Improvements in Primary Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: WALTER ROWBOTHAM, The Gables, London Road, Twickenham, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
To carry out my improvements I arrange a number of cells together in series &
in steps. Each cell is divided into two compartments, one, the active, containing
the anodes (preferably of iron) & water, & the other, the depolarising, which is.
gas-tight, containing the cathodes & a solution either of sulphuric acid, nitric
acid & water or of water saturated with chlorine gas to which a little acid is some-
times added. The cells are connected to each other (each compartment to its
counterpart) by pipes, so that the depolarising solution & the water are respectively
fed from the top of one cell to the bottom of the next & so on, a break or space
being between the liquids in each. The water is fed from an ordinary water
cistern, the flow being controlled by a tap or valve in such a manner as to allow
a greater volume to circulate through each cell when the battery is not at work,
the object being to prevent local action. The depolarising solution is fed from
another cistern only circulates when the battery is working.
Dated this 2nd dose of June 1807
WALTER ROWBOTHAM.*.
Improvements in Primary Batteries.
I, WALTER ROWBOTHAM, of 24, Harleyford Road, Vauxhall, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer (formerly of the Gables, London Road, Twickenham, in the
County of Middlesex,) 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:-
--
My invention relates to improvements in batteries of the kind described in my
Specification No. 2378 of 1897, capable of giving a large and constant output at a
low cost per unit, and has for its object the prevention of waste of the battery
elements when the battery is on open circuit.
My invention consists in providing means for the rapid circulation of water
through the active part of the battery when it is not working, and thus preventing
local action on open circuit.
To carry my improvements into effect I arrange a number of cells together in
series and in steps. Each cell is divided into two compartments, one the active,

page_text: containing anodes (preferably of iron) and water, and the other the depolarising
compartment, (which is gas-tight) containing the cathodes and active solution.
This solution may either be of sulphuric acid, nitric acid and water, or of water
saturated with chlorine gas, to which a little acid is sometimes added. The cells
are connected to each other, each compartment to its counterpart, by pipes, so that
the depolarising solution and the water are respectively fed from the top of the one
cell to the bottom of the next, and so on, a break or space being between the liquids
in each case.
The water is fed from an ordinary cistern, the flow being controlled
by a tap or valve in such a manner as to allow a greater volume to circulate
through each cell when the battery is not being worked, the object being to prevent
local action. The depolarising solution is fed from another cistern, and only
circulates when the battery is working..
Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one method of carry-
ing my invention into effect:-
The figure shows diagrammatically the step by step arrangement of batteries, and
the cistern for supply of water. The arrangements for the supply of exciting fluid
are not shown as they constitute no part of this invention, but are similar to those
described in the specification herein before referred to. A. is the cistern for the
supply of water, which may be kept full by the usual ball cock arrangement. The
water flows from it by means of a pipe A¹ and a cock A² into the batteries B¹.
The cock A² is controlled by the switch C through an arm (3 connecting rod (3,
and an arm C+, so that when switch C¹ is operated to break the battery circuit the
cock A, will be opened to a greater or less extent, as desired. In this way when
the battery circuit is broken a fairly large volume of water is caused to flow through
the battery, replacing the solution round the active elements, and thus preventing
action on the active elements, when no current is being taken from the battery.
When the switch C¹, is closed the cock A2 is also closed, and the battery goes into
action as before by the percolation of the acid through the porous cells, and its
diffusion in the water round the active elements.
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:-
A primary battery of the kind described provided with means for causing rapid
circulation of water through the battery when it is not working, thus preventing
local action on open circuit, all substantially as described.
CHES OF tay Di
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.