US306796A - Julius zobel - Google Patents

Description

Nrrhn Srarns ATENT JULIUS ZOBEL, 'OF NEW YORK, N.

BTTERY-CELL.

STFEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No: 306,796, dated October 21, 1884.

Application tiled January 5, 1884.

,T0 @ZZ whom, 'Z may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JULrUs ZoBnL, a citizen of Prussia, and aresident ofNew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cells for Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of constructing the cells in galvanic batteries,77 whereby the solution in the cell will be constantly supplied'with the requisite proportion of sulphate of copper in solution and be retained at the proper height always to cover the copper electrode, but not to reach the zine electrode, andthe interior of the cell kept clean and free from deposits of copper, thus avoiding expense and time incident to repeated charging and cleaning of the cells, and also effecting a saving in the zinc and sulphate of copper used.

In the drawing, which shows my improved cell mostly in section, A is the jar of the cell, made of any suitable material and in any desired shape. Around its upper edge are formed screw-threads, (seen at tu) either in the material of which theja-r is made or in a cap or ring rmly attached to the jar.

B is a cap or cover adapted to fit the upper rim of the jar.

C is a ring threaded on its inside to match into the threads a on the jar, and provided with an inwardly-prejecting iiange or lip, c, which laps over the edges ofthe cover B, thus iirmly binding the cover and jar together when the ring C is screwed down.

l) is a little rubber gasket or other suitable air-tight packing for the joint between the jar and the cover.

l is a receptacle placed on the top of the cover B, preferably covered with a removable lid, c, through which is a hole, c.

l? is a tube, made of material not acted upon by the solution, extending from about the line of the top of the copper electrode upwardly through the bottom ot' the receptacle E,-preferably nearly to its upper edge. That portion of the tube which is within the cup E is slotted from the top downward nearly or quite to the bottom of the cup with a number of slots or other openings, f, for the free passage of the solution without allowing the sulphate- (No model.)

of-eopper crystals to enter the tube, as hereinafter set forth. The top of the tube is also preferably covered to exclude the crystals.

G is the zinc electrode, and H is the copper electrode.

I is the connecting-wire for the zinc electrode, and J is thelike wire for the copper electrode. That portion of these wires which is in the solution should preferably be insulated therefrom.

K is a little chamber in the cover B, which is open to thejar A, but closed to the cup E. Through the wall of this chamber passes a little tube, L, which is bent downwardly at its outer end and placed in the mereuryin a mercury-cup, Z, thus forming a mercury-valve.

X is a little hydrometer, which I prefer to place permanently in thc cell, so that when the specific gravity of the solution becomes 7o too great it may be readily ascertained.

rllhe operation of my improved battery-cell is as follows: The copper and zinc electrodes beingplaced in position in the jar, and connection with the wires I and .I having been made as usual, I first fill the jar with a solution of sulphate of zinc or of magnesia or any suitable salt used for this purpose, and I then, preferably, although it is not absolutely essential, add a sufficient quantity of sulphate-of- So copper crystals (blue vitriol) to start the cell in operation. The solution of course covers the zinc plate. I then place the rubber gasket D or other packing in its place, put on the cover B, and screw the ring C iirmly down, thus sealing the joint between the cover and the jar air-tight. rlhe zinc G has a hole in its central part, through which the tube passes. The solution immediately commences to acton the sulphate-of-copper crystals, if used, and 9o on the metals when the circuit is closed, and a gas is generated which rises through the solution to the upper part of the jar, and the process being continued the chamberK and the upperpart of the jar become filled with the gas, thus creating a pressure upon the surface of the solution. This pressure increases until the solution is forced upward through the tube F into the receptacle E and escapes through the slots f into the receptacle,in which roo has previously been placed a quantity of dry sulphate-of-copper crystals, which crystals the solution immediately commences to dissolve. lhe rnercnrywalve L l is so adjusted as to resist a pressure greater than that required to litt the solution through the tube into the lower part of the receptacle E; but the solution rises higher the pressure increases until the mercury-valve is opened and allows the gas to pass through it. \Vhen this takes place, the pressure on the upper part ot' the jar and in the chamber l( is suddenly relieved and the solution which has been t'orced into the receptacle E,and which has now by its dissolvingthc sulphate-otcopper crystals contained in the receptacle become a saturated solution ot' sulphate of copper, flows back again through the slotsj" and the tube F into the jar. This operation is repeated as ot'ten as the gas is generated in snllicient quantities. The valve is so adjusted that there will always remain in the jar sullicient ol' the sulphate-oifzinc solu tion to cover the zinc. paratus automatically supplies or replenishes the solution contained in it with the sulphate of copper as itis exhausted. rlhns contact between theblueliquor and the zinc is prevented, and the solution always remains in a proper condition for use. lt will be seen that Contact between the blue solution and the zinc can not take place, because the solution will dissolve the sul phate-o'leopl'ier crystals in the receptacle E only so long` as the solution is not a saturated solution. rllhus during the commence nient ot' the operation ol' the battery the solution, which is then weak, Awill dissolve sut'ticient ol' the crystals contained in the receptacle to make that portion ofthe solution which is in the receptacle a saturated solution, and thus will continue until the blue solution has risen in the jar to about theheight ol" the bottoni of the tube F, then the solution which is lorced upward into the receptacle will be it sell'a partiallysaturated solution, being weakcned only by the reduction consequent on its use since the last replenislnnent. lt will also beobserved that si nce the crystals in the receptacle E have volume, when they are dissolved and carried down into the jar the contents ofthejar is intermittently increased. The surplus white or sulphate-of-zinc solution passes out through the tube L and the inercury-valve Z.

I do not liinit iuyselt'to the details of construct-ion shown, since they may be very ex- In this manner the a-ptensively altered and still nly invention be elnbodied.

`Having described my invention, I clai1n- 1. Th e described process-ol' automatically replenishing the sulphate ol' copper in the solution contained in a battery-cell, consisting in retaining the gases generated by the battery in such manner that they exert pressure upon the surface ot' .the solution, which pressure causes a portion of the solution to pass into a separate chamber into contact with sulphate ol' copper, th en relieving the pressure upon the solution, whereby the portion thereof' which was t'oreed into the separate chamber is allowed to flow back again into thcsolution contained in the jar, sul'istautially as and `for the purposes set l'orth.

rlhe combination ol" a closed j ar provided with the usual zinc and copper electrodes, so-

lution, and fittings, a. tube connecting the intcrior of t-he jar below the surface ol the solnU tion with a separate chamber in which is contained snlphate-otcopper crystals, and avalve connecting the airrhamber at the top ot' the jar with the open air, substantially as and l'or the purposes set l'orth.

3. The combination ot thejar A, the cover B, the threaded ring l, the en p E, the tube F, the chamber K, the tube L, and the mercurycup Z, substantially as and l'or the purposes set forth.

rt. The combination olf an air-tight jar provided with'the usual zinc and copper electrodes, solution, and littings, the receptacle E, the tube l?, the tube L, and mercury-cup substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a battery-cell, ot' an air-tight Ijar provided with the usual copper and zinc electrodes, solution, and fittings, a receptacle, E, and tube Il?, extending from the jar into the receptacle E, pierced with openings in it throughout substantially the entire portion thereo'twhich is contained in the receptacle E, the tube L, and the mereury-cup substantially as and i'or the purposes set l'orth.

Signed at New York, in the county ol' New York and State oit' New York, this 31st day of December, A. l). 38H3.

.l tll'ill TS ZO IEE l).

Vv' i tnesses .Term H. Ives, HENRY L. To'rifrrz.

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