US1272397A - Apparatus for effecting electrolysis. - Google Patents

Description

A. DOHMEN.

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECIROLYSIS.

' APPLICATION min ate. 1. 1914.

1,272,397. mm July 16, mm

ARTHUR DOHMEN, 0F COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT F. KRAJSE, OZ? BUFFALO, NEVJ' YORK.

APPARATUS FOR EFEECTING ELECTRGLYSIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16.1%18.

Application filed December 1, 1914. Serial No. 875,036.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My. invention relates to the construction of apparatus for effecting electrolysis, of the type known as filteupress batteries enstoma'rily used for the production of oxygen and hydrogen by the electrolysis of water; and it has for its object to provide elements that are easily assembled, easily. constructed, and more especially are sufiiciently rigid to maintain thegas and liquid conduits in reg,- ister when assembled, as well as to quickly obtain this register during the assembling operation.

The structure is such as to enable me to use pure nickel bi-polar or uni-polar elec trodes, which on account of the structure are sufiiciently thin, 2'. 6., about one-half mm. to permit of the "use of pure nickel, notwithstanding the cost of this metal, but heavier electrodes, such as sheet iron, nickel plated,

may be used, as at present.-

Such a filter-press battery may have as many cells as desired, and in practice such batteries have from one hundred to two hun- .dred cells held together by strong clamping means, the asbestos diaphragms being-held in place between adjacent cells. irrtypes now used, by the strong clamping pressure exerted on the cast ironframes. The dia phragms have near their upper edges openings for registering with the gas passages in the frames, and these dlaphrag'ms often sag, due to insuflicient or uneven pressure. causing the openings to fall out of register with the gas passages causing the gases to mix. they leak electrolyte. due to capillary action. and lose gas through the upper edges. By the structure herein described and illustrated these disadvantages are overcome.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are similarly designated- Figure l is an elevation of a dia 'ihragm and its frame;

Fig. 2 is a section thereof and of an adjacent sheet metal electrode;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modification through the left-hand gas conduit;

Fig. 4: is a like vertical section through the right hand gas conduit;

Fig. 5 is avertical section through a modi- I fication in which the electrodes are supported in a frame, while the diaphragms are clamped between the adjacent electrode frames.

The frames shown in Figs. 1 and each consistof two portions, a and. 6, each portion conslstmg of a rectangular, or other suitably shaped, frame of wrought iron, fiber, or

hard rubber. --The upper side of the frame F) is providedwith amt-away port-ion (Z entirely through the frame at the left hand side, Fig. 1, while the upper side of the frame a is provided with a like cut-away portion 0 at the right hand side. The frame 7) has a passage e through it which registers with the cut-away portion 0 of frame a while the frame a has a passage 7 through it, registering with the cut-away portion (i'of frame 6, that is to say, the two sides are alike in shape,-but reversed.

The lower portion of each frame half a and Z) is provided with passages g for electrolyte or water, arranged to register with one another when the frames are assez-nbled. These passages are oval or elongated, as shown, and are connected with the her by short narrow slots h.

The diaphragm i of asbestos or other suitable-material is clamped between the two portions or. and b of the frame under pressure, and the portions are then riveted, screwed or otherwise secured together to form a single frame carrying thediaphragm.

Of course it is understood that before placing theitwo frame portions (1 and '72 in register, a suitable waterproof solution. such as rubber solution. -is placed either on the fabric-at its edges. or on the frame parts. in order to be sure to destroy the capillarltv of the fabric at its edges and prevent the solution from creeplng through at the 101ml. These composite diapl'iragms are arranged cell chamalternately with metal electrodes A, preferably of sheet nickel, which electrodes are provided with perforations l. in register with the perforations c, f, and 5/, in the diaphragm frame, and when placed in position the electrode forms one side wall for a cutaway portion 0 or (I, and the frame member, a or 1) forms the other side wall of the cut .away portion a or (i, so that a chamber is formed between a electrode.

- Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a frame Z, of wrought iron, hard rubber, or fiber,- having around its middle, or only on two opposite frame sides two spaced flanges m m, made of any suitable material, for example, nickel-plated iron. Such frames are usually made of four sides with mitered ends, which are welded together by means of a welding torch when made of wrought iron, but when made of fiber or hard rubber they may be connected together in any usual and convenient-manner. Each side of the frame Z, or eachof two opposite sides is provided with the spaced 'fianges m andthe diaphragm is stretched between the sides of the frame and secured between the spaced flanges m by means of rivets, or by simply crimping down or forcing the flanges m together.

The frames 1 are provided with water passages g and h, and gas passages e' and f, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

In this manner I attain adiaphragm al ways stretched tight, and supported in such frame member and an a manner as to prevent any leakage of electrolyte by reason of capillary actlon, and

consequently avoid the extreme care otherwise necessary in packing the joints when assemblingthe apparatus.

In this case also I use in connection with the diaphragms thin sheet-metal bi-pola-r electrodes suitably insulated "from [the frames; Y

'In Fig. 5 I have shown another form. In this form the electrode is supported in a framdsimilar to that shown'in Figs. .3 and gt fland said frame a. is provided with an.

"electrode o'composed of one or more layers of metallic screen, for example, nickel-wire screen, preferably but not necessarily of several thicknesses, or ofperforated sheets of nickel, clamped or riveted between .the spaced flanges m in the same manner as the diaphragm in Figs. 3 and' l.

The only difference between this frame a and the frame Zis that there are two gas chambers d and a? comnnmicating with the passage 7 andtwo, gas chambers 0 and communicating with the passage 6 one on each. side of the electrode. -The diaphragm p is clamped between adjacent electrode frames n in any suitable manner. I

,1 By making the frames of wrought iron,

rubber, .or fiber, I attain a decided advantage over the cast iron frame customarily in use, the advantage consisting in enabling me to make the frames thinner. thereby decreasing the thickness of the cells and the internal resistance. They are also more yielding,

thereby preventing breakage in assembling.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus of the filter press type, the combination ofa diaphragm frame, parallel flanges within the frame spaced apart, a diaphragm secured between the flanges, and frameless sheet metal electrodes clamped between and alternating with the frames and insulated therefrom.

4. A frameless, sheet nickel bi-polar electrode less than one millimeter in thickness, and diaphragm supporting'frames between which said electrodes are clamped.

5. In an electrolytic apparatus of the filter press type, the combination with diaphragm frames, each having a diaphragm mounted therein to divide the interior of the frame into two compartments and having two transverse gas passages through the top thereof, one of said passages being connected with the compartment on one side of the diaphragm by an enlarged, laterally extending chamber and theother of said. passages being similarly connected to the other compartment, andelectrodes alternatingwith each frame having holes registering with said passages.

6. A cell'member comprising a frame of suitable shape, flanges projecting into the space bounded by said frame, and a diaphragm secured between said flanges, whereby when anumber of such members are clamped together the diaphragnis and flange members will not be contained between the joints of the members, said member having a gas chamber on each side of the diaphragm communicating with separate gas passages through the member.

7. An electrolytic cell of the filter press type having alternating elements constitut ing electrode members an d diaphragm menr here, one of said elements constituting a frame; rigid parallel flanges on the frame within the frame opening and contained between the faces of said frame, and a member secured between said flanges.

8. An electrolytic cell of the filter press type having alternating elements constituting electrode members and diaphragm memlel flanges within the-frame opening, and a bers, one of said elements constituting a member held Within said opening between frame, parallel flanges on opposite sides of said parallel flanges in crimped connection 15 the frame and rigidly connected thereto therewith.

5 within the frame opening and contained bea In testimony that I claim the foregoing tween the faces of said frame, and a member as my invention, I havesignedmy name in Whose edges afrle held in swaged connection presence of two subscribing witnesses;

between said an es.

9. In an electrol ytic cell of the filter press ARTHUR DOHMEN' .9 type, alternating elements constituting elec- Witnesses:

trode members and diaphragm members, one HENRY :ORTH, J r., I of said elements constituting a frame, paral- A. M. PARKING.

Images