Improvements in Electrolytic Cells.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolytic Cells.
I, THOMAS CRANEY, of 624 Harrison Street, in the City of Bay City, County
of Bay and State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 that class of electrolytic cell in which carbon anodes are
used, and the invention consists in a combined carbon anode and electrolytic
diaphragm all as more fully hereinafter described and shown in the annexed
drawing, which is a vertical, central section of an electrolytic cell embodying my
invention.
A is the electrolytic vessel, B the liquid to be electrolized and C the cathode.
D and E are two perforated holders, one within the other and forming the
intermediate space F between them.
This space F is filled with a non-decomposable porous material, such as asbestos
or other like material commonly used for forming electrolytic diaphragms. The
inner holder E is filled with relatively coarse particles of carbon whereby interstices
are formed between the particles for the passage of the liquid to be electrolized.
This carbon contained in the inner holder forms the anode and it is connected
electrically in any suitable manner with an electric terminal G of the source of
electricity, preferably by embedding the terminal in a solid pencil H of carbon for
the escape of the gaseous products should any form at the cathode.
I extend the anode through the cover I of the vessel and provide the projecting
end with perforations J, through which such gaseous products are adapted to
escape. However, the gaseous products may be carried off through a suitable
lateral exit pipe K, shown in dotted lines.
L represents another escape pipe for the escape of the gaseous products from the
cathode compartment.
In practice, if my electrolytic apparatus is used for instance, for the decomposition
of metallic salts in solution, the same is filled within the vessel B to about the height
of the line indicated thereon and which line is above the perforated portions of the
two holders. Through these perforations the liquid will readily permeate through
the porous material of the diaphragm into the carbon anode and fill the interstices
between the particles of carbon.
It will be seen that in this construction the holder of the anode forms the anode
compartment and the gaseous products therefore will be formed within said holder
and their escape will be permitted by filling the holder with relatively large
particles of carbon and rising up the top of the holder they are permitted to escape
through the perforations J, while the carbon pencil in which the wire terminal G is
embedded protects the same from disintegration. It is well understood that in the
electric decomposition of some metallic salts such as chloride of sodium, even anodes
substantially composed of carbon are liable to disintegration and thereby interfere
with the permanency of the apparatus.
By combining my carbon anode directly with the diaphragm the porous material
of which the same is formed retains the disintegrated particles of carbon from
mixing with the product thought to be obtained in the cathode chamber and
furthermore in forming the diaphragm in this manner, the supporting wall or holder
of the carbon anode forms at the same time one of the supporting walls of the
diaphragm and thus economizes space and makes the construction at once very
simple and effective.

page_text: 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:
1. In an electrolytic cell, a combined anode and diaphragm consisting of two
perforated holders, one within the other, a porous nondecomposable material packed
between the cells of the holder and a carbon anode mainly composed of a filling of
coarse particles of carbon contained in the inner holder and forming open interstices
for the passage of the liquid to be electrolized, substantially as described.
2. In an electrolytic cell, a combined carbon anode and diaphragm, consisting of
two perforated holders, one within the other, a porous nondecomposable material
packed between the cells of the holders, a filling of relatively coarse particles of
carbon and means for the escape of the gas from the inner holder.
3. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with the vessel A containing the
cathode, of a combined anode and diaphragm consisting of the perforated holders D
and E, the filling of nondecomposable porous material F between the holders,
a filling of particles of carbon L in the inner holder, the perforations J in the upper
end of the holder E and the terminal G embedded in the carbon pencil H, all
arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 2010+ Jo
L
1000
THOMAS CRANEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.