Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr.. 1895-Accepted; 27th Sept., 1895
;
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
FRANK LAURENCE
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer,
MARSHALL, Gentleman, and JOHN COOPER, Gentleman, all of No. 8, Furnival's
Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, and JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of Traine,
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 dissolving
or positive electrode is carbonaceous fuel the negative element being iron or other
suitable metal or material, and the exciting liquid a nitrate of a suitable metal, 'or
a mixture of such nitrates, fused by the aid of heat.
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.
Hitherto, the recuperating fumes have been injected, or intended so to be, by the
aid of a jet of steam or air under pressure, and such steam or air jet has at the
same time been employed for effecting the circulation of the fused nitrate or
nitrates through 'the battery.
Now, according to the present invention, 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 acid fumes or acid fumes and steam being obtained by the vaporisation of
nitric acid or of dilute nitric acid in a suitable vessel, as hereinafter described, and
these acid fumes, at the same time, recuperate the nitrate which has been reduced
by the action of the battery.
For the purposes of this invention, we employ a cell consisting of a vessel or
trough of iron (preferably wrought or malleable iron) which is, by preference,
oblong and rectangular in form, and closed by one or more covers.
Within this vessel or trough we fix, at suitable intervals, transverse plates of
iron or other metal or suitable material which extend from the bottom upwards 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 electrode to the carbonaceous fuel plates which form the
dissolving electrode.
'
The carbonaceons fuel plates, which extend to within a short distance of the
bottom of the cell or vessel, are suspended from the cover of the cell by means of
suitable holders which make electrical contact with the cover and are secured
thereto by means of slotted studs and cotters or pins or in other suitable manner,
the cover being insulated from the body of the vessel by means of an insulating
rim and provided with lifting handles or rings, so that the carbonaceous fuel plates
may be lifted separately or collectively from the cell.
At each end of the cell or vessel, we leave a space devoid of plates and each of
such spaces
is separated, from that portion of the cell containing the carbonaceous
fuel plates, by, say three, division plates of iron or other suitable material, two of

page_text: :
which-extend-from the bottom of the cell or trough nearly to the level of the fused
nitrate whilst the centre division plate descends from the cover nearly to the bottom
of the cell but leaving sufficient space for the fused nitrate to flow freely between
its lower edge and the bottom of the cell.
The last mentioned plate must be so connected to the cover that it is insulated
therefrom and may be secured in an air-tight manner to the sides of the body of
the cell.
The said end spaces are connected together by a circulation pipe which descends
vertically from the bottom of one space and theu rises at an angle to the bottom of
the other space, thus allowing the fused- nitrate, after having passed through the
cell, to pass into the pipe at one end of the cell and to be circulated or caused to
flow through the pipe back to the opposite end of the cell.
Within that space which is at one end of the cell or vessel, we provide a closed
vaporising chamber which is maintained at the required heat by being partially or
wholly immersed in the fused nitrate. Above this vaporiser we place a reservoir
of nitric acid or dilute nitric acid.
This reservoir consists of two chambers, in the lower chamber is a tank for
containing acid and such tank is connected by a pipe, provided with a regulating
valve or cock and preferably of glass, earthenware or other suitable material which
will resist the action of the acid, with the vaporisor. A suitable guage is arranged
on the outside of the said chamber to indicate the height of acid in the tank. The
upper chamber, which is arranged a little distance above the other, also contains a
tank, and the two chambers are connected, by two pipes, provided with cocks or
valves, one for equalizing the pressure in both chambers and the other for permitting
the flow of acid from the tank in the upper chamber to that in the lower chamber.
The top of the upper chamber is furnished with an inlet provided with a valve or
cock, for supplying acid or dilute or diluted acid to the tank, and it is also fitted
with an air outlet constructed to be opened when the tank is being charged. The
lower chamber is provided with a safety valve.
