Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 27th June, 1891.
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I AUGUSTE DE MERITENS of 45 Rue St. Sebastien Paris in the Republic of
France Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved combination of elements forming a galvanic
battery of great power and constancy. A galvanic cell or element arranged
according to this invention is constructed with a plate of zinc combined with a
couple formed by an electrode or plate of lead soldered or connected to a plate or
electrode of aluminium or other acid proof material such as platinum or carbon for
example and immersed in a diluted solution of sulphuric and nitric acids in water
preferably in the proportion of about two parts of sulphuric acid to one of nitric
acid. The lead and the aluminium for example form a couple by themselves the
lead being attacked by the nitric acid and as these two plates are soldered or
connected together they form a closed circuit the current passing through the liquid
from the lead to the aluminium so that a black layer or deposit of suboxide of lead
is formed upon the lead plate.
This couple forms the positive pole of the cell the zinc forming the negative pole.
The hydrogen resulting from the combustion of the zinc reduces the sub-oxide
of lead which is immediately formed again by the action of the lead and aluminium
couple. The cell is thus enabled to give a remarkably constant current. 25 amperes
per square decimetre can be easily obtained and maintained until the acids in
solution are entirely consumed.
In this cell no hypo nitric acid is emanated neither A30³ nor A30 being
formed. The depolarisation is performed entirely by the black suboxides of lead
(PLO). All the oxygen in the nitric acid is employed in the formation of PbO
so that a great saving is effected in the consumption of this acid.
In order to maintain the concentration of the acid solution a closed porous vessel
containing nitric acid is placed at one end of the zinc and a similar vessel charged
with sulphuric acid at the other end or preferably (in the case of large batteries)
two vessels, one containing nitric and the other sulphuric acid are placed at each
end of the zine as by this arrangement the two acids are more effectually mixed
with the water about the zinc. By employing vessels of suitable dimensions and
permeability the amount of acid in the water surrounding the zinc is thus enabled
to be maintained constant.
Any suitable number of such elements or couples may be connected together in
tension or otherwise to form a battery the plates of zinc being arranged alternately
with the compound plates of aluminium and lead.
The couple (lead and aluminium or the like) may be in the shape of a box or
vessel the lead being placed inside this vessel of which it forms a lining. The sheet
of lead is perforated for the circulation of the liquid and is rivetted to the inside
of the aluminium casing with leaden or aluminium rivets. All these lead lined

page_text: aluminium boxes or cases are placed in a trough constructed of acid proof material
and are supported upon ledges or blocks of sufficient height to raise the bottoms of
the boxes an inch or thereabouts above the bottom of the trough.
Each aluminium box is provided at its lower part with an orifice or opening for
the escape of the salt formed by the conversion of the zinc into sulphate. This
salt accumulates owing to its density at the lower part of the clements and
ultimately falls through the orifices on to the bottom of the trough whence it can
be drawn off in the form of a concentrated solution.
Each box contains a zinc supported upon blocks on the bottom of the box.
In order to maintain the liquid in working order closed porous vessels charged
with undiluted acid are placed at each end of each zinc. By suitably calculating
the dimensions and porosity of these vessels the amount of acid in the water can be
maintained constant. The amount of acid in the vessels should be sufficient to last
until the zincs are consumed.
It is evident that in the lead aluminium couple forming the positive pole of this
peculiar voltaic combination the aluminium can be replaced by platinum or carbon
or any other conducting body not acted on by the acids employed.
The elements may be made of any suitable dimensions and may be combined or
grouped together in any suitable numbers according to the work they are required
to perform.
Dated this 27th day of June 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I AUGUSTE DE MERITENS of 45 Rue St. Sebastien Paris in the Republic of
France 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved combination of elements forming a galvanic
battery of great power and constancy. A galvanic cell or element arranged
according to this invention is represented in section in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings and Figures 2.3 and 4, represent in transverse longitudinal and horizontal
sections respectively a battery constructed with a number of elements arranged on
the same principle. This battery is formed by a series of elements composed
essentially as follow: (1) a zinc plate Zn (Figure 1.) placed in a vessel A. B. filled
to the extent of about two thirds of its capacity with a diluted solution of sulphuric
and nitric acids in water and (2) an aluminium plate Ae soldered to a lead plate Pb
which forms the positive pole of the element.
The solution contains two parts of sulphuric acid to one of nitric acid. The
lead Pb and the aluminium Al form a couple or pair of electrodes. The material
such as lead forming one part of this couple is attacked by the acid but the other
part is composed of aluminium platinum or other material relatively unattackable
by or possessing greater power of resistance to the action of acids.
As the two plates are soldered together the circuit is closed and the current
passes through the liquid from the lead to the aluminium. Upon the surface of the
lead there is formed a black layer of suboxide of lead.
The lead and aluminium couple being closed upon itself forms the positive pole
(Figure 1) in this novel battery or voltaic combination. The hydrogen resulting
from the action on the zinc Zn reduces the suboxide of lead which is immediately
formed again by the action of the lead and aluminium couple Pb, Al. The battery
is thus enabled to give a remarkably constant current.
