Production of Oxygen and Hydrogen by Electrolysis of Water.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 25th Apr 1892
Italy),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 16th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
Deing valo
Italy),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 16th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 16th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Production of Oxygen and Hydrogen by Electrolysis of Water.
I, POMPEO GARUTI, Engineer of 4 Viale Principe, Engenio, Florence, in the
Kingdom of Italy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The apparatus for the decomposition of water by electrolysis is formed :-
1. Of a deal bath (A) lined inside with lead (a) containing the apparatus and
the liquid for use as the electrolyte.
2. Within the bath (A) there is an inverted leaden case with partitions of sheet-
lead soldered together so as to form a case divided in parallel cells (E) opened
only on the bottom to communicate freely with the water.
3. In the successive cells (E) are placed alternately the anodes (b) and the
cathodes (c) and the partitions of the cells separate anode and cathode. These
diaphragms being of metal, they have the advantage of not opposing any resistance
to the passing of the electric fluid, whilst preventing the admixture of the oxygen
and hydrogen produced at the electrodes. Thus the oxygen is collected entirely
in the cells where are the anodes (6) and the hydrogen in those where are the
cathodes (c). The gases pass from these cells into special chambers (G) which
communicate by a glass tube (h) with the gas mains.
4. The anodes and cathodes are completely isolated in the cells by wooden
combs (I) inserted between them; these combs may be of other isolating
substance.
5. Two rheophores or electric leads one positive (B) and one negative (C) bend
down to the bottom of the bath and connect with the electrodes in suitable
chambers (D) which serve to collect the gas produced on the surface of the
rheophores or electric leads and discharge it by means of openings in cells containing
gas of the same name. The remaining part of the rheophore or electric lead up
to the surface of the water is covered with caoutchouc (6") for preventing any
contact with the liquid.
At their extremities the rheophores or electric leads terminate in a junction (6')
of copper, which serves to establish communication with the electrical current
generator. This disposition of rheophores or electric leads allows the electrodes
to be taken out with the greatest facility without damage to the apparatus.
6. Two chambers (G) placed above the inverted case receive the gases produced
at the electrodes by small holes (F) communicating with respective cells; one
chamber gathers the oxygen and the other the hydrogen.
7. The gases escape from the apparatus and are driven in two gas mains through
glass or porcelain tubes (h) terminating in a tube of lead, and this in order to
isolate the baths from the gas mains. To obtain a perfect closing the apparatus is
furnished with two little cylindrical receivers (H), which filled with water from an
hydraulic joint. The height of the receivers ought to be in proper relation to the
pressure of the gases in the apparatus.

page_text: 8. The water to be decomposed should be drinking water or still better rain
water and acidulated with 12% by weight of commercial sulphuric acid.
9. The level of the water should be so high that the chambers (G) remain
completely submerged; these chambers, should have a height properly proportional
to the pressure to be maintained in the apparatus and this in order to prevent the
collection of gas, in contact with the electrodes where it might be recombined
diminishing the electrical efficiency of the apparatus. The chambers (G) also
being submerged indicate any escape of gas caused by imperfect soldering. In the
annexed drawing the chambers (G) have the height of 20 centimeters and gases
are collected at a pressure of 15 centimeters which is sufficient for many industrial
uses.
10. The solderings of the apparatus, which connect the diaphragms are all made
exteriorly so as to facilitate repairs.
To avoid soldering, the apparatus being of lead may be cast in one or more
pieces in proper moulds or forms.
11. Two leaden handles with iron core serve to lift out the inner apparatus from
the bath containing it.
12. The height of the electrodes may be variable; in the limits of a good useful
work it should not surpass 14 centimeters assigned in the annexed drawing.
The distance between the electrodes should be the smallest practicable.
The surface to be given to the electrodes can be calculated; a good useful
electrolytic work will be obtained by giving to the electrodes a surface of one half
square decimeter for each ampère of electrical current. Under such conditions
there will be obtained one cubic meter of oxyhydric gas (H-667-0-333) in an
hour with 5 electrical horse power.
13. When the distance between anode and cathode is greater than m. m. 25 the
separation of the two gases, oxygen and hydrogen will be obtained (if not completely
sufficiently for practical use and for security) if the diaphragms do not go down to
cover completely the electrodes; it being sufficient that they descend the fourth
part of the height of the electrodes, leaving the rest uncovered. The electrolysis
is then obtained without interposition of any diaphragms between anode and
cathode. In this case for advantageously separating the two gases, the chambers (G)
which collect them from the cells ought to be at least of the height of M. O. 50,
whilst the height of the electrodes must not surpass that indicated in the drawing.
