US435346A - hubbell - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.v

C. J. HUBBELL. GALVANIG BATTERY.

No. 435,346. y Patented'Aug. 26, 1890.

(No Mdel.) 2 sheenssheen 2'.

G. J. HUBBELL. y GALVANIG BATTERY. No'. 435,346.- t Patented Aug. 26; 1890.

CHARLES J. HUBBELL,

GALVANIC PATENT OFFICE.

OF NET YORK, N. Y.

BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming paift of Letters Patent No. 435,346, dated August 26, 1890. Application filed August l, 1890. Serial No. 369,618 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. HUBBELL, of New York, inthe county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Galvanic Batteries, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of batteries in which carbon and zinc elements are used in combination with an intermediate porous cell and two acid solutions.

The objects of the invention are to simplify and cheapen the construction, to permit the cells to be readily grouped and connected in series, and to admit of their being rapidly' separated and examined.

Afurther object of the invention is to avoid the exhalation of noxious fumes.

Another object of the invention is to pref vent that admixture or assimilation of the two fluids which is likely to occur when the battery remains inactive for long periods of time; and it consists in means for temporarily cutting off communication between the uids.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a multiple-cell battery constructed on my plan, a portion of the cover being broken away. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the same on the line 2 2; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two of the cells removed from the case with the zinc partly lifted from one of the cells. Fig. 4 vis a central cross-section through the lower part of the porous cup and its carbon. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the zinc elements. Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing the contact devices used with the zinc elements. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section showing the manner of applying the tubes for isolating thetwo fluids. Fig. 8 is a similar section showing one of the tubes lowered to its place.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent independent cells of 'l1-ard rubber, glass, or other appropriate material. Each cell is made complete in one piece and closed at the base, with the exception of a small central hole therethrough for the proj eetion of the carbon, as hereinafter explained. I prefer to make the cells, as shown, of rectangular form, in order that they may be seated or nested closely together. For the purpose of sup porting them in VVseries I provide a skeleton box or casing B, which may be of any construction adapted to sustain them. Into each of the cells I introduce a cylindrical porous cup C, closed at the bottom. Centrally in each cup I mount the carbon pencil or element D, and between the porous cup and the outer wall of the cell I mount the zinc element E. The carbon is fixed rigidly and centrally within the porous cup and projects 6o downwardly throughv its bottom. The preferred construction is to insert the carbon into the porous cup while the latter is in a soft or plastic condition, and then bake or burn the cup,as usual,with the carbon in place 6 5 therein. The effect of this operation is to secure the carbon permanently and tightly within the cup, so that it cannot tip out of position, and so that leakage through the bottom of the cup around the carbon is prevented. 7o The porous cup and the carbon thus united may be handled as one piece, which greatly facilitates the assemblage of the battery.

The lower end of the carbon outside of the porous cup is provided with a screw-thread cl, and is screwed down tightly through a threaded hole inthe bottom of the cell A, the screw serving the purpose of holding the car'- bon, the cup, and the cell in their proper relations, and of preventing leakage through 8o the bottom of the cell. A rubber or other suitable packing d may be inserted between the bottom of the porous cup and the bottom of the cell, as shown in Fig. 2, but in ordinary cases this is not necessary. The lower ex- 35 tremity of the carbon is preferably plated with copper or other metal to improve its conductivity, and is extended downward through the bottom of the inclosing box or case,which stands upon feet sufficiently high to hold the lower end of the carbon out of contact with the floor or other support on which the box is placed.

To the lower extremity of each carbon I apply an encircling contracting clip I, having its ends united byacontracting screw z', which admits of its being instantly applied and removed. From each of these clips a conducting-wire F is extended upward to a contactplate Gr, fixed to the inside of the inclosingcase and consisting of a piece of elastic soft metal bent into U form. There is one of these contact-plates or clips adjacent to each cell, and when the battery is coupled in series the conducting-wire from the carbon of one cell is led to the contact-plate adjacent to the next cell.

My zincs are constructed preferably in the form of a tube or segment of atube, as shown in Fig. 5, their lower ends having feet or downward extensions seated in the bottom of the cell t0 sustain them. I cast on each of the plates an arm e, commencing at or near its middle and extending to the top of the cell, where it is attached to a conducting-strip e', which extends downward on the outside of the cell and is inserted at its end within the clip G. Itis to be observed that the arm e acts merely as a conductor, and not as a support or suspension device, for the zinc, which is seated on the bottom of the cell, so that it has no tendency to tip or fall out of position-a matter which is a source of much trouble in batteries which have the zinc suspended from one side.

Solutions of any appropriate charactersuch as are used in the art in batteries of this type-may be employed; but I prefer to use within the porous cup a solution consisting ot' three parts of sulphuric acid and two parts of Water, to which a small amount of nitrate of soda is added. In the cell outside of the cup I prefer to use a solution composed of one part of sulphuric acid with sixteen to twenty parts of Water.

It will be observed that under my construction each of the cells may be lifted out of position complete without the exercise of special precaution other than the loosening 0f the conducting-clip at the bottom.

In orderto absorb and neutralize the fumes which result from the action of the battery, I propose to provide the box nclosing the ce'lls with a lid or cover H, and to attach to the under side of this cover a porous sack or pad J filled with asbestus, or with 'that fibrous product made from glass, and commercially known as mineral wool. This pad will be charged with bichromate of potash. The lid may be constructed and secured in place upon the box by a pivoted cross-bar g, or by any other suitable means which will hold the absorbent pad down snugly upon the top of the cells. l

In practice it is found that when the battery remains at rest for a long period of time a rapid assimilation of the two uidsthrough the porous cup occurs. To avoid this ditiicultyI propose to introduce into each cell during the time that the battery is not in operation a vertical tube J of rubber, glass, or

other impervious materials of proper size and height to completely isolate the two iiuids. These tubes will rest upon t-he bottom of the cell, and are preferably made to fit closely7 around the porous cup, although it may of course be inserted within the same, it' preferred. I commonly attach these tubes 1n series to a top plate j, by means of whichthey may be introduced to and removed from the4 battery.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim isl. The porous cup having the carbon element baked in place thereon.

2. The porous cup having the carbon inserted through and baked in place therein.

3. The porous cup .having the carbon tixedscrewed into the bottom of the cell, whereby it is held in place and caused in turn to hold the cup. p

5. In a galvanic battery, the combination of the cell, the zinc electrode seated on the bottom thereof and provided with an arm attached to the center of said zinc electrode and separated therefrom at all other points and extending outside of the solution.

6. In combination with the battery-cells having the down-reaching conductor or terminal e', the receiving box or casing provided with the spring contact-plates G, to receive the ends of the terminals, as described.

7. In a galvanic battery, the cells each having a top and a bottom terminal, in combination with the containing box or case provided with contact-plates G, each adapted to receive one of the upperterminals and attached to a conductor having a clip for attachment to a lower terminal.

8. In combination with a galvanie battery containing a porous cup and two solutions, a removable impervious tube J for isolating said solutions.

9. In combination with a battery comprising a series of cells with porous cups therein, a plate or carrier j, provided with a series of impervious non-conducting tubes adapted to enter the cells to isolate the solutions therein.

10. In combinationwith a galvanie battery of the type herein described, a top or cover having au absorbent pad charged with bichromate of potash.

11. In combination with the galvanic battery, an absorbent pad charged with material to abs'orb or neutralize the fumes from the battery.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 30th day of J uly, 1890, inthe presence of two attesting witnesses.

CHARLES J. HUBBELL.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, W. R. KENNEDY.

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