GALVANO ELECTRIC GENERATOR to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECI. ICATION.
I, JOHN IMRAY, of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Ohancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "GALVANO ELECTRIC GENERATOR to be as
follows:-
-
"
This invention relates to an electrical generator or voltaic pile the action of
which is based on the following principles. When by incans of any metal a salt,
alkali or oxide is decomposed, the metal in entering into combination causes
bydrogen to be disengaged. By arranging beside this metal or in contact with it
another metal or body which is.not oxidisable or is less oxidisable than the former
metal, an electric couple is formed, and the hydrogen resulting from the reaction
accumulates on the less oxidisable body. Again by arranging beside the less
oxidisable metal or substance a body capable of conducting electricity and of
retaining oxygen in its pores or on its surface, the two latter bodies constitute an
electric couple, so that on completing circuit by a conductor from the one to the
other, an electric current is produced resulting from the combination of the
hydrogen of the one with the oxygen of the other. The generator according to
this invention therefore consists of three electrodes acting in combination, that is
to say, first an oxidisable metal, secondly a less oxidisable metal or body capable of
accumulating hydrogen and thirdly a conducting body capable of accumulating
oxygen. These electrodes may be arranged in many different forms as may be
understood from several illustrative examples as follow.
A bar of sodium is enclosed in a helical cage of lead wire, this is wrapped round
with absorbent paper, around and in contact with which are arranged a number of
carbon rods or tubes. The circuit being completed by a conducting wire from the
sodium and lead to the carbon, the sodium acted on by the damp of the atmosphere,
becomes oxidised causing hydrogen to accumulate on the lead, and this hydrogen
combines with the oxygen of the air accumulated on or in the carbon, causing an
electric current to pass through the conductor. Instead of the bar of sodium a

page_text: bar or rod of another oxidisable metal such as zinc may be used, the space between
it and the lead being filled with a hygrometric substance such as sea salt, or
granulated sodium or zinc or a mixture of these may be placed within the leaden
cage, and instead of placing a number of carbon rods or tubes around the paper
casing, it may be enclosed in a single tube of carbon preferably perforated with
numerous holes for free admission of air. And the air absorbent power of the
carbon may be increased by impregnating it with such substances as oxide of
manganese, sulphate of iron or the like.
:

page_text: CURI DEID
DIECIFICATION,
I, JOHN IMRAY, of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "GALVANO-ELECTRIC GENERATOR" 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 electrical generator or voltaic pile, the action of
which is based on the following principles. When, by means of any metal, a salt,
alkali or oxide is decomposed, the metal in entering into combination causes
hydrogen to be disengaged. By arranging beside this metal or in contact with it,
another metal or body which is not oxidisable or is less oxidisable than the former
metal, an electric couple is formed, and the hydrogen resulting from the reaction
accumulates on the less oxidisable body. Again, by arranging beside the less
oxidisable metal or substance a body capable of conducting electricity and of
retaining oxygen in its pores or on its surface, the two latter bodies constitute an
electric couple, so that on completing circuit by a conductor from the one.to the
other, an electric current is produced resulting from the combination of the
hydrogen of the one with the oxygen of the other. The generator, according to
this invention, therefore, consists of three electrodes acting in combination, that is
to say, first an oxidisable metal, secondly a less oxidisable metal or body capable
of accumulating hydrogen, and thirdly a conducting body capable of accumulating
oxygen. These electrodes may be arranged in many different forms as may be
understood from several illustrative examples represented in the accompanying
drawings.
The
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan of one form of a generator
according to this invention. A is a bar of sodium within a cage B of lead wire
or perforated lead which is wrapped round with absorbent paper C, and around
this are arranged carbons D, which may be tubular as shewn. The sodium and
lead have connected conductors a b, and the carbons have a conductor c.
sodium acted on by the damp of the atmosphere becomes oxidised producing
caustic soda and liberating hydrogen which accumulates on the lead and polarises
it. When the external circuit is closed, there is generated a secondary current by
the combination of the hydrogen on the lead with the oxygen of the air accumulated
on the carbon and in its pores. In the section Fig. 3, a bar E of an oxydisable
metal such as zinc is used instead of sodium and the space around it and within
the lead cage B is filled with a hygrometric substance such as sea salt. In the
section Fig. 4, instead of a bar of sodium, granulated sodium or granulated zinc
or a mixture of these is employed. The local currents produced are not injurious
because they determine production of hydrogen which accumulates on the lead.
No separate conductor is in this case required for the central charge which can be
taken out and replaced without otherwise disturbing the apparatus. Fig. 5 shews
a small generator similar to that shewn in Fig. 1 but having a single enclosing
carbon tube F perforated or cleft to give free passage for air. Fig. 6 is a plan of a
powerful generator, in which the parts corresponding with those in Fig. 2 are

page_text: marked by similar letters. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 8.a transverse
section of a form in which the parts are arranged horizontally. G is a basin made
of lead or lined with lead having in its bottom plates or strips Z of zinc or of iron
or granulated zinc. The basin is filled up with sand; sawdust, hemp or other
porous material H moistened with a solution of sea salt or chloride of calcium to
which may be added a little chloride of the metal Z below. The porous material H
may be covered by a moist cloth I on which are placed bars or tubes of carbon K.
The leaden basin and the oxidisable metal Z form a primary couple producing
hydrogen which is accumulated on the lead, and the leaden basin with the carbon K
form a secondary gas pile, the current in the external circuit resulting from the
combination of the hydrogen from the lead with the oxygen in the pores of the
carbon. For the filling H, sawdust or hemp is to be preferred, as these are
themselves capable of polarisation, and consequently by their use the surface of
polarisation is greatly increased. Instead of the zinc or iron Z, other oxidisable
metal may be employed. When sodium is used no moisture is required besides
that of the atmosphere. In Fig. 9 the basin G is of carbon which becomes
polarised on its inner surface which is in contact with the oxidisable inetal Z.
Fig. 10 represents a number of cells of the kind shewn by Figs. 7, 8 and 9 grouped
together by being superposed within a framing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
A galvano-electric generator consisting of three electrodes namely, an oxidisable
metal, a body less oxidisable but capable of polarisation, and a substance capable
of accumulating oxygen arranged and operating substantially as herein described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.