US1357485A

US1357485A - Electrolytic cell

Info

Publication number: US1357485A
Application number: US141062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walker Thomas Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-01-06
Filing date: 1917-01-06
Publication date: 1920-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1937-11-02

Description

1 T. B. WALKER.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED mu. 6. 1917.

0 M Z 3% 2M a mm. 0 2 M m 2 V/ 0; m f X z um T. B. WALKER.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FiLED mu. 6. 1912.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920;

UNITED surge PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BAXLEY WALKER, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

ELECTROLYTIC GELL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BAILEY WALKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n' Electrolytic Cells, which invention 18 fully.

set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in. electrolytic cells for producing electrolyte gases such as oxygen and hydrogen, and has I for its objects to automatically maintain a predetermined level of liquid in the cell and to control the electric current thereto.

Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in the use of sight tubes during filling or replenishing of electrolytic cells with liquid, due to uncertain gas pressure produced by leaks, greater activity of cells, and changes in the conditions of working, and it is one of the objects of my invention to overcome this objection.

A further object is to improve the manner of suspendingrthe sack diaphragm usually employed in cells of this character, and of securing the same, as well as the cell closure,

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y invention resides in providing an electrolytic cellhaving avalve-controlled liquid feed pipe and switch controlled current supply connections with a float located either in a. compartment of the cell or in a side compartment communicating with the cell at points above and below the liquid level therein, and providing connections to operate the valve and switch by a predetermined movement of the float. In order to avoid the objectionable presence of a packing where the connections pass through the casing wall, I preferably provide a liquid sea-l consisting of a tube depending from the wall of the compartment in which the float is located, and terminating below the lowest level at which the liquid normally sinks.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

sure within the cell during filling.

lhrough this tube the connection passes to the float whereby its movements are unim- 1 peded by the up-and-down play of the connection in the tube, while the liquid forms a gas-tight seal between the gas space of the cell and the external atmosphere, and therewall and closure and clamp the closure down by specially constructed clamps described below. In this manner the sack itself, which may and preferably is made of asbestos, serves all the purposes of a gasket.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate,

by way of example, one mechanical eXpres-' sion of the inventive idea, but such drawings are only intended to assist the description of the invention, and not to define the limits thereof. i

In said drawings, Figure l is a perspective 'view, partly broken away, showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 1s a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, particularly showing the manner of clamping the closure of the electrolytic cell; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the interior of the cell and Patented Nov. 2, 1920. Application filed January 6, 1917. Serial No. 141,062.

the float controlling the liquid supply and source of current. 1

Referring to F ig. 1, 1 is an iron receptacle, preferablyx constituting a cathode, and 2 is a cover t erefor adapted to be secured in place-by means of cam-operated clamps 4. At one end of the cell is located a receptacle 5, having communicating pipes 6 and 7, opening through the wall of the cell, one above and the other below the normal level of the electrolyte. This receptacle 5 is pro vided with a tube 3 passing through the closure 8 and extending down into the receptacle below the level of the liquid therein. A float 9 is provided, from which extends a rod passing through the tube 3 and constandard 11. Fulcrum arm 10 is provided with an extension 12 having connection by means of rod 13 with a switch arm 1a, for the purpose of opening and closing the electric supply circuit, not shown. The opposite end of the lever member 10 has a connection with a valve 15 through a member 16, for the purpose of controlling the supply of liquid to the electrolytic tank. The closure 2 is provided with a depending bead or ledge 17 adapted to rest upon a recessed projection 18 formed on the interior of the walls of the tank. This projection preterably extends downward into the upper space of the tank to form an interior wall 19 for separating the anode from the cathode compartment above the liquid level. 20 is a sack, preferably of asbestos, adapted to form a diaphragm. The upper edge of this sack is turned outward to lap over the ledge 18 to form a gasket 21, which is held in place by the depending bead 17 formed on the under side otthe closure 2. \Vhen this closure is clamped in place by clamps 4, a gas-tight joint is formed between the cover and top of the tank. I

The anode 22 is suspended from the cover by means of two tubular members 23, which pass through insulating washers 24 positioned in openings in the cover of the tank, and are secured in place by nuts The tank is also provided with the usual lanterns. 26 formed of transparent material, with a view of enabling the flow of gases to be noted The operation of the device thus far described is as follows: The parts having been assembled as indicated in the drawings, electrolyte or liquid is introduced through the valve supply pipe 15 to the desired level, and the electric current turned on. As the electrolysis of the liquid progresses, its level lowers within the tank, carrying with it the float \Vhen this level reaches a predetermined point, the float, through its connection with the lever 10, opens the fluid supply valve 15, and at the same time throws the switch arm 14 into inoperative position to cut off the electric fluid or current from the cell. As the liquid now begins to rise in the cell, the float also rises, until the level again reaches its normal position, when the valve 15 is closed and the switch arm 14 thrown into operative position to continue the process of electrolysis.

When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the tank to remove the sack or to replace its electrode, this is quickly and readily accomplished by means of the camoperated switches 4, by throwing the cam arms 4' outward, thereby relieving the pres sure of the clamp upon the projecting ledges of the tank, and permitting their quick removal.

; The clamping operation is accomplished 1n the same manner by placing the clamps in position, and at one stroke throwing the cam into clamping position.

For the purpose of preventing leakage of current through pipe connections, the liquid supply pipe is provided with a section of insulating tubing 27 of glass or porcelain. The support 11 is also preferably insulated, and the connections 6 and 7 of the chamber 5 may be, and preferably are, made of insulating tubing.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling means are con"- trolled by the level of the electrolyte in one of the electrode compartments of the cell, the combination of a closed electrode compartment, a float chamber open to said compartment above and below the normal electrolyte level therein, a liquid seal pipe one end of which is open to the atmosphere and the opposite end adapted to be sealed by the liquid normally in said float chamber, and a float in said chamber having power transmitting connections passing through said pipe for operating said fluid controlling means.

2. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling means are controlled by the level of the electrolyte in one of the electrode compartmentsof the cell, the combination of a closed electrode compartment, a liquid seal tube open' at one end to the atmosphere, the opposite end of which is sealed by the electrolyte, and a float adapted to rise and fall with the level of the electrolyte and exposed to the gas pressure in said electrode compartment, said float having power transmitting connections working ,through said tube for operating said fluid supply controlling means.

3. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling means are controlled by the level of the electrolyte in one of the electrode compartments of the cell, the combination of a closed electrode compartment, a float chamber open to said compartment above and below the normal level of the electrolyte therein, a liquid seal pipe one end of which is open to the atmosphere and the opposite end is sealed specification.

THOMAS BAILEY WALKER,