US1797377A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1931. J, N SMITH ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Sept. 29

. upper edges of the diaphragm itsedges' Passed Mu. 24, i931" f UNITED 'STATES POBATION `l' PENNSYLVANIA PATENT 'OFFICE iiLnCrnonYriC CELL Application led September 29, 192B. Serial No. 309,282.'V

This invention relates to electrolyticA cells,

more particularly to cells used in the electrolysis of water.

lThe object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the diaphragm whereby the anodic and .cathodic gases-rising from the respective electrolyzing zones of the cell will be preventedfrom intermingling v"and will be directed,

1 each within its own compartment.

This I accomplish, generally, by bringing together and sewing or otherwise sealing the to, form an enclosure over the upper portions of the electrodes. By this arrangement the gas generated on one side of the diaphragm is vprevented from mingling with the gas generated on the other side ofthe diaphragm.

If, in addition to closing over the upper 9 edges of the individual loo s of the phragmfsaid edges are infol ed so as to/ini Cline the upper looped portions of the diaphra the said vrespective gases will be directe away from the intruding areas of the electrodes and within their proper chambers.

`Other features of the invention will appear from the description of the illustrative embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross-secd tion through a portion of the diaphragm and its support; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view, somewhat relation ofthe'diaphragm and: t e'electrades; I

Fig. 3 is anl isometric, somewhat schematic -viewrshowing-the manner in which the diaphragm is woven through the supporting plate and the upper portion thereof infolded and sewn or otherwise fastened together at Fig. 4is a detail side view of a clamp; Fig. 5 is a front view of said clamp; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal crossf'section of an p' electrolytic cell, at about the middle ofthe cell,lillustratin'g the general arrangement of the electrodes and diaphragm in the cell.

The electrolytic cell, shown and described herein for-the purposes of illustration only,

dieprammatic, showing the relative ositionv '.3'5 an is provided withend plates 1 and 2, insulated from each other and .of opposite, polarity. Supported b and projecting into the cell from the en plates 1 and 2, are a series of electrodes, 3 and 4, extending alternately from the endplates 1 and 2, respectively, in

' um NonirAN sierra, C11I 'ronoN'rd oN'rAnro, CANADA, AssIeNon., BY irrisNn Asmammina, To wEs'rINerioUsE ELECTRIC a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A coia-A opposite directions. Each of these electrodes preferably comprises a group of separate elel ments each having a central passage for the gas and electrolyte. The electrodes interleave, one group of elements adjacent the other, and a continuous, pervious diaphragm 5 is disposed and extends s'inusoidally between adjacent electrodes, separating the saine, as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper part of the diaphragm 5 lis woven through notches 6 in the lower portion of an intermediate supporting plate 7 mounted in the upper part of the cell, in themanner indicated at a in Fig. 3. A number of clamps 8, each havig oiset claws 9 (Figs. L1-5), are mounted on the supporting' plate 7 in position to clamp the lateral portions 10 of the looped portions 11 of the diaphragm 5 `Fig.'3), tightly closing this top portion -to l prevent the intermingling vofthe gases generated oneither side. of the diaphra Also, the top portion of the loop of theY iaphragm may be infolded, as shown at d in Fi 3, also in Fig. 1, as indicated at 14'.

is rinfolding of the diaphragm forms iiiclined top portions, 15-15, of the diaphragm on both sidesof the plate 7.

An alternative method of constructing the dia hragm is to infold the unsewn edges 12 andp then secure the inclined folded ed es l5-151the`reof together, by clipsor stitc es 16, indicated at -e in Fig. 3..

Theelectrodes 3 and 4 are then into the respective loops of the diaphragm 5 alternately from oppositesides of the intermediate plate7, as s own in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.

It will b seen that the intermediate supporting plate-,7, together with the diaphragm at the upper portion thereof between the ,75.

rising above the electrodes and diaphragm,.

mingle with the gas generated on the opposite side. By closing the diaphragm over the upper ends of the electrodes on opposite sides of the intermediate plate, as shown and described, intermingling of the gases and leakage between the chambers is prevented.

In addition, because of this manner of infolding, the gases are conducted from the upper ends of the yelectrodes within their proper chambers. i l

The intermediate plate 7 with the slots 6 through which the diaphragm is woven and the clamping members 8 which secure the upper edge of the diaphragm to the plate 7 between the slots serve to support the diaphragm in suspended position and, as pointed out, the diaphragm is held tightly against the intermediate plate. This, together with the sewing of the infolding, renders the upper portions of the diaphragm gas tight.

The method of securing the side portions of the diaphragm 5 to the downwardly pro- 'ecting portions 7 of the plate 7, is shown in s many changes could. be made in the above construction and many apparently different embodiments of my mvention designed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims, Iintend that all matter contained in the above description or shown-in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative merely of an operative embodiment of my invention and not in a limiting sense.

e Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an electrolytic cell having oppositely disposed electrodes, a medial supporting plate positioned above said electrodes, and a looped diaphragm suspended therefrom 1and having closed to portions enclosing the upper portion of t e inner ends of each Jof said electrodes. l

2. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes, a' supporting plate positioned above said electrodes, and a sinusoidal diaphragm havin a plurality of closed top portions suspen ed therefronrand clamped thereto, saidl diaphragm being positioned between adjacent sides and substantially enclosing the upper ends of said electrodes.

3. In an electrolytic cell having oppositely disposed electrodes, a supporting platepositioned above said electrodes, and a diaphragm having inwardly inclined and closed top portions arranged to successively and alternately electrodes to substantially enclose the same. v

5. An electrolytic cell comprising end plates, electrodes of opposite polarity extending therefrom and into said cell in interleaved arrangement, a notched supporting plate traversed by a continuous sinusoidal diaphragm, extending through said notches and forming loops on either side of said plate enclosing the sides and top of said electrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said supporting plate. v

6. yIn an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes, a slotted supporting plate extending transversely of and above said electrodes, a .diaphragm woven through said slots to form looped sections extending in opposite directions, enclosing the sides and top portions of said electrodes and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate, said electrodes being disposed Within said loops.

7. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes of opposite polarity, a slotted supporting plate, a diaphragm Woven through said slots to form looped sections adapted to embrace and separate adjacent electrodes, said loops extending in opposite directions, and the upper edges of said loops being closed to substantially enclose said electrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate. l

8. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved' electrodes of opposite polarity, a slotted supporting plate, a diaphragm woven through said slots to form looped sections adapted to embrace and separate adjacent electrodes, said loops extending in opposite directions, and the upper edges of said loops being closed and infolded to substantially enclose said electrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate.

9. A continuous, pervious, looped diaphragm adapted to be positioned between alternate electrodes and having the upper edges of the loops brought together and infolded, forming a plurality of closed top portions.

10. An electrolytic cell vcomprising a series 'of electrodes alternately extending inwardly in opposite directions, a supporting plate positioned in and extending across the upper portion of the cell above and transversely to said electrodes, a continuous diaphra m suspended yfrom said plate and exten ing on either side thereof sinusoidally between adja- A cent electrodes, the upper edges of said diaphra-gm being closed over the upper ends of the electrodes projecting on opposite sides of said plate.

Signed at Toronto, Province of Ontario, in the county of York and Dominion of Canada, this 17th da of Se tember A. D. 1928.

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