US2049691A - Electrolytic condenser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1936.

H. l. DANZIGER ELECTROLYTIC CONDESER Filed Feb. 9, 1931 y la ATTOR EY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Harold I. Danziger, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sprague Specialties Company, North Adams, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 9, 1931, Serial No. 514,331

1 Claim.

My present invention relates generally to electrical condensers, and has particular reference to an electrolytic condenser of improved structure.

This application is a continuation in part, of my co-pending application filed on March 28, 1930, under Serial Number 439,578 now Reissue Patent 19,370.

The general objects of my invention are set fforth in my said co-pending application, and lie f @lo primarily in the provision of an electrolytic condenser structure which is of simplified natue` from the standpoint of manufacture and assembly; which embodies all the requisite qualities which the peculiar characteristics of an electrolytic condenser require;l which operates smoothly and efilciently without any likelihood whatsoever of corrosion or the like; which is extremely compact ,and staunch; and which is peculiarly efficient from the standpoint of mounting the same upon a chassis or supporting platform and making electrical connections thereto.

The various novel and advantageous features of my invention are also outlined in my co-pending application above referred to, and lie in the provision of a condenser of the foregoing character wherein the electrode or electrodes within the container, and all leads and terminals associated therewith, are completely immersed in the liquid or other electrolyte; wherein the structure and arrangement permits the device to be inconspicuously, yet firmly and securely, mounted upon a supporting platform or chassis; wherein the arrangement permits the electrical connection or connections with the submersed electrode or electrodes to be made beneath the platform upon which the condenser is mounted; and wherein the submersed electrode or electrodes are, respectively, supported upon conducting rods which extend out of the container through a wall other than the top wall thereof, and preferably through the bottom Wall.

In the structure illustratively exemplified in this application, the container of the condenser, which is of conducting material and is adapted to serve as one terminal thereof, has a top wall which is provided with a vent and a bottom wall which is of insulating material, one of the main advantages lying in the consequent insulation of each electrode-supporting rod which passes downwardly through such bottom wall from the conducting portion of the container. Other features herein illustrated lie in an arrangement whereby a plurality of submersed electrodes may be efficiently mounted in mutually spaced arrangement within the container, each one serving as a terminal complementary to the terminal constituted of the container itself; an arrangement wherein at least one insulating neck or sleeve, serving as a protective sheath, projects into the container from the bottom wall to encircle the lower portion of at least one of the conducting rods; an arrangement whereby such sheath or sheaths may be integrally formedI upon the bottom wall; a construction wherein the rod or rods supporting the immersed electrode or electrodes are molded in the bottom wall in a liquid-tight manner; and various arrangements whereby the bottom wall above referred to may be securely associated with the body of the container in a liquid-tight manner.

A particular feature of the structure herein illustrated lies in the arrangement of a depending attachment neck upon the bottom wall, in very much the same manner as such necks are illustrated and described in my aforementioned co-pending application.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through an electrolytic condenser mounted upon a chassis and constructed in accordance with my present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view 30 taken substantially in the same direction as Figure l, and, more especially, along the line 2--2 of Figure 3, illustrating a modification;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4, 5, and 7 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken in substantially the same direction as Figure 1, showing further modifications; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form, combining features of Figures 2 and '1.

In Figure l, I have shown a container 14 which is preferably tubular in shape and constructed of relatively thin yet strong conducting material, such as sheet aluminum. It is provided with a top wall iZi and a bottom wall 13. In the form illustrated, the top wall I2I has been shown as a separate element or disc held in position by spinning the upper edge of the body of the container into a bead or rim with the marginal edge of the top wall. but it will be understood that this `particular arrangement is not essential. Regardless of how the top wall is formed or of what it is constituted, it is provided with a customary small opening or vent |24 which is usually sealed by a rubber cap |24 or the like.

Within the container 14 is the liquid electrolyte |25, the upper level of which is usually caused to lie as close as possible to the under-surface of the top wall |2l.

