Improvements in and relating to Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electrolytic Apparatus.
I, THOMAS CRANEY, of 624 Harrison Street, South 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 new and useful improvements in electrolytic apparatus
for the decomposition of metallic salts, such as chloride of sodium, used in the
manufacture of commercial sodic hydrate.
In this class of apparatus when there is a number of electrolytic cells connected
in series through which the liquid to be decomposed is passed from one to the other
so as to be gradually decomposed, the resistance to the passage of the current
gradually increases as the liquid becomes more and more decomposed, and it is at
its maximum height at or near the limit of decomposition. In using for such an
apparatus a single dynamo generator it becomes obviously necessary to take the
different resistances in the cells into consideration, in arranging a system of
distribution of the current in which each cell shall receive a proper amount of
current necessary to produce a proportionate decomposition through the whole
series until the desired limit of decomposition is obtained, when the liquid flows off
from the last cell.
To this end I have devised in connection with such electrolytic apparatus, a
system of distribution, by means of which the amount of current passing through
each cell is in proportion to the requirements for producing a corresponding
gradual decomposition in each cell of the series, all as more fully hereinafter
described and shown in the drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a diagram plan of an electrolytic apparatus containing a plurality
of cells connected in series for the decomposition of a solution of a metallic salt,
such as chloride of sodium and to which my system of distribution is applied.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the cells in which the liquid is circulated
from the inlet in the first cell to the outlet from the last cell.
Fig. 3 is, a cross-section of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a detail of a resistance which may be used.
A represents a hermetically enclosed tank having cover B2 and divided by
partition B into a separate anode compartment B and cathode compartments B³,
each provided with suitable anodes and cathodes connected by feeders C C¹ in
multiple with the main conductors D D₁ of the dynamo, and electrolytically
communicating with each other through a porous medium E, such as sand, gravel,
asbestos, or any other suitable material, on the bottom of the tank. The anode
may be of any suitable construction preferably as shown, wherein a is a tubular
support containing a body of carbon into which the terminal of a circuit is
connected. The lower end of the tube projects into a cup c which is also filled
with carbon d having a surface exposure with the liquid in the cell.
The compartments B' which contain the cathodes B' are arranged and connected
in series in any suitable manner, preferably by arranging the cathodes which
serve also as partitions in such a manner as to alternately conduct the solution over
and under the partition from one cell to the other, the solution being supposed to
be supplied by the valve controlled supply pipe F and carried off after the electric
decomposition has taken place through the valved outlet F', whereby a continuous
flow from one end of the tank to the other is obtained in series through all
the cells.

page_text: My invention consists in placing in the feeders the graduated resistances G, G', G' etc.,
one for each feeder, and which resistances are so graduated that they about equalize
the respective resistances formed by the cells in their normal condition of operation,
therefore the greatest resistance is provided for the first cell of the series, gradually
lesser resistances for the succeeding cells, and a minimum resistance for the last
cell. The pipe I, shown in Fig. 3 is connected into the tank by branch J, and
serves as an escape for the chlorine gas generated in the anode chamber.
I do not confine myself to any specific construction of resistances, but may avail
myself of any of the constructions in present use and which may have movable
contacts for adjusting each resistance, a simple resistance for the purpose is shown
in Fig. 4, and which is composed merely of a number of carbon plates H clamped
together. In such resistance I can easily proportion the number of carbon plates
required and by the variation of the clamping force I get an adjustment within
suitable limits. Of course the arrangement and location of the resistance may be
varied.
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. The combination with an electrolytic apparatus comprising a plurality of
electrolytic cells connected to permit the solution to pass successively from one to
the other for the frictional decomposition of the solution passing from one into the
other, of an electric generator, anodes and cathodes connected in multiple arc in
the circuit of said generator and a graduated resistance in the circuit of each
electrolytic cell, substantially as described.
TOJE.
THOMAS CRANEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.