Improvements in Electrodes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Electrodes.
I, CHARLES CUNNINGHAM CONNOR, of 4, Queen's Elmis, Belfast, in the County of
Antrim Ireland, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be s follows:-
It is well known that for galvanic processes much difficulty has existed in
procuring carbon blocks of suitable size and shape and at the same time possessed
of the requisite conductivity and power of resistance to wear or disintegration
when under the action of the electric current; more particularly where such
blocks or plates or rods are to serve as anodes.
This invention has for its object the production from carbon of durable
electrodes of suitable sizes and shapes, the mode of procedure being as follows:
I take suitable pieces of carbon of superior quality and of good conductivity and
power of resistance to wear or disintegration under the action of the electric
current, and I join them together by means of lead, or other like fusible metal
or alloy which is a conductor of electricity, by casting in such a manner that a
good electrical union or contact is made between one piece and another to enable
the current to pass.
In some cases this metallic connection is continuous, either passing through
or surrounding all the pieces of carbon.
I have found suitable, and prefer, for the purpose of this invention, such carbons
as gas-retort carbon, hard and dense coke, graphite and the like.
When the pieces of carlion are joined or connected together in the manner
above described, the exposed portions of the metallic conductor are carefully pro-
tected from contact with, or the circulation of, the electrolyte or the products of
electrolysis by some substance which will be indifferent to, or unattacked by,
such electrolyte of products of electrolysis, under the temperature and the
conditions of the electrolytic process, such as Portland or other cement, paraffin,
enamel or pitch. In certain cases, particularly in manufacturing electrodes of
large size, I embed in the casting of lead or other like fusible metal or alloy
which connects the pieces of carbon, a rod or rods of copper, iron or other suitable
metal, preferably tinned, so as to reduce the section of the conducting metal and
facilitate the distribution of the current.

page_text: and in what mauner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and the following statement:-
It is well known in the production of electrodes that much difficulty has
existed in procuring carbon blocks of suitable size and shape and at the same time
possessed of the requisite conductivity and power of resistance to wear or dis-
integration when under the action of the electric current; more particularly when
such carbon blocks, plates or rods are of large size and are to serve as anodes in
electrolytic processes.
This invention has for its object the production from carbon of dumble
electrodes of suitable sizes and shapes. According to one mode of procedure, I
take suitable pieces of carbon of superior quality and of good conductivity and
power of resistance to wear or disintegration under the action of the electric
current, and I join them together by means of lead, or other like fusible metal
or alloy which is a couductor of electricity, by casting the same in such a manner
that a good electrical union or contact is made between one piece of carbon and
another to enable the current to pass.
In some cases this metallic connection is continuous, either passing through
or surrounding all the pieces of carbon, but various modifications may be effected
without departing from the principle of my invention.
I have found suitable, and prefer, for the purpose of this invention, such carbons
as gas-rotort carbon, hard and dense coke, graphite and the like.
In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated, by way of example, two
modes of carrying out my invention; Fig. 1 being a vertical section of an
electrode comprising a number of pieces of carbon having the fusible metal run
through the same, and Figs. 2 and 3 a longitudinal section and a plan respectively
of an electrode wherein the fusible metal is cast around a number of pieces of
carbon.
According to the mode illustrated in Fig. 1, I make holes a through a number
of small pieces of carbon b and build them up one above another so that a
longitudinal passage is formed by the sories of holes; the pieces of carbon 30
arranged being preferably kept out of contact by means of rings c of asbestos.
Molten lead d is then run into the passage. The distance rings c may be
made of a mixture of asbestos and tar and afterwards heated.
According to the other mode, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a pavement of pieces
of carbon is formed in a bedding of sand e contained in a suitable moulding:
hex f and the lead d may then be run in so as to surround them. A portion of
the electrode (at the right-hand end) is preferably free of carbons for the purpo-e
of connecting the conductors.
When the pieces of carbon b are joined or connected together in the manner
above described, the exposed portions of the metallic conductor d or of th
distance rings c are carefully protected from contact with, or the circulation of,
the electrolyte or the products of electrolysis by a covering g of some substance
which will be indifferent to, or unattacked by, such electrolyte or products of
electrolysis under the temperature and the conditions of the electrolytic process,
such as Portland or other cement, paraffin, enamel, or pitch. In some cases,
particularly in manufacturing electrodes of large size, for use with heavy currents,
I embed in the casting of lead or other like fusible metal or alloy d
which connects the picces of carbon, a rod h, or rods, or wires, of
copper, iron or other suitable metal, preferably tinned, the objects being to
reduce the section of the conducting metal, to render the electrodes less bulky 5
and to facilitate the distribution of the current. This may be accomplished, when
producing electrodes according to the mode first above described, by inserting
the metallic rod h (preferably of copper) in the passage formed through the
carbons before running in the lead; the latter when run into the said passage
surrounding the rod. When the second mode of procedure is followed, lengths 5

page_text: of copper wire of suitable gauge are joined together around the pieces of carbon;
the casting of lead covering and enclosing the said wires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:-
1. In a carbon electrode, the employment of a metallic core in which carbon
blocks are held or to which they are attached; the metallic core being protected
from the electrolyte and from the products of electrolysis, substantially as herein
described.
2. The production of electrodes by joining a number of pieces of carbon by
casting lead, or other like metal or alloy in or around such pieces of carbon,
substantially as herein described.
3. The improved electrode constructed substantially as herein described and
comprising a number of pieces of carbon coupected together by means of lead
or other like fusible metal or alloy run through or around the pieces of carbon;
the lead being protected from the destructive action of the electrolyte or products
of electrolysis by a covering of cement or other suitable medium, while the carbon
is left exposed.
4. In electrodes for use with heavy currents, embedding a rod or wire of copper,
iron or other suitable metal in the lead or like metal conducting medium,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated the 14th day of Santam 1907