The regulating valve or cock between the reservoir and the vaporizor is so
adjusted (when the battery is in action) as to permit the acid or dilute acid to fall
in the requisite volume into the vaporizer where it is vaporized and consequently
expanded and the acid fumes or combined acid fumes and steam so produced escape
through a pipe located at the upper part of the vaporising chamber, and this pipe,
which is immersed in the fused nitrate, is by preference coiled or bent in such a
manner as to constitute a lengthened passage for the acid fumes or acid fumes and
steam. The said pipe then opens into a second vessel which is located at the
vaporiser end of the cell or vessel and is also immersed in the fused nitrate. The
fumes or fumes and steam pass from the second vessel into a suitable vertical pipe
having that end which is within the second vessel provided with a one-way or
back-pressure valve and this vertical pipe passes down the vertical portion of the
circulation pipe which connects the end spaces of the cell or vessel and into the
inclined portion thereof where it is connected with a suitable injector. The acid
fumes or acid fumes and steam passing through the vertical pipe from the second
vessel are maintained at the required temperature by the fused nitrate within the
circulation pipe and upon issuing from the injector they come into contact with and
recuperate the nitrate and the expansive force thereof effects the circulation of the
nitrate through the cell. The pipe conducting the acid fumes or acid fumes and
steam from the vaporising chamber to the second vessel is connected by a pipe,
fitted with a valve or cock with the lower chamber of the acid reservoir in order to
equalise the pressure in the latter and in the vaporising chamber.
The cell is charged with the nitrate or nitrates which are maintained in a state
of fusion by heat applied in any suitable manner and such nitrate 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 space at one end of the cell thence
through that portion of the cell containing the electrodes and into the space at the
opposite end of the cell, whence it again flows into the circulation pipe and so on.

page_text: The nitrous acid fumes and steam escape by an opening in the cover at that end
of the cell opposite to the vaporiser and the presence of steam combined with the
nitrous acid fumes facilitates the subsequent recovery of the latter in the form of
nitric acid.
The cover above the electrodes is provided with a suitable outlet for the escape
of carbonic acid or other gases or vapours generated or given off in that portion of
the cell.
D
1
01
T
1004
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer, FRANK LAURENCE
MARSHALL, Gentleman, and JOHN COOPER, Gentleman, all of No. 8, Furni-
val's Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, and JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, 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 :-
Our said invention relates to that class of electric batteries in which the
dissolving or positive electrode is carbonaceous fuel or material, the negative
element being iron or other suitable metal or material, and the exciting liquid a
nitrate of a suitable metal, or a mixture of such nitrates, fused by the aid of heat.
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.
Hitherto, the recuperating fumes have been injected or intended so to be, by the
aid of a jet of steam or air under pressure, and such steam or air jet has at the
same time been employed for effecting the circulation of the fused nitrate or
nitrates through the battery.
Now, according to the present invention 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 acid fumes or acid fumes and steam being obtained by the vaporisation of
nitric acid or of dilute nitric acid in a suitable vessel, as hereinafter described, and
these acid fumes at the same time recuperate the nitrate which has been reduced
by the chemical action of the battery.
For the purposes of this invention, we employ a cell consisting of a vessel or
trough of iron (preferably wrought or malleable cast iron) which is, by preference,
oblong and rectangular in form, and closed by one or more covers.
Within this vessel or trough, we fix, at suitable intervals, transverse plates of iron
or other metal or suitable material which extend from the bottom upwards 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 electrode to the carbonaceous plates which form the dissolving electrode.
The carbonaceous plates, which extend to within a short distance of the bottom
of the cell or vessel, are suspended from the cover of the cell by means of suitable
holders which make electrical contact with the cover and are secured thereto by
means of slotted studs and cotters or pius or in other suitable manner, the cover
being insulated from the body of the vessel by means of an insulating rim and

page_text: provided with lifting handles or rings, so that the carbonaceous plates may be lifted
separately or collectively from the cell.
At each end of the cell or vessel, we leave a space devoid of plates and each of
such spaces is separated from that portion of the cell containing the carbonaceous
plates, by, say, three division plates of iron or other suitable material, two of
which extend from the bottom of the cell or trough nearly to the level of the
fused nitrate whilst the centre division plate descends from the upper part of the
vessel beneath the cover nearly to the bottom of the cell but leaving sufficient
space for the fused nitrate to flow freely between its lower edge and the bottom of
the cell. The last mentioned plate which is supported beneath the cover is insulated
therefrom and is secured in an air-tight manner to the body of the cell.
