An Improved Electrolytic Trough or Cell.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Communicated from abroad by HERMANN THOFEHRN, of 11, Rue Bosio, Paris,
France, Engineer.]
An Improved Electrolytic Trough or Cell.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Chartered
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of electrolytic trough or cell
in which the anodes and cathodes are so arranged that the gaseous products of the
electrolysis are compelled to mix in the region of the upper electrode in the
electrolyte itself, or in the trough or cell. Thus, supposing that the cathode is at
the lower part, the gases evolved or disengaged on this cathode rise through the
liquid to meet those which are evolved or disengaged on the anode.
According to a suitable arrangement, the trough or cell may be made in two
parts, one of which forms the body proper while the other forms the lid or cover.
The electrodes are of carbon, or of metal, according to the nature of the
electrolyte. The cathode is arranged at the bottom of the trough or cell in the
form of concentric rings, and the anodes pass through air tight joints in the cover
or lid.
An inlet pipe is provided, through which the solution to be electrolysed enters,
and an outlet pipe is also provided through which it is run off, after electrolysis.
The gases produced by the reaction, flow through the outlet pipe under the
influence of the pressure of the fresh liquid, or are drawn off by any suitable
suction apparatus.
A pipe is also provided in the lower part of the trough or cell for emptying
purposes.
An inclined screen or shield is, or may be, arranged below the inlet tube, and
projects inward from the wall of the trough or cell; it serves to divert a portion of
the gases rising through the liquid, and the gases so retained are removed through
a tube arranged for that purpose. This enables the amount of gas reaching the
upper part of the trough or cell to be regulated. The reaction, the mixing or the
combination of the gases commences near the anodes and continues in the upper
part of the trough or cell to facilitate such mixing or reaction.
In some cases the walls of the trough or cell may be utilized as electrodes.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1894.
ERNEST DE PASS,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrolytic Trough or Cell.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
This invention has for its object the construction of an electrolytic trough or
cell, in which the anodes and cathodes are so arranged that the gaseous products of
electrolysis are compelled to mix or intermingle. Thus, supposing the cathode to
be at the lower part of the trough or cell, the gases evolved or disengaged on this
cathode, will rise through the liquid to meet those which are evolved or disengaged
on the anode.
And in order that the invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same with reference to the annexed drawing, which shows a section of the improved
electrolytic trough or cell.
This trough or cell may be made in two parts, the body proper 1, and its lid or
cover 2.
In the drawing, the cathode is shown arranged, in the form of concentric rings 3,
at the bottom of the trough or cell; the anodes 4 traverse the lid or cover 2
through air and water-tight joints 5. 6 is a tube fitted to the wall 1, and serving
for the introduction of the solution to be electrolysed; and 7 is a tube for running
off the liquid which has undergone electrolysis. Through this tube 7, the gases
produced by the reaction flow.
An inclined shield or screen 8, may be arranged below the tube 6 so as to retain
a portion of the gases produced on the cathode 3, this allows of regulating the
proportion of the gases which will mix, intermingle, or combine in the vicinity of
the anodes 4.
The gases thus diverted from their ascent by the screen or shield 8, are drawn
through the tube 9. The reaction, the mixing, or the combination of the gases,
which commences in the region of the anodes 4, continues in the upper part 10 of
the trough or cell, in order to facilitate such mixing or reactions. The tube 11
serves for wholly or partly emptying the apparatus.
As anodes, use a metal or carbon according to the composition of the liquid to
be treated; the cathode is similarly constituted, and sometimes I utilise the walls
of the trough or cell as electrodes.
.The arrangement of the anode in relation to the cathode, must always remain
such that the gaseous products of the electrolysis can mix or combine, as the case
may be, in the electrolyte itself, or at least in the interior of the trough or cell, and
according to the proportion deemed suitable for the purpose of the work and the
nature of the solution subjected to electrolysis.
The drawing off, through the tube 7, of the gaseous mixture, or of the combination
of the gases produced by electrolysis, may be effected either by simple static
.pressure of the column of fresh liquid, or by means of any suitable suction
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a closed electrolytic trough or cell, the arrangement of the electrodes in
such a manner that the gases evolved on one electrode rise and come into contact
with the other electrode, or mix or combine near the latter with the gases evolved

page_text: therefrom, such mixing or combination being capable of regulation by means of a
screen or shield which diverts, if necessary, a portion of the rising gases, and the
products being drawn off as formed, substantially as described.
2. The improved electrolytic trough or cell made in two parts and provided with
upper and lower electrodes, an inclined screen or shield, and pipes for the supply of
the solution and withdrawal of same, and of the gases and products resulting from
the electrolysis, substantially as described and shown with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
Dad h
1