Solutions by Electrolysis.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1886.
Complete-Left, 11th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 16th Sept., 1887.
Solutions by Electrolysis.
We EUGÈNE HERMITE of 55 Rue Rennequin, Paris in the Republic of France and
of European Works Pownall Road Dalston in the County of Middlesex Cheunist
and EDWARD JAMES PATERSON and CHARLES FRIEND COOPER both of European
Works aforesaid Electrical Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for preparing by electrolysis
solutions for bleaching and has reference more especially to the Invention of one of us
(the said Eugène Hermite) for which Letters Patent No. 13,929 dated 21st October
1884 were granted to John Henry Johnson.
The object of the present Invention is to provide an efficient apparatus for the
purpose mentioned in which apparatus the proper circulation of the solution is ensured
in such manner that it is thoroughly and efficiently submitted to electric action there
being also provided means for keeping the elements free from deposit and thereby
further ensuring the proper and economical production of the electrolyzed solution.
According to our Invention the tank to contain the solution of magnesium chloride or
calcium chloride or other solution selected is divided into two portions by a partition
through which are passages in which or in communication with which are respectively
a revolving screw or propeller and the electrodes through which the solution is acted
upon by the electric current. The electrodes are preferably of platinum and zinc with
a space between each for the passage of the solution the said electrodes being so
arranged relatively to the compartments of the tank and the opening in the partition
between the compartments that the solution must pass between and in contact with the
electrodes as it is circulated from one compartment to the other which circulation is
maintained by the screw or propeller aforesaid and thus injurious local accumulation
of gases is prevented. In order to remove or prevent accumulation of deposit upon
the zincs which accumulation would increase the resistance and so impair the efficiency
of the apparatus we employ knives or scrapers or their equivalents mounted in a
reciprocating frame or carrier the knives or the like being in pairs one on each side of

page_text: each zinc the knives or the like of each pair being embraced by India rubber
springs or other equivalent means of pressing them towards each other and con-
sequently keeping them in contact with the opposite surfaces of the zincs. Any
deposit removed is by the circulation maintained again. brought into solution. In
employing platinum electrodes it is desirable on account of economy to make them
as thin as possible and in order to do this and at the same time efficiently support
and insulate them we may cast them at their upper ends into a terminal block
supported above the elements insulating material intervening between this block
and the cover of the container of the elements. The elements thus connected con-
stitute the positive electrode. The negative elements are preferably connected at
their lower ends to a zinc bar led to the terminal of the negative electrode
constituted by these elements so connected. The screw or propeller and the knives
or the like may be driven in any suitable way for example they may be driven
from one prime mover by means of a crank shaft, mounted in bearings above the tank
the frame or carrier of the knives or the like being connected to the crank and being
raised and lowered as the shaft revolves. A band or cord passing over a pulley on
this shaft is led by suitable guiding pulleys and passed round a pulley on the shaft of
the screw or propeller which passes through a stuffing box in the side of the tank.
The screw or propeller may be situated in a tube the end of which may be covered
with gauze.
The apparatus described can be used for preparing various kinds of solutions for
bleaching and can be combined with any ordinary or convenient apparatus or vessel
in which the materials to be beached are acted upon. For example the apparatus may
be placed alongside an ordinary "potcher" the electrolized solution running from the
tank in which it is .electrolized through a pipe into the "potcher" and being taken
therefrom back into the tank through the "washing druin" of the "potcher" and
discharged back into the electrolizing tank.
Tain the 1941 on 1986
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the said Eugène Hermite,
Edwd. James Paterson, and
Chas. Friend Cooper.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Preparation of Bleaching
Solutions by Electrolysis.
We EUGENE HERMITE of 53 Rue Rennequin Paris in the Republic of France and
of European Works Pownall Road Dalston in the County of Middlesex Chemist
and EDWARD JAMES PATERSON and CHARLES FRIEND COOPER both of European
Works aforesaid Electrical Engineers 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 Invention relates to an improved apparatus for preparing by Electrolysis
solutions for bleaching and has reference more especially to the Invention of one of us
(the said Eugène Hermite) for which Letters Patent No. 13929 dated 21st October
1884 were granted to John Henry Johnson.