Immersed in the electrolyte is an electrode |28 which I have shown in the form of a spirallywound aluminum sheet or strip, this electrode being in the nished condenser coated with a very thin lm of electrolytically-deposited material. The electrode is supported upon the core or rod 11 which is of conducting material and which may, if desired, have its upper end engaged withlin a spacer |28 or the like. This spacer may be of S-shape or any other suitable configuration, or it may be omitted entirely, its purpose being to maintain the electrode |26 in spaced relationship from the walls of the container 14.

In accordance with my present invention, the rod 11 extends out of the container 14 below the level of the electrolyte |25, and preferably downwardly through the bottom wall 13, no portion of the rod or of the electrode being thereby exposed or likely to be subjected to the corrosive action of the air or gases in contact with the electrolyte. In the form illustrated, the rod 11 is provided with a flange or collar 18; and further down, the lower portion of the rod 11 is exteriorly threaded, as at 80, all for a purpose presently to be described.

The rod 11 is insulated from the body of the container 14 by constructing the bottom wall 13 of insulating material, such as hard rubber, bakelite, or any other suitable composition, and the rod 11 passes through this base in a liquid-tight manner. Preferably, the rod is molded into the base.

An important feature of my invention lies in providing an insulating sleeve or neck 16 upon the bottom wall 13, which extends upwardly into the container for a considerable distance and encircles the lower portion of the rod 11 within the container. Preferably, though not necessarily, this sheath or neck is integrally formed upon the bottom wall 13 and the rod is molded thereinin the manner illustrated, the flange or collar 18 resting upon the top of this sleeve. A washer 18 is preferably, though not necessarily, employed underneath the collar 18.

This upwardly extending sleeve 15 forms a shields for the lower portion of the rod 11 and prevents any sediment which may tend to fall to the bottom of the electrolyte from piling up and ultimately forming a possible short-circuit between the conductive body portion of the container 14 and the rod 11.

The threads 80 on the lower portion of the rod 11 are provided for the purpose of enabling a nut 8| or the like, with or without the assistance of a Washer 82 or the like, to engage the rod 11 and to hold the rod securely in position in the contemplated manner, the collar 18 pressing downwardly upon the upper end of the neck 18 and the nut 8| pressing upwardly against the bottom wall 13.

In mounting this particular type of construction upon a chassis or supporting platform 83 or the like, the rod 11 and also the nut 8| is permitted to pass downwardly through a suitably prepared opening in the platform 83 so that an electrical connection may be made, as at 85, t0 the rod 11. One or more fingers or hooks 84 are secured to the platform 83 in any suitable manner and engage the container 14 at its bottom portion. More particularly, it will be noted that in mounting the bottom wall 13 upon the container 14, the latter is spun around the wall 13 so as to provide an annular groove 15 in the exterior of the container 14 close to the bottom thereof. The fingers 84 engage within this groove and thereby serve to grasp the container to hold it in position.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the rod 11 is molded within the neck 16, this manner of assembly serving to provide a very secure and liquidtight joint.

It will be noted that the device illustrated in Figure 1 is firmly held in proper position, and yet the upper portion of the platform or chassis 83 is totally devoid of cumbersome fastening devices, hooks, parts, etc.; and, furthermore, that there are no leads of any character extending to any o portion of the condenser structure, the connection to the immersed electrode being made beneath the platform 83, as at 85, and the connection to the container 14 being made directly through the platform 83, which is usually of metal. If desired, the fingers 84 may serve to establish this electrical connection, Whether the platform 83 is of conductive material or not. As a result of these advantageous features, a number of such condensers may be mounted in close proximity to each other, or they may be individually mounted in a compact relationship to other electrical apparatus, the entire assembly being, obviously, simplified and rendered more compact, attractive, and eflcient.

The manner in which the several portions of the structure may be associated with one an other may be varied in a number of ways to suit differing requirements. For example, in Figures 2 and 3, I have shown a construction wherein a plurality of electrodes may be immersed in a common body of electrolyte material within a single container. Each individual electrode and its supporting rod is similar to the showing of Figure 1. A relatively larger container 86 is provided with a bottom 81 in the form of an insulating, preferably molded, disc which has a se ries of upwardly extending necks 88 similar to the neck 18 of Figure 1. Each individual rod,

as, for example, the rods 88, 80, and 9|, is associated with one of the upwardly extending necks in the manner shown in Figure 1. The entire container may be held down upon a chassis or platform 92 by means of ngers or hooks, such as those which are shown for illustrative purposes at 83. Desired electrical connections may be made beneath the platform 92 to the several projecting ends of the rods Bil-8|.

