US2012359A

US2012359A - Electrolytic condenser

Info

Publication number: US2012359A
Application number: US487283A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julian K Sprague
Original assignee: SPRAGUE SPECIALTIES CO
Current assignee: SPRAGUE SPECIALTIES Co
Priority date: 1930-10-08
Filing date: 1930-10-08
Publication date: 1935-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1952-08-27

Description

J. K. SPRAGUE ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed Oct. 8, 1930 Aug. 27, 1935.

Jam/ /1 554mm? 1 N V E N T OR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER JulianK. Swami meane aallgnln entl,

Quincy, Mala, aaaignor, by

to Spfll e Specialties zscwm.

My invention relates to electrolytic cells and more particularly to electrolytic condensers provided with a plurality of electrodes.

I shall illustrate my invention as applied to electrolytic condensers used in filter circuits for smoothing rectified alternating current. However, my invention is not limited to such devices and such application.

Electrolytic condensers are well-known in the art and are widely used as filter condensers in radio sets. In such application, it is in many instances advantageous to combine two or more condensers in a single unit. In doing so. the container and the electrolyte are as a rule comman and the container generally constitutes the common negative electrode, while the other electrodes are connected to diiferent positive potentials. However, the potential difierence between the individual anodes may cause objectionable leakage between same. Methods so far proposed to reduce or prevent such leakage have been only partly successful, and as a rule also have the drawback of considerably increasing the resistance between the anodes and the cathode.

By supporting electrodes from opposite ends of a common container, I have succeeded in obtaining multiple-electrode condensers which show no, or only a negligible amount of leakage between the anodes even if they are connected to voltages of greatly differing values. At the same time, such condensers possess a relatively small resistance between the anode and the cathode.

At the same time, these condensers are compact, simple to manufacture and very convenient for electrical connection.

Further advantages will appear as the specification progresses.

The single drawing, which iorms part of this specification, is a side elevation partly in section of an electrolytic condenser embodying my invention.

The condenser comprises a cylindrical container 20 of copper or other inert metal.

The container 20 which constitutes the cathode is provided with suitable covers it and II of insulating material and contains a suitable electrolyte it into which project two electrodes A and B supported by the covers it and It respectively. The electrodes A and B which are of aluminum or other film-forming metals constitute anodes of the condenser, and may be of any suitable design; however, I prefer to provide anodes of the type described in the copending applications of F. Desmond Sprague and R. U. Clark, Ser. No. 416,939 filed Dec. 2'7, 1929, Patent No. 1,958,682, and of Max Knab, Ser. No. 441,128 .of April 2, 1930, which possess various advantages fully described in these applications.

Such an electrode, as shown in the drawing. consists of a tubular portion 8 provided with g helical corrugations which through a conical portion 9 extend in a stem it; the portions 8,

9 and It being formed of a single piece of metal. The portion 9 is provided with holes for the circulation of the electrolyte. The stem I0 is 10 provided with a bevelled shoulder 2| beyond which the stem is reduced. The end of the stem i0 is threaded at ii and carries nuts l2 and I2, which fasten the electrode to the cover and also serve as outside electrical terminals lot the anode, as indicated at 24'.

The cover it is of insulating material and rests on a circular indent ii of the container 20, The cover it is provided with a nipple l3 having a vent hole i9 to vent the gases developed durm ing operation of the device. The cover it and the nipple l8 may form an integral piece as suggested in the copending application of C. Shugg and P. Robinson, Ser. No. 451,029 of May 9, 1930, Patent No. 1,895,738. a

The top of the cover It is provided with a peripheral recess to receive a sealing gasket l1 and the free end of the container 28 is preferably spun around the gasket. Sealing means are also provided between the stem Ill and the cover ll in the form of two

gaskets

22 and 22 which surround the stem and fit in a corresponding recess of the cover ll. When the electrode is screwed against the cover ll, the stem-shoulder 2| presses the

gaskets

22 and 23 against the 35 cover thereby providing a liquid and air-tight sealing between cover and stem.