The object of the present Invention is to provide an efficient apparatus for the
purpose mentioned in which apparatus the proper circulation of the solution is ensured
in such manner that it is thoroughly and efficiently submitted to electric action there being
also provided means for keeping the elements free from deposit and thereby further
ensuring the proper and economical production of the electrolyzed solution. According
to our Invention the tank to contain the solution of magnesium chloride or calcium
chloride or other solution selected is divided into two portions by a partition through
which are passages in which or in communication with which are respectively a
revolving screw or propeller and the electrodes through which the solution is acted
upon by the electric current-The electrodes are preferably of platinum and zinc with
a space between each for the passage of the solution the said electrodes being so
arranged relatively to the compartiments of the tank and the opening in the partition
between the compartments that the solution must pass between and in contact with
the electrodes as it is circulated from one compartment to the other which circulation
is maintained by the screw or propeller aforesaid and thus injurious local accumulation
of gases is prevented-In order to remove or prevent accumulation of deposit upon
the zincs which accumulation would increase the resistance and so impair the
efficiency of the apparatus we employ knives or scrapers or their equivalents mounted
in a reciprocating frame or carrier the knives or the like being in pairs one on each
side of each zinc the knives or the like of each pair being embraced by India rubber
springs or other equivalent means of pressing them towards each other and conse-
quently keeping them in contact with the opposite surfaces of the zincs-Any deposit
removed is by the circulation maintained, again brought into solution-In employing
platinum electrodes it is desirable, on account of economy, to make them as thin as
possible and in order to do this and at the same time efficiently support and insulate
them we may cast them at their upper ends into a terminal block supported above
the elements, insulating material intervening between this block and the cover of
the container of the elements-The clements thus connected constitute the positive
electrode-The negative elements are preferably connected at their lower ends to a
zinc bar led to the terminal of the negative electrode constituted by these elements so
connected-The screw or propeller and the knives or the like may be driven in any

page_text: suitable way for example they may be driven from one prime mover by means of a
crank shaft mounted in bearings above the tank, the frame or carrier of the knives or
the like being connected to the crank and being raised and lowered as the shaft
revolves-A band or cord passing over a pulley on this shaft is led by suitablo
guiding pulleys, and passed round a pulley on the shaft of the screw or propeller 5
which passes through a stuffing box in the side of the tank. The screw or propellor
may be situated in a tube the end of which may be covered with gauze.
The apparatus described can be used for preparing various kinds of solutions for
bleaching, and can be combined with any ordinary or convenient apparatus or vessel
in which the materials to be bleached are acted upon-For example the apparatus 1
may be placed alongside an ordinary "potcher" used in preparing paper making
materials the electrolized solution running from the tank in which it is electrolized
through a pipe into the "potcher" and being taken therefrom back into the tank
through the "washing drum of the "potcher " and discharged back into the
electrolizing tank.
"
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we will proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section-
Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a cross section of an apparatus constructed or
arranged according to our Invention. The other figures represent details and
arrangements as hereinafter described-The tank A. (which may be of slate earthen-
ware glass cement or other suitable matorial) is divided by a partition B into two
compartments the said partition having two openings in it the one above being
that in communication with which the electrodes (C) are situated and that below
containing the tube d in which is the scrow D which is mounted upon the shaft d
extending through the stuffing box d to outside the tank A where the said shaft is
provided with a pulley Y. is a gauze cap or strainer put over the end of the
tube d. The collection of olements have walls c at the sides for directing the solution
to and through the spaces between the electrodes. Although the platinum electrodes
may be made in any suitable way (by coating upon other substances for example), wo
have shewn thin sheets or leaves as being employed and we have illustrated our
means for supporting and insulating them.
