IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROLYTIC AND LIKE PURPOSES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Edward Elmore, of 98 Strand in the county of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
RELATING TO ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROLYTIC AND LIKE PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Edward Elmore at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1883.
FRANK EDWARD ELMORE of 98 Strand in the county of Middlesex Electrical
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROLYTIC
AND LIKE PURPOSES
This invention relates to the construction of electrodes for electrolytic and like
purposes, such as the electro-deposition or the electro-refining of metals, the
separation of metals from their ores, the electro-decomposition of chemical solutions,
the electro-amalgamation of precious metals and for other kindred purposes where
electrolytic action so understood is effected. In the electro-deposition-or the
electro-refining of metals a difficulty is experienced if the copper or other anode be
not pure, by the impurities which are present falling to the bottom of the tank or
vessel in which the operation is effected and if such come in contact with the
cathode or negative electrode plate or surface, may stick to or be deposited on it
and thus render the result more or less unsatisfactory and impure.
To obviate this I according to my invention enclose the anode in or surround it
with a covering or envelope of porous material such as flannel asbestos, porous clay
or other suitable material whereby all the residues are retained in the said casing
and prevented from wandering about in the solution.
It also enables the anode and cathode to be brought closer together and this
application is especially valuable in electro-amalgamators, where the slight rise of
the mercury would come in contact with the naked electrodes now therein used,
and place the current on short circuit followed by the volatilization of the mercury
so dangerous or fatal to the health of operatives.
By placing the electrodes in electro amalgamators near or on the surface of the
mercury as my invention enables me to do, less driving power is required to over-
come the resistance The same applies to electrodes used for the purposes before

page_text: mentioned namely the reduction of resistance and economy of power expended in
generating the electricity and prevention of "short circuits."
"
It also renders possible a rapid circulation of the solution on a vibration of the
cathode whereby the adhesion of hydrogen to the cathode would be prevented or
dissipated, rendering the deposit smoother and removing the back electro-motive
force.
For electro-amalgamators instead of constructing electrodes of iron copper or
other oxydizable material I construct them of carbon or I may use platinum or
other difficulty-oxydizable metal and envelope as before. Thus by preventing
oxidation I remove the difficulties hitherto experienced in working such apparatus.
In working such apparatus I prefer to add a small quantity of salt or acid to the
paste of ore or water separating the electrode from the amalgam.
After the paste or ore has passed through the amalgamtor I allow it to settle in
a tank or receiver and when the tailings are settled I pump up the saline or acid
solution for the next operation adding salt or acid as required to maintain the
strength
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Edward Elmore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1883.
FRANK EDWARD ELMORE of 98 Strand in the County of Middlesex Electrical
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROLYTIC
AND LIKE PURPOSES
"
This Invention relates to the construction of electrodes for electrolytic and like
purposes such as the electro-deposition or the electro-refining of metals, the
separation of metals from their ores, the electro-decomposition of chemical solutions,
the electro-amalgamation of precious metals and for other kindred purposes where
electrolytic action so understood is effected.
In the electro-deposition-or the electro-refining of metals a difficulty is
experienced if the copper or other anode be not pure by the impurities which are
present falling to the bottom of the tank or vessel in which the operation is
effected and if such come in contact with the cathode or negative electrode plate or
surface may stick to or be deposited on it and thus render the result more or less
unsatisfactory and impure.
To obviate this I according to my invention enclose the anode in or surround it
with a covering or envelope of porous material such as felt, flannel, asbestos, porous
clay or other suitable material whereby all the residues are retained in the said
casing and prevented from wandering about in the solution. It also enables the
anode and cathode to be brought closer together and this application is especially
valuable in electro-amalgamators where the slight rise of the mercury would come

