IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC D
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick William Durham of Station Road New Barnet
in the County of Herts, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC
D
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick William Durham
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1882.
FREDERICK WILLIAM DURHAM of Station Road New Barnet in the County of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES
Herts.
"
In voltaic batteries, particularly such as are employed as secondary batteries,
when an exciting liquid is used, the bubbling of the evolved gases through the
liquid is apt to sputter portions of it on the exposed parts of the cells and casing,
and the liquid film thus produced acts more or less as a conductor causing leakage
of the electricity. My invention relates to means of preventing such loss by
leakage. For this purpose over the liquid of the battery I pour paraffin or other
similar oil so as to form a non-conducting layer of some thickness, through which
the gas bubbles pass without carrying with them the conducting liquid. Around
the interior of the cells or casing I form inwardly projecting lips to prevent the oil
from dashing out in case of changes of level, and when the battery is of considerable
size and subject to oscillations or variations of level I provide flanged ribs crossing
it and subdividing the surfaces, the flanges of these ribs acting as the lips round
the interior of the casing to prevent splashing of the oil. The oil may be covered
by wood or other light material to prevent splashing and retard evaporation of
the oil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick William Durham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th March 1883.
FREDERICK WILLIAM DURHAM of Station Road, New Barnet, in the County of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES"
Herts.
In voltaic batteries, particularly such as are employed as secondary batteries, when
an exciting liquid is used, the bubbling of the evolved gases through the liquid is
apt to splutter portions of it on the exposed parts of the cells and casing, and the
liquid film thus produced acts more or less as a conductor, causing leakage of the
electricity. My invention relates to means of preventing such loss by electrical
leakage. For this purpose, over the liquid of the battery, I pour paraffin or other
similar oil, so as to form a non-conducting layer of some thickness, through
which the gas bubbles pass without carrying with them the conducting liquid.
Around the interior of the cells or casing, I form inwardly projecting lips to prevent
the oil from dashing out in case of changes of level, and when the battery is of
considerable size and subject to oscillations or variations of level, I provide flanged
ribs crossing it and subdividing the surfaces, the flanges of these ribs acting as the
lips round the interior of the casing to prevent splashing of the oil. The oil may
be covered by wood or other light material to prevent splashing and retard
evaporation of the oil.
Having thus described the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,
The herein described method of preventing electrical leakage in a voltaic
battery.
In Witness whereof I the said Frederick William Durham have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Third day of March, one thousand, eight hundred.
and eighty three.
FRED. W. DURHAM (J..S.)