IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO GALVANIC CELLS OR BATTERIES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Sparkes Wilson, of Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO
GALVANIC CELLS OR BATTERIES."
Sealed the 20th August 1878, and dated the 21st February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sparkes Wilson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1878.
WILLIAM SPARKES WILSON, of Sunderland, in the County of Durham. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO GALVANIC CELLS OR BATTERIES."
26
This Invention has for its object the construction of a battery at the same time
constant, powerful, cheap, and practically free from deleterious fumes.
Almost all batteries as at present constructed are formed on the plan of having large
surfaces of metal and small quantities of chemicals; now I find the reverse to be
more advantageous in certain cases.
My Invention consists,-
1st. In forming a treble instead of double or single cell. The zinc or positive
element I place as a ring in the outer cell in a very weak solution of chloride of
sodium or other aqueous menstruum in which zincic chloride and zincic sulphate
will readily dissolve. This is supported on lugs or brackets projecting from the
intermediate cell, which like the outer one must be impervious to liquids, and must
also be glazed or composed of material unaffected by acids. This intermediate cell
forms a complete jar, supporting the zinc, but not nearly as tall as the others, and
can be raised up till the zinc ring is clear of the saline solution at any time when it
is desired to stop further action. Inside this cell, and concentric with it, is a porous
cell, and the intermediate space is filled up with chlorates or such substances as form
manganic, chromic, or nitric acids, with sulphuric acid, such, for instance, as a layer
of manganisic oxide at bottom, one of potassic nitrate above, and a third layer of
potassium chlorate above that, finishing off with a layer of sand so as to keep the
saline solution in the outer jar and above the sand from circulating more freely
Dmine Q37

page_text: among the salts than is requisite for the electrical conductivity or action of the cell,
the sand thus acting as a portion of the porous diaphragm. The porous cell contains
the carbon element, and is filled up with sulphuric acid to the same level that the
saline solution stands at outside. The carbon element is secured to a cap of porous
earthenware or other suitable material, dipping down into the liquid of the porous
cell but not reaching to the bottom. Binding screws attached to the carbon element
through the cap, and to the zinc element through the surrounding cover, complete
the apparatus.
The mode of action is apparently as follows when the chemicals already mentioned
are used: The zinc ring being high up in a weak saline solution keeps bright the
sulphate of zinc formed, dissolving or settling in the lower part. The nitrous acid
fumes rising in the cap fall down condensed against its cold sides insted of escaping,
and are oxidized by the potassic chlorate. The oxygen of the manganesic oxide
combines with the hydrogen evolved from the sulphuric acid to form water. The
sulphuric acid passes through the entire range of salts and combines with the zinc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Sparkes Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
August 1878:
WILLIAM SPARKES WILSON, of Sunderland, in the County of Durham. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO GALVANIC CELLS OR BATTERIES,"
This Invention has for its object the construction of a cell or battery at the same
time cheap, constant, powerful, and practically free from danger and deleterious
fumes, and the partial application of the same to any other cells or batteries.
All forms of galvanic cells or batteries as at present constructed are formed on
the plan of having large surfaces of the positive and negative elements, a plan
which results in great waste of the exciting chemicals and liquids, thereby con-
siderably lowering the electro-motive force, and hindering the constancy and
workable duration of the cell or battery. I find however that electrical excitation
takes place better between lines or points than between surfaces, consequently I
partially cover the surfaces of the elements with some isolating and anti-corrosive
material, usually solid paraffine, shown in Drawing at I; thus the edges or ends J
only of the positive and negative elements (more especially the former) are exposed
to chemical action.
This Invention is best described by reference to the accompanying Drawing of a
cell as actually constructed by me.
A is the containing vessel, with a wood or other cover B. In this is another
jar C, made of some insulating material, called the "isolator," carrying on its rim or
projection the zinc or any other positive element H, fitted with a binding screw G.
Within the isolator I place a porous cell or diaphragm D, having a cover, preferably
bell shaped, resting on it, and dipping down into it, called the "condenser" E.

page_text: Hanging down from the centre of this is the carbon or negative element F, fitted
with a binding screw G. Surrounding the carbon and reaching above the bottom
of the condenser within the diaphragm I place a solution composed of one volume
commercial sulphuric acid, and one volume saturated solution of nitrate of soda.
Between the diaphragm and the isolator I place a mixture of two parts, by weight,
of binoxide of manganese, two of sand, and one of nitrate of soda, with a coating
of sand half an inch deep on the top, which last acts as an extension and virtual
part of the diaphragm C.
There are many other substances rich in oxygen that might be partially or
wholly substituted for the binoxide of manganese or nitrate of soda in the isolator,
such as the nitrates, chlorates, permanganates, or bichromates of the alkalies, and
one or two peroxides of the metals, but I prefer the mixture above mentioned as
the best.
In the containing vessel I place lumps of chalk, as shown, and sufficient water
saturated with sulphate of soda to cover the zinc and be level with the liquid
within the diaphragm.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new
and desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The galvanic cell or couple, consisting of three compartments, one containing
the positive element; the intermediate one, containing nitrate of soda, binoxide of
manganese, or one or more of their chemical equivalents, for the purposes described,
with or without sand or other granular or fibrous neutral substance; and the third
containing the negative element.
2. The isolator C, or its mechanical equivalent, for preventing the heavier liquid
from gravitating into the lighter, or for holding oxydising material.
3. The condenser, placed over the negative compartment, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
4. The arrangement and construction of galvanic cell or couple with large
quantities of liquid but small surface of one or both metallic and carbon elements
exposed, the remainder being coated with an isolating material, for the purposes
described.
5. The galvanic cell or battery arranged chemically, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sparkes Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
1878
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said William Sparkes Wilson
in the presence of
THOS. S. HINES,
Solr.,
Sunderland.
WILLIAM SPARKES WILSON. (L.S.)