US167173A - Improvement in galxapjig batteries - Google Patents

Description

EDWARD A. HILL, OF CHICGC), ILLINOIS.

@ALW "iti s Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. E6,.%ft., dated August 3l, 1875; application liled July 20, lv/75.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. HILL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Galvanic Batteries, ot' which the iollowing is a specitieution, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings.

As is well known to those conversant with galvanic batteries, especially their care and management, there is considerable diiiiculty in preventing the flow of solution of sulphate oi' copper to the zinc in the sulphate-oicop` per battery, thereby not only Wasting maY terial, but lowering the electro-motive force ot" the zinc, in consequence of the metallic coating which is reduced thereon. Especially is this the case whenever crystals ofthe salt are added in considerable quantities as charges. Various means have been resorted to to overcome this diliiculty, but these are liable to some objections. Whenever the copper plate is placed above the crystals the battery cannot be made to work, with any degree of efficiency, faster than the solutionv flows above the plate. Ii', as has been done, a copper plate is placed aboveV the charge, and in metallic connection with a plate below or in the midst of the crystals, and the battery worksfaster than the copper solution rises above the upper plate, the latter is eaten away, and portions of it disappear and have to be renewed. Besides, the battery cannot be replenished y without very seriously disturbing the solids Va great extent, the flow of the sulphate of copper to the zinc element, While allowing'a free supply of the crystals to be made from' time to time, as required, without disarrang-1 l ing the parts or interfering with the working' of the battery.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my battery,

showing A, the zinc or electrode; B,alead disk, perforated at or near the center, and a tube 'ati ached; (hthe copper, or electrode or plate; and D, the cover. Fig. 2 shows the tube and disk B in perspective; and Fig. 3

shows the copper plate C and the standards ll, also in perspective.

E is the bbattery-celly or jar which, in this i'orm, is usually made of glass, so as to afford a plain view of its contents. 0n the bottom of the cell rests the copper or electrode, having a covered wire attached thereto, and rising by the side of the cell and over its top, as shown. It has three metal (wire) standards H ixedthereto, near the periphery, in such a manner as to support the disk B.y Another method contemplated `is to make simply a trussed or bent wire, which should be placed on the plate, and support 'in this manner the disk B. Ais the zinc or electrode. It `has an opening through its center to allow the tubular portion of B to pass through and leave some space to insure noncont`act between the two metals, and is suspended from the rim or upper edge of the jar by a hook, F, which has a bindingserew i'or wire connection. B isV a disk and tube combined, the tube being attached to or near the center of the disk, and the latter perforated so as to allow whatever is put into the tube to pass' through the disk. It rests, by its disk portion, horizontally upon the standards H, its tubular portion rising perpendieularly through the central opening in the zinc, and above the surface I of the liquid, to the mouth of the jar and under the cover. yThe horizontal or disk portion should be somewhat less in diameter than that of the jar, leaving space enough for the deposition of the copper from whatever of blue solution chances to rise above its edge, without thereby obstructing the iiow of the current of electricity. 1) is the cover to thejar, spun out of sheet metal, (zinc, preferably,) turned out of wood, or molded out ot' paper or other plastic material. It has a curved outline in order to give it strength and improve its looks, and a narrow rim overlapping and inclosing the mouth of the jar. [t is notched on two sides for the passage of the hooked hanger F and 4the wire (l, and to allow of its removal readily,

My object in employing the device B, and making it of lead, is twofold: first, to allow of supplying from time to time, as required, crystals-of-copper sulphate, without disturbing the liquids or disarranging the solids of my battery; and, second, lead, being indissoluble e 'asians when subjected to battery action, cannot be eaten-away and lost, in whole or in part, as

copperis. Any other incorrodible metal rnight be substituted, but lead is probably thecheapest and best. l do not claim using lead as an electrode as its sole or chief function, 'nevertireless one of its functions is to electrolyze whatever of solution of copper sulphate rises above it, otherwise a non-metallic diaphragm would answer instead. The height from the bottom may, of course, be varied by varying the length of the standardsor supports upon which it rests, in order to allow charges varying in quantity. rlhe standards might be fixed to the lead disk, but I prefer the arrangement described, as it facilitates the removal of B when necessity requires, for tbepurpose of vremoving a deposit of dirt thereon.

.To set up and charge the battery I iirst place the copper or electrode in the bottom of the jar, and on this I place a pound 0r two, more or less, of copper sulphate in crystals; but the quantity should not be so great as to rise yabove the standards H. I then place the disk B and the zinc or-{- electrode in place and pour in, first, lwater up to a level ot' B, and then a solution of zinc sulphate sufficient to cover the zinc. about half saturated if for a local battery, but for a main battery, or when slower action isno objection, the solution may be thinner. Lastly, the cover is put on and the battery is ready for work.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The device B, constructed of lead or other incorrodible metal, when supported above the bottom of the containing-cell, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The combination of the device B with the copper or plate, having supports fixed or resting thereon, substantially as and for the 'purpose specified.

EDWARD A. HILL. Witnesses:

J, D. Hamas,

This solution should be 1`

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