The said end spaces are connected together by a circulation pipe which rises at
an angle from the bottom of one space to the upper part of the other space, thus
allowing the fused nitrate, after having passed through the cell, to pass into the
lower part of the pipe at one end of the cell and to be circulated or caused to flow
through the pipe back to the opposite end of the cell.
Within that space which is at one end of the cell or vessel, we provide a
closed vaporising chamber, which is maintained at the required heat by being
partially or wholly immersed in the fused nitrate. Above this vaporiser we place
a reservoir of nitric acid or dilute nitric acid.
This reservoir consists of two chambers, in the lower chamber is a tank for
containing acid and such tank is connected by a pipe, provided with a regulating
valve or cock and preferably of glass, earthenware or other suitable material which
will resist the action of the acid, with the vaporiser.
A suitable guage is arranged on the outside of the said chamber to indicate the
height of acid in the tank.
The upper chamber which is arranged a little distance above the other, also
contains a tank and the two chambers are connected by two pipes, provided with
cocks or valves, one for equalizing the pressure in both chambers and the other for
permitting the flow of acid from the tank in the upper chamber to that in the lower
chamber. The top of the upper chamber is furnished with an inlet, provided with
a valve or cock, for supplying acid or dilute acid to the tank, and it is also fitted
with an air outlet constructed to be opened when the tank is being charged. The
lower chamber is provided with a safety valve.
The regulating valve or cock between the reservoir and the vaporiser is so
adjusted (when the battery is in action) as to permit the acid or dilute acid to fall
in the requisite volume into the vaporiser where it is vaporised and consequently
expanded and the acid fumes or combined acid fumes and steam so produced escape
through a pipe located towards the upper part of the vaporising chainber, and this
pipe, which is immersed in the fused nitrate, may be coiled or bent in such a
manner as to constitute a lengthened passage for the acid fumes or acid fumes and
steam. The said pipe then opens into a second vessel which is located at the
vaporiser end of the cell or vessel and is also immersed in the fused nitrate. The
acid fumes or acid fumes and steam pass from the second vessel into a suitable
vertical pipe having that end which is within the second vessel provided with a one
way or back-pressure valve and this vertical pipe passes down to the circulation
pipe which connects the end spaces of the cell or vessel and into the inclined
portion thereof where it is connected with a suitable injector. The acid fumes or
acid fumes and steam passing through the vertical pipe from the second vessel are
maintained at the required temperature by the fused nitrate within the cell or
vessel and circulation pipe and upon issuing from the injector they come into
contact with and recuperate the nitrate and the expansive force thereof effects the
circulation of the nitrate through the cell. The pipe conducting the acid fumes or
acid fumes and steam from the vaporising chamber to the second vessel or the
second vessel itself is connected by a pipe, fitted with a valve or cock, with the
lower chamber of the acid reservoir in order to equalize the pressure in the latter
and in the vaporising chamber.

page_text: The cell is charged with the nitrate or nitrates which are maintained in a state
of fusion by heat applied in any suitable manner and such nitrate 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 space at one end of the cell thence
through that portion of the cell containing the electrodes and into the space at the
opposite end of the cell whence it again flows into the circulation pipe and so on.
The nitrous acid fumes and steam escape by an opening in the cover at that end
of the cell opposite to the vaporiser and the presence of steam combined with the
nitrous acid fumes facilitates the subsequent recovery of the latter in the form of
nitric acid or dilute nitric acid.
The cover, above the electrodes, is provided with a suitable outlet for the escape
of carbonic acid or other gases or vapours generated or given off in that portion of
the cell.
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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a plan representing an electric battery constructed according to the
present invention.
Figure 2. is a detail view of parts drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 3. is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1. of Figure 1.
Figure 4. is a sectional elevation looking towards the opposite side of the
battery.
Figure 5. is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2. of Figure 3,
and,
Figure 6. is a vertical transverse 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 the cell which consists of a vessel or trough of iron (preferably
wrought or malleable cast iron) and is intended to contain fused nitrate, this cell is
by preference oblong and rectangular in form and closed by three or there might
be more covers a³, and a¹ represents an open ended jacket the office of which is to
retain the heat.