Although I have illustratively shown three rods supporting three separate electrodes and arranged at the apices oi' a substantially equilateral triangle, this arrangement is not absolutely essential, but has proven to be satisfactory and eilicient from the standpoint of compactness and general appearance. Obviously the container need not necessarily be circular, and any number of electrodes and supporting rods may be mounted therein in any desired relationship.

Furthermore, the manner of supporting the container upon the platform need not necessarily be of the character illustrated, but where this arrangement is used I have found it to be of advantage to establish electrical connection with the container 86 either through the platform 92,

if the latter be of conductive material, or through the fastening devices 93.

The insulating base 91 serves as before to provide a means for establishing secure and liquid-tight joints, an insulation for the various electrode-supporting rods, and a shield Vor shields for the lower portions of such rods.

Another manner in which a molded insulating piece may be employed in a similar manner is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein it will be noted that the lower portion of the container 95, instead of being spun around the margin of the molded disc, is associated in a suitable manner with a separate annulus, preferably oi' metal, which is in molded association with the insulating disc. For example, the disc or insulating piece 94 may be initially produced with an annular metallic ring 95 molded or similarly associated with the periphery thereof. This ring may then be spun into engagement with the lower edge of the container 96 in any suitable manner, and, preferably, by the method usually employed in can construction. I have illustratively shown at 91 one manner of clenching the edge of the annulus 95 to the lower edge of the container 96. Fingers or hooks 98 may serve to hold the structure upon a chassis or platform 99, and, if desired, these fingers may engage over the clenched portions 91 instead of in the grooves |00, as illustrated.

The electrode-supporting rod pases through the member 94 in any suitable or desired manner, and I have illustratively shown the same arranged in substantially the same manner as that shown in connection with the rod 11 in Figure 1.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a modification of this structure of Figure 4, an annulus |0| being molded in the periphery of a disc |02, of insulating material, and portions of the annulus are shown as bent downwardly in the form of tabs |03. In mounting the structure upon a platform |04, the latter is provided with suitable slots through which the tabs |03 may be passed.

It is then possible by merely bending the tabs, as shown in Figure 5, to clench the under-surface of the chassis |04, whereby this very simple and relatively rapid procedure will serve to hold the structure Ain secure association with the platform |04.

Obviously, a plurality of rods may be arranged within an insulating member in the manner that the single rods have been shown to be associated with such a member in Figures 4 and 5. The electrical connections to the rod or rods thus mounted and arranged may, if desired, be made at the lower ends of such rods in the manner hereinbefore described. The electrical connections to the container may also be accomplished in the manner hereinbefore mentioned, either by means of a conductive platform or by means of hooks or tabs which secure the container to the platform. For example,'in Figure 4, the hooks or fingers 98 serve to establish an electrical connection with the container 96, whether the platform 99 be of insulating material or not. If the platform is not of conductive material, electrical connections maybe made to the lower ends of lthe hooks 98.

Similarly! in Figure 5, the tabs |03 establish connection with the container and condenser and also with the platform |04; and in the event that this platform is not of conductive material, electrical connections maybe made to the lower ends of the tabs |03.

In Figure 7, I have illustrated a further modication, similar in many respects to the construction of Figure l, but illustrating an alternative method of' securing the condenser to a platform. A disc or base |05 of insulating material is provided with the inwardly projecting neck |00, as hereinbefore described, and it is also provided with the. exteriorly projecting or downwardly depending neck |01 which is preferably threaded exteriorly. The electrode-supporting rod |00 is provided with a shoulder |09 which bears down upon the upper or inner end ol.' the neck |00 with or without the use of a washer l0, and the rod |00 is also exteriorly threaded, as at l for the purpose of receiving a nut 2 with or without the use of an interposed washer I3. The nut I2 and the washer ||3 are of smaller diameter than the exterior diameter of the neck |01, so that an attachment nut or its equivalent ||4 may be engaged with the threads of the neck |01 to hold the entire condenser in position. Here, too, an intermediate washer I5 may or may not be employed, as desired, and such washer may or may not have a portion which projects into the opening ||0 in the platform ||1 for the purpose of centering the neck 01' in such opening.