The two covers it and H are of identical construction; a vent nipple ll however is required only on one cover.

The anodes A and B will be of equal or different length, depending whether equal or different capacities are required in the diflerent sections of the filter circuit.

Between the container and the anodes, I prefer 45 to provide a thin cylindrical insulation it which prevents mechanical contact between the anode and the cathode, but which insulation is provided with perforations 25 to permit free circulation of the electrolyte and thus insure that the resistance between the anodes and the cathode is kept low.

A circular baille plate 24 of insulating material is inserted between the anodes A and B, and u for It should be also well understood that instead,

of a single anode, a plurality ofanodes may be supported from either side of the container.

Various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of myfinvention. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited tothe specific embodiment of my invention, but desire the appended claims to be construed as broad as permissible in view of the priorart.

I claim: 3

1. In an electrolytic condenser in combination a container forming the cathode, an electrolyte within said container and two anodes immerging in the electrolyte said anodes being supported from opposite ends of the container and a separator between the anodes separating those portions of the electrolyte in which the respective anodes immerge.

2. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical cathode, a plurality of substantially cylindrical anodes placed within said cathode and in axial alignment with each other, and an insulating member between said anodes and the cathode.

3. In an electrolytic condenser in combination a cathode container, an electrolyte within said container, two filmed electrodes supported from the two ends of the container and immerging in the electrolyte and means to isolate the electrolyte between the two electrodes.

4. In an electrolytic condenser in combination a cylindrical container forming the cathode, two cylindrical anodes placed within said cathode and in axial alignment with each other, an insulating member between said anodes and the cathode, means to decrease the electrical resistance between the anodes and the cathode, and means to increase the resistance between the two anodes.

5. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical container forming the cathode of the condenser, an electrolyte in said container, two substantially cylindrical anodes placed within said container and in axial alignment with each other, a cylinder of insulating material between said anodes and said cathode, and an insulating baille plate located between the two anodes and within said insulating cylinder.

6. In an electrolytic condenser, two substantially cylindrical anodes disposed in axial alignment and a cathode surrounding the two anodes, the effective height of the cathode being substantially equal to the sum of the eii'ective height of the two anodes.

7. In an electrolytic condenser, comprising a cylindrical cathode container provided on both ends with covers of insulating material, each cover supporting a corrugated tubular anode, the overall diameter of said anodes being only slightly less than the inside diameter of the container.

8. In a multi-section electrolytic condenser, the sections of which have diiferent capacities and are connected to different potentials, in com bination a plurality of substantially cylindrical anodes in axial alignment with each other, said anodes having identical outside diameter and different length with a common cylindrical cathode surrounding said anodes and having an inside diameter only slightly in excess of the outside diameter of the anodes.

9. In an electrolytic condenser, having two anodes, a substantially cylindrical cathode container, and an electrolyte therein, a member of insulating material on each end of the container to close the container and support one anode. each anode comprising a substantially cylindrical portion immersed in the electrolyte and integral therewith a portion immerging from the electrolyte and projecting through the respective member of insulating material to constitute an outside terminal for the condenser.

10. An electrolytic condenser comprising a substantially cylindrical metallic cathode conin, two elongated anodes insulatingly supported from the opposite ends of the container and immerging in said electrolyte and means to substantially separate the electrolyte between the two anodes.

13. An electrolytic condenser comprising a:;

cathode container and an electrolyte, and two filmed electrodes projecting in said electrolyte from opposite ends of said container, said electrodes being substantially in axial alignment with each other.

14. An electrolytic condenser comprising a container forming the cathode, an electrolyte and two anodes projecting in said electrolyte from opposite ends of the container and a member interposed'between the anodes to substantially separate that portion of the electrolyte in which one anode immerges from that portion of the electrolyte in which the other anode immerges.

