An Improved Electrolysing Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrolysing Apparatus.
We, JULES KOLB, Managing Director of "La Société Anonyme des Manu-
factures de Produits Chimiques du Nord," of Lille and ALEXANDRE DANIEL
ARNOLD LAMBERT, of 10, Rue des Canonniers, Lille, Engineer, both in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved electrolysing apparatus mainly characterized
by a special arrangement of the electrodes the two faces of which are of opposite
polarity, so that all the connections may be dispensed with.
The electrical current sent into the apparatus passes through these electrodes,
which are very much reduced in thickness (being only about one twentieth of a
millimetre thick), at right angles to their surface. Their resistance, therefore, is
insignificant inasmuch as it simply amounts to the resistance offered by the
electrolyte itself, the resistance of the metal plates forming the electrodes being
practically non-existent.
This improved electrolyser comprises two series of plates of suitable insulating
material, such as ebonite for example, plates with conducting blades.or extensions,
each face of which constitutes an electrode, and other plates with porous extensions
or intermediate plates, interposed between the first mentioned plates.
All these plates are properly recessed on each of their faces and on either side
present a species of cup, so that, when applied to or against each other, a series of
compartments is formed wherein the electrolyte circulates.
Ribs which may be of any suitable shape, are arranged upon the two faces of
each plate within the recesses so as to be capable of being placed against each other,
without, however, permitting any immediate contact with their surfaces to take
place.
These plates are provided with any suitable number of openings, say four.
The apertures which are intended to form the electrodes in the plates are formed
by conducting blades of very little thickness, say one twentieth of a millimetre.
The two faces of one blade are of opposite polarity. In the intermediate plates
these conducting blades are replaced by porous plates made of any suitable
material.
The conducting blades and the porous pieces are fixed in front of the apertures
of the insulating plates by means of a frame and ebonite pegs.
In the thickness of the plates having the conducting blades or extensions there
are provided channels. The lower channels serve for admitting the liquids, while
the upper channels serve to discharge the liquids.
Of these channels (both lower and upper) some terminate at the front and some
in the rear of the inner partitions formed by the insulating plates and separate
the several compartments from each other. Thus the liquid entering the apparatus
on one side can only leave it again on the other side:
.
All these channels are connected with, or branch off from, a main conduit or
collector.

page_text: Each plate is provided with two apertures at the top, forming two continuous
channels, when these plates are in juxtaposition, and enabling the gases which are
generated during the electrolytic process on each side of the conducting plates, to
be collected. For this purpose one of the conduits or channels communicates with
all the compartments situated in front of the conducting blades appertaining to
each plate having conducting blades while the other is similarly connected with
all the compartments in the rear thereof.
The pipes are joined to the said conduits so as to collect the gases as they
escape and to conduct them to a convenient epot.
The plates also carry at their lower part two apertures, forming two continuous
conduits or channels, when such plates are arranged against each other. The two
channels enable air to be forced into one of the two series of compartments, when
the operation requires this. For this purpose the said channels are connected with.
each other by channels provided within each plate having conducting blades or
extensions and terminating within the said compartments by means of small
conduits.
It will be understood that we may also force air into the two series of
compartments by providing channels within the plates or by any other suitable
arrangement.
All these plates are kept close to each other by frames, connected with each
other by rods. One of these frames, is stationary, and the other movable or
adjustable and adapted to receive pressure from the end of the screw bolt, which is
operated by means of a hand wheel and traverses the flange forming a nut. The
stationary frame and the flange are retained in position by nuts which carry
tie-rods at their ends. These plates may, however, be retained one against the
other in any other suitable manner.
The two terminal plates whereon the conductors are secured are entirely
insulated from the frames by solid plates of insulating material such as ebonite.
In each terminal plate the current supplying wire is connected to the four
conducting blades.
The operation of the improved arrangement is extremely simple.
The plates are arranged close together but in such a manner that a porous plate
or blade may be interposed between every two conducting plates or blades. When
an electrical current is turned on, one of the surfaces of each conducting blade
forms an electrode, as before stated, while the other forms an electrode of opposite
polarity.
