US1431014A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

E. A. LE SUEUR. ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1920.

1,431,014. Patented Oct. 3, 19 22.

Patented Get. a, 1922.

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ERNEST. A. LE SUEUB, 0F OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Application filed October 23, 1920. Serial No. 419,076.

To all whom it may concern V Be it known that I, ERNEST A. La SUEUR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Carleton and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention presents improvements more particularly in connection with cells employing carbon anodes of large surface, and certain of its features are similar to those set forth in my application, Serial Number 234,296, electrolytic cells, filed May 13th, 1918.

My said invention will be understood by reference to the drawings hereto attached.

In the said drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a cell according to my invention, the end of the containing tank being in section, same being taken on the line AB of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan of said cell. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled electrodes contained in said cell. Fig. 4 is a detail showing a sub-division of the cathode surface. Fig. 5 is a detail of an insulated bolt.

With further reference to the drawings 1 is the containing tank of suitable material (in the case illustrated of metal, as iron) 2 is the electrolyte; 3 is a leading-in member for the anode, shown in the present case of carbon; 4, 4 are composite carbon anodic plates; 5, 5 are metallic cathode plates acting also as supports for the composite anode; 6, 6 are insulating spacing pieces; 7 1s a bolt, conveniently of steel; 8 and 9 are respectively anodic and cathodic wires.

11, 11 are strips of soft conducting material, preferably metallic, as lead, and preferably bonded as shown to the bottom of the tank 1 by the soldered portions 111, 111; 31 is a current supply clamp overlapping the top of the piece 3; 32 is the tightening bolt for said clamp and also acts as binding post for the terminal wire 8; 33 is cement applied to the pieces 3 and 31 so as to make a watertight container on top of said piece 3; 34 is an overflow pipe for water supplied to sald container. 41, 41 are anodic blocks, conveniently of carbon, acting as conducting spacing pieces between the anodlc plates 4. 51, 51 are pieces similar to that shown in Fig. 4, constituting subdivisions of the total cathode surface. 61, 61, Fig. 2, are insulating rods or strips adapted to prevent con tact between the plates 4 and 51;,these are omitted from Fig. l in order to avoid compllcation. 71 is a nut on the bolt 7 72, 72 are conducting washers on the bolt 7; 73. Fig. 5, is an insulating sleeve on the bolt 7.

s will be obvious, the tank 1, in the an rangement illustrated, constitutes a portion of the total cathode Surface, and the main cathodic current is supplied to it and travels through the strips 11, through the spiked toes of the cathode plates 5 and 51, into these latter plates. The said strips 11 may be omitted and the cathode plates may bear directly on the bottom of the tank 1 but I have found that great advantages in the way of convenience and good contact are secured by the use of. said spiked toes, em bedded, even if but slightly, in the soft metal of the said strips when employing heavy commercial currents. If desired the whole bottom of the tank, or the whole tank, may be of soft metal, and, on the other hand, the metal with which the cathode plates make contact may be independent of the containing tank and irrespective of the metallic or non-metallic nature thereof so long as said metal is supplied with cathodic current. The number of contact points on the cathode plates is not fundamentally material, and, for purposes of current supply, said points may even be omitted, although I greatly prefer to use them.

In large single electrolyzers the supply of current to carbon anodes without causing undue heating, especially if there is only a single current leading-in member, frequently becomes diflicult, and the apparatus shown simplifies the matter by enabling water to be supplied (from any convenient source, not shown) to the container on top of the current leading-in member, whereby cooling effect is supplied to said member and the current supply clamp.

The slot in the cathode piece 51 enables said piece to be dropped into place between the pieces 4 without touching the conducting pieces 41.

The leading-in member is shown as a cylinder flattened on opposite sides over part of its length, but any suitable shape may be used.

The weight of the composite anode may obviously be borne otherwise than by the end cathode plates 5, but the simplicity and convenience of the assembly in the form shown, not the least of the merits of which is the resultant mechanical stability of the entire electrode system, will be obvious. I find advantages in the use of but one current leading-in member but I do not wish to limit myself to such use. I have shown supporting cathode members at both ends of the electrode setbut I do not Wish to limit myself to such plurality.

I claim p 1. In an electrolytic cell having a bot tom in Whole or in part cathodic a cathode member having one or more projections adapted to make contact with and receive current from said bottom.

2. In an electrolytic cell a soft conducting member adapted to conduct current to a cathode'member and a cathode member in contact with and substantially impressing said soft conducting member.

3. In an electrolytic cell an anode current leading-in member and one or more cathode members supporting said anode member re ceiving current from one or more cathodic surfaces submerged in the electrolyte.

l. An electrolytic cell having a current leading-in anode member, a plurality pf rent from one or more cathodic surfaces sub merged in the electrolyte.

5. In an electrolytic cell an interspace between anode members partially occupied by an anodi'c distance'block spanning the distance between said members, and a cathode member also located in said interspace, a space being left from its lower edge up- Wardly such as will enable it to be set into place Without touching said block.

(3. An electrolytic cell having a carbon current leading-in member and a Water bath at the upper portion of said member.

7. An electrolytic cell having a carbon current leading-in member and an open Water bath at the upper portion or' said member.

8. A11 electrolytic cell having a carbon current leading-in member and an open Water bath at the upper portion of said member adapted respectively to receive and dis charge a stream of Water.

ERNEST A. LE SU EUR.

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