Year: 1896

page_text: [A communication from the ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIE AKTIEN GESELLSCHAFT, of
Neuhausen, Switzerland.]
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
In electrolytic apparatus heretofore usually employed, especially in the so called
sodium-furnaces, the collecting of the metal produced by the electrolysis is some-
what difficult because the kathodes are universally of rectangular shape and dip
relatively deep into the electrolyte, so that there is no suitable collecting-surface
for the small globules of alkaling metal that float about here and there between
the electrodes on the surface of the electrolyte.
Now the present invention relates to improvements which have for object to
effect the collection of these small globules of metal at the kathodes and to enable
the said globules to be more easily removed.
For this purpose there are employed as kathodes, negative metal-electrodes which
are rounded off or more or less tapered or sharpened towards the electrolyte, into
which they dip with only a comparatively small portion of this rounded or tapered
part. Further for the purpose of obviating the oxidation of the alkaline metal
that collects at these kathodes, there is provided an arrangement such that the
anodes are surrounded each by a suitable insulated casing which prevents the
oxygen that settles upon them, from reaching the kathodes. Also, for the purpose
of facilitating the removal of the alkaline metal that has collected at the kathodes,
the latter are made vertically adjustable, or arranged so as to be capable of being
removed from the molten electrolyte by means of a pendulating movement.
These improvements are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows an apparatus in which the electrodes are arranged in rows that is
to say in such a manner that a positive electrode or anode is situated next to each
negative electrode or kathode; and
Fig. 2 shows a cross section through this apparatus, the kathode being shown
broken off;
Fig. 3 shows an apparatus with the kathodes grouped circularly around a central
anode;
Fig. 4 is a plan thereof, and
Fig. 5 is a similar view, but partly in horizontal section.
Fig. 6 shows a single kathode in its position relatively to the electrolyte-that
is to say the manner of its immersion in the latter-on an enlarged scale; and
Fig. 7 shows in section a vessel for collecting, or filling with, the globules of
alkaline metal.

page_text: The cast iron or wrought iron basin a serves for the reception of the caustic
alkalies, and is mounted over a wood or coal fire for melting the said alkalies to
form the electrolyte. The molten electrolyte fills the basin up to a determined
level, and molten electrolyte is added from time to time according to requirements
so as to maintain the said level. The metal kathodes b are rounded, tapered or
sharpened at their lower edge or surface which is turned towards the electrolyte,
and are adjusted with reference to the latter so as to dip with only a comparatively
In this way they can
small portion of this rounded, tapered, or sharpened part."
be employed also as collectors for the metal globules that are formed during the
electrolysis; these globules float upon the molten electrolyte and gradually adhere
in portions of a size about as large as five-shilling pieces to the kathodes. The
anodes c are each surrounded by a protective casing which prevents the oxygen
formed around the anodes from passing to the negative electrodes or kathodes, and
from possibly re-oxidizing the metal that has already been once reduced. This
casing is so constructed as to direct the oxygen immediately upwards. The pro-
tective casing d is fixed by means of a layer of asbestos e on the anode, and dips
to about the same depth as the anode itself into the molten electrolyte. Anodes
and kathodes may be made of elongated or oblong or wholly round metal-bodies.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the negative and positive electrodes are shown as arranged
next to one another in alternate order in rows on beams ff', which are carried
over the basin and are suitably supported at their ends. The anodes are fixed
t: the beam f', and the kathodes are fixed to the beam f. In order to facilitate
the removal of the metal that collects on the kathodes, the arrangement is such
that the said parts are adapted to be raised and lowered or taken out of the bath
(preferably each one separately) by means of suitable devices (not shown). Instead
of a device for moving the kathodes in a vertical direction, there may be employed
a device of which one arrangement, given by way of example, is shown in con-
nexion with the apparatus represented in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive and with which
the kathodes are removed from the molten mass by means of a pendulating motion.
The metal that adheres to the kathodes may be removed if desired by means of a
hook-shaped scraper, and then removed from the electrolyte by means of a spoon
and poured into a suitable collecting-vessel. Fig. 7 illustrates by way of example a
suitable collecting vessel. The vessel is cylindrical in its upper part, and tapers
conically in its lower part: it is provided in its bottom with a central hole 7 which
can be closed by means of a suitable device such as, for example, a pin k having a
conical point. Any electrolyte that may have been removed along with the metal
or have remained adhering thereto can become separated automatically in this
vessel, because the specifically heavier electrolyte sinks, whilst the metal floats
on the top thereof; so that on opening the hole the electrolyte can flow out
separately and be poured back into the bath.
The collecting-vessel is provided at a suitable place with a handle m to facilitate
the holding thereof by hand when in use. Whilst temporarily not in use-that
is to say, when the vessel is only partly full of metal and none is actually being
collected the vessel is held in the bath-that is to say, in the electrolyte-for the
purpose of preventing the cooling of the metal that has already been collected,
and preferably by means of some device for supporting the handle m. During use,
or as soon as fresh metal is poured in, the vessel is lifted by hand out of the bath,
in order that the discharge of the electrolyte collected with the metal may be
observed and controlled so as to prevent the metal from flowing out when the
electrolyte has completely run out of the vessel, in which case the hole must be
closed at once. When the collecting-vessel is full of metal, the latter can be run
into moulds, in which it is allowed to cool.
Dated this 92nd day of Santember 1896
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
[A communication from abroad from the ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIE AKTIEN
GESELLSCHAFT, of Neuhausen, Switzerland.]
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
In the electrolytic apparatus heretofore usually employed for obtaining light
metals especially in those for obtaining sodium, the collecting of the metal produced
by the electrolysis is somewhat difficult if the kathodes, as hitherto usual dip
comparatively deep into the electrolyte. The globules of metal that are formed
are then, whilst rising, driven away from the kathodes by the simultaneously
produced gases (e.g. hydrogen in the case of the electrolysis of caustic soda), and
become partially absorbed by the electrolyte, and are collected with difficulty on
account of their small size.
The present invention relates to improvements which have for objects to cause
the small globules of metal to cling to the kathodes and to enable the said globules
to be more easily removed. To attain these ends the adhesion to the kathodes of
the electrolyte and the globules of metal formed, is rendered as great as possible
by making the kathodes of suitable form and immersing them only slightly
in the electrolyte. Now in, the case of a vertical surface dipping into the
electrolyte this adhesion is small, whereas in the case of a surface over-
hanging the surface of the electrolyte at an acute angle this adhesion is
much greater.
According to this invention, therefore, there are employed
metal kathodes which are rounded off or more or less tapered or sharpened
towards the electrolyte, into which they dip with only a portion of their rounded,
tapered, or sharpened parts, whereby it is ensured that the globules of metal will
no longer be driven away from the kathodes but will remain clinging thereto at
their adhesion-places. Further, for the purpose of obviating the oxidation of
the alkaline metal that collects at these kathodes, there is provided an arrange-
ment such that the anodes are each surrounded by a suitable insulated casing
which prevents the oxygen that settles upon them from reaching the kathodes.
Also, for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the alkaline metal that has
collected at the kathodes, the latter are made vertically adjustable.
These improvements are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows an apparatus in which the electrodes are arranged in rows-that
is to say, in such a manner that a positive electrode or anode is situated next to
each negative electrode or kathode, and Fig. 2 shows a cross section through this
apparatus a part only of the kathode being shown.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 each show, by way of example, and to a larger scale than
Figs. 1 and 2, a single kathode in its position in relation to the electrolyte-that
is to say the manner of its immersion in the latter-Fig. 7 shows, in section, an
appliance for collecting globules of alkaline metal.
The cast-iron or wrought-iron basin (Figs. 1 and 2) serves for the reception
of the caustic alkali to be electrolysed, and is mounted over a wood or coal fire
for melting the said alkalies. The molten electrolyte thus formed fills the basin
up to a determined level a', and molten electrolyte is added from time to time
according to requirements so as to maintain the surface of the electrolyte at the

