IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings. London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES Communicated to him from
abroad by Alfred Skene, of Vienna and Franz Kühmaier of Pressburg,
Austria
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th January 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES "
[A communication to him from abroad by Alfred Skene, of Vienna and Franz
Kühmaier of Pressburg, Austria]
The object of this Invention is the production of galvanic batteries or cells
which shall have a continuous and uniform action and supply a large amount of
electricity at a small cost.
When a copper plate is dipped in a weak solution of sulphuric acid, and then
exposed for a time to the action of the atmosphere and again plunged in a weak
solution of sulphuric acid in which is placed an amalgamated zinc plate, an electric
current is developed, which, although very strong to begin with, gots much weaker
after a time notwithstanding the increased consumption of copper. If, however,
the copper plate is taken out of the solution after a few moments and allowed to
remain exposed to the air for a short time and again placed in the solution, a very
strong current will be generated while the quantity of copper consumed will be
very small,
According to the present invention the copper plate is alternately lifted out and
replaced in the solution so that it comes successively in contact with the solution
and with the air. For this purpose, I arrange the copper plate or plates upon an
axis of rotation or oscillation as hereinafter set forth, that is to say-In some
cases I provide a copper disc which is capable of rotation in a zinc trough filled
with the said solution so that only about one half of the disc is immersed in the
fluid, while the other half is exposed to the air.

page_text: In other cases I employ a number of copper plates upon a shaft. I sometimes
employ sheet copper in the form of a spiral coil so arranged upon a shaft as to
ensure its partial immersion and emersion during its rotation.
According to another modification of the said invention copper plates are
attached to a lever oscillating upon a shaft in such a manner that when one plate
is immersed in the fluid the other is lifted out of it.
In another modification I employ a semi-spherical trough made of zinc and
provided on both sides with an insulating bearing of wood. Upon the said
bearings I arrange a cylinder to which are attached a number of copper plates or
strips. The effect can be intensified by increasing the number of these copper
plates or giving them an enlarged contact surface by increasing their length and
breadth. These copper plates or strips are fixed to discs which are attached to the
said cylinder and are prevented from coming in contact with the trough. If a
number of cells are to be connected for the purpose of generating a higher degree
of intensity, the said trough and cylinder of one cell can be joined by means of
wires to the trough and cylinder of the adjoining cell.
In all the constructions above described the oxidizing action of the atmosphere
is utilized for the purpose of keeping the battery in an efficient condition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th July 1883.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
A communication to me from abroad by Alfred Skene, of Vienna, and Franz
Kühmaier, of Pressburg, Austria,
This invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries.
The object of the said invention is the production of galvanic batteries or cells
which shall have a continuous and uniformi action and supply a large amount of
electricity at small cost.
When a copper plate is dipped in a weak solution of sulphuric acid and then
exposed for a time to the action of the atmosphere and then again plunged into
a weak solution of sulphuric acid in which is placed an amalgamated zinc plate,
an electric current is developed which, although very strong to begin with, becomes
weaker after a time, notwithstanding the increased consumption of copper. If,
however, the copper plate is taken out of the solution after a few moments and
allowed to remain exposed to the air for a short time and again placed in the
solution, a very strong current will be generated while the quantity of copper
consumed will be very small indeed.
According to the present invention, the copper plate is alternately lifted out and
replaced in the solution so that it comes successively into contact with the solution
and with the air.
In the accompanying drawing
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate various methods hereinafter described of
constructing a battery according to this invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A indicates the copper plates; B the solution; Č the zinc plates and E the axis
of rotation or oscillation as hereinafter set forth.
In the form shown in Figure 1, a copper disc is arranged to rotate in a zinc
trough C filled with the said solution so that only about one half of tho said
disc is immersed in the fluid at one time, while the other half is exposed to
the air.
I sometimes arrange a number of copper plates A upon the shaft E as shown
in Figure 2.
In Figure 3 the sheet copper is shown in the form of a spiral coil so arranged
upon the shaft E. as to ensure its partial immersion and emersion during its
rotation.
According to another modification, the copper plates A A are attached to a
lever A¹, as shown in Figure 4, and oscillate upon the shaft E in such a manner
that when one plate is immersed in the fluid B, the other is lifted out of it.
According to another modification illustrated in Figure 5 the trough C for
containing the solution B is semicircular and is made of zinc, and provided on each
side with a bearing D of wood or other insulating material. Upon the said
bearings I arrange a cylindrical shaft E to which are attached a number of copper
plates or strips A. The effect of this battery is intensified or reduced according
as a larger or smaller number of the said copper plates is used; instead of increasing
the number of plates, they may be provided with an enlarged contact surface by
increasing their length and breadth.
These copper plates or strips A are fixed to discs F which are attached to the
grid shaft E, and prevented from coming into contact with the trough C.

page_text: If a number of cells are to be connected for the purpose of producing a current
of greater intensity than is possible with a single cell, the trough C and the
shaft E of one cell can be joined by means of wires to the trough and shaft of the
adjoining cell.
To produce a current of electricity it is only necessary to rotato the plates A
on the shaft E, a small force only being necessary, as the said plates require to be
rotated very slowly.
In all the constructions above described, the oxidizing action of the atmosphere
is utilized for the purpose of keeping the battery in efficient condition.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to mo by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim:-
First A copper and zinc battery in which the copper plate is alternately raised
from the fluid into the air, and immersed in the said fluid for the purpose of
generating a constant current of electricity.
Second A copper and zinc battery in which rotating copper discs, a spiral
coil of sheet copper or copper plates upon an oscillating lever are adapted to be
alternately exposed to the action of the atmosphere and of the fluid for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this tenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.