Improvements in the Construction of Electrodes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Electrodes.
Aural
I, ARNOLD BEAUMONT WOAKES of 78, Harley Street, London, W.,
Surgeon, and Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates particularly to an improved means of insulating and
supporting concentric electrodes of platinum foil or thin sheet platinum or other
suitable platinum like metal for heating or boiling, and, at the same time, purifying
water and certain other electrolytes.
The invention is also applicable to platinum foil or other suitable platinum like
metal in the form of discs, plates, or strips as described in the previous Letters
Patent granted to me and dated the 6th day of January 1892, No. 259, and the
14th day of June 1893, No. 11,749.
The concentric electrodes herein referred to consist of two tubes of platinum one
within the other, and separated by an annular space of 16 of an inch more or less,
according to the liquid to be heated; the liquid enters this space and is heated
or boiled and partly electrolysed by the passage of a 100 voll current of
electricity.
The improvement consists in keeping the concentrically arranged tubes in position
by means of a narrow band of vitreous material, such as enamel, glass, or porcelain
of good insulating quality, placed in one end of the annular space between the
electrodes for a depth of of an inch or so.
be
If the tubes are constructed of comparatively thick platinum they may
supported entirely in this way. But by coating the interior of the inner tube and
the outside of the outer tube with enamel or other suitable material mentioned
above, the electrodes may be conveniently insulated, and, at the same time,
strengthened so that platinum foil of a diameter of Too of an inch, and possible
less, may be used with perfect safety.
I have succeeded in obtaining an excellent concentric electrode of platinum foil
insulated and strengthened in part by earthenware or porcelain and in part by
enamel.
The earthenware part consists of a disc with a central rod, the latter passing into
the interior of the inner tube, while the disc, which projects of an inch or so from
the end of the tubes forming the electrode, prevents them being accidentally short-
circuited.
The rod in connection with the centre of the disc, when placed in the inner
electrode, is surrounded with enamel, which, by subsequent fusion, forms a solid rod
with it, accurately filling up the interior of the inner electrode; if preferred the
earthenware rod may accurately fit the inner electrode so that enamel in that
situation will be unnecessary.
If the earthenware disc is perforated with holes or slits opposite the annular
space between the electrodes such that the liquid can pass through them into the
space between the tubes, the outer tube may come down to the disc & be held in
position there by a lip on the outer edge of the disc, in this case, when the enamel
is spread on the outer surface of the outer tube, it will reach this lip and can be
subsequently fused to it.
This electrode may be mounted in a variety of ways: For heating liquils in a
vessel of porcelain, enamelled iron, or glass, it may be fused into a hole in the

page_text: botton of the vessel. The connection for the terminal being soldered to the
projecting edges of the platinum foil below the vessel.
Instead of fixing the electrode into a vessel a convenient arrangement is to mount
it on a handle sliding in a tube such that it may be lowered into and raised out of
the liquid to be heated or purified with great facility. To accomplish this a wire
is soldered to the inner electrode and a metal tube to the outer electrode, the
latter being enclosed in a glass or porcelain tube which entirely covers it and
is fitted on to the electrode by means of a thin layer of cork and isinglass
glue or other material. This arrangement slides in a fixed tube as above
indicated.
Instead of mounting the electrode to the handle in this way, the latter may be
made of enamelled iron or other metal and may screw on to a ferrol on the end of
the electrode.
If desired the handle & the electrode may be enamelled in one piece.
Another means of supporting these electrodes is to mount them on tubes of
enamelled iron, toughened glass, or porcelain. When using flat electrodes, of which
one surface only is in active use, the foil may be strengthened in a similar manner.
Dated this 5th day of December 1894.
improvements in the Construction of Electrodes.
ARNOLD BEAUMONT WOAKES, of 78 Harley Street, London W. M.R.C.S.
England and L.R.C.P. London, 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 an improved means of constructing electrodes for
heating or boiling liquids, as set forth in previous Letters Patent granted to me
and dated the 6th day of January 1892, No. 259; and the 14th day of June 1893,
No. 11,749.
It relates also to improved means of constructing electrodes to form the electro-
negative elements of batteries, or, either the anode or cathode or both in suitable
electrolytic baths.
The improvements consist in supporting tubes or plates, or any other suitable
shape of platinum, or other suitable electro-negative metal as follows:-
(1.) By means of a vitreous enamel or other suitable glass to which the foil is
adherent;
(2.) By means of tubes or plates of china or glazed porcelain supporting the
foil, or, to which the foil may be made adherent.
The means by which the electrodes are attached to carriers for use as well as
to glass or china vessels are shewn :-
ELECTRODES.
Figure 1 (a) Plate I, shews an electrode of enamelled platinum tubes concen-
trically arranged and mounted on the end of an opaque glass tube (b)..
Figure 3 (Plate I) shews a vertical section of a somewhat similar electrode
disconnected from the tube (b).
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1. J and i shew the two
tubes of platinum foil with the space g between, shewn in section in Figure 4.
and shew a piece of china arranged to keep the tubes the right distance apart
below.
Above they are kept apart by glass or enamel R of good insulating
quality, while the space a', the interior of the inner tube is filled up with enamel to