Figures 4 and 5 are sections at right angles to each other of the upper part of the
electrodes and their adjuncts drawn to a larger scale to illustrate this more clearly,
M are the zinc elements the upper ends of which are received in grooves in the
cover m of the electrodes. The upper ends of the platinum plates or sheets I are
cast in the terminal block K, or attached to the block by means of screws, wherein
there is a holo k and scrow for the attachment of the conductor to the one pole of
the generator. The conductor from the other pole of the generator is connected
by the screw and hole j in the terminal J connected to the zinc bar W which is
extended down and connected to the lower onds of the zinc elements (see Figures 1, 2
and 3) Q is insulating material for insuring the proper insulation of the upper ends of
the platinum electrodes. A convenient mode of casting the platinum electrodes in the
block K is to make slots in the cover m and pass the upper parts of the platinum
sheets there through and support them projecting the requisite distance therefrom.
Sand is then put in to form a kind of core at the parts to be eventually occupied by
the insulating material Q and then the block K is cast thereover and around the
platinum ends projecting from the sand. The sand is then removed and insulating
material is run into the spaces which the sand occupied. O are rods with grooves
in them to receive and support the platinum electrodes at the sides, (Figure 9).
Figure 6 is
plan shewing the application of the arrangement of knives for
scraping the electrodes.
Figure 7 is a plan of the said arrangement separately and Figures 8 and 9 ar
sectional details of the knives the views being taken in planes at right angles to each
other I is a frame in which are hung the trunions or pivots n of the knives Na

page_text: hewn clearly in Figure 8. The knives are in pairs which embrace each zinc
lement as shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 9 bands P of India rubber being passed over
the ends of each pair to press the edges of the knives against the surfacos of the zincs.
The frame I receives a reciprocating or up and down movement the one side of the
frame being actuated outside the walls cat the sides of the elements and slots i being
made in the said walls for the passage of the other side of the frame as clearly shewn
in Figure 4. The frame I is connected by the rods H to the crank of the shaft G
mounted in bearings V and provided with fast and loose pulleys for the band of the
prime mover. E is a pulley on the shaft G over which a cord is passed it being
passed also over guide pulleys X and over the pulley Y on the shaft ds so that the
same prime mover operates the knives and the screw or propeller or each can be
driven by a separate agency.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a sido view and a plan of the apparatus heroin-
before described in combination with the vessel in which paper pulp is bleached and
usually called a "potcher" (R). The solution prepared in the tank A of the apparatus
hereinbefore described is allowed to run therefrom by the pipe U into the potcher R
and is after use taken off from the potcher by the washing drum S and dischargod
through the central tube T back into the tank A for regeneration.
In some cases such as Yarn bleachings or where there is no washing drum available
is used for circulation.
a pump
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :—
First. In apparatus for preparing solutions for bleachings by electrolysis a tank
divided into compartments and provided with electric elements and a propeller or
screw so arranged that a circulation of the solution can be maintained, from one
compartiment to the other and between the elements substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Second. In apparatus for the purpose described a tank with compartments therein
and a screw or propeller for maintaining a circulation of the solution backwards and
forwards through the compartments substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. In apparatus for the purpose described a tank divided into compartments
with electric elements so situated relatively to a passage between the compartments
that a circulation of the solution can be maintained from one compartment to another
and between the elements substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In apparatus for the purpose described the method of mounting and
insulating the platinum electrodes substantially as heroinbefore described and
illustrated.
Fifth. In apparatus for the purpose described the arrangement of knives or their
equivalents for scraping or cleaning the zincs substantially as heroin before described
and illustrated.
Sixth. The general arrangement and construction of parts constituting the apparatus
for the aforesaid purpose as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Seventh. The combination of an apparatus constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and claimed with a vessel in which the solution is utilized and means for
circulating the solution from and to the said apparatus and through the vessel where
the solution is utilized substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
1007