page_text: in contact with the naked electrodes now therein used and place the current on
short circuit followed by the volatilization of the mercury so dangerous or fatal to
the health of operatives.
By placing the covered electrodes in electro-amalgamators near or on the surface
of the mercury as my invention enables me to do, less driving power is required to
overcome the resistance
The same applies to electrodes used for the purposes before mentioned namely
the reduction of resistance and economy of power expended in generating the
electricity and prevention of short circuits.
It also renders possible a rapid circulation of the solution on a vibration.of_the
cathode whereby the adhesion of hydrogen to the cathode would be prevented or
dissipated, rendering the deposit smoother and removing the back electro-motive
force.
For electro-amalgamators instead of constructing electrodes of iron, copper or
other oxidizable material I construct them of carbon or I may use platinum or
other difficultly-oxidizable metal and envelope as before. Thus by preventing
oxidation I remove the difficulties hitherto experienced in working such apparatus.
In working such apparatus I prefer to add a small quantity of salt or acid to the
paste of ore or water separating the electrode from the amalgam.
After the paste or ore has passed through the amalgamator I allow it to settle in
a tank or receiver and when the tailings are settled I pump up the saline or acid
solution for the next operation adding salt or acid as required to maintain the
strength.
And in order that my invention may be understood and carried into practical
effect I have caused to be annexed to this Specification the accompanying sheet of
drawings and I now refer to the figures and letters of reference thereon marked.
Figure 1 shews an end view of the case for supporting my electrode (anode) and
its porous covering.
Figure 2 a front elevation of the same partially broken away.
A. A is a wooden or other non-conducting frame forming a frame somewhat
resembling a school-slate.
Passing through this is the rod B connected up to the battery dynamo machine
or other source of electricity and to which the anode C is preferably connected by
clips D D' resting thereon.
The front and back of the casing is formed by means of the porous covering E
secured by rivets of the same material as the anode, or else by rivets or pegs of non
conducting material as for instance wood, glass or ebonite.
I find that felt gives me good results when employed for the porous covering but
flannel or certain descriptions of sail cloth possessing the feature of porosity or
muslin might answer the purpose or sheets of porous clay may be used.
The principal feature to be observed being to so surround the anode that the
residues are collected in the bottom of the porous casing.
I may varnish, paint, coat or surround the bottom of the porous covering to
prevent any of the residues capable of being in time acted on by the electrolytic
action becoming soluble or partly soluble escaping into the solution.
Instead of the wooden or other casing as before described I may use an envelope
entirely of textile material.
When required to remove the residues the anode is lifted out and the case
or envelope withdrawn from the solution and carefully washed by a hose or
otherwise.
Fig. 3 shews a vertical section on a a and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the
electrode as adapted for the purpose of electrolytic amalgamation of gold and
silver from their ores.
F is the carbon electrode secured in the conductor G which may be made of brass,
copper, or like conductor and connected to the source of electricity.
The porous envelope H is sewn or wrapped round it as shewn,
By this arrangement I am enabled to place the surface of the electrode on the

page_text: mercury or ore itself as before described I may if desirable substitute a platinum
or like difficultly-oxidizable metal for the carbon.
These electrodes for this purpose may be covered with.porous clay if desirable
but I prefer a textile or felted material as being less liable to abrasion or breakage.
Electrodes constructed according to this part of the invention may be used for a
variety of electrolytic or like operations involving electro-chemical action such as
electro-refining of metals, electrolysis & as well as the electro-amalgamation of
precious metals.
I may for certain electrolytic purposes. place the cathode in a porous covering if
desired.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I am well aware of the use
of porous pots in certain forms of galvanic battery for generating electrical energy
and I make no claim to the use of such but what I claim as my said Invention is:—
Firstly. The application in electrolytic operations (such as before described) of
electrodes surrounded by, cased, or enveloped in, a textile felted or other
suitable porous material for the purposes of retaining the residues within
such covering, or envelope, and for preventing short circuits, substantially
as described.
Secondly. Constructing electrodes for use in the electrolytic amalgamation of
precious metals from their ores and for such like purposes, of carbon or
other difficultly oxidizable material in combination with a porous envelope
or covering, substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof I the said Frank Edward Elmore have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.