresponding recess to receive the aim whilst
the arm along one side is slotted or perfor ited to ensure the even distribution of
the issuing fused nitiate into the cell or trough
At the opposite end of the cell or vessel is provided a closed vapourising chamber
which is partially or wholly immersed in the fused nitrate and is thus maintained
at the required heat, and above this vanout er is placed a reservoir of nitric acid
or dilute nitric acid which is connected with the vapouriser by a pipe or pipes in
such manner that the nitric acid or the like is allowed to fall into the vapouriser in
regulated volume governed by a suitable cock or valve
The nitric acid or the like falling into the vapouser become vapourised and
consequently expanded and the acid fumes or combined acid fumes and steam so
produced escape through a pipe connected with the vapourising chamber at or near
the upper part thereof and provided with a back pressure valve and this pipe passes
through the body of the fused nitrate and its other end is connected with a suitable
injector located in and at or near the lower end of the inclined cuculation pipe
"The acid fumes or acid fumes and steam passing from the vaporiser through the
connecting pipe are maintained at the required temperature by the fused nitiate
within the cell or vessel and inclined cnculation pipe and upon issuing from the
injector they come into contact with and maintain the fused nitiate in a state

page_text: saturated with oxygen and the expansive force thereof effects the circulation of
the nitrate through the cell or trough
The cell is charged with nitrate which is fused by the aid of heat applied in any
suitable manner, and if the heat generated by the chemical action of the battery
be insufficient to maintain the nitrate in the required fluid condition the same
appliance which has been employed to fuse the salt in the first instance may be
employed to supplement the heat thereof and the fused salt is caused to flow by the
action of the jet of acid fumes or acid fumes and steam through the circulation pipe
past the injector and into the upper part of one end of the cell or trough containing
the electrodes thence up the space between the first porous cell or pot and one
face of the adjacent metal plate over the top of the litter and down through the
space between the opposite face thereof and the next porous cell or pot and so on
to the opposite end of the cell or trough whence it again flows into the lower end
of the circulation pipe and so on
The top of the cell or trough is enclosed and provision is in ide for taking off the
nitrous acid fumes and steam as will be readily understood whilst the carbonic acid
gas is taken off from the porous cells or pots through suitable apertures in the
covers the cof
Although the improvements constituting the present invention are hereinbefore
described as applied to particular construction of battery it will be understood
that they are equally applicable to batteries of the same class but of varied
construction
Dated this 4th day of Mr 1895
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries
We, CHARI ES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer, -FRANK LAURENCE
MARSHALL, Gentleman, and JOHN COOPER, Gentleman, all of No 8, Furnival's
Inn, in the City of London and JOHN LASKFY DOBFI L, of Traine, Modbury,
in the County of Devon, 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
-
Ou said invention relates to that class of electic batteries in hich the
dissolving or positive electrode is composed of carbonaceous material, and the
negative element of iron or other suitable metal or material and in which
the exciting fluid is a nitrate of a suitable metal, or mixture of such nitrates
fused by the aid of heat and caused to continuously circulate through the
battery
In batteries of this class, the efficiency falls as the oxygen of the exciting fluid is
cor sumed by coinbining with the carbon and it has previously been proposed to
replace the oxygen by introducing fresh supply by the aid of a suitable carrier
such as for in tance nitric acid fumes
According to a former invention of ouis, the circulatior of the nitrate or nitrates
through the battery is effected by means of a jet of nitric acid fumes, 01, when
dilute nitric acid is used, of combined nitric acid fumes and steam under pressure,
such nitric acid fumes or nitric acid rumes and steam being obtained by vapourisa-
tion of nitric acid or dilute nitric acid in a suitable vessel or vapourisei which
was heated by immersion or partial immersion in the fused nitrate and supplied
with nitric acid or the like in regulated volume from an elevated reservoir, and
these acid fumes at the same time recuperated the nitrate which had been reduced
by the chemical action of the battery
In batteries of the character above described, the carbons or positive electrodes

page_text: were suspended from the cover of the vessel or cell within the fused nitrate
between the metal partitions or plates partly constituting the negative electrodes,
and the fused nitrate was caused to circulate over the partitions and between the
surfaces thereof and those of the carbon electrodes
Now, the object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the
construction of the battery
In carrying the present invention into effect, a cell consisting of a vessel or
trough of iron preferably wrought or malleable cast iron is employed which cell
is by preference oblong and rectangular in form
Within this ves el or trough are fixed, at suitable intervals, transveise plates or
partitions of iron or other suitable material which extend from the bottom
upward to a point below the level of the fused nitiate and such plates are part of
