US2049671A - Electrolytic condenser - Google Patents

Description

1936- J. K. SPRAGUE 2,049,671

ELECTROLYTI C CONDENSER Filed Nov. 19, 1930 INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VEYS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Application November 19, 1930, Serial No.496,762

3 Claims.

My invention relates to electrolytic condensers and the like.

Devices such as electrolytic condensers in various applications, for instance, when used as parts of radio receiving sets, .must be of compact and rigid constructim, must afford easy and convenient mounting, 'and have liquid and airtight sealing.

The object of my invention is to provide for a mode of construction of such devices, which fulfills all of the above requirements.

I shall illustrate my invention in connection with electrolytic condensers. However, it should be well understood that my invention is not limited to such devices. y

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion, partly in section, showing one embodiment of my invention. I Fig. 2 is a fractional side elevation, partly in section, showing another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the electrolytic condenser there shown consists of a cylindrical container I, provided on its top and bottom with covers 2 and 3 respectively, hereinafter more fully described, and an electrode 4 which forms the anode of the condenser, supported by the cover 3.

The container I which preferably forms .the other electrode may be of any suitable material, as an inert or film-forming metal, and contains a suitable electrolyte 5. iv

Resting on the upper edge of an annular recess 6 provided near the top of the container I, is the cover 2 which is preferably of insulating material, for instance, hard rubber. The cover 2 which is shown as having an inverted conical shape is provided with a central vertical hole I going through its entire height, and connecting with a soft 'rubbernipple 9 projecting upwardly from the center of the cover. The nipple 3 is provided with a pin hole III for the escape of gases which may form during the operation of the device.

The cover 2 and the nipple 9 may be made integral, as described in the'copending application, Ser. No. 451,029 of C. Shugg and P. Robinson, flied on May 9, 1930, now Patent No. 1,895,738.

On its upper periphery the cover 2 is provided with an annular recess II to carry-a soft rubber gasket l2. The free end of the container i is spun around thegasket i2 and constitutes therewith a liquid and air-tight seal.

The lower cover 3 substantially a disc of insu- 5 latingmaterial, for instance hard rubber, is provided with a downwardly extending cylindrical portion l3, this extension being provided with a-preferably coarse-outside thread. The upper face of the cover 3 abuts against the lower shoulder of an annular recess 1 provided near the bot- 5 I tom of the container. On its lower face the cover 3 is provided with a peripheral recess H adapted to receive a soft rubber gasket l5 around which the lower free end of the container I is spun, to form therewith a liquid and air-tight seal. The 10 cover 3 is provided with a metal insert molded therein, consisting of a cup shaped portion I 6 extending into a stem i1 threaded on its end to carry nuts I8-l8.

The insert cup I6 is provided with an internal 15 thread and with a peripheral bead l9 to prevent the loosening of the cup in the cover. The insert l6 may be of any suitable metal, however, a filmforming metal, as aluminum, is preferable.

The anode 6 may be of any suitable construc- 20 tion; for instance, as shown, the anode may be a tube provided with helical corrugations, such anodes being described in the co-pending applications Ser. No. 416,939 of F. Desmond Sprague and R. U. Clark, filed Dec. 27, 1929, now Patent 25 No. 1,958,682 and Ser. No. 441,128 of Max Knab, filed Apr. 2, 1930, now Patent No. 1,983,468, such anodes possessing various advantages, fully described in these applications.

The anode 4 is provided with an exnsion 20 30 forming a shoulder 2i beyond ,which the extension is reduced in diameter and threaded at 2Ia.

The threaded portion 2 la of the anode is screwed tight into the internal thread of the cup IS.

A metal washer 22 and a gasket 23 is placed 35 between the shoulder 2| and the cover 3, both surrounding the extension 2ia.

When the anode stem 2la is screwed into the cup I6 the shoulder 2| of the anode presses against the washer 22 and the gasket 23, whereby the 40 latter forms a leakage-tight seal between the metal insert l6 and the cover 3, should the joint between the two be not sufliciently tight to prevent such leakage.

The 'condenserso assembled may be mounted on 4 a suitable panel 26 by means of the threaded portion l3 of the cover, which protrudes through the panel 26 and carries a nut 25 by means of which the cover 3 and thus the whole condenser is secured to the panel 26. 50

The nuts l8l8.and the stem l1 form the electrical terminal of the anode, whereas the container 1 which forms the cathode may be directly grounded to the panel 26 in case the latter is or metal, or if desired, other suitable '55 connections may be made to the container I. In case it is desired to insulate the container I from the panel 26 a suitable insulating washer (not shown) is interposed between the spunover portion of the container and the panel 23.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, instead of providing a metal insert in the cover 341, a central threaded hole 30 is provided therein and the threaded stem 32 of the anode screwed in this hole. The end of the stem 32 hereby projectsthrough the cover and carries the nuts i8i8. It is preferable in this case to make the anode shoulder 33 of a somewhat larger diameter, whereby the anode stem on its shouldered end fits in an annular recess 34 of the cover 3a. Placed between the bottom of the shoulder 33 and the top of the recess 34, a washer 35 is provided to prevent leakage around the stem 32.

It is also evident that instead of supporting the condenser by placing it on the top of a panel 26 it may also be supported in a similar way by hanging it down therefrom, nor is my invention limited to electrolytic condensers, but various modifications in construction and application may suggest themselves without deviating from the scope of my invention and the appended claims should be construed therefor as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrolytic condenser, a container and an electrode provided with a threaded extension, 9. cover provided with a metallic insert threaded to receive said electrode, said insert being inwardly flush with said cover and outwardly projectlng beyond the cover to form an outside electrical connection for the electrode.

2. In an electrolytic device, a container and a cover of insulating material, said cover being provided with a metallic insert molded therein and being flush at its inner end with-the cover, an electrode provided with an extension supported in said metallic insert, and means to form outside electrical connection for said electrode through said insert.

3. In an electrolytic condenser in combination a metallic container forming one electrode of said device and having a bottom cover of insulating material, an interiorly threaded metallic insert within said cover and flush on its inner end with said cover, the outer end of said insert extending beyond said cover, an electrode in said container having a threaded end, said threaded end engaging the threads of said insert, a shoulder on said electrode and a sealing gasket squeezingly disposed between said shoulder and theinner face of said insert and cover.

JULIAN K. SPRAGUE.

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