page_text: said level. The metal kathodes bare rounded (as shown in Figs. 3 and 5) or
tapered or sharpened (as shown in Figs. 4 and 6) at their lower edge or surface
which is turned towards the electrolyte, and are adjusted with reference to the
latter so as to dip therein with only a comparatively small portion of this rounded,
tapered or sharpened part. In this way they can be employed also as collectors for
the metal globules that are formed during the electrolysis: these globules float
upon the molten electrolyte and gradually adhere to the kathodes in portions about
as large as five-shilling pieces.
The anodes c are each surrounded by a protective casing. which prevents the
oxygen formed around the anodes from passing to the negative electrodes or
kathodes, and from possibly re-oxydizing the metal that has already been once
reduced.. This casing is so constructed as to direct the oxygen immediately
upwards. The protective casing d is fixed by means of a layer of asbestos e on
the anode, and dips to about the same depth as the anode itself into the molten
electrolyte.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the negative and positive electrodes are shown as arranged
next to one another in alternate order in rows on beams ff', which are carried
over the basin and are suitably supported at their ends. The anodes are fixed to
the beam f', and the kathodes are fixed to the beam f. In order to facilitate the
removal of the metal that collects on the kathodes, the arrangement is such that
the said parts are adapted to be, raised and lowered or taken out of the bath
(preferably each one separately) by means of suitable devices (not shown). The
metal that adheres to the kathodes may be detached, if desired, by means of a
hook-shaped scraper, and then removed from the electrolyte by means of a spoon
and poured into a suitable collecting-vessel. Fig. 7 shows in section a suitable
collecting-vessel for this purpose. This vessel is cylindrical in its upper part,
and tapers conically in its lower part; it is provided in its bottom with a central
hole which can be closed by means of a suitable device such as, for example, a
pink having a conical point. Any electrolyte that may have been removed along
with the metal or have remained adhering thereto can become separated
automatically in this vessel, because the specifically heavier electrolyte sinks,.
whilst the metal floats on the top thereof; so that on opening the hole the
electrolyte can flow out separately and be poured back into the bath. The col-
lecting-véssel is provided at a suitable place with a handle m to facilitate the
holding thereof by hand when in use. Whilst temporarily not in use that is to
say, when the vessel is only partly full of metal and none is actually being collected
the vessel is held in the bath that is to say, in the electrolyte-for the purpose
of preventing the cooling of the metal that has already been collected, and
preferably by means of some device for supporting the handle_m. During use,
or as soon as fresh metal is poured in, the vessel is lifted by hand out of the bath,
in order that the discharge of the electrolyte collected with the metal may be
observed and controlled so as to prevent the metal from flowing out when tho
electrolyte has completely run out of the vessel, in which case the hole 7 must be
closed at once. When the collecting-vessel is full of metal, the latter can be run
into moulds, in which it is allowed to cool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Electrolytic apparatus for obtaining light metals, having a metal kathode
that is rounded off or more or less tapered or sharpened towards the electrolyte
into which it dips with only a portion of its rounded, tapered, or sharpened part,
substantially as described and shown for the purpose specified.
2. In an electrolytic apparatus, a negative electrode arranged to have surface
contact with an electrolyte, in combination with a positive electrode surrounded
a gas-conducting casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
by
3. Electrolytic apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore

page_text: described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. A collecting-appliance constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1897.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.