US912859A - Electrolytic cell for separating constituents of a mixture of metal or an alloy. - Google Patents

Description

H. LAGROIX.

ELEGTEOLYTIG CELL FOE SBPARATING GONSTITUBNTS OF A MIXTURE 0F METAL 0B. AN ALLOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 190B.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Z w I mtuizuu at? T .other compartment, containin UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HENRY LAGROIX, F GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGIIOR TO USINE GENEVOISE DE DEGR08-.

SISSAGE DOR, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

IIJBGTROLYTIG CELL, IOR

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. .18,

application filed Poly 2, 1908. Serial No. 441,709.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, HENBY- LAonorx, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Usine (jenevoise de Degrossissage d'Ur, Geneva, Switzerland, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cells for Separating the Constituents of a Mixture of Metal or an Alloy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electrolytic cell applicable for separating [ruin a mixture of metals or an alloy, used as an anode, one or more of its constituents, either for the purpose of purifying the alley or for winning the said constituents. The cell is so constructed that the material which drops from the anode or anodes is collected separately from that which drops from the cathode or cathodes and for this pur ose one of the electrodes or sets of electro es is surrounded by a diaphragm the lower end of which 0 ens into a chamber separate from the rest 0 the body of the cell.

One form of cell according to the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a vertical section on line 0, c, g, hot-Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is one half of a horizontal section on line o--a of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line bb of Fig. 1.

The cell comprises two compartments, one of which, contaimn the cathodes 1, is bounded by the wa s of the cellular diaphragm d and the walls 11., o and the inclined ottom f of the cell; at the bottom this compartment terminates in a funnel-she ed portion 7c connected at t with a pipe. he the anodes 2, consists of the space within t re diaphra m d and the lower chamber 1' into which t e diaphrag'rns extend and the inclined bottom oi which forms a funnel-shapedpart k con nected with a pi e 1!". An upward extension m.of this charm er serves as an overflow w. Suitable packing around the lower parts of the diaphragms separates the two chambers.

The electrolyte s introduced through the channel 1:, so t at it hasto enter the lower part of the cathode compartment and to rise alon the oath e; in order to flow throu h openings 0 in diaphragm 12 into the top of t 1e anodecornpartment, name! the top art of the cellular diaphragms. he liquid flows downward in the latter, leaving the surfaces of the anodes, and thus passes through the passage {2 into the chamber 1', thence to, ascend t ie extension m to flow away at :6. After filtration, if necessary the electroly e, is then returned to the cell at n, and so on. The heavier particles which the electrolysis detaches from the cathodes fall on to the. inclined bottom f and collect in the pocket It whence they may be withdrawn through the pipe at t. The heavier particles that are detached by the electrolysis from the anodes fall through the passages pinto the chamber '1', whence they separate by ravit from the electrolyte, which ascends t roug m; these particles may be withdrawn through the pipe at Owing to the speed of the liquid in the extension m the lighter articles detached from the anodes remain in suspension and are carried away, they may be caught by a lilter following the overflow.

T he particles collected in the parts k and k may be removed in any suitable manner adapted for removing them at any moment without interrupting the circulation of the liquid or the operation of the ap aratus, and without varying the level'of the 'quid in the cell or agitating the liquid.

By constantly feeding the cell at n there is attained a com ulsory circulation of'the liquid along the e ectrodes, thus maintaining a regular concentration and obtaining a uniform deposit and attack respectively over their whole surface.

In the particular-form illustrated there are only two diaphragms it is evident, however, that there may be any number: the cathodes may also be placed within diaphragnrs.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of earring the same into practical effect,

c aim 1. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer com artment containing an electrode and prov' ed with a pocket adapted to receive materials liberated from the said elec-' trode, a cellular diaphragm forming a second compartment to contain a secondelectrode,

a chamber separated from the rest of the. body of the celland adapted to receive the lower part of the diaphragm and materials liberated from the said second electrode, and means permitting the circulation of an electrolyte along the electrodes from the lower part of one of the compartments into the upper part of the other compartment, substantially as described. 3 2. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer compartment containing an electrode and having a bottom sloping downwardly to l form a funnel-shaped pocket adapted to receive separately materials liberated from the said electrode, a cellular diaphragm forming, a second coinpartn'ient to contain a second electrode, anda chamber se iarated from the rest of the body of the cc] and adapted to receive the lower part of the diaphragm and having .a bottom sloping downwardly to form a funnel-shaped pocket adapted to ,receive separately the materials liberated from the said electrode, substantially as described. 3. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer compartment containing an electrode and having a bottom sloping downwardly to form a funnel-shaped pocket adapted to receive separately materials liberatedfrom the said electrode, a cellular diaphragm formin a second compartment to contain a second electrode, and a chamber separated from the rest of the body of the cell and adapted to receive the lower part of the diaphragm and having a bottom sloping downwardly to form a funnel-shaped pocket adapted to re ceive separately the materials liberated from the said secondelectrode; with means ermitting the circulation of an electro yte along the electrodes from the lower part of one of the compartments into'the u pp er part of the other compartment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY LACRO IX.

VVitnessesz l v LOUIS. H. Momma, AUGUSTE ,E. BONNA.

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