IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC ELEMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors at Frankfort on the Main in the Empire of Germany for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC ELEMENTS a communication from
Conrad Pabst, Doctor of Philosophy a person resident at Stettin in the Empire
of Germany
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1883.
FRANK WIRTH of the firm of Wirth and Company Patent Solicitors at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
[a communication from Conrad Pabst, Doctor of Philosophy a person
resident at Stettin in the Empire of Germany]
ELEMENTS"
In elements having a carbon electrode, nitric or chromic acid, or manganese has
long been employed to prevent polarisation. This invention has for its object to
employ atmospheric oxygen for the purpose and consists in the employment as the
electrolytic liquid of the aqueous solutions of the chlorides of such metals of which
two corresponding to the oxide and protoxide exist in chromium compounds,
soluble in water. The higher chloride is reduced by the metallic electrode to the
lower degree of oxidation and again becomes oxidised to the higher degree by the
absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere. The electrolytic liquid preferred is
the aqueous solution of iron chloride or tin chloride, the metallic electrode suitable
for which is made of tin or iron. The element may be composed in either of the
following ways.
1 Carbon. Tin in a 10% iron chloride solution
2 Carbon. Iron in an 8% iron chloride solution
Containing 4% of tin chloride
The principle is the same in both cases.
As regards power they stand nearly
on a level with the Meidinger element at its maximum.
When the metallic electrode whose surface is one third that of the carbon, is worn
out the exciting liquids are filtered and used again. The elements are constant

page_text: Dy The SUIQ
13th December-1883.
FRANK WIRTH of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors at
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
Frankfort-on-the Main in the empire of Germany
ELEMENTS A communication from Conrad Pabst Doctor of Philosophy a person
resident at Stettin in the ampire of Germany
"
In elements having a carbon electrode, nitric or chromic acid or binoxide of
manganese has long been employed to prevent polarization. This invention has for
its object to employ atmospheric oxygen for the purpose and consists in the
employment as the electrolytic liquid of the aqueous solutions of the chlorides of
such metals as form two compounds soluble in water corresponding to the oxide
and sub-oxide. The higher chloride is reduced by the metallic-electrode to the
lower degree of oxidation and again becomes oxidised to the higher degree by the
The electrolytic liquids thus act
absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere.
continuously.
The electrolytic liquid preferred is the aqueous solution of ferric chloride or
stannic chloride the metallic electrode suitable for which is made of tin or iron.
The element may be composed in either of the following ways:-
(1) Carbon-Tin in a 10% ferric chloride solution or stannic chloride solution.
(2) Carbon-Iron in an 8 to 14°/. ferric chloride solution, or Carbon-Iron in
an 8% ferric chloride solution containing 4% of stannic chloride.
The principle is the same in both cases. As regards power they stand nearly on
a level with the Meidinger element at its maximum. When the metallic electrode,
whose surface is one third that of the carbon, is worn out, tho exciting liquids are
'filtered and used again. The elements are constant.
In preparing the elements it will in some cases be preferable to add to the ferric
or stannic chloride solution a small quantity of ferrous or stannous chloride in
order to prevent the disengagement of chlorine which would be injurious to the
metallic contact poles of the element. Or the ferric or stannic chloride solution
may be entirely replaced by a ferrous or stannous chloride solution, this ferrous or
stannous chloride solution becoming converted into a ferric or stannic solution by
contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere. The ferric or stannic chloride solution
being acted on by light it will be preferable to blacken the glass vessel in which
the element is contained.
Having described the nature of the said invention and the manner of perforining
the same I declare that what I claim as the invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
1 The employment as the electrolytic liquid in galvanic elements of the aqueous
solutions of the chlorides of such metals as form two compounds soluble in water
corresponding to the oxide and sub-oxide in combination with the corresponding
metal as the one, and with carbon as the other electrode, substantially as described.
2nd The employment with galvanic elements having a carbon electrode, of tin or
iron as the second electrode, in an aqueous solution of ferric chloride or stannic
chloride (or a mixture of ferric chloride and stannic chloride) or in an aqueous
solution of ferrous chloride or stannous chloride (or a mixture of the two) so that

page_text: the element consists of iron, (or tin) carbon, ferric chloride, (or stannic chloride)
substantially as described.
3rd As an article of manufacture an element prepared substantially as above
described.
In witness whereof I the said Frank Wirth have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
FRANK WIRTH (LS.)