Within the vessel or trough a. are fixed at suitable intervals a number of
transverse plates of iron or other metal or suitable material a³ which extend from
the bottom of the trough or vessel a. upwards to a point below the level of the
fused nitrate, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 3, and such plates a³ are
part of or are in efficient electrical contact with the general body of the cell a. and
constitute therewith the opposite electrode to the carbonaceous plates 63 which
form the dissolving electrode.
The carbonaceous plates 63, which extend to within a short distance of the
bottom of the cell or vessel a., are suspended from the cover a² of the cell by means
of suitable holders b. which make electrical contact with the cover a² and are
secured thereto by means of slotted studs a** fixed to the cover and cotters or
pins or they might be secured in place in any other suitable manner and the
carbonaceous plates are insulated from the walls of the cell or vessel a. and held
in place by guides or distance pieces 63* of porcelain or other suitable non-
conducting material, as shown more particularly at Figure 2.
The bolders b. are provided with lifting handles or rings 6' and the cover is
provided with lifting handles a2** by means of which handles the carbonaceous
plates may be lifted separately or collectively from the cell a., whilst the cover a²
is insulated from the body of the vessel a. by means of a rim of non-conducting
material a.
At the ends of the vessel a. are left spaces a* a** which are devoid of plates
and each of such spaces is separated from that portion of the cell a. containing the
carbonaceous plates 63 by, say, three division plates a³* of iron or other suitable
material, two of which extend from the bottom of the cell or trough a. nearly to

page_text: the level of the fused nitrate, whilst the central division plate descends from the
upper part of the vessel a..beneath the electrode cover a² nearly to the bottom of
the cell a. but leaving sufficient space for the fused nitrate to flow freely between
its lower edge and the bottom of the cell.
The last named plate, that is to say, the central one of the plates a³* which is
supported beneath the cover a² is insulated therefrom by the rim or strip of non-
conducting material a whilst such central plate is formed with the body of the
vessel a., or, is otherwise secured thereto in an air-tight manuer.
a
The end spaces a **
are connected together by a circulation pipe c. which rises
at an angle from the bottom of the space a** to the upper part of the other space a*
thus allowing the fused nitrate after having passed through the cell a. to pass into
the pipe c. at one end of the cell a. and to be. circulated or caused to flow through
the pipe c. back to the opposite end of the cell.
Within the space a
**at one end of the cell or vessel a. is provided a closed
vapourising chamber d. which is maintained at the required heat by being partially
or it might be wholly immersed in the fused nitrate contained within the cell or
vessel a. and above the vapouriser d. is placed a reservoir e. of nitric acid or dilute
nitric acid.
This reservoir consists of two chambers e. and e', the lower one e., which forms a
tank for containing acid, is provided with a regulating valve or cock 3* formed
preferably of glass eartherware, or other suitable material which will resist the
action of the acid, whilst a suitable guage is arranged on the outside of the
chamber e. to indicate the height of acid therein. The chamber e. is connected by
a pipe with the vaporiser.
The upper chamber e¹ which is arranged a little distance above the lower one e.
also forms a tank and the two chambers e¹ e. are connected by two pipes e e**
provided with cocks or valves, one pipe e for equalising the pressure in both
chambers e. e¹ and the other e* for permitting the flow of acid from the tank of
the upper chamber e¹ to that of the lower chamber e. and for this purpose the upper
chamber e¹ is divided into two parts by a partition e terminating a short distance
from the top of the chamber, one of such chambers namely el being to contain
the acid and the other e¹* to allow of the vapour from the chamber e. to pass by
the pipe to the top of the acid in the chamber e.
The top of the upper chamber el is furnished with an inlet e fitted with a funnel
or other well known form of device for supplying acid or dilute acid to the chamber e.
and it is also fitted with an air outlet e fitted with a valve constructed to be opened
whilst the tank or chamber e¹ is being charged, and the lower chamber e, is provided
with a safety valve e³.
The regulating valve or cock e3* between the reservoir e. and the vaporiser d. is
so adjusted (when the latter is in action) as to permit the acid or dilute acid to fall
in the requisite volume into the vaporiser d. where it becomes vaporised by the
heat of the fused nitrate, and consequently expanded, and the acid fumes or the
combined acid fumes and steam so produced escape from the vaporising chamber d.
through a pipe d' located towards the upper part thereof and this pipe d' which
is immersed in the fused nitrate and shown as a short straight length may if desired
be coiled or bent in such manner as to constitute a lengthened or circuitous passage
for the acid fumes or acid fumes and steam, in order that the heat thereof may be
still further raised on their passage therethrough.
