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Voltaic electricity—New caloric battery
83g
~Yect~anics, _Physics, and Crhemistry.
resistance. W.ith much ingenuity he compares the state of eacil magnetic molecule of the electro-magnet to that'of a spring which is bent back. If the spring be suddenly released, it will return very nearly to its original position, or even go beyond it. On the other hand, if it be released gradually, it will stop at a point still further removed from its original position.
Voltaic Eleclricity--.h~ew Caloric Battery. From the Lend. Mechanics' Magizine, ~'eb., 1864.
At thclast meeting of the Inventors' Institute, (Capt. J. Selwyn, R.N., in the chair,) Mr. James Dickson read an interesting paper "Oil Certain Inventions for insuring the Economical and Efficient Production of Voltaic Electricity for Lighting Streets and other Purposes." The object of the paper was to explain the means by which electricity could be readily and economically produced. The history of voltaic electricity ~'as carefully traced from the time of ¥olta, from whom this form of electricity took its name, to the present time, special mention being made of Grove's, Smee's, the Maynooth and other batteries which from time to time, have been looked upon as vast improvements upon then existing apparatus. The theories of Mayer and Joule were referred to, as well as the researches of Prefessor Tyndall, whose " H e a t as a Mode of Motion" contains so much valuable information upon the subject. tie considered that the rapidity of the vibration of the atoms in a conductor was exactly in proportion to its conducting power, and explained that~whilst a battery was producing light and heat, less material was being consumed than when the battery poles are directly connected with each other. Mr. Dickson's battery was described as one of the hot-class--the sulphuric acid was heated to 600 degs. Fahr. He claims by his mode of applying heat to be able to use iron and other ~heap metals, instead of the dear ones--zinc, copper, &c. The relative mobility of the atoms of an electrolite determined, he considered its force rather than its specific gravity. When oil of vitriol was heated to 350 degs. Fahr. only, the electric action is less powerful than when heated to 600 degs. Fahr., probably owing to the waves being less rapid. With the necessary percolating apparatus he was convinced that his battery would be successful for lighthouse purposes. He considered 15 to 20 of his cells equal to 20 to 22 cells ; 8 of his cells are not equal to 2 of the nitric acid cells, but the increment in his battery was greater. Grove's battery cost ls. 5d. to produce the same amount of electricity as that produced for 10[d. by Dickson's. Comparing the lightning powers, ll¼d. with the calorie battery, will produce the same amount of light as ls. 5d. by Grove's. He declared that the sulphur liberated at the negative poles could be reeonverted into sulphuric acid to the extent of 19-20ths. The oil of vitriol, during the working of the battery, becomes combined with water, but the acid is easily and cheaply reconcentrated. In Since's, Daniel's, and Grove's battery, the sulphate of zinc cannot be recovered, whilst in his caloric b a t ~ r y the recovery ~'as not diflieult.--The chairman expressed the
~Yect~anics, _Physics, and Crhemistry.
resistance. W.ith much ingenuity he compares the state of eacil magnetic molecule of the electro-magnet to that'of a spring which is bent back. If the spring be suddenly released, it will return very nearly to its original position, or even go beyond it. On the other hand, if it be released gradually, it will stop at a point still further removed from its original position.
Voltaic Eleclricity--.h~ew Caloric Battery. From the Lend. Mechanics' Magizine, ~'eb., 1864.
At thclast meeting of the Inventors' Institute, (Capt. J. Selwyn, R.N., in the chair,) Mr. James Dickson read an interesting paper "Oil Certain Inventions for insuring the Economical and Efficient Production of Voltaic Electricity for Lighting Streets and other Purposes." The object of the paper was to explain the means by which electricity could be readily and economically produced. The history of voltaic electricity ~'as carefully traced from the time of ¥olta, from whom this form of electricity took its name, to the present time, special mention being made of Grove's, Smee's, the Maynooth and other batteries which from time to time, have been looked upon as vast improvements upon then existing apparatus. The theories of Mayer and Joule were referred to, as well as the researches of Prefessor Tyndall, whose " H e a t as a Mode of Motion" contains so much valuable information upon the subject. tie considered that the rapidity of the vibration of the atoms in a conductor was exactly in proportion to its conducting power, and explained that~whilst a battery was producing light and heat, less material was being consumed than when the battery poles are directly connected with each other. Mr. Dickson's battery was described as one of the hot-class--the sulphuric acid was heated to 600 degs. Fahr. He claims by his mode of applying heat to be able to use iron and other ~heap metals, instead of the dear ones--zinc, copper, &c. The relative mobility of the atoms of an electrolite determined, he considered its force rather than its specific gravity. When oil of vitriol was heated to 350 degs. Fahr. only, the electric action is less powerful than when heated to 600 degs. Fahr., probably owing to the waves being less rapid. With the necessary percolating apparatus he was convinced that his battery would be successful for lighthouse purposes. He considered 15 to 20 of his cells equal to 20 to 22 cells ; 8 of his cells are not equal to 2 of the nitric acid cells, but the increment in his battery was greater. Grove's battery cost ls. 5d. to produce the same amount of electricity as that produced for 10[d. by Dickson's. Comparing the lightning powers, ll¼d. with the calorie battery, will produce the same amount of light as ls. 5d. by Grove's. He declared that the sulphur liberated at the negative poles could be reeonverted into sulphuric acid to the extent of 19-20ths. The oil of vitriol, during the working of the battery, becomes combined with water, but the acid is easily and cheaply reconcentrated. In Since's, Daniel's, and Grove's battery, the sulphate of zinc cannot be recovered, whilst in his caloric b a t ~ r y the recovery ~'as not diflieult.--The chairman expressed the