page_text: within about a quarter of an inch of the top. The outside of the outer tube i,
between x, and h, is also covered with enamel, in the form of paste or paint,
h represents a china ring at the upper end of the outer electrode, and shews one of
the holes leading into the space 9 between the tubes, the holes allowing a free
circulation of water through the space g. The enamel, after having been put on
in the situation of a, a¹, and R, is subjected to sufficient heat to be melted; and,
to avoid the same running unevenly, it may be rotated during the process of heating.
If, during the process of heating, there is a tendency for the glass or enamel R to
run out it may be maintained in position by means of a packing of asbestos which
also assists in keeping the tubes the right distance apart.
Figure 3 shews a somewhat similar electrode in which the platinum is supported
on tubes of glass or china. L represents the end of an insulated copper wire and
is connected to the upper end of the inner electrode by means of a lump of solder
melted in when the electrode is hot or subsequently.
The outer platinum tube i is soldered at the upper end to the metal tube k,
Figure 2, which again is protected from the action of the water by the glass
tube b fitted on water tight by means of cork or india-rubber m and flexible
cement n.
The upper end of the insulated wire L is connected with the inner electrode J
The outer
and passes to the plate c outside the tube b, Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6.
electrode is soldered at its upper end to the metal tube k, Figure 2, and is
connected to a similar plate c', on the opposite side of b, shewn in section in
Figure 5.
CIRCULATION OF WATER IN ELECTRODES.
When in action this apparatus is connected with a 100 volt electric lighting
current and immersed in water, the water enters at Q passes through the space g
between the tubes J and i and out at h. When water is in the space g, the current
passes through it from one tube to the other, and very rapidly heats it. And,
further, when boiling is fully established, the space 9 is partly occupied by steam
and consequently more or less insulates the electrodes and causes a fall of
current. There is, therefore, little loss of current in maintaining water boiling for
a length of time.
RESISTANCE OF WATER DIMINISHES WITH INCREASE OF HEAT.
Water at 20 degrees C. I find has about three times the resistance of water
at 100 degrees C. and, consequently, if the electrodes are a wide distance apart
and free circulation allowed between them, only about one-third the quantity of
current will pass with water at 20 degrees C. as with the same at 100 degrees C.
but with electrodes as arranged in Figures 1, 2, 3, almost the maximum amount
of current passes from the commencement; this is due to the fact that the
water enclosed in the space g is raised almost immediately to 100 degrees C. or
thereabouts.
In some larger forms of concentrically arranged electrodes I have had a
reduction of current as soon as boiling commences, from 10 to about 1.5 ampères.
Figures 7 to 15, Pláte II, shew an arrangement for carrying two strips of
platinum foil separated by a narrow space, as electrodes, instead of making use of
a concentric arrangement. It consists of a carrier (a) made of china or tough
glass, carrying the electrodes, mounted on the end of a tube of the same material b,
as in Figure 7, the reference letters being the same.
Figure 8, Plate II, is a transverse vertical section of a and the lower end
of (6).
Figure 7, Plate II, J and i shew the two platinum strips separated by the
space g and connected above with the conductors L and K. A side view of the
apparatus is shewn in Figure 12, and the same in transverse vertical section in
Figure 13.