or are in efficient electrical contact with the general body of the cell and constitute
therewith the opposite (or negative) electrode to the carbonaceous plates which
form the dissolving or positive electrode
The carbonaceous plates are as heretofore proposed suspended within suitable
porous cells or Jars which are in turn suspended from the lid or cover of the
battery and the cells or jais are formed of such dimensions that sufficient space is
provided for the cuculation of the fused salt between them and the metal plates
and between the lower end thereof and the bottom of the cell to admit of the
requisite circulation of the fused salt
By thus enclosing the carbon or positive electrodes within porous cells or jars,
the fused salt immediately surrounding such electrodes is kept in a comparatively
quiescent state whilst the carbonic acid gas resulting from the chemical combustion
of the carbon readily escapes at the cover of the porous cell or jar free fiom
other gases or vapours
The top of the cell or vessel is surrounded by a flange or seat upon which is
fixed in an air-tight manner a non-conducting or insulating rim and upon this rim
is removeably fastened in an air-tight manner the cover
The cover is formed with a number of slots or openings one corresponding with
each division of the cell and through each slot a porous cell or jar is introduced
and each cell or jar is at its upper end formed or provided with a flange which
rests upon and is cemented to the cover and thus suspends the porous jar in the
fused nitrate
Around each slot or opening in the cover is a vertical 11m or wall and fixed
upon and in electrical contact with the upper end of each carbonaceous plate or
electrode is a corresponding cover which embraces or fits upon the rim surrounding
the slot and surrounding the entire group of carbonaceous plates and their covers
and fixed with the main cover of the trough or cell is another rim thus forming
around each slot or opening a channel within which is introduced so as to flow
around the rims enclosing the porous Jars a quantity of a suitable metal or alloy
which will melt or become fused at a comparatively low temperature and be
maintained in its fused condition by the general heat of the battery and this fused
metal or alloy thus forms an electric connection between the whole of the carbona-
ceous or positive electrodes of the battery and at the same time seals the covers
whilst a terminal constituting one pole of the battery is connected with one part
of the main trough or cell, and a terminal constituting the other pole of the
battery is electrically connected with the metal cover
One end of the cell or vessel is connected with the upper part of the opposite
end thereof by means of an inclined circulation pipe thus allowing the fused
nitrate after having passed through the cell or trough to enter into the circulation
pipe at its lower part at one end of the cell and to be circulated or caused to flow
through the inclined cnculation pipe back to the upper part of the cell or trough
at the opposite end thereof and at this end the cuculation pipe is formed with a
lateral arm and the cell is formed with a corresponding recess to receive the arm
whilst the arm along one side is slotted or perforated to ensure the even distribution
of the issuing fused nitrate into the cell of trough

page_text: At the opposite end of the cell or ves el is provided a closed rapourising
chamber which is partially or wholly immer-ed in the fused nitrate and is thus
maintained at the required heat, and above this vapouriser is placed a reservoir of
nitric acid or dilute nitric acid which is connected with the vapouriser by a pipe
or pipes in such manner that the nitric acid or the like is allowed to fall into the
vapouriser in regulated volume governed by a suitable cock or valve
The nitric acid or the like falling into the vapourise becomes vapourised and
consequently expanded and the acid fumes or combined acid fumes and steam so
produced escape through a pipe connected with the vapouring chamber at or near
the upper part thereof and provided with a back pressure valve, and this pipe
passes through the body of the fused nitrate and its other end is directly connected
with a suitable injector located in and at or near the lower end of the inclined
Circulation pipe and the secondary chamber formerly proposed to be employed
between the vapourising chamber and the injector is dispensed with
The acid fumes or acid fumes and steam passing from the vapouriser through
the connecting pipe are maintained at the required temperature by the fused
nitrate within the cell or vessel and inclined circulation pipe and upon issuing
from the injector they come into contact with and maintain the fused nitrate in a
state saturated with oxygen and the expansive force thereof effects the circulation
of the nitrate through the cell or trough
The cell is charged with nitrate which is fused by the aid of heat applied in any
suitable manner, and if the heat generated by the chemical action of the battery
be insufficient to maintain the nitrate in the required fluid condition, the same
appliance which has been employed to fuse the salt in the first instance may be
employed to supplement the heat thereof, and the fused salt 18 caused to flow by
the action of the jet of acid fumes or acid fumes and steam through the
circulation pipe past the injector and into the upper part of one end of the cell or
trough containing the electrodes, thence up the space between the first porous
cell or pot and one face of the adjacent metal plate over the top of the latter and
down through the space between the opposite face thereof and the next porous
cell or pot and so on to the opposite end of the cell or trough whence it again
