US1456901A - Tank or vessel for electrolytic apparatus and other purposes - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1923.

R. D. MERSHON TANK OR VESSEL FOR ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND OTHER PURPOSES Filed Jan. 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l [72 yem ar 5 f zf i W MM May 29, 1923. 1,456,901

RD.MERSHON A TANK OR VESSEL FOR ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND OTHER PURPOSES Filed Jan. 8, 1920 2 Shets-Sheet 9 ZF E I i E 576 g2; g2;

Inn /22W Patented May 29, 1923.

RALPH D. MERSHON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TANK OR VESSEL FOR ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Application filed January 8, 1920. Serial No. 850,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH D. MERSHON, being a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Tanks or Vessels for Electrolytic Apparatus and Other Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the course of an extended experience in the construction and operation of electrolytic apparatus, particularly condensers and rectifiers, I have discovered that it is highly advantageous, from the standpoint of durability and efiiciency, to guard the electrolyte against contamination. This is easily accomplished when the tank or vessel is closed air-tight, but under some conditions it is desirable or necessary for it to have communication with the outside. I have therefore been led to devise my resent invention, which has for its chief 0 ject to provide simple and convenient means for permitting the vessel to breathe, that is, to allow the inflow and outflow of air or vapor without, however, permitting solid impurities or soluble gas impurities to enter. To this-and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described.

Convenient and effective embodiments of the invention are illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-section of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a modification of the scheme shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, t and 5 are sectional views illustrating other forms of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a form by which a more or less constant pressure in excess of atmospheric can be maintained in the tank.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate modifications of the scheme shown in Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 10 designates the top or cover of a tank containing the electrolyte and electrodes of an electrolytic condenser. At the left of the figure is shown a relief valve for the escape of gas or vapor, comprising a closed vessel 12 containing a liquid 13 into which the outlet orifice of the siphon-shaped escape or outlet pipe 14 is immersed, the intake end of the pipe being open to the interior of the tank containing the electrolyte. The coiled form of the pipe is to provide ample cooling surface for the condensation of vapors, so that more or less of any vapors condensed therein will run back into the tank. If the pressure inside the tank rises above atmospheric plus the head a (the length of the submerged portion of the pipe 14.) the excess gas or vapor will escape through pipe 15, which also serves to prevent rise of the liquid 13 above a certain height by accumulation of liquid due to condensation of vapor. To ermit inflow of air when the pressure falls in the tank, a device such as is shown at the right of Fig. 1 may be provided. This comprises a vessel 17 containing a liquid 18 into which an inlet-pipe 19 dips, an outlet pipe 20 extending from above the liquid into the tank below the cover 10, and a pi e 21 having its longer leg extendin into t e liquid. The inlet pipe 19 is provlded with a strainer 22, which may be composed of fibrous or other suitable material through which the in-going air must pass, thus straining out dust and such other impurities as may be removed in this manner. Inside the vessel is a strainer for the lower end of pipe 19, which may take the form of a sheet of foraminous material such as wire gauze 23, to break up the bubbles of air and thus cause them to be more thoroughl washed in their passage through the li ui The latter may have a substance disso ved in it to assist in purifying the air, such asa suitable alkali if the air is likely to carry acids, or an acid in the contrary case. If vessel 17 contains water or other liquid giving oil water vapor, the loss by evaporation will be made up by condensation of vapors entering from the tank. If in the course of time the liquid in the vessel should by such condensation rise to the level of the bend in the escape pipe 21, indicated by the dotted line b, liquid will be dischar ed through this pipe until the surface alls to the level at which it is shown, that is, to the level of the outlet orifice of the pipe. If when this occurs it should happen that at the same time the pressure inside the tank is being relieved, say through the device 11, then the liquid in vessel 17 will fall below the level of the discharge end of pipe 21 by an amount equal to the distance a of device 11. Hence the distance 0 of device 16 must be greater than a. Also, the head d of device 11 must be greater than e (of device 16) plus the equivalent head necessary to drive the air through the strainer 22; and fmust be greater than 0 plus such equivalent head.

In Fig. 2 the devices 11 and 16 of Fig. 1 are combined and simplified in one. The latter comprises two non-communicating vessels 25, 26, containing liquids 27, 28. The pipe 29 leading from the tank below the cover 30 has a condensing coil and also has depending branches 31, 32, one extending into the liquid 27 and the other extending into vessel 26 but terminating above the liquid 28. Excess pressure in the tank is relieved by escape of air or vapor through branch 31 and outlet 33, and a partial vacuum in the tank is relieved by air entering vessel 26 through pipe 34 which has its lower end submerged to a greater depth than the branch pipe 31. Pipe 34 will permit escape of liquid from vessel 26 in the same way as the pipe 21 in device 16. Hence if an air strainer is used with pipe 34, as indicated at 35, the material therein should be of such character as will not be injured by being wetted.

