Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
I, THOMAS CRANEY, of 624 Harrison Street, Bay City, County of Bay, 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
escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the electrolysis of metallic salts in solution and my
nvention consists in an improved construction arrangement and combination of the
lifferent parts of an electrolytic apparatus, whereby it is made durable efficient
nd economical and especially adapted for the commercial manufacture of caustic
oda from common salt in a continuous manner.
My invention also refers to specific means for preventing the polarization of the
lectrodes, all as more fully hereinafter described.
.
I, THOMAS CRANEY, of 624 Harrison Street, Bay City, County of Bay, 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 the electrolysis of metallic salts in solution and my
invention consists in an improved construction arrangement and combination of the
different parts of an electrolytic apparatus, whereby it is made durable efficient
and economical and especially adapted for the commercial manufacture of caustic
coda from common salt in a continuous manner.
My invention also refers to specific means for preventing the polarization of the
electrodes, all as more fully hereinafter.described.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation.
Fig. 2 is a plan view.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical central section through an anode cell.
Fig. 5 is a plan of such a cell.
Fig. 6 is a detached elevation of the supporting frame of the cell.
Fig. 7 is a cross section on line-in Fig. 6.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are details which will be specifically referred to
hereinafter.
Fig. 13 is a section through an anode cell.
My apparatus comprises a large cathode cell A and a number of small anode
cells B enclosed within the cathode cell.
The cathode cell A is preferably constructed of boiler iron and is of suitable
dimensions to admit of two rows of anode cells which latter are of cylindrical form
and constructed as follows:
A cylindrical anode of carbon a enclosed in a perforated tubular support b is
placed within a larger cylindrical vessel which is also perforated and has a
centrally apertured cover d through which the tubular support of the anode
projects sufficiently above the cover to connect the carbon in any suitable manner
with the positive terminal of the source of electricity.
The upper portion of the vessel é is imperforate and is provided with a lateral
discharge pipe e which terminates in an elbow f
The vessel o is enveloped first by an electrolytic diaphragm 9 which may be
conveniently formed by wrapping the vessel with asbestos paper to a suitable
thickness and then on the outside with wire soreen which latter forms the
support for the diaphragm on the outside and also constitutes the negative
electrode.
The anode vessel formed thus far is placed within a cylindrical cage ¹ which is
preferably formed of iron bars i connected at the upper ends by a ring as shown
in Fig. 6.
0
The support,b of the anode and the tubular vessel which forms the support for
the diaphragm. on the inside are preferably made of stoneware, and they form
between them an annular space k which constitutes the anode chamber into which
the liquid to be decomposed is introduced through a valve controlled feed pipe !
which descends to near the bottom of the vessel c.

page_text: The feed pipe maintains the height of the liquid in the anode chamber on a line
with the discharge pipe e which serves to carry off the spent liquid and the gaseous
products rising into the upper portion of the anode chamber.
Below the discharge pipe I place preferably a clamping ring m (shown in Fig. 8
in detached plan view) around the outside of the wire screen for the purpose of
pressing the diaphragm firmly against the vessel c in order to prevent the escape of
gas from the anode chamber by forcing its way out between the diaphragm and.
the vessel c.
The anode cells are placed in two like rows along the inner walls of the outer
vessel in such manner that the discharge pipes of one row project out on one side
and those of the other row project out on the other side, and each row is then
.connected to mains n n running along the sides of the vessel. These mains are
provided with connections o adapted to receive the elbow terminals of the discharge
pipes.
The side walls of the outer vessel are cut on the upper edges where the discharge
pipes e pass out and in order to prevent the liquid in the tank (which is maintained
therein at a height about equal to the height of the liquid in the anode cells) from
leaking out, I pass the pipes through packing boxes which consist of a two part
casing p q
Figs. 9 and 10 show the part p in perspective view and horizontal section
respectively, and Figs. 10 and 11 show the part ġ in end elevation and horizontal
cross-section respectively.
The part p is rivetted to the outside of the tank and encloses the lower portion
of the pipe and the part q fits into the part p and encloses the upper portion of the
pipe forming together a casing. By filling this with a suitable cement a tight
joint is formed around the pipe, while the construction is such that it does not
interfere with the ready removal of each anode cell if it should be found
necessary.
The cathode cell is divided longitudinally between the row of anode cells by a
partition which leaves openings at the ends for the liquid' to circulate around
the partition in the longitudinal direction, and suitable means such as a propeller
wheels is provided to produce and maintain such a circulation of the liquid as
indicated by the arrows, such as through a pulley t on the shaft t' of the propeller
wheel.
The cathode chamber is preferably left open for the ready escape of the gaseous
product, and feed and discharge pipes uv are provided at opposite ends to
discharge the product in the usual manner by gradual displacement in feeding fresh
water in liquid into the tank through the pipe u to cause the overflowing of the
product into the pipe v.
:
One of the principal objects which I aim to accomplish by my invention is to
prevent the polarization of the cathode. It is well known that in electrolyzing
common salt hydrogen gas is one of the products formed at the cathode and
adhering thereto greatly interferes with the process of electrolyzing and is liable
to produce polarization by separating the cathode from contact with the liquid.
To prevent this I have first constructed the active portion, of the cathode, which is
the metallic cage and the iron screen which surrounds the diaphragm, in such a
manner that it has a large surface of principally vertical walls exposed to the liquid
so that the buoyancy will assist the hydrogen gas to escape from the liquid, further
I provide mechanical force for detaching the hydrogen from the cathode by a
forced circulation of the 'liquid.
Another advantage of my construction is that the anode cells are independent
units to which the cathode forms an integral part, and by placing them removably
into the outer vessel, I am enabled at once to remove any cell the working of which
is not satisfactory without interfering in any way with the operation of the
apparatus as a whole, and by having some anode cells in reserve I can replace a
fanity cell immediately with a good one.
The specific construction of the anode cell is of importance in that particular

page_text: that the iron cage forms a strong support for lifting the anode chamber out of the
tank by means of an overhead crane (which I intend to use as a permanent adjunct
of my apparatus). In all other respects the construction of my apparatus is such
that it insures great permanency combined with efficiency and economy.
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 :
Dated this 4th day of April 1894.
THOMAS CRANEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.