US2011638A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1935. A. c. JEPHsoN 2,011,638

ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed July 23, 1934 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 20, 1935 ELECTROLYTIC CELL Allen C. Jephson, Johnstown, Pa., assignor to National Radiator Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,530

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells, and more particularly to cells used for the deposit of metal in sheet form upon a rotating cathode, and consists in features of structure by virtue of which the cell is rendered more effective for its intended purpose.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. I is a view in vertical and axial section of an electrolytic cell in which the features of invention are incorporated; -Fig. II is a fragmentary view in elevation of that face of the anode that stands opposed to the stripping surface of the cathode.

In a companion application of Allen C. Jephson and Ernest B. Custer, led July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,897, an electrolytic cell is shown and described, and it is in and as a feature of the Jephson and Custer cell that this invention has been conceived and applied, and in such application it will be described.

The cell I, conveniently formed of concrete, is of annular shape, and is arranged with its axis in vertical alignment, its outer wall 3 and its inner wall lrising from the bottom wall 5. The'inner wall becomes indeed a post of concrete with an axial bore 6, rising from the botton wall 5 of the cell.

The anode consists of a body 'I of loose fragments of proper metallic material, ordinarily scrapl iron or steel, retained by and between a metallic shield 'I0 (ordinarily a steel plate and preferably perforate) of cylindrical shape, and the outer wall 3 of the cell. The anode is so arranged that the electrolyte may circulate vertically downward through the permeable body of fragmentary material. To such end, the space between the shield 10 and the cell wall is open above (that the electrolyte overflowing the upper rim of the shield may gain access to the space), while below, the compound anode structure rests upon a castellated` step 8, between the castella- -tions of which the circulating electrolyte may have escape.

The cathode and anode, coaxially arranged, are rotatable one relatively to the other; and to such end the structure` is conveniently specically that shown. The cathode structure includes a shaft I3, adapted in the assembly to extend vertically within the bore 6 of the central post 4 of the cell, arms I4 extending radially from the shaft, a cylindrical shell I5 carried by the arms, and a reception band I6 carried by the shell. The reception band I6, of smaller diameter, is arranged concentrically within the shield Ill of the anode, and at an interval froml mediately opposed, and in the operation ofthe cell the bath of electrolyte submerges them both. The shaft I3 in its rotation carries with it the integrally mounted reception band I6.

The shield 10 carries, projectingfrom itsinner 5 surface vand into the space between it and the reception band I6 of the cathode, baiiles, conveniently in the form of strips 'II. These strips are formed of insulating material (conveniently of that phenolic resin known as bakelite), and 10 they extend obliquely, inclined upwardly in the direction of rotation of the cathode. There are a plurality of them, advantageously a large number of them, sixteen or more, equally spaced around the cylindrical extent of the shield 10. 15 So positioned, these strips have the effect of wing-dams, so that (the cell being filled with electrolyte to or slightly above the common level of the upper edges of the shield 'I0 and the reception band I6) as the cathode rotates and by 20 rotation sets the electrolyte to circulating, the circulating stream is deflected upwardly, with the consequence and effect that while operation continues electrolyte in relatively spent and exhausted condition is constantly overflowing the 25 upper rim of shield 10, streaming downward through the body of -loose andfragmentary anode material, and passing from beneath the shield to ow in refreshed and renewed condition upwardly over the cathode surface. The 30 arrows placed upon the drawing indicate the circulating currents described, set up within the 1 body of electrolyte by the rotation of the cathode and in consequence of the baliies borne by the anode.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrolytic cell an anode and cathode provided severally with linternal and external cylindrical faces arranged coaxially and with their cylindrical faces in vertically extending and 40 opposed positions and spaced apart one from the other, one of the said members being rotatable relatively to the other, the anode including a permeable body of fragmentary material accessible to the electrolyte from above, the relatively stationary member being provided with' bailles extending into the space between the said members and inclined vertically upward in the direction of such relative rotation. ,o

2. In an electrolytic cell an anode and a, catho ode provided severally with internal and external cylindrical faces arranged coaxially and with their cylindrical faces inv vertically extending and opposed positions and spaced apart one vfrom the other, the cathode being rotatable relatively to the anode, and the anode including a permeable body of fragmentary material accessible to the electrolyte from above, and the anode being provided with baiiles extending from its cylindrical face into the space `between the said members and inclined vertically upward in the direction of such relative rotation.

3. In an electrolytic installation, a ce1l a vertically standing cylindrical shield arranged Within the cell and spaced from the wall of rthe cell and adapted to form with the cell wall a receptacle for fragmentary anode material, the arrangement being permissive of the circulation of electrolyte over the 'upper edge and beneath the lower edge of the shield, and a rotating cathode arranged within the cell coaxially of and at an interval from said shield, the said shield being provided with bailes inclined upwardly in the direction of cathode rotation and extending into the interval at which the cathode is spaced from the shield.

4. In an electrolytic installation, a cell, a vertically standing cylindrical metallic shield arranged within the cell and spaced from the wall of the cell and adapted to form with the cell wall a receptacle'for fragmentary anode material, the arrangement being permissive of electrolyte circulation over the upper edge and beneath the lower edge of the shield, and a rotating cathode arranged within the cell coaxially/,with

'and inwardly beneath the lower edgethereof.

ALLEN C. JEPHSON.

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