flows into the lower end of the ciculation pipe and so on
The top of the cell or trough is enclosed and provision is made for taking off
the nitrous acid fumes and steam as will be readily understood whilst the carbonic
acid gas is taken off from the porous cells or pots through suitable apertures in
the cover thereof
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
more fully to describe the same
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section representing a battery constructed
according to the present invention
Figure 2 is a plan thereof
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, and,
Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 3
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference
a represents a cell consisting of a vessel or trough of iron preferably wrought
or malleable cast iron, and which is by preference oblong and rectangular in form
Within this vessel or trough a are fixed at suitable intervals transverse plates
or partitions a' of iron or other suitable material but preferably of iron, which
extend from the bottom upward to a point below the level of the fused nitrate
which 18 indicated by the dotted line, and such plates or partitions a¹ are part of
or in efficient electrical contact with the general body of the cell, and constitute

page_text: therewith the opposite or negative electrode to the carbonaceous plates 6 which
form the dissolving or positive electrode
The carbonaceous plates 6 are suspended within suitable porous pots or cells c,
which however form no part of the present invention, by means of covers or
bolders b¹ which seat upon the inner cover or tray d of the tough or cell a and
each cover b' thus encloses its respective cell or pot c as hereinafter more fully
described
The porous pots are suspended from the inner lid on coved by means of
flanges thereon and these pots c are formed of such dimensions that a sufhcient
space is provided between them and the metal plates a¹ and the bottom of the
cell a to admit of the requisite enculation of the fused salt
By thus enclosing the carbon or positive electrodes b within the porous cells or
Jarse the fused salt immediately surrounding such electrodes is kept in a compari-
tively quiescent state, whilst the carbonic acid gas resulting from the chemical
combustion of the carbon iendily escapes through the holes of the covers d¹ free
from other gases or vapours
The top of the cell or vessel a is surrounded by a flange or seat a upon which
fixed in an air-tight manne a non-conducting me, and upon this rim e
1 removeably fastened in an air-tight manner the inner cover d' of the trough
oi cell a
The cover is formed with a number of slots or openings d* therein one
corresponding with each division of the cell a and through each lot a porous cell
or jar c is introduced, and each cell or ju e 15, as hereinbefore described, at its
upper end provided with a flange c¹ which re ts upon and is cemented to the cover d,
and thus suspends the porous jar in the fused nitrate
Around each cell or opening in the cover d is a vertical im or wall d' and
fixed upon and in electical contact with the upper end of each carbonaceous plate b
is a coiresponding cap or cover herein before referred to which constitutes a
holder for the carbon 6 and is shaped to embrace or fit over the 11m d¹ sunlounding
the slot
Surrounding the entire group of carbonaceous plates and then caps or
covers and fixed with the main inner cover d of the trough or cell a is another
rim thus forming together with the mound cach slot or opening a
channel d³ within which is introduced so as to flow around the 11ms d'enclosin
the porous jais c, a quantity of a suitable metal or alloy which will melt or become
fu ed at a comparitively low temperature and be maintained in its fused condition
by the general heat of the battery, and this fused metal or alloy in the
channel d thus forms an electrical connection between the whole of the
carbonaceous or positive electrodes of the battery and at the same time seals
the caps or covers b¹
The fused metal in the space d³ is by a conductor electrically connected with a
terminal n which constitutes one pole of the battery and a projection or terminal n'
from the upper part of the cell a and which is thus electrically connected therewith
and with the partitions a¹ constitutes the other pole
One end of the cell or vessel a is connected with the upper part of the opposite
end thereof by means of an inclined circulation pipe f, thus allowing the fused
nitrate after having passed through the cell or trough a to enter into the
circulation pipe f, at its lower part at one end of the cell a and be circulated
or caused to flow by the means hereinafter described through the inclined
circulation pipe f back to the upper part of the cell or trough a at the opposite
end thereof
At this end the circulation pipe f is formed with a lateral arm f¹ and the cell a
is formed with a corresponding recess a³ to receive the arm f¹ whilst the latter along
one side is slotted or perforated at 72 to ensure the even distribution of the issuing
fused nitrate into the cell or trough a
At the opposite end of the cell or trough a is provided a closed vapourising
chamber g, which is wholly or it might be partially immersed in the fused nitrate

page_text: contained within the cell a, and is thus maintained at the required heat, and above
this vapouriser a is placed a reservoir h of nitric acid or dilute niti ic acid or the like
which is connected with the vapouriser g by a pipe and cock or valve in such
manner that the nitric acid or the like can be allowed to fall into the vapouriser g
in iegulated volume, governed by the cock or valve of the reservoir h
The nitric acid or the like falling into the vapouriser g becomes vapourised and
