Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, HENRY INKSON HARRIS, of No. 61, Ossory Road, Old Kent Road, and
WILLOUGHBY HAMILTON POWER, of No. 20, Versailles Road, Anerley, both in
the County of Surrey, Electricians, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
;-
This invention relates to improvements in electric batteries,. and consists in a
distinctive method of or means for generating current.
Hitherto, it has been the general practice to rely for current upon either the
mechanical motion of the dynamo with its accompanying electrical effects, or upon
the chemical action of a liquid battery.
Now according to our invention, the exciting agent is a column of liquid, e.g.,
water, which is admitted into the cavity of the case or outer jar of the battery to
there press upon the outer surface of the inner cell.
In carrying the invention into effect, the outer jar is, or may be, of iron, and the
inner cell of sulphur, but our invention does not confine us to the adoption of these
materials, and we may use any of corresponding or equivalent electrical properties
or relations.
The inner cell may be replaced by a diaphragm, the pressure of the exciting
liquid being brought to bear upon one side of it.
The said cell or diaphragm is duly insulated from the outer jar and held to it by
any suitable means. A lead is fixed in contact with the cell, or diaphragm, as the
case may be, and the return is to the outer jar.
The said jar is, of course, closed at the top, preferably by a flange of the cell or
diaphragm being held and packed to a flange on the jar-top by suitable devices, so
that the exciting liquid cannot overflow therefrom, but must exert its pressure
upon the cell.
Between the latter and the liquid there will therefore obtain a
difference of potential which difference is the proximate condition antecedent to the
generation of current, and must therefore, for the purpose of the invention, always
be present. As the generation of current proceeds, a percolation of liquid through
the side of the cell or through the diaphragm takes place. Any suitable device of
the syphon or other type is provided to carry off the liquid which has so
percolated.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRY INKSON HARRIS, of No. 61, Ossory Road, Old Kent Road, and
WILLOUGHBY HAMILTON POWER, of No. 20, Versailles Road, Anerley, both in
the County of Surrey, Electricians, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in electric batteries and consists in a
distinctive method of or means for generating current.
Hitherto it has been the general practice to rely for current upon either the
mechanical motion of the dynamo with its accompanying electrical effects, or upon
the chemical action of a liquid battery.
In order that our invention, and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, we will now describe it and them in

page_text: detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Substantially the present invention consists of the combination of a brimstone
cell supported within, but insulated from, an iron vessel, and a current of exciting
liquid (eg. water) sent into the latter and through the brimstone cell, thereby
establishing a difference in potential. The cell may be replaced by a diaphragm,
and the iron and brimstone by other bodies of equivalent properties in respect of
électricity and porosity.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan.
a is the water supply pipe; and b, its regulating valve. c is the iron vessel into
which the water is delivered, preferably, at or near the bottom. dis the inner cell.
It is supported within the iron vessel in any convenient way provided that the cell
and vessel are insulated from each other, and that the water can flow away only
through the overflow pipe specially provided for that purpose. The means for
supporting the cell illustrated in the figures, and which we find in every way
satisfactory, consists of the following members. e is an inwardly bent flange on the
top of the iron vessel e, and is preferably made in one piece with it. f is an
outwardly bent flange upon the top of the cell and is made in one piece with it.
9 is a ring of insulite, and h, an elastic washer. i is a holding down ring; and jan
elastic washer between it and the cell-flange. The members above described are
held to the flange e by a series of screws and wing nuts k, which screws engage
with the said flange after passing through tabs on the ring i. is the overflow
pipe. It starts within a short distance of the bottom of the cell d, and is led away
vertically through the cell cover m which serves as a convenient support for it.
is preferably of the syphon type, i.e., automatic in its action. n is the positive pole.
It is in touch with, preferably the bottom of, the cell, and is supported centrally
within the latter by a binding screw o to which the positive lead p is connected.
The iron vessel is, consequently, the negative pole, and q the negative lead,
being the relative binding screw.
We do not confine ourselves to the use of water as an exciting liquid.
It
In any case, there will be pressure upon the cell from the outside towards its
axis, and therefore a difference of potential between the liquid and the cell, which
difference is the proximate condition antecedent to the generation of current, and
must therefore, for the purpose of the invention, always be present. The retardation
of the percolation of the water through the sides of the cell by them is indicated in
Figure 1 by the difference between the levels of the water in the cell and the iron
vessel respectively. Either or both outer vessel or cell may be replaced by a
diaphragm suitably supported and insulated so as to retain their respective electric
properties.
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. The combination of outer vessel and inner porous cell joined liquid-tight to
the former but insulated therefrom, and a current of liquid delivered into the
former so as to percolate through the latter, as set forth.
2. The combination of negative pole, porous positive pole, and exciting liquid,
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in an electrical battery of a brimstone element adapted by
the percolation of a liquid through it to establish or contribute to the creation of a
differentiation in respect of the electrical potential, as set forth.
Dated 6th January 180°
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.