The liquids which enter through the lower channels issue through the opposite
upper channels, thus separating the electro-positive liquid ions from the electro-
negative liquid ions. In the same way the gases evolved during the electrolytic
process rise to the top of each compartment and are carried away through one or
the other of the conduits, according as they are electro-positive or electro-negative.
Where the operation requires it, air may be forced in through the suitable
conduits.
It will be understood that as many plates may be arranged in juxtaposition as
may be desired. This improved apparatus enables, however, a very considerable.
yield to be obtained by means of an extremely compact arrangement and by the
aid of but a small quantity of liquid.
As above specified the electrodes are operative on both sides, therefore, requiring
no additional connections.
Furthermore, the operation of the improved arrangement being continuous, the
electrical current passes through the electrodes at right angles to their surfaces;
and as the electrodes are very limited in thickness, it follows that the resistance is
insignificant since it only amounts to the resistance of the liquid (the resistance of
the conducting blades being practically nil.).
Should an accident occur in one of the plates, such plate may be removed and
replaced very quickly and without causing any interruption in the operation of the
electrolyser.

page_text: It will be understood that the electrolyser may be of any size and that the
details of the arrangement may vary according to requirements.
Dated this 27th day of July 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, Loudon, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
An improved Mectrolysing Apparatus.
We, JULES KOLB, Managing Director of "La Societe Anonyme des Manu-
factures de Produits Chimiques du Nord," of Lille, and ALEXANDRE DANIEL
ARNOLD LAMBERT, of 10 Rue des Canonniers, Lille, Engineer, both in the
Republic of France, 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 electrolysing apparatus mainly characterized
by a special arrangement of the electrodes the two faces of which are of opposite
polarity, so that all the connections may be dispensed with.
The electric current sent into the apparatus passes through these electrodes,
which are very reduced in thickness (being only about one twentieth of a millimetre
thick), at right angles to their surface. Their resistance, therefore, is insignificant
inasmuch as it simply amounts to the resistance offered by the electrolyte itself, the
resistance of the metal plates forming the electrodes being practically non-existent.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which one form of the improved apparatus is shown by way of example
only:
Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the conducting plates with extensions forming
electrodes;
Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the plates with porous extensions or additional
plates interposed between the electrodes."
Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus, part of which is shown in
vertical section on line 1-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus including two horizontal sections taken in
different planes, viz.: one along the line 3-4 and the other along the line 5-6.
Like letters refer to like parts in all figures.
This improved electrolyser comprises two series of plates of suitable insulating
material, such as ebonite for example: the plates a with conducting blades or
extensions, each face of which constitutes an electrode, and other plates 6 with
porous extensions or intermediate plates, interposed between the first mentioned
plates.
All these plates are properly recessed on each of their faces and on either side
present a species of cup, as shown in the drawings, so that, when applied to or
against each other, a series of compartments is formed wherein the electrolyte
circulates.
Ribs c which may be of any suitable shape, are arranged upon the two faces of
each plate within the recesses so as to be capable of being placed against each
other, without, however, permitting any immediate contact with their surfaces to
take place.
These plates are provided with any suitable number of openings, say four as
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The apertures which are intended to form the
electrodes in the plates are formed by conducting blades d of very little thickness,
say one twentieth of a millimetre. The two faces of one blade are of opposite
polarity. In the intermediate plates these conducting blades are replaced by
porous plates made of any suitable material.

page_text: The conducting blades d and the porous pieces e are fixed in front of the
apertures of the insulating plates a and b by means of a frame f and ebonite
pegs g.
In the thickness of the plates having the conducting blades or extensions a
there are provided channels h h¹ and ¹. The lower channels h¹ serve for
admitting the liquids while the upper channels i¹ serve to discharge the liquids.
Of these channels, (both lower and upper), some terminate at the front and some
in the rear of the inner partitions formed by the insulating plates and separating
the several compartments from each other as shown in the horizontal sections of
Figure 4, taken, respectively, along the axis of the lower and upper channels.