The pipe opens into a second vessel f. which is located at the vapouriser end of
the cell or vessel a. and is also immersed or partially immersed in the fused nitrate.
The acid fumes or acid fumes and steam pass from the second vessel f. by a
vertical pipe and a branch * to a suitable injector c¹ located at the lower end
of the inclined circulation pipe c. which connects the end spaces a* a** of the cell
or vessel a. and the upper end of the pipe f¹ is fitted with a one way or back
pressure valve f2 in order to prevent the return of the acid fumes or the fused salt
into the second chamber f.
'
The acid fumes or acid fumes aud steam passing through the vertical pipe f¹

page_text: and branch from the second vessel f. to the injector care maintained at the
required temperature by the fused nitrate within the end space a** of the cell or
vessel a. and the circulation pipe c. and upon issuing from the injector d' they come
into contact with and recuperate the nitrate and the expansive force of such fumes
effects the circulation of the nitrate through the circulation pipe c. and cell or
vessel a.
The second vessel f. which receives the acid fumes or acid fumes and steam
from the vapourising chamber d. through the pipe d' is connected by a pipe f³
fitted with a cock * with a division e* of the lower chamber e. similar to.
that of the upper chamber e' in order to equalise the pressure in the chamber e.
and vapourising chamber d. and thus permit the acid to flow into the latter through
the connecting pipe e³.
The cell a is charged with nitrate or nitrates which is or are maintained in a
state of fusion by the aid of heat applied to the cell a. in any suitable manner
preferably by an arrangement of gas jets located within the jacket a¹ and the
nitrate is caused to flow by the action of the jet of acid fumes or acid fumes and
steam issuing from the injector e' through the circulation pipe c. past the injector c¹
and into the space a* at one end of the cell a. thence through that portion of the
cell a. containing the electrodes a3 63 and into the space a' at the opposite end of
**
the cell whence it again flows into the circulation pipe c. and so on.
The nitrous acid fumes and steam escape by an opening a2*1 in the cover a² at
that end a* of the cell a. opposite to the vapouriser d. and the presence of steam
combined with the nitrous acid fumes facilitates the subsequent recovery of the
latter in the form of nitric acid or dilute nitric acid.
The cover a above the electrodes is provided with a suitable outlet a2*1 for the
escape of carbonic acid or other gases or vapours generated or given off in that
portion of the cell.
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, the combination of a cell containing suitable electrodes,
an inclined circulation pipe connecting the ends of the cell, an injector located
within the circulation pipe, a vapourising chamber connected with the injector,
means for heating the vapouriser and means for supplying acid or other suitable
material to the vaporiser, substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and
described.
2. In an electric battery, the combination of a vaporising chamber heated by
suitable means, a supply tank or reservoir adapted to contain acid or other suitable-
material connected therewith by a valve controlled pipe, a valve controlled pipe.
indirectly connecting the vapourising chamber with the supply tank above the fluid,.
a filling chamber above the reservoir similarly connected by two pipes with the
latter and suitable filling and air valves, substantially as and for the purposes herein
shown and described.
3. In an electric battery, in which the exciting fluid is a fused nitrate and the
dissolving electrode carbon, the combination of a cell the ends of which are
separated from the body by several vertical partitions forming air-tight traps, a
closely fitting cover to each division, a number of insulated carbon electrodes
suspended from the central cover within the central chamber and terminating short
of the bottom of the cell, a number of electrodes of iron or other suitable
material rising from the bottom of the central chamber but terminating short of
the level of the exciting fluid and constituting partitions located between the
carbon electrodes, an inclined circulation pipe connecting each end of the cell, an
injector located within the circulation pipe, a vapourizer immersed in and heated
by the fluid nitrate and connected with the injector and supplied with nitric acid
or the like from a tank or reservoir so that the nitric acid or dilute nitric acid will
expand in the vaporiser in the form of vapour, and, through the injector, cause the

page_text: circulation and recuperation of the exciting fluid and means for heating the nitrate,
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.