US884653A - Electrolytic cell. - Google Patents

Description

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

om 0 9 l 41 l R. D.. A D E .ml N E T A D.

G. A. GABRIEL. BLEGTROLYTICGELL. APPLIUATION FILED 3012s, 1906.

INVENTOR l WITNESSES! PATBNTED APR. 14,1908.

G. A. GABRIEL. BLEGTROLYTIU CELL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.23.1906.

No. 884,658.v

2 sHEBTs-sHBET` 2.

iNVENTOR l Georjgev G/qrZ'eZ-Q.

WITNESSES;

citizen of the United States, and a resident of .pressure u which,-

UNITED sTATEs 4PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE A. GABRIEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BLEAGH & CAUSTIC PROCESS OOM- 4 PANY, OF NEW YORK,y N. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELEcTnoLYTIc CELL.

To all 'it may concern# Be itknown that I, GEORGE A. GABRIEL, a

the city of New York, borough olf Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of'New York, have 1111-" vented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Electrolytio Cells, of which the followingvis' 'a full, clear,I and complete disclosure.

My nvention partlcularly relates .to that class of electrolytic cells usedin the separa tion and production, on'a commercial scale, of certain elements or constituents of liquids contained in an 4eleetrolytic solution.

' The object of my invention is to improve the general construction and arrangement of such -electrolyticcells and is also to improve the electrolytic cells-heretofore patented "by me in reissued patent rented July 16, 190.7, No. 12,67 2, whereby t e convenience, economy and efficiency of such electrolytic cells are increased;

As in my prior patent above referred to, the present improvements areshown in connection with an electrol tic cell knownas Hargreaves or vertica type, and said improvernents, in this instance, particularly reate to means for increasing thehydrostaticY on the porous diaphragm thereof, 'and also re ate toa more convenient, efficient andeconomical arrangement of the sides of the cell, cathode; insulating material and he present -improvements .also comprise other features of construction and arrangement' hereinaterto be more fully described and claimed in the accompanying claims.

For a full, clear and exact description of this embodiment of mjy-invention and the -said improvements, reference may behad to the following s eciiication and accompanying drawings Forming apart thereof, in.

' aperspective View of my imlete in all its ig. 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view` thereof,

Figure 1 is proved electrolytic cell: com

^ taken horizontal-.ly through the central porf sectional view,

tion of the'main body ofthe cell ,Fi central vertical sectional 'view 'thereo Fig. 4

. 3 is a' is a 'perspective view of a part of the anode removed from the cell; Fig. 5 is avertical taken through one endof the extension, above the cellproper, for producing the hydrostaticpressure and Figs.'A 6 tot)A lSpeciiicatbn o! Letters Patent. Application mea ravenna sa, laos. lserxal No. sisef/4I rammed-April 14, 1908.

inclusive are: sectional detail views of other .forms or modiications of the cathode.

indicatesaU-sha ed'fra1ne, referably made of concrete or.ot er stoner ike or cementitions and insulating material, and is of a Width'sli htly eaterthan the combined outside Widt 'oit e anode. The numeral'2 represents-the twosdes oi thecell. These are made. in the 'form of' rectangular plates or .frames 3,' having the central portions thereof offset, as indicated at 4, to form the cathode chambers. Y

' It should be noted that the rectangular complete and closed at the top, the only opening to the outside being through the dis c arge pipe 50. at the bottom of the offset portions 4. ThisA allows all thehydrogen or other gas generated by the cathode to be confined and drawn oil with the liquid produced at the cathode through the pipe 50, after made as follows:

forarrimous screen of stamped steelmetalor wire gauze which is of substantially the saine guiar ortion' of the outer plate or side 2 of the ce l. Upon lthe inner side of the screen 6 is placed a porous diaphragm 7 whichmay conform in shape Vand size to that of the screen 6.