The device shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 2, but has an expansible and collapsible receiver or chamber, for example a flexible rubber bag 36 in the pressureoutlet pipe 37. If the capacity of the receiver be great enough it will of itself take care of pressure variations in'the tank, as will be readily understood, but if the equalizing capacity or the receiver be exceeded, air will flow into the tank through vessel 38 or air or vapor will flow out of the tank through vessel 39, as the case may be. Fig. 4 is another modification, in which the expansible and collapsible equalizer is replaced by a liquid-displacement receiver in the form of a bell-glass 40.

Tu the modification shown in Fig. 5, the tank 41, containing the electrolyte or other liquid, constitutes the equalizer. lit the pressure in the tank rises, liquid is forced into the auxiliary vessel 42, which is open to the atmosphere through the vent 43, and as the pressure falls in the tank liquid is returned thereto. The pipe 44, by which the two vessels communicate, may be above the bottom of vessel 42 so that sediment collected in the latter will not be carried into the other. The liquid in vessel 42 may be protected by a film of oil, as 44. If the pressure in tank 41 becomes sutlicient to raise the liquid in vessel 42 a distance equal to the extent of submergence of pipe 45 in the liquid in vessel 46, the ressure will be relieved by escape throng this pipe, as will be readily understood.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, desi nates the main tank, for example the tank 0% an electrolytic condenser consisting of electrodes 51 and an electrolyte 52. The

mea er tank has a close-fitting cover. Internal pressure is relieved through condensing pipe 54 and vessel 55, as in device 11 of Fig. 1. A. device 56 is also provided, similar to device 16, to relieve a partial vacuum in the tank, but in the present case this device is intended to operate only in emergency, since means are provided to maintain inside the tank a working pressure equal to or greater than the pressure outside. For this purpose a suitable compressor 57 is provided, for taking air through a strainer 58 and delivering it under pressure through strainer 59 to a device 60 (similar to device 16 of Fig. 1) and thence to an air tank or reservoir 61. The compressor may be driven by a motor, as 57 having terminals 57 and any well known means can be provided to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the air tank, and, if desired, a more or less constant fiowof air or other gas therethrough, as for eii'ample suitable electro-hydrostatic means including a balanced valve 62 in the pipe 63, between the tanks 53 and 61, controlling the admission of air to the former and operated in the solenoid 64. In the solenoid circuit is a resistance 65, from which a plurality of taps 65", for exam le three, are brought out to a tube 66 extending downwardly into the liquid in vessel 55. These taps terminate at different depths in the tube, as indicated. As the pressure inside of tank 50 decreases, the liquid rises in tube 66, and eventually reaches, say, the lowest tap, whereupon the circuit or the solenoid is closed (through all the resistance 65) and the valve 62 is thereby opened slightly, admitting air from the air-accumulating tank 61 to tank 50. If the ressure in the latter continues to fall, the iquid may rise in tube 66 until the next lower tap (in the present instance "the middle tap) is reached. thereby cutting out part of the resistance and opening the valve farther. Or the liquid may reach the highest tap, thereby opening the valve to the fullest extent. As the pressure in tank 50 rises above the predetermined value the reverse operation takes place, as will be readily understood. lit will therefore be seen that a pressure constant within certain limits is maintained in the tank 50, the limits of departure from constancy depending upon the number and spacing of the taps or contacts leading from the controlling resistance 65, and the value of the maintained pressure depending upon the osition of the lowest contact and on the depth of submergence of pipe 67. If the lowest contact is close to the bottom of the tube the pressure maintained will be considerably higher than that outside, and with the contact arranged at the height at which the liquid in vessel 55 would stand it the latter vessel and the tank 50 were in free communication with the atmosphere, with the pipe 67 only slightly submerged, the pressure in the tank will be kept about equal to or slightly greater than atmospheric. If the pressure in the tank falls so low (as by reason of a failure of the valve 62 to open) that the negative ressure or partial vacuum therein exceeds t e head due to the submergence of pipe 68- in the liquid in vesel 56, air will enterthrough this pipe. To guard against admission of impurities in that way, the pipe 69 may be provided with a strainer 70.

