Improved Apparatus for Extracting or Reducing Metals or for Making Metallic Alloys by Electrolysis.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
Improved Apparatus for Extracting or Reducing Metals or for
Making Metallic Alloys by Electrolysis.
I, HEINRICH BUMB, of 5, Oranienburger Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Inventor,
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 follow-
ing statement:
Up to the present time in the electrolytic extraction of metals from metallic
salts in solution it has been usual to employ the surface of a mercurial bath as the
cathode.
The present invention relates to an apparatus in which metals in a molten
condition are utilized for this purpose and whereby, through the decomposition
of a molten electrolyte, metals and metallic alloys are, under a simultaneous
reduction of the same, eventually obtained.
The drawing annexed to this specification shows the apparatus in vertical
section.
The melting pot 6 is arranged above a furnace a. The metal c which it is
desired to extract, alloy, or reduce, is constantly introduced through the charging
opening d to the melting pot in a molten condition and is kept in this condition.
The product obtained is allowed to flow off constantly through the outlet e which
outlet regulates the level A--B of the molten metal. The surface of this molten
metal constitutes the cathode. A funnel f, which receives the molten electrolyte,
dips down, at its lower end, into the molten metal. The apparatus is closed at
its upper end by means of a cover g. The molten electrolyte is constantly fed
into the funnel f through the inlet h of the cover. The branches m and n, which
may be connected by a pipe or such like, serve to balance the pressure in the
upper and lower parts of the vessel.
Arranged fixedly in the bottom of the funnel f is a grating i which constitutes
the anode. The lower end of the funnel, at the outside, is provided with a ring .
The grating and the ring & are made of a conducting material which is proof
against heat and chemical action, such as graphite, gas-coke, carbon, or
anthracite.
The bars of the grating i rest upon a ledge at the interior of the neck of the
funnel and are retained in position by means of a ring made of the same material
as the grating itself.
The funnel is composed of a non-conducting material which is proof against
heat and chemical action, such as porcelain for instance.
The carbon rods p which, at their lower ends, rest on the ring o and the carbon
rods q which, at their lower ends, rest on the ring and enter a circular groove
made for their reception in this ring, are passed, with a tight fit, through the
thick wall of the funnel.
These rods serve to convey the electric current, and, when it is desired to put
the apparatus in action, the rods a resting on the ring & are connected with the
017

page_text: one pole and the rods » resting on the ring o with the other pole of a suitable
source of electricity.
Owing to the fact that the funnel f is a non-conductor the rings k and o and
the carbon rods p and q are insulated from one another.
If the electrolyte is now introduced into the funnel f, through the inlet h, it
will pass through the grating i to the surface of the molten metal and will
gradually come into a state of equilibrium with it. The agitation caused by
the first introduction of the electrolyte will force the cathode surface momentarily
down to a certain extent, say from the level A-B to the level C-D, but without
the lower end of the funnel, however, being at any time exposed, and, in a
similar manner, owing to the accumulation of the electrolyte in the funnel, the
surface of the electrolyte will rise, in the funnel, say to the level F-G, until the
balance of the whole mass of metal is restored.
If, as mentioned above, the anode grating i is, on the one hand, connected with
one pole of an electric source of supply through the carbon rods p, and the ring k,
on the other hand, connected with the other pole of the source of supply through
the carbon rods q, then the amount of the electrolyte flowing into the funnel f
being carefully regulated, a quantity of the latter, which quantity can be most
accitrately determined, will be subjected to electrolytic decomposition in the space,
which I term the decomposing chamber. between the grating and the cathode
surface.
The cathode absorbs the electrolytically separated metal in proportion to the
separation and the gases which are set free escape through the branch 7 of the
cover g. In this manner, on the one hand, the melting pot is assured against
destruction by the electrolyte, and, on the other hand, the gases generated during
the decomposition are allowed to pass off.
The apparatus hereinbefore described is suitable for the electrolysis of any
metallic salt and the execution of any electrolytic work; also for the extraction
of metals and mixing one metal with another, as well as for the simultaneous
reduction of the same.
If, for example, it is desired to manufacture steel the apparatus is provided
with a molten bath of pig iron or grey iron or a mixture of both and the funnel f
with molten chloride of magnesium free of water. The carbon rods p and q
are then connected with the poles of the source of electric supply whilst the raw
materials are constantly poured in. The chloride of magnesium becomes the
anode and the molten iron the cathode. The chloride of magnesium, which is
enclosed within the space (the decomposing chamber) between the grating i and
the surface of the molten iron, is constantly decomposed into chlorine and mag-
nesium. The separated metal is absorbed by the molten iron, the relative amount
of carbon of which will be thereby reduced under the simultaneous enrichment of
the molten mass.
The chlorine given off ascends to the top of the vessel and
passes off through the branch 7. On the other hand the separated magnesium
alloys itself with the iron, by diminishing its relative amount of carbon, with the
result that it is converted into steel. The steel thus produced flows out through
the outlet e as fast as it is produced.
As will be seen the apparatus works continuously so long as the raw material
is introduced.
Owing to the fact that neither the electrolyte nor the gases given off during
the electrolytic action can attack the vessel b it can, when treating cast iron, be
made of plumbago.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is: -
1. A continuously working apparatus for extracting or reducing metals or
making metallic alloys by electrolysis, characterized by a melting pot (b) having
an outlet (c) through which the molten metal can run off continuously; a

page_text: funnel (f) made of non-conductive material projecting downwards in the vessel
and whose neck, at its lower end, constitutes a decomposing chamber said chamber
being closed, at the top, by means of a grating which serves as a connection with
one pole of a source of electric supply and which is made of a conductive material
proof against heat and chemical action, and being provided at the bottom with
a circular ring, which serves as a connection with the other pole of the electric
source of supply, said ring dipping into the molten metal; the grating being
almost on the same level as the outlet from the melting pot and the neck of the
funnel extending downwards to such an extent as to constantly dip below the
surface of the molten metal even when the electrolyte is introduced so that the
electrolyte enclosed within the decomposing chamber and which is subjected to
electrolytic decomposition can always be accurately measured and the gases
generated during the decomposition are not allowed to act upon the melting pot,
substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawing annexed.
2. In an apparatus such as claimed in Claim 1, covering the decomposing
chamber by a grating (i) the bars of which are held in place by means of a ring (o)
said ring being in connection with one pole of the source of electric supply, sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to the drawing annexed.
3. In an apparatus such as claimed in Claim 1, making the neck of the
funnel (f) with an exterior ring (k) consisting of material which is proof against
heat and chemical action, said ring being brought into electric connection with
a pole of the source of electric supply, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the drawing annexed.
1000