15. An electrolytic condenser comprising a cathode container, a liquid-electrolyte and two elongated filmed electrodes projecting in said electrolyte from opposite ends of the container and being in vertical alignment with each other and closely spaced to each other end to end, and a member between the ends of said electrodes to prevent direct communication of the electrolyte between said two ends.

16. An electrolytic condenser comprising a metal container and a liquid electrolyte in said container, a partition dividing said electrolyte into two portions and filmed electrodes immerging in said portions of the electrolyte from opposite ends of said container, said electrodes being insulatingly supported from saidcan tainer.

17. An electrolytic condenser comprising :1. metal container forming a cathode, an electrolyte in said container and two anodes immerging in said electrolyte from opposite ends thereof, said anodes being disposed in axial alignment and being closely surrounded by said container, a perforated separator between said anodes and said container and a baiiie plate between said anodes to prevent direct communication or the electrolyte between same.

18. An electrolytic condenser comprising a substantially cylindrical metal container forming a cathode and a liquid electrolyte in said container, two anodes insuiatingly supported from opposite cathode container and two filmed electrodes supported from the opposite ends of said container, and a liquid electrolyte substantially filling said container but shiftable therein, said electrolyte surrounding said electrodes.

20. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrolyte container having top and bottom walls and having the body portion thereof of conducting material adapted to serve as one terminal of the condenser, a pair of separate electrodes immersed in said electrolyte in superposed spaced relationship and adapted to serve as condenser terminals complementary to said firstnamed terminal, a conducting rod supporting one of said electrodes from above and extending out 01' the container through said top wall, a conducting rod supporting the other electrode from underneath and extending out of the container through said bottom wall, and means for insulating said rods at said top and bottom walls, respectively, from the conductive body portion of the container.

21. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrolyte container of conductive material adapted to serve as one condenser electrode and having top and bottom walls, a pair of mutually independent electrodes immersed in said electrolyte in superposed spaced relationship and individually complementary to said container, a conducting rod supporting one of said electrodes from above and extending out of the container through said top wall, a conducting rod supporting the other of said electrodes from underneath and extending out of the container through said bottom wall, and means for making the joints between said rods and the top and bottom wall liquid-tight.

22. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrolyte container having top and bottom walls and having the body portion thereof of conducting material adapted to serve as one terminal of the condenser, a pair of separate electrodes immersed in said electrolyte in superposed spaced relationship and adapted to serve as condenser terminals complementary to said first-named terminal, a conducting rod supporting one or said electrodes from above and extend ing out of the container through said top wall, a conducting rod supporting the other electrode from underneath and extending out of the container through said bottom wall, means for insulating said rods at said top and bottom walls, respectively, from the body portion of the container, and a partition within the container between said electrodes.

23. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrolyte container having top and bottom walls and having the body portion thereof of conducting material adapted to serve as one terminal of the condenser, a pair of substantially cylindrical electrodes immersed in said electrolyte in superposed, axially-aligned, spaced relationship, said electrodes being adapted to serve as condenser terminals complementary to said first-named terminal, a conducting rod supporting the upper electrode from above and extendin out of the container through said top wall, means for insulating said rod at said top wall from the body portion of the container, a second conducting rod aligned with the first and supporting the lower electrode from underneath and extending out of the container through the bottom wall thereof, means for insulating said lower rod at said bottom wall from the body portionot the container, and means for making the joint between said lower rod and said bottom wall liquidtight.

24. An electrolytic condenser comprising a cathode container and a liquid electrolyte and filmed anodes therein, said anodes being in axial alignment with each other and having a large surface area, said container closely surrounding said anodes and conforming in its shape to the contour surface of said anodes, said anodes being adapted to be connected to diilerent electrical potentials and projecting into said electrolyte from the opposite ends of the container.

25. An electrolytic condenser comprising a cathode container, an electrolyte, and two elongated fllming anodes projecting into said electrolytefrom opposite ends of the container and being in vertical alignment with each other, and means to considerably increase the electrical resistance between said electrodes.

JULIAN K. SPRAG