I have found it advantageous to sto off vthe margins of the perforated portion o the cathode. This 'I may accomplish by any suitable means. However, prefer to employ4 a medium for this purpose,I which is an electrical insulator, and at the same time is vbe in' direct contact with t ediaphragm, or so placed in relation to it as tolpreventth'e passa catho. e.v -In this instance" frames 3 and offset portionsl 'are entirely ,Referrng'to the drawings, the numeral 1 which said gas may be used in any commer- A The cathode of my improved cell may be The numeral 6 indicates a .90- size and shape as the outer edge of the rectanim ervious vto the passage of electrolytes. This medium I prefer to ap ly so'- that it. will plished this purpose in thefollewingm er;

e of electrolyte through. it ,to' .the

I. have scontril Between the marginal edges oi" the lscreen I6 and the diaphragm 7 l prefer to place the insulating material 8 so as to form a rectangu- 1 lar ope-ming through which the electrolytic i'luid may from the diaphragm to the eethmle. ihc insulating n'iateri'al may be one integral piece or formed by rectangular strips. 'ihe opening formed by the inner edges ci the insulating niaterial 8 should be somewhat smaller than the active perforated portion of the cathode screen; in otherwords, the periorations should extend beyond out- 'dy or back oi the .inner edges of the in solstice. for tl'iepurpose of draining all cathode material toro. ofi the i y the lower in 3 of the outer plate 2, forms a dani u ich prevents the liquid that is drained the hottmn of the cathodecham ber from again coming in contact with the diaplfiranlm llyen when the other part-s of the insulating' material are not used, this lowerA strip in the present construction should, preferably, be use'd. The upper 'marginal'portion 3 of the side 2 oi the 'cell im pinges, oris orced, toward the lower edge of the u ward extension 25, `hereinafter to be more ully described. A yielding packing or ce1nent,; such as india rubber, is preferably inserted between this upper marginal portion 3 and the lower edge of the extension 25, as

well as the other inarginal portions oi' the cell in'order to forni liquid-tight joints.

products into the cathode chanoer.. Butl The cathode 6 is `provided with means for leading away from its outer side the liquid which percolates through the diaphragm, and these may be the saine asthose de,- scrihed in .my iorrner patent above referred to. These nieans,.which l have referred to call cathode drainers, may e madein several diderent forms, examples of which are illustrated in Figs. 6 to. 8 lnclusive ofthe drawings. One modification of these cathode drainers which is shown in Figs. 6 and 9 comprises a series of downwardly inclined .wires 9, the upper ends of which are .twisted aroundror otherwise attached to the strands orv wires. forming the cathode lscreen 6. These wiresV are inclined downwardly at an angle and areall substantially of the-same 65 length. They are preferably made lofqspring stead of fibrous material.

metal, so as to have considerable resiliency.-

These wires 9 form means for diverting the liquid which jpercolates through the diaphragm, away from the diaphra In and from the cathode itself, so that said iquid drops from' the ends of the wires or otherwise reaches theb'ottorn of the cathode chamber.

I preferably provide a plate 10, which l term a drain-plate. This drain-plate is preferably of the saine material as the cathode 6 and the conduits or wires 9. The drainplate l is forced into contact with the ends' of the wires 9 l'sy means of screws 11, the

outer portions oi' which are provided with thunibheads l2. rlhe outer ends of the screws 11 hear against .the side-wall or plate 2 ci" the cell, and the inner screw-threaded ends thereof pass through set-nuts 13 and into 'screuethreaded bosses 14,.ca1ried by the drairnplate 1U. These screws. 11 are for -the purpose oi pressing the drainplate 10 against the ends of the wires or cathode drainers Q so that the drainers 4will conduct the saus-tic soda away from the cathode and out oi the 'field of decomposition by 'the electric current. As shown in Fig. 6, the drainplate may be provided with a series of transverse holes 15 which allow the liquid to flow' over both sides of the plate.

ln Fig. 7 l have shown another construe tion in which the cathode screen is formed by a metallic 'plate 1G, the projections or drsiners 17 being punched or otherwise out-` from the body of the plate.

in Fig. 8 l have shown a modification in which the drainers 18 are attaohed to the drampiate 1Q instead ,of to the screen or cathode 6. in this case the drainers may be attached in any suitable way, such as'by the usc-pcf rivets 20. In Fig. Q have shown a modification of the manner of arranging the porous dief phragin, This .modification is similar to that shown in Fig. 6, with the exception, however, that a second diaphragm 21 is pro- `vided, which is similar in size and outline to the diaphra lIn 7, but is made upon a base or ground of fa rie, composed of Wire gauze, in This construction gives an additional strength to theA cell, and

provides an additional thickness to the da l hrag-ni, when itis desired to have the percoation of electrolyte less, or' when the hydro static pressure of the electrolyte is greater.

In this form of my invention, the anode consists of a pluralityV of blocks 'or plates 22, orC any suitable material used in such cells,

but, as described in my prior patent, these Ariding extended outersurfaces :,which con- Baarnse stitute the active anodefaces. This face is large in extent, but need be only as thick as is required for the purpose of good electric conductivity and economy. I have shown these parts 22 of the thickness indicated, so

that they may readily reach and contactwith the vertical parts 23 and 23 'without lcausingI the latter to interferewith other portions ofthe cell, such` asthevinner surfalces ot the upward extensionn 25. It will4 thus bev seen that as shown, the inner plates 22 form l projection. for this:j purpose and, therefore,

may be made tocorrespondmore nearly to the widthzofthe conductors-23`and 23:l The plates abovefr'eferred to'l are preferably attached-.togethen' and: to the conductors 23 andf23, by screwsorsimilardevices made of. a materiali similar to the parts themselves, preferably slate or graphite. Holes 44 allow. the electrolyte tou .circulate throughv and: about' the lower portionsv ofi the anode.

The combined Width ofthe plates. 22, the

conductors 23y and 23, andy the spaceV betweenfthe latter', islessth an the widtliroff the U-shaped frame of the cell., but greater than the inter-nali widthy of the extension 25,. so that the outer surfaces of.- the anode'V arebrought close to the corresponding surfaces of. the porousvv diaphragm and. allows; spacer for'y the outward 'adjustment of! their anode toward' the cathode bofmak'e up for'altera rial', whichznestlsupon dieverticalendsfof the Usshaped frame'. 1.. 'Ehefsidesiot this-i exten.-

' sion ma consist;v ofi any' suitable material,

4thereto.

' 28- or similar devices.

provide the inner faces or'surfacessarc -inady tive chemically and' electrically asconoems the electrolyte, especially whsnthelatten is impregnated with! aL nascent: anion: rllhia construction) is. y articularlyv advantageous because the emplbyment of the protecting. walls 26;,and particularly as t'he-lower'edges of: the same, act asan effecbualimeans'offpr venting allactionybetfweenthe anode conduce .tor 23 and'portions ofnthe cathode-*member which otherwise- Wouldbecome ven osed It is 'preferable' that' the wa ls 26 cover as much'fareafas possible,\even down-to the'lowerflimit of@ the inactive upper margin of.k the cathode. The sides may consistf of slabs 26 whichare heldinl contact with thev end's .27v ofthe box by meansofs suitable bolts The ends 27 of' the boi:L may also' be formed'l integral with. the ends `ofithe U'sh'aped frame 1i. Tlhe cover: 29 ofitheacell is placedlupon the top ofthissxtension 25 andtisl rovided Withbp'eningsfor the.` passage of vt eupper end of; the: coniof the extensions ductors- 23 and 23 and for the entrance of the pipe 30 which providesfor the su ply of the brine or other electrolyte, as wellJ as allowing the drawing off of` any gas generated thatv does not pass off through --the .pipe 38,

hereafter referred to. Only I provide suitable braces or struts 39Which extend between4 the i sides 26 oli the extension 25 and. counteractany tendency ofthe said:y sides-tobe.- forced c inwardiby extraneous pressure of the=edges-3 of. the plates'2, or; fon other reasons aswhen .the vgasfis drawnfroni the cell :under: a: partialvacuum.` It should'- also be noted that the l lowenjinneife'dgesrof` the sides 26 ot 'theextem sion.-25:-are'4 beveled: or noundcdfsa as vtozobf- `viat'ef any: tendency of the corners) t'o fol-'m anlobst'ruction: to:I the freer" circulation; of,y the velectrolyte above' the anode: L'like positive,

vconnector for' supply-ing'l the. electric r current,- isfattaeltedf inthe-conductors 23; and; 23, by connectngf'caps; as. indicated' autA 31e'. 'Bhe negative conductcr of4 thev cell. may. be at? 'tlachedr to one of-thefbolts forrto an. ,.f other "suitable parti of? the cell;` as= indicate 1at'f32. rrllheeellx may; beV provided.V withx an: anteriori cmcul'atingl t'ubef or. pipe 33 which; mayfhave trhnee-v branches 34:, 351 and 36; .'entleringf'- the cell; mspectively,. above the. nor-mab level; ot

the elect-nolytm slightly below',` the-normali "level: oh tliefelectrolyte, Vand neary theibottom;

ofl the`-` anode'chamber. 'llhe cinculatingftube '33 is: providedwith a. smallinternal. tfubei37:

through- Whichi the-liquid; vvithin'mliaV celllm'agr be Withdmwnsand whichfisfadjusfnble t0Ldetermine the-levelofi saidliquidi. .'Ilhefupper end of the circulating tube 33may bepro+ vidad; with: an; extension. 38ifon" venting the sameandl through. which.y thefchlon'n; or'otherr l gas generated: by thecelllmay'bewibhdhawn; From: the-,abovedescription, thefollowixi-- advantagesicfe the constructionsetffonth:

vbe apparentz' First; By adding thee extension tb the upper portionofitlle cell', byfwhichfthe rhydrostatic.' ressureofa the electrolyte may beincrease ',the assagesofrtlleffsaidelectmly-,te through: the1 iaphragmzs :mada consid'cnabl thereby incnea'secb 'Ilhis is: especially' ai? parent if apartial vacuumeis; used to wit' s draw the: gas-fnom:thef-anode chamber ofthe cellginasmuchiasthis additional hydrostatic i pressure counterbalanoes-z the effect of the y partial vacuum: The use Vof non-conducting or'insulating. material for this. extension re duces the cost oflmanufacture and eliminatest the; use of: an. interior .insulating or inertcoatingy for' rendering.' the face thereofi inactive aslisfthe-'case wherethe-metallicfside-of thecell'is-l-made-toexten'dffon the full height Second;` By placing. the insulatingr ma terialbetween' the surface 'oty the-cathode 'andthat of thatl porousf. diaphragm,. all; of the liquid: whichi passesthroughsth@ diaphragmico p' anode elianiiber,

Bil

` phragrn of theoell being titi ot the anode adjacent their lower edfggee.A

forming the irrimediately eomee in eontaet with the cathode and ie eoinpletely acted upon by the oethode This preyente any of the liquid from. eorning in Contact with the oatho de .and then pereolating haelt through the diaphragm into the'eell, whioh might injure the purity ot the eleetrolyte and vproduee undesirable eheinieal reeetione, tl'iereby causing; e lower etlieieneyoi" the eell. .lhirthermore3 this errangernent of the insulating material also .maires the active surface ol? theeathode jueteble .in area, so that it may have a predetermined relation or en'irreepondence with thet oi the adjacent anode. The overlapping ot' the insulating shield `over the perfo rated 'portion oi the cathode sereen, beside coniiuing any cathode products to the Cathode chamber, also performs the important function of 'preventing auch cathode products from pereolating beek into the tor reasons well linoufn to the art, and as ahoveeet iorth.

Third. r he arrangement oi the anode, ae deeeribed,` permite the earne to he easily and quielrly made trom the "eornmereial graphite ae now placed` upon the nierlret,` end also pro vides a .maximum amount ot' Surface with a minimum amount oi Weight ot material. timoh an arrangement eleo provides tor an eaey and ethoient eireulation of" the eleetrolyte 'within the eetl. This eireulation ie aided, and evenly dietributed, by email holee LM- Whieh pass traneyereel'y tlu'ough"theftrlates lllhat l oleini and desire to protect lby liet tere Patent, :le: 3.. ln. an eleetrolytie`eeli, metallie plates Sides ot eaidoel said platee hayiing o'liieet or eutwerdly eucitendiugY portionsy termine; eloeed eethode eliainliiere the eathod a .being :situated over the reees` said olleet portiona i n 2. ln an eleotrolytie eell7 iuetalhe platee forming the sides,v of Said eell, Seid plates ooinprieing Vreetangular marginal port-ione and o'ileet centred portione iorrniue closed oathode ol'iarnbere, the catho( l l le amt dia-I held by seid reetau- 'torlned' by guiar portione over the recesses Said otieet portiouffi.

3. lin-an eleetrolytie eelt, a Mehaped body forming the ende end bottom ei' the amide chamber, inetallie pla' `VHiring the eidee ei' Said eell, eaid platee h. ving oiieet or outm Wariilly extending Central .portione "termine the cathode chamber-e, and Walle presenting Werdly' extending inner t ees of non-eendueting materiel torre ing an upward. extension oi' the eidee of eaid anode eharuber' above said plates for inereae ing the hydroetetie pressure of .the anolyte.

le lin an eleotrolytie eelt, e U-eha ed` body torturing the ende aud bottom ot' tie .anode oharnber, rnetailie platee forming the Siders olf said'1 eell, said platee 'netting otleet or out eentral"portions 4elnzufnloer above said platee extendingn through said upward extension of termine; hat inner eeeeee the Cathode chambers, Walle presenting inner 'iaoee of noineonduetingmateriel forming an upward extension oi the sides oi eaid anode for increasing the hydrostatic pressure oi the anolyte, and ties or braeee lbetween the Sides of said upward extension.

5. In an eleetrolytio cell7 a ttehaped body. forming the ends and bottoni of'the anode chamber,` metallic 'plates forming the sides of' .euoh Cell and the cathode chamber, slabs of a y material inert to the electrolyte end 'forming en upward extension oi the sides of the anode chamber above said plates, for increasing the hydrostatic ireeeure of the electrolyte. i

6. ln Ian e eetrolytie cell, a Ueehaped body forming the ends and bottom of the 'anode chamber, metallic 'plates forming the sides oi such ee and the cathode Chamber, elabe ot inert materiel [forming or" the anotile ehurnber for increasing the hydroetetie pressure oi' the anolyte, and a Vertical conductor eonneotedwith the anode the anode chamber. .1

7.. In an eleetrolytie oeil, a Ueha )ed body forming the ende end bottom of tlie anode chamber nietallie plates iorniing the eidee et said cell and the cathode chambers, and welle presenting forming an upward extension of the anode chamber, the interior width oi said @erteil-l eion being loes than that oi the anode elia1nber.

ln en eleotrolytie eetl, a til-Shaped body 'forming the enfle and lnottriiui of the anode oharnbenmetallic platee 'l'oriiiing the sidee oi' eaid eellJv said plates having oileet or outH wardly extending central hfirtione forming; the eethede olieiuhere, Walle eonipoeedv oi" non-Condit ur material forming.; 'u upward exteueiou or the encule eliamber tor inerme ing the hyuiroemitie preeeure oi the auolyte, ties or braces between the aides ot Said zip-- ward extension., and a yc omineeted with the anode through the seid upward en anode el' niher. i

ll. ln en eleetrolytir rell, a tJ-eliaped body 'to rruii'i e; t he en c i si elianiben metallic plattK forming; the sides oi" the said cell, said plates having oileet or mtufar'illy extouding Central portione forming the Cat ode chambers, und welle composed ot rndy extending; t neion he.

exteneion oi the al'iode elien'iber, the interior Width ot'eaid extension being lese than that of seidv anode ohamlnuk i()` "n en eleetrolytio i i forming the ende and l.: ebamber, metallic plat es im. mim said Cell, the said pla havin 51, Je. or'ioutd wardly extending in ne 'forming the oath ode eh eaid i heet portions having Nutrientes, and means ll., u Meehaped body' the Sides oi' an upward extension e iaeeek of' inert nieteriah 9 ieai romlueorif and hot-toni oi" the uumlr 1 ein oi' the lump bearing against i Til said surfaces for holding the cathode and dia- `phragm in position transversely'thereof.

l1. In an electrolytic cell, a U-sha ed body forming the ends and bottom of tliie vanode chamber, metallic plates forming the sides of said cell and the cathode chambers, and walls presenting faces of inert material, forming an unward extension of the anode chamber, said plates overlapping the lower. edges of thev sides of said eXtension.

l2. ln an electrolytic cell, aU-sha ed body forming the ends and bottom of t e anode chamber, metallic plates forming the sides of- 'said cell, said plates having offset or outwardly extending central portions forming the cathode chambers, and walls composed of non-conducting material forming an' upward extensionof the anode chamber, said platesA overlapping the lower edges of the sides of said extension, exteriorly.

13. ln an electrolytic cell, a U-sha ed body forming the ends and bottom of tllie anode chamber, `metallic plates forming the sides of said cell, said plates having offset or outwardly extending central portions forming the cathode chambers, and walls presenting faces of inert material forming an upward extension of the anode chamber, said plates impinging toward the lower edges oi the walls of said extension, exteriorly, and a yielding packing between said last named parts.

14. ln an electrolytic cell, an anode composedA of plates of suitable material located parallel to each-other, conductors located between said lates arid to which said lplatesare attache the outer faces of said plates'` being separated by a greater distance'than the thickness of said conductors and plates.

15. In an electrolytic cell, a U-shaped body forming the ends and bottom 'ott e anode chamber, metallic plates forming the sides of said cell, saidfplates having oset or outwardly extending central portions formin cathode chambers, and walls presenting toes of inert material forming an'upward eXtension of the anode chamber, an anode located in said anode chamber, and having its external Vsurfaces separated by a distance less than the external width of said U-shaped body, the internal width of the sides of said extension beinfr less than theV distance between the externa surfaces of the'anode, so that said anode faces are beneaththe sides of said extension. 16.111 an electrolytic cell, a porous diaphragm, parts forming a substantially free the outer cathode chamber, and a strip insulating liquidroof material, situated vertically between t e lower portion of said cathode chamber and said diaphragm, for se arating any liquid draining into said cathodlechamber, from said diaphragm.

17. In an electrolytic cell, a porous diahragm, parts forming a substantially liquid E-iee outer-cathode chamber, a cathode of substantially the same shape and-size as said diaphragmvand a stri of insulating liquid-proof material situate lower part of said diaphragm and said cathode chamber, for separating any liquid draining into the bottom of said cathode chamber, from said diaphragm. fr-

18. In an electrolytic cell, 'a porous diaphragm, a cathode, a plate forming an outer cathode chamber, strips of inert material situated 'about the marginal portions of said vertically between the diaphragm`so as to form a central opening smaller than said cathode chamberifor preventing back percolation through thediaphragm.

1 9. In an electrol tic cell, a porous diaphragm, a cathode ofy substantially the same shape and size as said diaphragm, parts forming an outer cathode chambenand stri s of electrically insulating material situated a out the marginal portions of said dia h ragm so as -to forma central opening sma er than,said

sol

cathode chamber, for preventing back percolation through said dia hragm and for imiting the surface of the iaphragm that is ac tive upon said cathode.`

20'. Inan electrolytic cell,y a porous diaphragm, a foraminou's cathode of substan-4 tially the same shape andv size as said diaphragm, a plate having a central offset, orl- 'tion forming an exterior cathode chamer, l and insulating materialsituated aboutthe marginal ,portions of said dia hragrn land cathode so' as to overlap the perl ginal ortions of sai'dfcathode and forming a centrailopenin smaller than the area of said cathode cham er, said insulating material reventing back percolation through' said ia 'h1-aghi.

ill

dayof ovember,1906'. A

Y GEORGE AGABRIEL. `VVitne'sses:

' EDWARD W. VAn.1.,Jr., JAMES J. Coseaovn.

Witness whereof,l havesigned-my name 1n the resence of twoy witnesses, this 19th-106 orated marloof \ page 5, after the wordt sdbsamntsdly, the Wrd liquid ahufu be, miam-tm;

x'l le'ctroytic Gel-1a, amm@ @peana-win,

ELL

Letters Pamept should be fwd with 'the nmjmctu ih'wn that th '5.9mm may @mwfmm to the 'cord. of the @me in time Pmeb Offmw. A

Sgnfednd. sealed this; 19th day of Magi', A. D.,

[swig C. U. Mmmm@ r Acting ommnmiomm" of Pommfx.

mmm

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