Battery, Secondary, Plante's.
Plante's secondary battery is one of the earlier forms of storage
battery, but has had much success. Two lead plates, large in area and
close together but not touching, are "formed," by exposure to an
electrolyzing current of electricity in one direction, while they are
immersed in dilute sulphuric acid. This converts the surface of one
plate into binoxide. The cell is then allowed to discharge itself almost
completely, when the charging current is again turned on. This process
is repeated over and over again, until the surfaces of the plates are
considerably attacked, one plate, however, being maintained in a state
of oxidation. After a few days of this operation a period of rest is
allowed between the reversals, which sets up a local action on the
oxidized plate, between the metallic lead of the plate, and its coating
of binoxide. This causes the lead to be attacked, under the influence of
the local couple, and sulphate of lead is formed, which, ultimately, by
the charging current is converted into peroxide. These operations
produce an exceedingly good battery. The process described is termed
forming.
The plates separated by strips of insulating material are generally
wound into a double spiral.
Battery, Siemens' and Halske's.
A Daniell battery of peculiar shape. The copper, C, is at the bottom of
the glass jar, A. The inner jar, K, has the form of a bell, and supports
a mass of paper pulp, which is dampened with sulphuric acid. The zinc,
Z, rests on top of the mass of pulp. The battery is very durable, but of
high resistance.
Battery, Sir William Thomson's.
A form of Daniell battery, of the gravity type. The receptacles are
shallow wooden trays lined with lead. A thin plate of copper rests on
the bottom. The zinc plate is of gridiron shape, and rests on wooden
blocks which support it in a horizontal position above the copper. One
tray is placed on top of the other, the upper tray resting on the
corners of the zinc plate which rise above the level of the top of the
flat vessel. Thus connection is assured without wires or binding posts.
It is charged like a gravity battery. The density of the zinc sulphate
solution should be between 1.10 and 1.30. The circuit must be kept
closed to prevent deposition of metallic copper on the zinc. The entire
disposition of the battery is designed to reduce resistance.
Battery, Skrivanow.
A pocket battery of the De la Rue type, with a solution of 75 parts
caustic potash in 100 parts of water as the excitant. The silver
chloride is contained in a parchment paper receptacle. Its
electro-motive force is 1.45 to 1.5 volts.
Battery, Smee's.
A single fluid combination, with zinc positive plate, and a plate of
silver, coated with platinum black, for the negative plate. The finely
divided platinum affords a surface from which the hydrogen bubbles
instantly detach themselves, thus preventing polarization. The liquid is
a mixture of one part sulphuric acid to seven parts of water. For the
negative plate silver-plated copper, coated with platinum black, is
used. Electromotive force, .47 volt.
Fig. 49. SMEE'S BATTERY.