Thus the liquid entering the apparatus on one side can only leave it again on the
other side.
All these channels are connected with, or branch off from, a main conduit or
collector.
Each plate is provided with two apertures ; at the top, forming two continuous
channels, when these plates are in juxtaposition, and enabling the gases which are
generated during the electrolytic process ou each side of the conducting plates, to
be collected. For this purpose one of the conduits or channels communicates with
all the compartments situated in front of the conducting blades appertaining to
each plate a having conducting blades while the other is similarly connected with
all the compartments in the rear thereof.
The pipes are joined to the said conduits j so as to collect the gases as they
escape and to conduct them to a convenient spot.
The plates a and b also carry at their lower part two apertures k, forming two
continuous conduits or channels, when such plates are arranged against each other.
The two channels k enable air to be forced into one of the two series of compart-
ments, when the operation requires this. For this purpose the said channels k
are connected with each other by channels provided within each plate having
conducting blades or extensions a and terminating within the said compartments by
means of small conduits m.
It will be understood that we may also force air into the two series of compartments
by providing channels within the plates a and b or by any other suitable arrangement.
All these plates are kept close to each other by frames n and o, connected with
each other by rods p. One of these frames n is stationary, and the other o,
movable or adjustable and adapted to receive pressure from the end of the screw
bolt which is operated by means of a hand wheel r and traverses the flange s
forming a nut. The stationary frame n and the bridge pieces are retained in
position by nuts t which carry tie-rods p at their ends. These plates may, however,
be retained one against the other in any other suitable manner.
The two terminal plates whereon the conductors are secured are entirely insulated
from the frames n and o by solid plates u of insulating material such as ebonite.
In each terminal plate the current supplying wire is connected to the four
conducting blades.
The operation of the improved arrangement is extremely simple.
The plates a and b are arranged close together but in such a manner that a
porous plate or blade may be interposed between every two conducting plates or
blades. When an electrical current is turned on, one of the surfaces of each
conducting blade forms an electrode, as before stated, while the other forms an
electrode of opposite polarity.
The liquids which enter through the lower channels issue through the upper
channels i, while those which enter through the channels h¹, issue through thus
separating the electro-positive liquid ions from the electro-negative liquid ions.
In the same way the gases evolved during the electrolytic process rise to the top of
each compartment and are carried away through one or the other of the conduits ;,
according as they are electro-positive or electro-negative.
Where the operation requires it, air may be forced in through the suitable
conduits k.

page_text: It will be understood that as many plates may be arranged in juxtaposition as
may be desired. This improved apparatus enables, however, a very considerable
yield to be obtained by means of an extremely compact arrangement and by the aid
of but a small quantity of liquid.
As above specified the electrodes are operative on both sides, therefore, requiring
no additional connections.
Furthermore, the operation of the improved arrangement being continuous, the
electrical current passes through the electrodes at right angles to their surfaces;
and as the electrodes are very limited in thickness, it follows that the resistance is
insignificant since it only amounts to the resistance of the liquid (the resistance of
the conducting blades being practically nil.).
Should an accident occur in one of the plates, such plate may be removed and
replaced very quickly and without causing any interruption in the operation of the
electrolyser.
It will be understood that the electrolyser may be of any size and that the details
of the arrangement may be varied according to requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
laim is :-
An improved electrolyser characterized by the following main features:
1. The arrangement of plates carrying conducting blades the two faces of
which are of opposite polarity, whereby the employment of conductors is avoided.
2. The arrangement of plates carrying porous blades and intended to be interposed
between the plates provided with conducting blades.
3. The general arrangement of the apparatus formed by the juxtaposition of
plates which may be alternately either conducting or porous, forming compartments
provided with passages for the circulation of the electrolyte and for the separation
of the liquid ions from the gaseous ions.
All substantially as and for the purpose specified and illustrated in the drawings.
Deted this 2nd day of Anil 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.