page_text: Figure 20 is a transverse vertical section of the magnetic contact. m represents
the core of the magnet, c the coil which may consist of one or more layers of
insulated wire. One end of the coil may be connected with the magnetic core, as
shewn in Figure 20, or with a metal plate attached to the top of the core, but
insulated from it; the other end is attached to the terminal t. R is a rod holding
the magnet in position, and passes through the core. If preferred, the magnet
may be maintained in position by a band passing round the outside.
Figure 21 is a plan of the contact, m being the magnet and also one of the
terminals; the other terminal is formed by the spring s.
The magnet is made of steel and is surrounded by a coil of insulated copper
wire. If desired it may be an ordinary electro-magnet or a plain permanent
magnet without a coil.
The current enters by the flexible wire f, c, passes to the terminal t round the
coil of the magnet to the core m, or to a metal plate on the top of the core (in the
case of a permanent magnet the current passes direct from the terminal t to
the magnet m or to a plate above the magnet). From the upper end of the magnet
(or terminal m) the current passes by metallic contact to a piece of iron or steel,
capped or not with a non-magnetic material in electrical contact with the inner
electrode shewn in Figure 18. From the inner electrode it passes through the
water, when present in the space g, to the outer electrode i, from there to the
metal ring O, Figure 18, to the contact spring s, and out by the terminal f, c.
Besides its use for forming contact with the above apparatus, the magnetic
contact may be used with incandescent lamps and other electrical fittings, provided
they are fitted with suitable magnetic endings.

page_text: If 1 watt develops 24 calories per second 300 watts develop 300 × 24 =
72 calories per second. . . including all losses of heat
To raise pint of water from 20 degrees to 100 degrees C. there is a loss
of 1-733088 x 315: = 545-922 calories (in 315 secs.) and since, without loss of heat,
23225-922 calories are required
22680 calories are required, . . . 22680 + 545.922
including loss of heat from all causes.
Corrected formula
=
H=CE× 234 calories per second
351
and 300 watts develop 23225.922 calories in 330.8 secs. therefore pint is boiled
with 3 ampères and 100 volts in 5 minutes 31 seconds.
In the above calculation 1 calorie represents the amount of heat required to 20
raise one gramme of cold water through 1 degree C.
8028
To raise pint water 80 degrees C.
3 amperes 100 volts = 300 watts
To raise 4 eggs 80 degrees C.
(approximately)
3 amperes 100 volts = 300 watts
To maintain pint water boiling
3 minutes with 1
amperes 160

page_text: Figure 23, Plate VII, shews an elevation of a frame for carrying flat electroles
of platinum foil for battery and electrolytic purposes, in which the foil f is
protected and supported between two faces of perforated insulating material.
They may be made of any good waterproof, acid-resisting, insulating material, such
as certain forms of china, celluloid, and ebonite. In the drawing one is shewn
perforated with hexagonal holes.
Figure 24 represents a plan of the same seen from above.
Figure 25 is a vertical section through the line d.
Figure 26 is a horizontal section through the line a b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Constructing electrodes of sheets or tubes of platinum foil or other suitable
platinum-like or suitable electro-negative metal, strengthened by a coating of
vitreous enamel or tough glass, or by means of tubes or plates of china, substan-
tially as specified.
2. Supporting sheets of platinum foil or other suitable electro-negative metal for
battery purposes and for electrolytic purposes between opposing faces of perforated
china plates or plates of celluloid or ebonite, as described.
3. The new magnetic contact for making contact between the electrodes and the
flexible cords of the herein described electric heater.
4. The herein described apparatus termed an "electric calorite" for boiling
water, consisting of the improved electrode specified in Claim 1, or any other
suitable electrode, mounted at one end of a glass or china tube sliding in a tube
fixed to a bracket, substantially as specified.
Dated this 5th day of October 1895.
ARNOLD B. WOAKES.