Improvements in and in Making Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Making Electrolytic Apparatus.
We JAMES HARGREAVES of Farnworth-in-Widnes in the County of Lancaster,
Chemical Engineer, and THOMAS BIRD of Cressington near Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates to apparatus used in electrolysis and the main
object is to obtain more efficient construction of the cells and diaphragms.
First. Porous cells and diaphragms under our invention are made of a combination
of fibrous material with a binding agent consisting of an insoluble silicate.
Second. Porous cells and diaphragms are combined with electrodes by deposition
thereon or there around of substances as above set forth.
Third. We make the porous diaphragms and cells by first obtaining with water
a pulp consisting of a fibrous material such as asbestos and a substance such as
lime capable of being converted into an insoluble silicate by the addition of a
soluble silicate. We find it advantageous to saturate with lime or other substance
as above specified the water used for making the pulp. We then make the pulp
into any required form and separate the moisture therefrom by gravity or
otherwise.
Dated this 9th day of March 1802
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Making Electrolytic Apparatus.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Farnworth-in-Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemical Engineer, and THOMAS BIRD, of Cressington, near Liverpool, in the
same County, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
This inventien relates to apparatus for use in electrolysis, and especially to
apparatus of the kind described and claimed in the Specification filed in pursuance
of our application for Letters Patent No. 18,039 of 1892; the particular apparatus
therein referred to being specially adapted for use in the production of alkalies by
the decomposition of their salts.
The main object of the present invention is to secure a more efficient construction
of the apparatus.
In carrying out our invention, we make the diaphragm of pulp composed of
fibrous material, for example, asbestos, mixed with a binding agent, consisting of
an insoluble silicate, produced by mixing a substance, such as lime, with a soluble
silicate, such as silicate of soda. The lime (or its equivalent) and the asbestos
or other fibrous material are first deposited on the wire gauze cathode, and then
dried; the surplus moisture being separated therefrom by gravity or otherwise.
The cathode and dried pulp are then steeped in a solution of silicate of soda or of
potash. The lime then becomes converted into silicate of lime, which is insoluble ;
the soda or potash being left free. Instead of lime, magnesia, baryta or other
[Pins Rd17

page_text: suitable alkaline earth may be used; the silicate of soda or of potash acting on
these substances to form an insoluble binding agent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. In electrolytic apparatus, the employment of a porous diaphragm consisting
of fibrous material bound together by an insoluble silicate obtained substantially
as herein described.
2. For use in electrolytic apparatus, the combined diaphragm and cathode
formed substantially as herein described, and consisting of fibrous material
deposited on wire gauze, the fibres being bound together by an insoluble silicate.
3. In the manufacture of a combined diaphragm and cathode for use in electrolytic
apparatus, depositing the lime or its equivalent and the asbestos or other fibrous
material on the wire gauze cathode, then drying the same, and finally steeping the
cathode and dried pulp in a solution of silicate of soda or of potash in order to
convert the lime or its equivalent into an insoluble silicate.
Dated the 11th day of December 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.