IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Owen Charles Dalhousie Ross of Camberwell in the
County of Surrey Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GALVANIC BATTERIES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Owen Charles Dalhousie
Ross at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August
1883.
OWEN CHARLES DALHOUSIE ROSs of Camberwell in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN- GALVANIC BATTERIES."
.
The objects of my Invention are Improvements in the construction of Galvanic
batteries and in the combinations of liquids with which they are charged with the
view particularly to their employment for purposes of light and power
The first of my Improvements relates to the more rapid discharge of the liquids
used in the Cells of the battery and to the refilling of the same
This I effect either (A) by means of a pump or (B) by the use of a syphon which
I attach to a long tube placed above a series of Cells from which a succession of
smaller tubes dip into the several Cells On the Syphon being set to work by
means of a ball exhaust or otherwise the liquid may be drawn off from as many as
10 to 12 or more Cells simultaneously
At the same time that the spent or partially spent liquid is being drawn from
the Cells by either of the above means fresh liquid replaces it from above
through a similar series of tubes
Or (C) it is sometimes more convenient to effect the discharge through holes in
the sides or bottom of the trough containing the Cells which holes lead into the
several Cells and on the outer side may be connected by flexible pipes with a series
of vertical tubes which again are connected at the top with an horizontal main
pipe one end of which is provided with a tap On this main pipe being lowered
the liquid from the Cells flows into it through the series of vertical tubes and a
given quantity is drawn off simultaneously from all the cells fresh liquid is replaced
either by the same arrangement as above described or by connecting the horizontal
main tube directly with the tank or reservoir.

page_text: My next improvement consists in the use of porous cells made of carbon plates
in lieu of baked porous earthenware or other materials now employed. These
Carbon plates may either be smooth faced or corrugated or otherwise shaped and
they serve as a negative element of the battery
My third improvement consists in the use in the carbon cell of a Zinc-carbon
battory of red fuming nitric acid mixed with water and sulphuric or Hydrochloric
acid in the approximate proportion of 1 vol: of the first named with 3 vols: of
water and 4%, vols of Hydrochloric or 3 vols of sulphuric Acid
:
Lastly my Invention further consists in stamping embossing or moulding the
elements of the battery in order to increase the surfaces operated upon by the
liquid electrolytes, and this I effect by casting or stamping the zinc in suitable
moulds so as to give a number of projections to the zinc plate, and by similarly
stamping the carbon plates.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Owen Charles Dalhousie Ross in the Great Seal Patent Office.
on the 22nd February 1884.
•
OWEN CHARLES DALHOUSIE Ross of Comberwell in the County of Surrey Civil
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
.
The objects of my invention are to effect improvements in the construction of
Galvanic Batteries, and in the construction of liquids with which they are charged,.
with the view particularly to their employment for purposes of light and power.
The first part of my improvements relates to means for effecting a rapid
discharge of the liquids used in the cells of the battery and refilling the same
I effect the discharge by means of holes in the sides or bottom of the trough
containing the cells, which holes lead into the several cells, and on the outer side.
may be connected by flexible pipes or tubes with a series of vertical tubes, which
again are connected at their upper ends with a horizontal main pipe, one end of
which is provided with a tap. The vertical tubes and horizontal pipe are so
arranged that they can be moved outwards to a lower position, the flexible joints
allowing such movement to take place without disconnection. On the main pipe
being lowered to any prearranged lower level than that of the liquid in the cells,
such liquid is drawn off to the desired level, or if desired the whole may be so
emptied simultaneously from the whole of the cells-The filling up again with fresh
liquid is effected through the same series of pipes, on returning them to their
normal position.
The simultaneous discharge of all the cells may also be effected (1) by means of
an exhaust pump connected with a main pipe having a number of branch tubes
leading into each cell-or (2) by an arrangement of syphons which are connected.
with an elastic ball and stop cock. By squeezing the elastic ball the air is driven
out and when it is allowed to expand it causes the syphons to act, the liquid being.
allowed to run through the stop-cock which is opened for that purpose.
My second improvement consists in certain novel arrangements of the cells with
a view to reducing the amount of electrical resistance and economizing the.
construction of the battery-In one method I construct the slabs or plates which
divide the cells wholly or partially of porous carbon in lieu of baked porous
earthenware or other materials now employed, such plates being either smooth
faced or corrugated or otherwise shaped, and they serve as the negative element of
the battery-Another method consists in forming multiple cells with two or more
porous divisions and alternation of plates as hereinafter more particularly
described.
My third improvement with the object of obtaining an economical result with
diminished polarization consists in the use in the carbon cell of a zinc carbon
battery of red fuming nitric acid mixed with water and sulphuric or hydrochloric
acid in the approximate proportion of one volume of the first named with three
volumes of water and four and a half volumes of hydrochloric or three volumes of
sulphuric acid.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery constructed in accordance with my
invention-a is the outer case. b. b are the tubes formed of any elastic material
capable of conveying acid mixtures without injuring the tubes c care tubes
(usually of glass) which in their normal state are placed in a vertical position and
which tubes are joined to the horizontal tube d The set of tubes c and d are fitted

page_text: to a frame g (as shewn) which frame is retained in the required position by the
quadrant rack e and pawl ƒ
When the strength of the liquid is somewhat abated I lower the frame and tubes
as shewn in Fig. 1, to such a position that the versed sine of the angle is made
equal to the quantity of liquid to be drawn off by and through the tube d. When
this has been effected the tubes are returned to the vertical position, and a fresh
quantity of the liquid is run into the battery by means of the same pipe and tubes
with the object of restoring the power of the battery.
The battery can be also entirely emptied and refilled by the same means.
I usually divide the cells in such a manner that there is an alternation of two,
four six or more porous diaphragms between every two solid partitions, or non
porous diaphragmns. Fig: 2 is a plan of ono such arrangement and Fig: 3
another. In Fig 2 two porous diaphragms hh are shewn and two non porous
walls The cell is for the carbons and the cells for the zinc plates-In Fig 3
four porous diaphragms h h are shewn between the two walls ii thus forming five.
cells to contain two carbons and three zinc plates Fig: 4 shews a further
extension of this principle of construction-and Fig: 5 is a section of Fig: 1.
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:-
1. The method means and appliances for the rapid withdrawal and recharging of
Galvanic batteries, as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn on
the drawings or any mero modification thereof.
2 The use of porous diaphragms or plates constructed wholly or partially of porous
carbon in lieu of the ordinary porous material substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described
3 The construction and arrangement of multiple cells substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
4 The use of red fuming nitric acid in combination with water and sulphuric
or hydrochloric acid substantially as hereinbefore described.
5 The general combination and arrangement of the several and respective parts
and appliances together forming my improved galvanic battery substantially as
hereinbefore described and as shown on the drawings
In witness whereof I the said Owen Charles Dalhousie Ross have hereunto
set my hand and seal the twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
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