Samuel Ruben
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ruben was an inventor who made lasting contributions to electrochemistry
and solid-state technology, including the founding of Duracell
.
of Columbia University
who tutored him and allowed him to sit in on some Columbia classes. he also taught at havard as a professor in chemistry.
While he had no college degree, withdrawing from college after a short time due to stress, Ruben received several honorary degrees. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Columbia University in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Science where he was a Senior Staff Associate.
International. Ruben developed the mercury button cell
in 1942 to replace the zinc-carbon batteries
at request by the Army Signal Corps.
With over 100 inventions credited to him personally, one of the most important was the dry electrolytic aluminum capacitor
, the solid-state magnesium/cupric sulfide rectifier (a device that converted regular household electric current for use in radios), and the vacuum tube relay, the quick heater vacuum tube
, and the concept of a balanced-cell mercury battery.
Ruben worked as a researcher from 1918-1921 for the Electrochemical Products Company. He endowed a scholarship for Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (1968–1972).
Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.If a chemical reaction is...
and solid-state technology, including the founding of Duracell
Duracell
Duracell is a brand of batteries manufactured by Procter & Gamble.Additionally, Duracell owns the Procell professional-use brand.-Products:Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V...
.
Early life
Samuel Ruben got his start in electronics when he became a licensed ham radio operator and built radios with spare parts. Samuel Ruben met Professor Bergen DavisBergen Davis
Bergen Davis was a Physics researcher and Professor at Columbia University.-External links:* , Harold W. Webb, National Academy of Science, 1960....
of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
who tutored him and allowed him to sit in on some Columbia classes. he also taught at havard as a professor in chemistry.
While he had no college degree, withdrawing from college after a short time due to stress, Ruben received several honorary degrees. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Columbia University in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Science where he was a Senior Staff Associate.
Company history
Samuel Ruben established Ruben Laboratories in the early 1920s, when Bergen Davis persuaded Electrochemical's main investor Malcolm Clephane to finance a private laboratory for Ruben in lower Manhattan; he moved it to Westchester (NY) shortly thereafter.. Clephane would finance the project for 50% of any future royalties. Throughout his lifetime his work accumulated over 300 patents. Ruben teamed with Phillip Mallory to create what would become DuracellDuracell
Duracell is a brand of batteries manufactured by Procter & Gamble.Additionally, Duracell owns the Procell professional-use brand.-Products:Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V...
International. Ruben developed the mercury button cell
Mercury battery
A mercury battery is a non-rechargeable electrochemical battery, a primary cell. Due to the content of mercury, and the resulting environmental concerns, the sale of mercury batteries is banned in many countries. Both ANSI and IEC have withdrawn standards for mercury batteries...
in 1942 to replace the zinc-carbon batteries
Zinc-carbon battery
A zinc–carbon dry cell or battery is packaged in a zinc can that serves as both a container and negative terminal. It was developed from the wet Leclanché cell . The positive terminal is a carbon rod surrounded by a mixture of manganese dioxide and carbon powder. The electrolyte used is a paste of...
at request by the Army Signal Corps.
With over 100 inventions credited to him personally, one of the most important was the dry electrolytic aluminum capacitor
Electrolytic capacitor
An electrolytic capacitor is a type of capacitor that uses an electrolyte, an ionic conducting liquid, as one of its plates, to achieve a larger capacitance per unit volume than other types. They are often referred to in electronics usage simply as "electrolytics"...
, the solid-state magnesium/cupric sulfide rectifier (a device that converted regular household electric current for use in radios), and the vacuum tube relay, the quick heater vacuum tube
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
, and the concept of a balanced-cell mercury battery.
Ruben worked as a researcher from 1918-1921 for the Electrochemical Products Company. He endowed a scholarship for Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (1968–1972).
Books
Samuel Ruben published multiple books,- "Handbook of the Elements" - A unique way he chose to display the elements.
- "Necessity's Children: Memoirs of an Independent Inventor" - An autobiography.
- "The Founders of Electrochemistry"
- "The Electronics of Materials"
- "The Evolution of Electric Batteries in Response to Human Needs"
Awards and honors
- Edward Longstreth Medal of the Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
(1972) - Columbia University Honorary DoctorateColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
- Butler University Honorary DoctorateButler UniversityButler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
- Polytechnic Institute Honorary Doctorate(1968)
- Named Inventor of the Year by George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityThe George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(1965)