US1475739A

US1475739A - Means for replenishing the electrolyte of electrolytic cells

Info

Publication number: US1475739A
Application number: US337682A
Authority: US
Inventors: Porter H Brace
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1919-11-13
Filing date: 1919-11-13
Publication date: 1923-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1940-11-27

Description

Nov. 27 1923.

P. H. BRACE MEANS FOR REFLENISHING THE ELECTROLYTE OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed Nov. 13. 1919 llllllllllllllll I INVENTOR par/er fifirace. BY

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1923,,

res star PORTER H. BRACE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE.

new

ELECTRIC & IHANUFACT'UJRING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR. REPLEN'ISHTNG Hill-IE 'ELECTROLY'I'E 0F ELECTROLYTIC SELLS.

Application filed November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,682.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, PORTER H. Bnaon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Replenishing the Electrolyte of Electrolytic lytes of constant composition and quantity (luring the electrolysis of fused salts, additions have been made to the electrolyte in various ways, but it has been very diflicult to'do this satisfactorily or to make the addition continuously, as is desirable, particularly where hydroscopic materials are being employed.

One object of my'present invention is to secure continuous replenishment of the electrolyte with a minimum disturbance of the same and with a minimum interference with the operation of the cell.

Another object which ll have in view is the addition of material to the electrolyte by the utilization of a continuously melting or dissolving body of the desired material to be added.

In this connection my invention further comprises the provision of a specially designed electrode which is, preferably, the anode and which is so formed as to serve as a means for replenishing the electrolyte.

Another object accomplished by my invention consists in the provision of means for controlling the rate of addition of material to the electrolyte.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the single figure of the drawing which is a diagrammatic sectional view of a preferred form of my invention. and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In order to ensure a complete and accurate understanding of my invention and the method of practising it, I have illustrated a lid conventional form of electrolytic cell, such asois commonly employed in the electrolysis of fused salts and, particularly, salts of the alkaline-earth metals comprising calcium, barium and strontium. The cell may comprise a cup or container 1 for the fused salt 2 being treated, a cathode 3 and an anode 4. The'cat'hode may preferablybe supported by an arm 5 which is insulated from, and adjustably carried by, an adjusting screw 7 mounted for free turning movement, whereby the cathode may be raised as a deposit of metal is formed thereon.

The anode i, in like manner, may be supported by an arm 8 insulated from, and adjustably supported by, an adjusting screw 9 in such manner that it may be raised or lowered at will.

My present invention comprehends the provision of a special form of anode so constructed thatit may constitute means for constantly replenishing theelectrolyte of the cell. For this purpose, the anode 4 may be formed, in its upper portion, with an axial chamber 10 adapted to receive a solid body or rod 11 of the material to be added to the electrolyte. A reduced extension or passage 12 may lead from the lower end of this chamber terminating short of the lower end of the electrode, and" a plurality of radial and upwardly inclined branch passages 13 may lead from the lower end of the passage 12 through the wall of the electrode. The open end of the anode may be provided with a suitable cover to prevent the access of air when hydroscopic salts are used.

The operation of an electrolytic cell embodyin my invention will be readily understood rom the foregoing explanation and ill) need be only briefly described. Obviously,

the heat generated at the lower portion of the electrode constituting the anode of the cell will act to melt or dissolve the body or red of electrolyte material 11 contained in the electrode so that this material will be gradually discharged into the electrolyte through the

passages

12 and 13. The rate at which the electrolyte material is supplied to the electrol to from the source 11 will, of course, be ependent' upon the amount of heat generated at the electrode and this heat may be governed by adjustably raising or lowering the electrode, to vary the extent to which it is immersed in the electrolyte. The upward inclination of the branch passa es 13 prevents an gases, which may be evo ved, from passing into the interior of the ti l electrode, and, consequently, this feature is not essential in all instances.

Although embodiment of my invention and described it in detail, it will be ap reciated that various ways of supplying e ectrolyte material, through the use of a continuously melting or dissolving body of such material, may be provided and that anodes of various constructions may be formed to adapt them for this purpose. No limitations are, therefore, to be imposed upon my invention other than those necessitated by the prior art' or indicated in the appended claims.

- I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means, operable through heat generated at an electrode, for liquetying electrolyte material and'supplying it to the bath.

2, The combination withan electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means, operable through heat generated at an electrode, for liquetying electrolyte material and continuously supplying .it toethe bath.

3. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and electrodes, of means co-operating with one electrode for supplying liquefied electrolyte material to the bath.

4i. "llhe combination with an electrolytic I have illustrated a preferred cell including an electrolytic bath and a cathode movable toward andaway from the bath, of an anode provided with a chamber and with a passage opening trom'the chamber through the lower portion of the anode.

6. The combination with an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic bath and a cathode movable toward and away from the bath, of an anode provided with a chamber and with a passage opening from the charm her through the lower portion of the anode, and means for adjustably raising and lowering the anode to vary the extent to which it is immersed in the bath.

Y. An electrode for use in the electrolysis of fused salts comprising a body provided with a chamber adapted to receive solid electrolyte material and further provided with a passage leading from the chamber and adapted to communicate with an electrolytic bath.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of Oct, 1919.

PQltll'lllt H. BRACE.