The case (A) containing the apparatus is made high enough to contain the liquid
as indicated in drawing, on the top of the chambers (G). Thus the bubbles of gas
are produced on the electrodes at the bottom of the case, at a considerable depth,
in the water; and they ascend with great velocity. The bubbles of oxygen
produced at the anodes rise into the appropriate cells, without mixing with the
bubbles of hydrogen produced at the cathodes which rise into the intermediate
cells allotted to this gas.
14. This apparatus can be made of lead and its alloys, or of iron, cast-iron or
steel, provided the electrolyte be composed of an alkaline liquid, soda or caustic
potash in solution of about 17% in water. Although it is not convenient to
substitute iron for lead nevertheless mention should be made of this modification.
Im
15. In the annexed drawing the anodes are shewn as of sheet-lead about 3 m/
thick so that they may resist the action of the current and long use without
bending the cathodes are sufficient if of copper instead of lead. The alloys of
lead are equally suitable both for construction of anodes and cathodes and of the
remainder of the gas generating apparatus.
16. Several of these apparatus may be coupled in tension or in quantity according
to the potential of the electrical current.
Dated this 15th day of September 1892.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Production of Oxygen and Hydrogen by Electrolysis of Water.
I, POMPEO GARUTI, Engineer of 4 Viale Principe Engenio Florence, in the
Kingdom of Italy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :--
The invention relates to electrolytic apparatus for the decomposition of water
and is based upon the use of sheet-metal, in preference lead, as well for the
construction of the electrodes, as for that of the receivers which contain them,
and of the diaphragms which separate the said electrodes.
The above mentioned metallic diaphragms constitute an essential deviation from
the hitherto known systems for electrolysis, in which porous diaphragms are used
which have inconveniences, they oppose a great resistance to the passage of the
current, and they let the oxygen and hydrogen gases as they are developed upon
the electrodes gradually filter through them.
Besides this, these diaphragmns in a short time lose their porosity through deposits
forming in the interstices of the diaphragm itself, and the resistance of the apparatus
continually increases, until the electric current can no longer pass unless care be
taken to often renew the diaphragms, which, if made of a textile substance, are
thus weakened and consequently soon become useless.
The apparatus of the applicant is shown by the drawings annexed. It is
composed of a deal case (A) lead lined as seen at (a); this case contains the
electrolytic apparatus, and the liquid (acidulated water) acting as electrolyte.
This case is isolated from the ground by means of 4 isolators (M) of porcelain,
having the shape shown by the drawing.
The water to be decomposed should be potable, or still better rain water; it is
acidulated with about 12% of its weight of commercial sulphuric acid of
60 degrees Baumé; this applies when lead and its alloys are employed. If iron,
cast iron, copper etc. be used instead of lead the electrolyte will have to be suited
to the metal which is employed.
The apparatus serving directly for the electrolysis of water has the shape of a
rectangular case, without cover, turned upside down, so that the open side is
below.
The interior space of this case is subdivided into numerous longitudinal com-
partments by means of metallic plates serving as diaphragms (n), which have the
thickness of about 1. These diaphragms are joined to the walls of the case,
as shown by the drawing, so as to form as many parallelopipedal parallel cells (E),
open only at the bottom, in order that the water may freely enter them and be
subjected to the action of the electric current.
The parallel disposition of the electrodes is the consequence of calculations,
grounded upon the law of Ohm, to which the inventor has conformed himself.
In each cell the anodes (6) and the cathodes (c), which consist of lead plates,
are placed alternatively taking care that the anodes are always interposed between
the cathodes (see Figure 5). The distance between anode and cathode should be
as small as possible, in practice from 10 to 20 m.
The height of the electrodes may be varied, conveniently it may be 14 centi-
metres. The anodes have a thickness of not less than 3 m, and for the cathodes
the thickness of 1 " is sufficient, the object of this difference is to avoid difficulty
from the oxide forming on the surface of the anode which with time may alter
he structure of the plate, and produce folds, by which points of contact may be
established between the electrodes and the diaphragms.
The anodes and cathodes are completely isolated in the respective cells by
means of pieces of wood (1) having the shape of a comb (see I Figure 6), by

page_text: little wooden forks (T) Figure 9, and by wooden channelled rulers (K) Figures 3
and 8, having a longitudinal groove into which the extremities of the electrodes
are received. In this manner the electrode is entirely isolated and securely
fixed.
Two leaden rheophores, the one positive (B) and the other negative (C)
descend on the exterior of the apparatus vertically down within the tank or case
from the water level to the bottom.
Their lower ends (B' and (1) are bent parallel with the bottom of the
case A, and with the end walls of the apparatus, and remain on the exterior of
the latter.
Each rheophore has on the above said bent part a certain number of connecting
arms (O), which are joined with the electrodes by autogenous soldering (see
Figure 5), and pass through the ends of the apparatus, by openings (V). Care is
taken that the rheophore shall remain completely isolated from the rest of the
apparatus.
The above mentioned bent up parts of the rheophores are covered with inverted
caps (D), which have for object to collect the gases developed on the surface of
the rheophores, and to direct them through special openings (N) into cells where
similar gas is developed.
.
The other part of the rheophores, from the bend to the water-level, has an
india rubber or other gum coating (61), so that there may be no contact with the
liquid.
The rheophores end with a junction piece of copper (61) which serves to
establish the communication for the electric current.
The way of arranging the rheophores as above described ensures a good contact,
avoids expensive insulations and permits of the removal of the electrodes with
the greatest facility without damaging the apparatus.
Two parallel chambers (G) at the top of the apparatus, serve to receive the
gases developed at the electrodes, which enter them by means of small holes (F),
which are in connection with the respective cells. Of these two chambers the one
gathers the oxygen and the other the hydrogen. They serve not only to collect
the gases from all the cells, but they also confine the gas under the pressure
required for the special industry; thus the height of the chambers will be con-
ditioned to the pressure which will have to be given to the gases aud this will vary
according to the application.
The object in view is to prevent the accumulation of gases in the interior of the
cells but nevertheless confining the gases under pressure. It will be observed that
these chambers being submerged under water, the gas accumulated at their tops
will lower the water in the said chambers for as many centimetres as correspond to
the pressure under which the gas is confined.
By means of the said chambers, the gas can be used in the different industries
without the necessity of special gasometers.
The gases collected in the above said chambers pass from these, to the collector
tubes through small tubes of glass or porcelain (h) adapted at the centre of the
chambers, and ending with a leaden tube (P), this is for isolating the baths from
the gas conveyers. To render the closing perfect and hermetical, each of the small
tubes is surrounded at its lower end with a leaden tube of a larger diameter (H)
which is soldered to the chambers.
The latter tube is filled with water, and in this way a gas tight closing is
ensured.
The height of the tubes must be such as to obtain a column of water sufficient to
equilibrate the pressure exercised by the gases in the baths.
The water level in the case containing the apparatus must reach
of the chambers G. This condition is indispensable to avoid deposits of gas in the
to the summit
up
inside of the apparatus which, in contact with the electric current, might recompose
to water, diminishing in this manner the useful work of the apparatus, and also to
give notice of a possible escape of gas, which might take place through imperfection

page_text: in the soldering of the apparatus, but the object is principally to obtain the above
mentioned hydrostatic pressure.
The solderings joining together the metal sheets forming the apparatus are all
arranged externally in order to facilitate repairs, and also that, in case there should
be some small hole, from deficient soldering, and that through this the gases should
escape, to prevent the gas from entering other cells, and instead to obtain immediate
notice of the place where repair is needed from the gurgling noise which the gas
makes in its escape through the water.
The apparatus is raised about 6 centimetres from the floor of the case by means
of wooden supports (Q).
The arrangement prevents deposits derived from the impurity of the water
employed from disturbing the regular function of the apparatus.
Two leaden handles with iron core (L) serve to place the apparatus in and to lift
it out from the case which contains it. The surface to be given to the electrodes
has to be calculated; a good useful result will be obtained by giving a surface
of 0.50 square centimetres for each ampère of electric current supplied to the bath,
therefore the dimensions of the apparatus must be proportioned to the current which
you want to use.
The above described apparatus may be modified in its construction in order still
further to reduce the resistance to the passage of the current always maintaining
the necessary separation of the
gases.
Such modifications consist in letting the electrolysis go on between the electrodes
without the interposition of any diaphragm (see Figures 10 and 11).
The following are the detailed modifications to be made in the apparatus for the
abovesaid object :
a) To increase the distance between anodes and cathodes up to 25 to 30/m
more.
and
b) The metallic diaphragms (R) of the previously described apparatus will be
interposed between the electrodes at their upper part alone ( Figure 10), and only
for a height of 36 ™/m..
בנן
Besides this, a small portion of these diaphragms must remain at the lateral
extremities of the full height of the electrodes. The measurement at the superior
central part is 36 "/m, and at the longitudinal extremity is 39 " on each side;
upon the other parts of the superficies of the electrodes the electrolysis takes place
without the interposition of any diaphragm. The reduced parts of diaphragm serve
to guide and collect the gases separately.
c) The height of the electrodes should be equal to that of the other apparatus
(140mm):
d) In order to urge up rapidly in a vertical direction and without deviation the
gas globules produced upon the electrodes, and to drive these gas globules along
the wall of the anode and cathode against which the gas is liberated in such manner
that the oxygen and the hydrogen are forced to ascend into the respective upper
cells without intermixing, it is necessary, for physical reasons, that the column of
water set above the electrodes should be sufficient, and higher than in the other
apparatus (see Figure 10 letter Z).
With the before mentioned dimensions the said column of water should be
approximately of 67 to 70 centimetres in height.
The chambers (G) as already described will also have to be higher than in the
other apparatus, so that their superior upper end is at the same level with the
acidulated water contained in the case (see Figures 10 and 11). However these
indications are not at all absolute, they may vary, for instance the column of water
may have a minor height when the distance between the electrodes is greater, or
when these are less high, and rice versa.
e) The case (A) must be of a sufficient height to be able to contain the necessary
column of water.
The metallic diaphragms can also be perforated.
Such an apparatus with reduced diaphragms will present less resistance and the

page_text: same electrolytic useful work is obtained when giving the anode a surface of
only 0-25 of a square decimetre for each ampère of current.
Several apparatus will be joined in series or in derivation, and this will be decided
by their number and by the intensity of the electric current which has to excite
them (see Figure 7) in which are shown two apparatus connected in tension by
means of conductors of copper (U).
The annexed drawings show examples of decomposition apparatus in accordance
with the invention.
th of full size are the Figures 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9.
To the scale of
To the scale of
To the scale of
th of full size is the Figure 7.
rd of full size are the Figures 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12.
The Figure 1 shows the longitudinal vertical section on the line A-B
(Figure 3).
The Figure 2 shows the transverse vertical section on the line C-D (Figure 1).
The Figure 3 shows a horizontal section on the line E-F (Figure 1).
The Figure 4 shows the transverse vertical section of part of the apparatus.
The Figure 5 shows details of the rheophores with the respective electrodes, seen
in the same position as in Figure 3.
The Figure 6 shows details of the wooden comb seen in the same position as in
Figure 2.
The Figure 7 shows two apparatus situated one near the other, joined in series,
and seen in plan.
The Figure 8 shows elevation and section of the channelled ruler K.
The Figure 9 shows elevation and section of the fork T.
The Figure 10 shows the longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus with
reduced diaphragm and otherwise modified as described.
The Figure 11 shows the transverse vertical section of the said apparatus with
reduced diaphragm taken on the line C-D (Figure 10).
The Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section of part of the apparatus shewn by
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Reference to the letters marked on the drawings:
A. Wooden case.
B. Positive rheophore.
B. Horizontally bent part of the positive rheophore.
C. Negative rheophore.
C. Horizontally bent part of the negative rheophore.
D. Chambers of the rheophores.
E. Cells.
F. Holes for the passage of the gases.
G. Chambers for the gas.
H. Tube for the hydraulic closing.
I. Wooden combs.
K. Wooden channelled rulers.
L. Handles.
M. Isolaters of porcelain.
°
N. Communication openings between the chambers D and the respective
cells E.
O. Connecting arms of the rheophore for attaching the electrodes.
P. Leaden tube which joins the collectors.
Q. Wooden bearers in which the combs I are fitted.
R. Reduced diaphragm.
S. Tube for the issue of the gases.
T. Wooden forks.
U. Conductors of copper.
V. Openings in the leaden apparatus for the passage of the arms connecting the
rheophore with the electrodes.
a. Sheet lead coating in the inside of the case A.

page_text: a. Section of the channellel rulers K.
y. Section of the wooden fork T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The use substantially as described of metal, preferably lead, diaphragms
between the electrodes to prevent the mixing of the gases, whilst offering only a
light resistance to the passage of the current.
Second. The submersion of the apparatus within the electrolyte substantially as
described in order rapidly to expel the gases from the cells in which they are
developed and so that damage to the apparatus may be easily observed and so that
the gases may be stored under the necessary pressure in the chambers G, the
hydrostatic pressure being obtained by the submersion.
Third. The hydraulic closing obtained by the tube (H), substantially as described,
uniting hermetically the tubes S and h, and serving for the passage of the gases
from the apparatus to the collectors, thereby avoiding all need for valves, packings
and other expensive accessories.
Fourth. The means, substantially as described, whereby the separation of the
gases is obtained, notwithstanding the almost complete abolition of the diaphragms
interposed between the electrodes, by the use of a column of water of a sufficient
height situated above the electrodes.
Fifth, The means, substantially as described, of conducting the current to the
electrodes by rheophores B and C with connecting arms O and cups D the arrange-
ment being such as to admit of the electrodes being lifted without deranging the
apparatus.
Dated this Twelfth day of June 1893.
POMPEO GARUTI.