Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolytic Decomposition of Solutions of Chloride of Sodium and Potassium.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolytic Decomposition of
Solutions of Chloride of Sodium and Potassium.
I JAMES CHARLES RICHARDSON of 23 Claremont Square, London, N.,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to the present invention, the apparatus for electrolytically decomposing
solutions of chloride of sodium and potassium, and saving the products, consists in
a tank of slate or other suitable non-conducting material, with a closed compart-
ment or compartments for the anode. The cathode or negative electrode is
contained in, or forms part of, an inverted trough extending along the bottom of
the tank, the ends of the said trough extending beyond the depending sides of the
anode compartment in an upward direction.
The interior of the cathode trough is of iron, or other material suitable for a
negative electrode, while the back thereof, that is to say, the part next the anode,
is of porcelain, enamel, ebonite, rubber, or similar non-conducting material. The
electrolytic action at the cathode, therefore, takes place underneath, or within the
trough, so that the gases there liberated, which may have a tendency to rise, are
retained therein until they can escape at the ends of the trough, clear of the
anode compartment, into which they must not be permitted to rise.
In this way, a very cheap construction of electrolytic tank may be produced.
Dated this 16th day of March 1893.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolytic Decomposition of
Solutions of Chloride of Sodium and Potassium.
I, JAMES CHARLES RICHARDSON of 23 Claremont Square, London, N.,
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 :-
According to the present invention, the apparatus for electrolytically decomposing
solutions of chloride of sodium and potassium, and saving the products, consists in
a tank of slate or other suitable non-conducting material, with a covered com-
partment or compartments for the anode. The cathode, or negative electrode, is
contained in, or forms part of an inverted trough extending along the bottom of
the tank (and preferably sloping upwards), the ends (or upper end) of the said
trough extending beyond the depending side or sides of the anode compartment.
In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated, at Fig. 1, in longitudinal
section, a closed electrolytic tank embodying my present invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line X, X, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the cathodes and cathode troughs, detached.
A is the closed anode chamber of the tank, formed with a partition wall or
walls a, depending from the cover to a depth somewhat below the bottom of the
anodes B.
Care inverted troughs, the ends of which extend beyond the depending
partitions a. The interior of these troughs (see Fig. 3) is of iron, or other
. 029

page_text: material suitable for a negative electrode or cathode, while the back thereof, that
is to say, the part next the anode, is of porcelain, enamel, ebonite, rubber, or
similar non-conducting material.
The electrolytic action at the cathode, therefore, takes place underneath, or
within the trough, so that the gases there liberated, which may have a tendency
to rise, are retained therein, until they can escape at the ends of the trough, clear
of the anode compartment, into which they must not be permitted to rise.
Instead of having the troughs C lined with the iron or other metal to form a
cathode, as in Fig. 2, the eathodes may consist of metal bars or grids underlying
the troughs (see Fig. 4), and connected together, outside the anode compartment,
by a bar or rod of the same material.
The troughs C may be arranged horizontally, or nearly so, as in Fig. 1, or may
be set on the incline, as in Fig. 2, where the gases formed next the cathode escape
along the trough into the chamber c, beyond the wall a of the anode chamber.
In this way, a very cheap construction of electrolytic tank may be produced.
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 :-
Apparatus for use in the electrolytic decomposition of chloride of sodium and
other solutions, consisting of a tank with a covered anode compartment or com-
partments, and below the same, an inverted trough or troughs backed with
insulating material, containing the negative electrode, and extending beyond the
anode chamber, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Dated this 15th day of August. 1893
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.