An element closed upon

page_text: itself easily produces 25 amperes per square decimeter which is maintained until
the acids in solution are entirely consumed.
.In order to maintain a constant degree of concentration of the solution a porous
vessel p is placed at each end of the zinc plate Zn. In one of these vessels I place
pure or undiluted sulphuric acid and in the other vessel place nitric acid likewise
in a pure or undiluted condition. In the case of large batterics it is preferable to
provide two vessels one containing nitric and the other sulphuric acid at each end
of the zinc plate Zn. By this arrangement the two acids are more effectually
mixed with the water about the zinc. By employing porous vessels of suitable
dimensions and permeability the degree of concentration or amount of acid in the
water surrounding the zinc is maintained constant by the filtration.
A stopper or a cover of caoutchouc or india rubber not shewn in the drawing is
placed on each porous vessel so as to hermetically close the same. The nitric
acid is thus prevented from evaporating and the purity of the sulphuric acid is
ensured.
It should be observed that in the working of this battery no escape of hyponitric
acid can occur neither Az03 nor AzO₁ being formed. The depolarization is
entirely performed by the black sub oxide of lead Ph²O. All the oxygen of the
nitric acid (Az(5) is employed in the formation of Ph² whence there results
great economy in the amount of this acid consumed in producing the current.
A battery may be constructed with elements arranged as hereinbefore described
by connecting together either in quantity or in tension any desired number of
elements similar to that represented in Figure 1. With this object the zinc plate Zn
is placed between two couples Al, P constituted by lead and aluminium for
example in place of being combined with only one of the latter as represented in
Figure 1.
The elements may be arranged as represented in Figures 2, 3 and 4. In this
case each element is composed of an aluminium box or vessel Al lined with a sheet
of lead Pb represented in the drawing by a thick black line. The sheet of lead Pb
is perforated with holes of from about to of an inch in diameter and is rivetted
to the inside of the aluminium box or casing with leaden or aluminium rivets. All
these lead lined aluminium boxes or cases each forming one element of the battery.
are placed in a trough C constructed of acid proof material such as stone ware
glass ebonite or wood coated with protecting enamel and are supported upon ledges
or blocks T of sufficient height to raise the bottoms of the boxes an inch or there-
abouts above the bottom of the trough C.
0
Each aluminium box is provided at its lower part with an orifice or opening
(Figures 2 and 3) of one inch or thereabouts in area. This orifice is provided for
the escape of the salt formed by the conversion of the zinc into sulphate. This salt
accumulates owing to its density at the lower part of the elements and ultimately
falls through the orifices o on to the bottom of the trough C whence it can be drawn
off in the form of a concentrated solution through a glass tap or cock R.
All the zines Zn are supported upon blocks T Figure 2 on the bottom of
the box.
manner.
The elements may be connected or coupled in the trough Cin any suitable
In Figure 3 they are represented as being connected in tension. It is
simply necessary to pour the acid solution into the trough C in order to charge all
the elements simultaneously.
The porous vessels are of course prepared apart and contain a sufficient quantity
of acid to last until the zines are consumed.
It is evident that in the lead aluminium couple forming the positive pole of this
novel voltaic combination the aluminium can be replaced by platinum or carbon or
any other conducting body relatively unattackable by or possessing greater power
of resistance to the action of the acids employed.
The elements may be made of any suitable dimensions and be combined or
grouped together in any suitable numbers according to the work they are required
to perform,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A galvanic element in which the positive pole (negative electrode) is
constituted by a couple formed by two materials such as lead on the one hand and
on the other hand alinminium platinum or other material relatively unattackable by
or possessing greater power of resistance to the action of the acids employed the
said couple forming a closed circuit and acting in conjunction with the zinc or
negative pole (positive electrode) of the clement substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Second. In the construction of elements for galvanic batteries the arrangement
and employment of a couple formed by a plate of lead acting in conjunction with a
plate of aluminium or other material such as platinum or carbon relatively
unattackable by the acids) the said plates being soldered or connected together
and forming a closed circuit the said couple acting in combination with a plate
of zinc and the whole being immersed in a diluted solution of sulphuric and
nitric acids in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore set
forth with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. In an element for a galvanic battery the combination of the couple
composed of aluminium and lead as hereinbefore described, and claimed with a zinc
electrode Zn and one or more porous vessels or magazines charged with pure, or
undiluted sulphuric acid and one or more similar vessels or magazines containing pure
or undiluted nitric acid for the purpose of maintaining the strength of the solution
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. A galvanic element formed by a lead electrode and an electrode
composed of aluminium, a zinc with or without porous vessels at its extremities
and a solution of sulphuric acid and nitric acid all contained in a trough or vessel
and arranged to form an electric or galvanic battery substantially in the manner
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
P
Fifth. An electric or galvanic battery composed of couples of aluminium and
lead (Al Pb) in the form of boxes with zines Zn and porous vessels p placed in the
said boxes all arranged in a trough C containing a solution of sulphuric acid and
nitric acid in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improve-
ments in galvanic batteries substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of September 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.