consequently expanded, and the acid fumes or combined acid fumes and steam so
produced escape through a pipe connected with a vapouri ing chamber g
at or
near the upper part thereof and provided with a back pre sure valve ' and this
pipe pas es through the body of the fused nitrate in the cell a and its other
en is directly connected without the intervention of a seconday chamber with a
suitable injector k located within or at or near the lower end of the inclined
cuculation pipe /
The vapourising chamber 9 18 connected with a part of the acid reservoir h
which is shut off by a partition 3 extending nearly to the top thereof so that the
pressure from the vapourising chamber passes to the top of the acid contained in the
reservon and the pressure is thus equalised in the respective vessels and the flow
of the acid to the vapourising chamber 9 thereby facilitated whilst the reservoir h
is provided with a suitable safety valve h* so as to relieve it in the event of the
creation of excessive pressure
The other details of construction of the reservoir h were fully described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to us No 12,483 of 1894, and it is
therefore unnecessary to enter more fully into such particulais here
The battery including the porous pots, is charged to about the level shown by the
dotted line in Figure 3 with the desired nitiate or other salt which on first
commencing to work is fused by the aid of heat in any suitable manner applied to
the exterior of the battery, and suco as that illustrated at Figure 5 where / repre-
sents a gas fire of any suitable construction and if the heat generated by the
chemical action of the battery be insufficient for subsequently maintaining the salt
in a fluid condition the further necessary heat may be supplied by the aid of the
gas fire!
The lower part of the battery, that is to say, the cell or trough a is surrounded by
a casing or jacket m, the object of which is to prevent the radiation and consequent
loss of heat from the battery
The acid fumes oi acid fumes and steam passing from the vapouriser 9 through
the connecting pipe are maintained at the required temperature by the fused nitrate
within the cell or vessel a and inclined cuculation pipe f, and upon issuing from the
injector they come into contact with and maintain the fused nitrate in a state
saturated with oxygen and the expansive force thereof effects the circulation of the
nitrate through the cell or trough a
The fused salt is caused to flow by the action of the jet of acid fumes or acid
fumes and steam through the circulation pipe f past the injector k and into the
upper part of one end of the cell or trough a containing the electrodes, thence
down the space between the wall of the cell a and the first porous pot e under the
porous pot, and up the space between the same and one face of the adjacent metal
plate or partition a¹ over the top of the latter and down through the space between
the opposite face thereof, and the next porous pot or cell c and so on to the
opposite end of the cell or trough a whence it again flows into the lower end
of the circulation pipe through which it is again carried upward by the
injector k and the circulation of the fused salt is thus maintained throughout
the battery
The top of the cell or trough a is enclosed by an outer cover o and a pipe o¹ is
provided therein by the aid of which the cat bonic acid gas issuing from the apertures b²
of the covers 6 of the porous pots c may be drawn off as desired, whilst the nitrous
acid fumes and steam are taken off from the active part of the battery by means of
a ninen

page_text: The nitious acid fumes taken off as above described may be treated in any suitable
known manner in order to recover nitiic acid
Although the improvements constituting the present invention are hereinbefor
described as applied to a particular construction of battery it will be understood
that they are equally applicable to batteries of the same class but of varied
construction
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
-
1 In an electric battery of that class in which the exciting fluid is a fused salt or
salts and the dissolving electrode carbonaceous material which is consumed by the
action of the battery, the combination of a cell or series of cells containing suitable
electrodes, a circulation pipe connecting the extremities thereof, an injector located
within the circulation pipe, a vapourising chamber immersed in the fused salt and
directly connected with the injector without the intervention of a secondary
chamber and with a supply of nitric acid or the like, substantially as herein shown
and for the purpose stated
2 In an electric battery of the character ieferied to in Claim 1, a cell or vessel
provided with suitable negative electrodes, a closely fitting but insulated lid to the
vessel, a number of openings in the lid, a rim around each opening, a im around the
entire lid, porous pot suspended in each opening, a cap or cover for each pot fitting
over the adjacent rim, a positive electrode of carbonaceous material suspended in
each pot from its cap or cover, a quantity of metal of low melting point within
the rims and constituting a seal around the caps and an electric connection
between the carbons, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated
3 In an electric battery of the character referred to in Claim 1, forming the
exit end of the circulation pipe with a lateral arm provided with a longitudinal slit
or perforations through which issues the fused salt into the cell or trough,
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated
Dated this 4th day of March 1896
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants