JPS63303087A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell.

There is a constant need to provide combustible gases for, for example, metal cutting, welding, and heating operations. In many cases, the supply of such gases requires frequent handling of refillable gas cylinders, which are heavy and inconvenient to handle. This is a disadvantage. Attempts to overcome this difficulty by supplying combustible gases by on-site manufacture require complex and cumbersome equipment, which is also a disadvantage.

The object of the invention is to provide an electrolytic cell which eliminates or minimizes the aforementioned disadvantages or at least provides the public with an effective choice.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a plurality of substantially concentric electrically conductive cylinders substantially electrically isolated from each other, positioning means for positioning said cylinders, and a tank defining a chamber around said cylinders. , and an opening in the cylinder, the opening being positioned to substantially maximize the flow path provided by the opening.

In other features, the invention includes a liquid chamber and a bath unit within the chamber, the bath unit including a plurality of substantially concentric conductive cylinders, each cylinder having an opening at or near its upper end. and the area of said aperture is larger in cylinders having a larger surface area such that the ratio of aperture size to cylinder surface area is substantially constant for each cylinder, and a non-conductive closure is attached to the cylinder at each end of the cylinder. It is in the electrolytic cell that closes the gap between.

For those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention,
Many modifications and various embodiments and applications of the invention may be possible. The disclosure and description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the figures, the electrolytic cell includes an outer casing, chamber or tank l, which contains a liquid, such as water, and which preferably provides one electrode of the electrolytic cell. Liquid can, for example, enter the vessel through the top opening 2 and gas, for example a hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture, can exit through the outlet 3. Within the housing 1 there are a plurality of substantially concentric conductive cylinders, e.g. cylinders 5.6.7.8.9.
and a tank unit 4 consisting of IO.

The cylinder is electrically conductive and may be made of nickel-plated steel, for example. The cylinder has end plates 11 and 1 which may be braced with reinforcements such as 13.
It is held between 2. Plates 11 and 12 are electrically non-conductive and may, for example, consist of a structural nylon material. Cylinders 5-10 are therefore substantially electrically disconnected from each other. The plates, which may be provided with protrusions or ribs on the inner facing surfaces of the end plates 11 and 12 for positioning the cylinders, are held together by presser bars passing through these, and at their upper ends: For example, it may be fixed by a nut 15 and at the lower end by a nand 16, which are located outside the cylinder and a seal 17 is provided in the form of two tongue and groove washers 18 and 19, which 15 and 16 are tightened,
When the plate is clamped between the end pieces 11 and 12, the adjacent parts of the housing frame, which may be made of mild steel, for example, are also fitted with rabbets and washers 18 and 1.
Clamped during 9.

Naft 15 and washers 18 and 19 are electrically non-conductive and may be made of nylon, for example.

Holder bar 14 and nut 16 provide electrical contact and are preferably electrically conductive, thus forming the other electrode.

At or near the upper end of the cylindrical plates there is an aperture, e.g. aperture 20, and there may be a plurality of apertures in each plate. In a preferred arrangement, there are two openings in each plate, which are staggered in adjacent cylinders to increase the current path to a substantial degree. Thus, the apertures 20 in one plate lie approximately 90 degrees to the line in which the apertures 20 in the adjacent plate lie. Also, the openings in successive plates 5-10 provide a tortuous flow path.

Desirably, the diameter of these holes increases outwardly and the ratio of hole size to plate size (and thus cylinder surface area) remains substantially constant for each cylinder plate. The total hole size is preferably about 20% of the plate size. Therefore, 2
If there are two holes, each is approximately 1/3740 of the plate size. If the pores are too large, the performance of the tank will deteriorate; if the pores are too small, gas will accumulate in the tank unit and the liquid will foam. The apertures 20 are therefore at substantially the same ratio of plate area as the ratio of gas produced to the amount of electrolyte.

Similar holes, such as holes 21, are provided at the lower end of the plate, which equalize the liquid level in the tank unit.

The diameters of the end plates 11 and 12 are, for example, such that there is a small gap 22, especially around the top plate 11, and a small outward bulge for centering the plates in the outer casing. may be provided. These gaps allow gas to diffuse from the tank unit to outlet 3.

The vessel described above will electrolyze the gas at a power consumption of about 9000 Joules/11 gas. The top of tank l also acts as a gas accumulator.

Uses of the invention are as follows.

A solution of electrolyte in water is placed in the bath unit and the cylindrical plate is connected to a power source. Preferably the case provides a negative electrode.

The gas dissipated by the electrolytic action passes through the opening 20 and the gap 22 and reaches the outlet 3.

It has been found that the hole size versus plate size described above provides sufficient performance of the tank unit.

It is thus recognized that an electrolytic cell is provided which is simple in construction yet efficient in use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrolytic cell according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a cylinder forming a cell unit useful for the electrolytic cell of FIG. 1. 1...Tank, 2...Top opening,
3... Outlet, 4... Tank unit,
5-10...Cylinder, 11.12...Plate, 14...Press bar, 15.16...
・Nut, 18. 19... Washer, 20... Opening, 21... Hole, 22.
·····gap. Purification of drawings! F (no change in content) Procedural amendment (method) % formula % 1. Indication of the case 1988 Patent Application No. 055064 2. Name of the invention Electrolytic cell 3. Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Name of patent applicant Hydrox Cooperative Limited 4, Agent address: 8-10-5 Toranomon-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105
Date of amendment order: May 31, 1988 (shipment date) 6. Subject of amendment (11. Column ``Applicant's representative'' of the application (2) Power of attorney (3) Drawings 7. Contents of amendment (1) ) (2) As attached (3) Engraving of drawings (no changes in content) 8, list of attached documents (1) 1 copy of application for correction (2) 1 copy each of power of attorney and translation (3) 1 copy of engraving of drawings

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. a plurality of substantially concentric conductive cylinders substantially electrically isolated from each other; positioning means for positioning said cylinders; defining a chamber around said cylinders; and an opening in said cylinder, the opening being positioned to substantially maximize the flow path provided by said opening. 2. a liquid chamber and a bath unit within said chamber, said bath unit including a plurality of substantially concentric conductive cylinders, each cylinder having an opening at or near its upper end, the area of said opening being , larger in cylinders with larger surface areas, with non-conductive closures closing the gap between the cylinders at each end of the cylinders such that the ratio of opening dimensions to cylinder surface area is substantially constant for each cylinder. electrolytic cell. 3. Each cylinder has a plurality of openings at or near its upper end, the ratio of the total area of said openings to the total area of the cylindrical plate forming said cylinder being substantially 1/
3. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, which is 1870. 4. The electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein said ratio is substantially ±20% of 1/1870. 5. Electrolytic cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that holes are provided towards the bottom of the cylinder, primarily to equalize the electrolyte level. 6. An electrolytic cell according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the openings are staggered in adjacent cylinders. 7. The electrolytic cell of claim 6, wherein the openings are provided in pairs on opposite sides of the cylinder. 8. An electrolytic cell according to any preceding claim, wherein said positioning means comprises an electrically insulating end cap held by a central hold-down bar extending longitudinally through said cylinder. 9. the chamber provides one electrode of the electrolytic cell;
An electrolytic cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the holding rod provides the other electrode.