US2064183A - Electrolytic device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1936.

R. c. SPRAGUE T AL ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Original Filed April 22, 1932 INVENTORS v BY {2x27 M ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE liamstown, Mass,

assignors to Sprague Specialties Company, North Adams, Mass., is .corpora-.

tion of Massachusetts Original application April 22, 1932, Serial No.

606,943, now Patent No. 1,997,185.

Divided and this application May 8, 1934, SerialNo.

In Canada September 19, 1932 1 Claim. (Cl. 115415) Our invention relates to electrolytic devices and more particularly to improvements .in the construction of electrolytic condensers.

The present application is a division of our application Ser. No. 606,943, filed April 22, 1932, now Patent No. 1,997,185 and relates to certain attachment means described in said prior application.

One .object of our invention is to provide a condenser in which the component parts are of simple and inexpensive mechanical construction, and are adapted to be easily and quickly assembled.

Another object is to provide a simple clamping or mounting'means to secure the device to a suitable base or panel.

In the appended drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a condenser embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view of one form of clamping means.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping means shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional view of another form of clamping means.

As shown in Fig. 1, the condenser comprises a cylindrical metallic container III, which preterably constitutes the cathode of the condenser and is provided at one end with a reduced neck or tubular extension Ii. A seal provided in such tubular extension consists of a plug. i2 0! rubber or other resilient material, filling and extending slightly to the inside and beyond the outer end of the tubular extension II.

The plug I2 is provided with a central bore I20 through which-protrudes an extension i5 of an anode assembly it, said extension being secured in place by crimping the sides of the neck ll diametrically opposite each other as atl3|3, whereby the said plug thus forms a liquid and gas tight seal between the neck It and the plug i2, and also about the extension i5 of the anode assembly. This crimping of the neck I I about the plug llmay be accomplished by spinning, squeezing, and other well-known means, and the word crimping" in the claims should comprise such modification.-

The other end of the container is provided with a circular cap 20 preferably of metal, the midportion of which forms a cup-shaped depression 2|,which fits inside of the container in at 22. The free edgeof the cap 20 is preferably spun over or otherwise secured to the cooperating edge of the container.

For this purpose the container before the assembly is provided with a rim which is perpendicular to its axis, and which is spun together with the cap. After the cap 20 and container III are thus secured to each other, their combined edges are spun downwards over the outside of the container, thereby forming a liquid and gas tight seal as at 23. v

The container is almost completely filled with I a suitable liquid electrolyte 21.

viding for an escape for any gas which may ae-' cumuiate during operation of the condenser. However the band 26 effectually prevents any escape of the electrolyte or the access of contaminations from the outside.

The anode assembly iii which is supported in the plug H by means of its extension l5, comprises a frame ll having an inverted U shape. The anode proper consists of aluminum foil l8 of relatively small thickness which is folded back and forth upon itself in the manner of accordion pleating, and riveted or otherwise secured to the legs of the U shaped member at l9-i9. By this method of folding of the anode a considerable length of foil may be compactly placed in a small space, thus providing an anode of large capacity. At the same time a relatively thin aluminum foil of the order of thickness'of only 2 to 3 thousandths of an inch, can be used as its efficient support, and stiffening by the frame I! makes it unnecessary to impart such rigidity to the aluminum foil as to make it self-supportmg.

To properly center the anode assembly there is provided on theupper end of the frame I! a properly perforated insulating washer 28 of mica or other suitable material which contacts with its edges with the container wall and thereby maintains the anode.assembly in proper spaced relation to the latter. Instead of using for the spacing of the anode assembly a washer 28 as above described, the anode assembly may be encircled by suitable insulating bands 29-29, for instance, of rubber.

$hould it be found desirable to impart a greater degree of rigidity to the anode l8 than is afforded by the bands 29-29, a punched strip 55 of thin hard rubber or celluloid adapted to slip over the anode i8 is used. The strip 55 is provided with two'lugs 56-46 which lay along the edges of the frame i1, and a slot 51 which permits the strip to be placed over the anode assembly IS. The strip 55 is flexed to enter the container 10, whereby the sidesof the slot 51 support the foil 18 and keep its edges in alignment.

It should be noted that the extension [5 is preferably an integral portion of the frame l1, thereby affording a very simple construction. Outside terminals can be easily attached to the extension l5. For instance, the extension may be provided with a hole l5a through which a wire may be conveniently threaded or a metal connecting strip may be riveted, or the extension itself may form a threaded terminal to be provided with a nut.

In addition to the anode proper l8 being of aluminum or other film forming metal, the frame i? and its integral extension i5 is also of such metal. The container l may be of filming or non-filming metal.

It should also be noted that the amount of electrolyte and the disposition of the anode is so selected that the whole effective anode is submerged in the electrolyte in both horizontal and vertical positions of the condenser, thereby the anode assembly is preferably so disposed that its lower and upper edges are respectively equidistantly disposed from the bottom and top of the container, and that sufiicient space is left between the side edges of the assembly and the wall of the container.

The condenser of our construction is adapted to be mounted both vertically and horizontally, or in any intermediate position. a

It should be noted that even in horizontal position some of the holes 25 (namely, those which are uppermost and thus uncovered by the electrolyte) will permit escape of the gases.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate one means for clamping a condenser; in this form of construction the clamping means are secured to the panel or base and become a permanent part thereof, on the other hand the condenser can be conveniently removed from the clamp.

The clamping means comprises a ring member 45, open at one end and provided with two offsets 46-46, punched to hold a screw 41 and its nut 48, whereby the member 45 may be securely fastened about the container 10 of the condenser.

The other end of the member 45 is partially closed by portions 50-50, preferably integrally formed therewith. Extending outwardly from and perpendicular to the portions 50-50 are two tongues 5l-5l, preferably a'lso integral with the member 45. The tongues 5l-5l are circular in shape and concentric with the clamp member 45 and have short extensions 52-52, which after said tongues are inserted through a hole in the base or panel to which the device is attached, prevent its withdrawal therefrom. It should be noted that extensions 52-52 have a beveled edge 53 to take care of the thickness of the panel.

The inner edges 53-53 of the extensions 52-52 engage the panel or base at an acute angle, so that outward bending, necessary to retain the clamp in place, further forces the edges 53-53 slightly into the base. In this manner rotation of the clamp is prevented and such fixed relation of the clamp to the base is not changed by insertion or removal of a condenser.

Fig. 4 illustrates another method of mounting the condenser. In this case the container neck is provided with an intermediate threaded portion 40, the end ll of the neck and its associated parts being formed as described in connection with Fig. 1. The threaded portion 40 protrudes through a hole 42 of the panel or base 43 upon which the condenser is to be mounted, and a nut 41, cooperating with the threaded portion 40, clamps the condenser securely to the base. It should be well understood that again horizontal, vertical or intermediate mounting of the condenser is possible.

While we have described our invention on hand of specific construction and illustrated an electrolytic condenser having a liquid electrolyte, it should be well understood that our invention is applicable in full or in part to other electrolytic condensers, as well as other electrolytic devices in general, and therefore the appended claim should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In combination, an electrolytic condenser and a panel to which said condenser is to be secured, clamping means for the attachment of the condenser to said panel, said clamping means comprising a resilient annulus to supportingly surround one end -oi' the condenser, and integral tongs for said clamping means adapted to project through said opening and to forcibly engage said panel, said condenser being removably secured in said ring.

. R. C. SPRAGUE.

J. F. MCCANN.

Images