Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th. Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by FRIEDRICH WILHELM VOHWINKEL, of Allee-
gasse 65, Vienna, Austria, Electrician.]
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
F.I. Inst. practising as Phillips and Leigh at No. 22 Southampton Buildings,
Chancery. Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in electric batteries and the object of it is
to provide for all the elements of a series of wet batteries being held within one
solid body, so that only one jar or cell shall be required for the whole series.
In carrying the invention into effect, all the elements are enclosed in a body of
insulating material, by being fixed, each one by itself, in one of a series of holes or
cavities formed in the said body to receive them. The elements are insulated
from each other by the intervening insulating material. The holes provide for the
access of the exciting liquid to the elements, and the projection of the latter
beyond the top of the body of insulating material presents the necessary facilities
for being coupled up.
The only cell which the invention requires is one of any material adapted to
hold the exciting fluid. It is either made fast to the bottom of the body of
insulating material by its top edge, or is large enough to hold both the said body
and fluid apart from each other. In the former case, the said body and fluid
are brought into contact by inclining or reversing the battery: in the latter, by
plunging the said body into the fluid. To facilitate the act of plunging, the body is
provided with a rod which slides through the tightly fitting cover of the cell.
The connections may be led through the said rod. An adjustable device for
holding the block at any desired level in the fluid is provided.
Dated thie 27th day of April 1894
HENRY H. LEIGH, C.P.A.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
F.I. Inst., practising as Phillips and Leight at No. 22 Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Engineers and Patent Agents, 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 :-
When the electric elements known hitherto are coupled on intensity the
electrodes of each element are placed into a separate vessel, containing the exciting
liquid. There are therefore requisite as many vessels as elements. Instead of
such vessels or cells sometimes the same are divided into several compartments by
intermediate walls.

page_text: This invention relates to such improvements in electric batteries, that all
elements are united in one solid body and besides I employ for the exciting liquid
but one vessel or cell without any compartments.
The improved construction is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the battery in combination with a portable
lamp.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same with six elements.
Figure 3 represents a modification for pocket or stick lamp.
Figures 4 and 5 represent in elevation, partly in section the battery constructed
as a plunging battery adapted to be plunged or dived into the liquid.
is a body of insulating material, (porcelain, glass, vulcanized india-rubber or the
like) provided with recesses, cavities or holes h, into which are fitted in the
electrodes r, z. The ends of the latter pass through openings in the top of
the body and are coupled on intensity.
This construction may be employed as well for hermetically closed reversible
batteries (Figure 3) as well as for plunging batteries (see Figures 4 and 5).
In the first case the body k has a thread g for screwing on the vessel y containing
the exciting liquid, besides the ends of the inner electrodes pass airtight (e.g., by
screwing in or by cementing) through the top (cover) of the body k.
When the battery is used as a plunging battery, the thread g is dispensed with,
but the top of the body k receives a rod p passing through a stuffing box p²,
(Figure 4) for plunging into the vessel y (Figure 4) containing the exciting liquid.
This improved battery is so arranged (provided that suitable electrodes and a
suitable exciting liquid are employed) that it produces a high electric energy in
a small volume.
The advantages are: Transportability, simplicity of construction, easy
manipulation and operation.
•
An improved battery of 70 mm of height and 50" diameter, produces a current
of 12 volts and 3 ampères.
Figure 3 illustrates the application of the reversible battery for a stick which
supplies an electric lamp.
Figure 1 represents the application of my improved reversible battery for an
electric pocket lamp.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a plunger battery for medical purposes.
In these figures a are screws bearing on insulating washers b. c is a glow lamp,
da packing ring, & lens, i cover, are holes for admitting electrolyte, n are wires,
o glass globe, s support, t lamp.
It is obvious that I may also construct the battery in greater sizes for electric
safety lamps of great simplicity and high lighting intensity.
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 1
claim is
An improved electric battery consisting of a number of electrodes or electric
elements r,, fitted into a body.k of non-conducting material, being integral or
forming both together a compact body, which may either be employed as plunger
battery, or which may be brought into contact with an exciting liquid, contained
in a vessel y, by reversing the battery, so that an electric current is produced.
DL: L
HENRY H. LEIGH, C.P.A.