If the compressor is of the rotary type the tank 61 can be omitted and valve 62 connected directly to the wash bottle 60,

in which case the valve simply throttles the supply of air from .the compressor. If desired, the valve may also be omitted, the solenoid'being then used to control the speed of the motor driving the compressor. Thus in Fig. 8, as the core of thesole-noid is drawnin, more and more resistance is cut out of the motor circuit, thereby increasing the speed of the motor. As the core is Withdrawn (by spring 71) resistance is cut in, thereby decreasing the motor speed, and if the core is withdrawn far enough the switch arm 72 will be carried off the last contact, thereby stopping the motor.

If desired, the gas admitted to the working tank may be one which will not support combustion, for example carbo'n dioxid, as may be desirable in the case of anapparatus in which the contents of the tank give off combustible gas or vapor for instance in the case of a large electrolytic condenser,

since the electrolyte in such a condenser is continually being decomposed, liberating hydrogen and oxygen in explosive proportions. It may also be desirable, no matter what gas is admitted to the tank, to maintain in the latter a pressure high enough to insure a continued escape of gas from its interior, so that explosive or combustible gases are continually swept out. a

The tank or reservoir 61, wash-bottle 60, compressor 57, etc., can be replaced'by a bottle containing clean compressed air or other gas, or a solution of gas under pressure in water, or a li uid gas, as carbon dioxid. In using liquid 0 a comparatively small bottle will contain a large amount of the gas, and if kept slowly escaping more or less constantly, through the main or working tank (as 50) the latter will be kept clear.

of combustible or explosive gases, or at any rate they will be so diluted as toeliminate danger of ex losion. Thus in Fig. 7 which shows a portion of the.;apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6, the reservoir or cylinder 73 containing compressed or liquid carbonic acid gas is connected to the valve 62 in lieu of tank 61, compressor 57. etc.' When compressed gases are used it may be desirable to heat them during expansion, as by heating theeontainer. This can be done by means of an electric heater, controlled by the solenoid in a manner similar to the motor control shown in Fig. 8. Or, if the working of the apparatus in the main tank (50) is accompanied by liberation of sufiicient heat, the gas container can be placed in heat-conduct ing contact with the tank, as in Fig. 7, or otherwise associated therewith, so as to be heated by the tank or its contents.

The liquids used in the various vessels 12, 17, 25, 26, 38,- etc, through which air or other gas enters or leaves the tank, may be of any suitable kind, as for example oil, water or mercury. Of course the liquid in vessel 55, Fig. 6, must be electrically conducting.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction here illustrated and described herein, but can be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit. Moreover the invention is not limited to electrolytic 'appartially filled with liquid and having a,

gas-space in communication with the interior of said tank, a gas-inlet'tube opening outside of the chamber and terminating below the surface of the liquid therein, a second chamber partially filled with liquid and having a gas-space communicatingwith the atmosphere,.and a tube open at one end to the interior of said vessel and having another end immersed in the liquid in the second chamber.

2. A closed tank or vessel, a closed chamber containing liquid and having a gasspace, a tube connecting said gas-space with the interior of the tank or vessel, a gas-inlet tube leading into the chamber and opening below the surface of the liquid therein, a second chamber open to the atmosphere and containing a liquid, and a tube communicating at one end with the interior of the tank or vessel and having another end open below the surface of the liquid in the second chamber. L

3. In an electrolytic apparatus, a closed tank or vessel having a gas outlet and containing electrodes and an electrolyte, means for supplying gas under pressure to said tank, and means controlled by the pressure in the tank to maint-ain'therein a pressure in excess of atmospheric.

4. In an electrolytic apparatus, a closed tank or vessel having a gas outlet and containing electrodes and an electrolyte, a reservoir containing gas under premure connected with the tank to supply gas under pressure thereto, and means under control of the pressure in the tank to regulate the supply of gas thereto to maintain in the tank a pressure in excess of atmospheric.

5. In an electrolytic apparatus, a closed tank or vessel having a gas outlet and containing electrodes and an electrolyte, a res ervoir containing gas under pressure connected to the tank to supply gas thereto, and electro-hydrostatic means under the control of the pressure in the tank to regulate the supply of gas from said reservoir and maintain in the tank a pressure in excess of at mospheric.

6. In an electrolytic apparatus, a closed tank or vessel having a gas outlet and containing electrodes and an electrolyte, a. reservoir containing anon-combustible and a noncombustion-supporting gas under pressure connected with the tank to supply such gas thereto, and automatic means for maintaining a more or less constant flow of gas from the reservoir to the tank.

7. A closed tank or vessel for containing material capable of giving off combustible gas or vapor, said tank having an outlet; and means for delivering to the tank a non combustible and non-combustionsupporting gas at a pressure sufficient to cause a flow of such gas through the tank to expel the combustible gas or vapor therefrom through said outlet.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

RALPH D. MERSHON.

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