In this construction, the container ||8 is preferably spun around the edge of the disc or base |05, and it will be noted that its lower edge bears downwardly upon the platform I1. Accordingly, if the latter is of conductive material, electrical connection is established immediately between this platform and the container H8. Electrical connection to the electrode-supporting rod |00 will be made as before at the lower end of this rod, as at ||9.

The depending neck |01 is similar in many respects to the depending attachment necks described and illustrated in my co-pending application hereinbefore referredr to, and may or may not be interiorly tapered or otherwise constructed in a suitable manner to permit a firm, liquid-tight joint to be made between the rod |00 and this neck. Preferably, in the form illustrated in Figure 7, the rod |08 is molded in position, but it will be understood that this particular arrangement is not essential.

Furthermore, it will be understood that a plurality of rods may be associated with an insulating base in the manner illustrated 4in Figure '7, so as to provide a plurality of immersed electrodes in a common container, as indicated in Figure 2. In such an event, a series of depending attachment necks |01 may or may not be provided, as desired, and where such attachment necks, other than one, are dispensed with, the electrode-supporting rods are associated with the base in the manner illustratively shown in connection with Figures 1, 4, and 5. An arrangement such as in this paragraph described is illustrated in Figure 8. v

Furthermore, the arrangement of the depending neck |01, as shown in Figure 7, may or may not be employed in connection with a construction or constructions similar to those illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

In general, it will be obvious and readily understood that many modifications and other forms of construction will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art from the examples and the illustrative descriptions given, and I do not mean to restrict myself to any specific form or forms, except as I may be compelled to do so by prior art of which I am not now aware. Regardless of the specific details of construction, it will be obvious that I have provided an electrolytic condenser structure of highly advantageous and simplied character; one which is not only compact a'nd of Workmanlike appearance, but which is capable of rapid and inexpensive assembly, manufacture, and ultimate association Vvwith a supporting platform. Furthermore, it will be noted that my structure is extremely eillcient from the standpoint of durability and operation, the entire electrode or electrodes being in each case completely immersed in the electrolyte at all times, the likelihood of corrosion beingefilciently minimized, if not entirely eliminated, the formation of sediment being suitably guarded against, and the necessity for electrical connections above the level of the supporting chassis being emciently minimized, if not entirely eliminated.

I have not illustrated any sediment in the ilgures, since a description of the possible formation of the same will be suicient for the purpose of explaining the purpose of the upwardly extending sheaths or necks. Any such sediment, ii' formed at all, is in every case suitably insulated and guarded against any likelihood of shortcircuiting the material of the container and the immersed electrode or electrodes.

Furthermore, although I have illustrated the insulating sheath or sleeve and the base of the container as molded elements, nevertheless it will be understood that in certain instances it may be found desirable to provide these members in the form of electroplated members coated with rubber, Celluloid, or the like. Also, it will be understood that the upwardly. extending insulating necks may, under certain circumstances, be entirely dispensed with or may be made of such various sizes as diiering requirements may call for, depending upon the conditions to be encountered, the type of electrolyte, and, in general, upon the amount oi. sediment reasonably to be expected under din'ering circumstances.

It will also be understood that wherever I have used the term liquid electrolyte", both in the specication and in the appended claim, I mean to include within this term the various forms oi jelly-like or semi-solid electrolytes that are customarily used for this purpose.

In general, it will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may' be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ot the invention as expressed in the appended claim. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- In combination with a supporting platform having at least two openings therethrough. an electrolytic condenser comprising an electrolyte container of conductive material adapted to serve as one condenser electrode and having a bottom wall with an aperture therein, said bottom wall being provided with at least one attachment projection along side of said aperture and adapted to extend through one of the platform openings to mount the condenser, means beneath the platform engaging said attachment projection, an electrode within the container including a supporting rod extending down out of the container through said aperture in the bottom wall and through another platform opening.

HAROLD I. DANZIGER.

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