A Vessel for the Electrolytic Separation and Alloying of Metals in the Molten State.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Vessel for the Electrolytic Separation and Alloying of Metals in
the Molten State.
A communication from abroad by the Firm of FR. HORNIG, of the Chemical Works,
Taucha and Dresden, Saxony, Manufacturers, and WILHELM BORCHERS,
of Duisburg, Rhenish Prussia, Electro Chemist.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis of
55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention refers to a vessel, in which the electrolytic separation of a metal
shall take place with the simultaneous alloying of such metal with another metal in
a molten state.
The vessel for this purpose may be constructed of an electric conducting or non-
conducting material; the inner wall of such vessel is formed with horizontal
grooves and projections, into which grooves and over which projections the molten
metal serving as means of solution and as a cathode will run down during electrolytic
action so as to run off at the bottom of the vessel through a properly arranged
aperture alloyed with the other metal, which latter is separated within the vessel
by electrolytic action.
The grooves on the inner wall of the vessel may be arranged as annular cavities
or they may assume the form of a flat screw thread and the projections may
protrude from the wall either in a round or an angular shape.
These grooves and projections are for the purpose of preventing the too rapid
running down of the metal, which serves as means of solution and as a cathode, so
that the inner wall of the vessel is covered or almost entirely covered with a thin
film of molten metal.
The vessel may be provided on its outer side with a flange and the upper part of
the vessel above the flange may be cooled by means of a surrounding hollow annular
ring, in which cooling water is allowed to circulate. The bottom of the vessel is
provided with an exit pipe preferably inclined in an upward direction.
In operating with the vessel a portion of the metal serving as a means of solution
and as a cathode is deposited in the vessel which may be previously heated, so that
the exit pipe is filled or partly filled with such inetal.
Then the electrolyte, that is to say, the other metal contained in a metal
compound (which compound may be in a molten state or dissolved in fluid) is
deposited in the vessel and the latter is then covered with a suitable cover, through
which the anode is introduced into or suspended in the vessel either free or in an
envelope.
The anode may consist of charcoal or of a piece of metal or any suitable
material.
The cover is provided with a suitable opening for introducing or supplying
metal during the operation into the upper rim or gutter in a liquid or molten state.
Then the cathode and the anode are connected with an electric current or if
the vessel is made of a suitable material, the vessel may for the cathode and
be electrically connected with the anode.
The metal, which by the electrolytic operation is separated from the electrolytic
compound is absorbed by the metal, running down in or over the grooves and
71

page_text: projections and collecting at the bottom and the alloy will issue through the
exit pipe.
As an example, the use of the vessel for obtaining an alloy such as lead-sodium
may be explained.
If chloride of sodium, forming the electrolyte, is contained in the vessel either in a
molten or a liquid state, the molten lead is allowed to slowly run down from the top
groove into the lower grooves and over their projections and if during this contact
electrolytic action is maintained on the electrolyte, the latter will separate into
chlorine and sodium, of which the former will escape in gaseous form through a
proper opening in the cover of the vessel, whereas the sodium will be continuously
absorbed by the running down lead and these two will form the alloy lead-sodium.
Dated this 12th day of November 1894.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
A Vessel for the Electrolytic Separation and Alloying of Metals in
the Molten State.
A communication from abroad by the Firm of FR. HORNIG, of the Chemical Works,
Taucha and Dresden, Saxony, Manufacturers, and WILHELM BORCHERS,
of Duisburg, Rhenish Prussia, Electro Chemist.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis of
55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of London, 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:-
The invention refers to a vessel in which the electrolytic separation of a metal
will take place with the simultaneous alloying of such metal with another metal in
a molten state.
The vessel for this purpose may be constructed of an electric conducting or non-
conducting material; the inner wall of such vessel is formed with horizontal
grooves and projections, into which grooves and over which projections the molten
metal serving as means of solution and as a cathode will run down during electrolytic
action, so as to run off at the bottom of the vessel through a properly arranged
aperture, alloyed with the other metal, which latter is separated within the vessel
by electrolytic action.
The grooves on the inner wall of the vessel may be arranged as annular cavities,
or they may assume the form of a flat screw thread, and the projections may
protrude from the wall, either in a round or an angular shape.
These grooves and projections are for the purpose of preventing the too rapid
running down of the metal, which serves as means of solution and as a cathode, so
that the inner wall of the vessel is covered or almost entirely covered with a thin
film of the molten metal.
The vessel may be provided on its outer side with a flange, and the upper part
of the vessel above the flange may be cooled by means of a surrounding hollow
annular ring, in which cooling water is allowed to circulate.
The cooling of the upper part of the vessel is for the purpose of protecting
this part of the vessel, so that no partition or diaphragm for the anode is
necessary. The cooled part becomes covered with solidified salt, the best
protective against chlorine and other electro-negative substances. The bottom of
the vessel is provided with an exit pipe preferably inclined in an upward direction.

page_text: The accompanying drawing is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed
according to this invention. It may be placed on a fire or hearth.
In operating with the vessel, a portion of the metal serving as a means of solution
and as a cathode, is deposited in the vessel, which may be previously heated, so
that the exit pipe c is filled or partly filled with such metal.
Then the electrolyte, that is to say the other metal contained in a metal
compound (which compound may be in a molten state or dissolved in liquid) is
deposited in the vessel and the latter is then covered with a suitable cover, through
which the anode is introduced into or suspended in the vessel either free or in an
envelope.
The anode may consist of charcoal or of a piece of metal or any suitable
material.
The cover is provided with a suitable opening for introducing or supplying metal
during the operation into the upper rim or gutter a in a liquid or molten state.
Then the cathode and the anode are connected with an electric current, or if the
vessel is made of a suitable material the vessel may form the cathode and be
electrically connected with the anode.
The metal which by the electrolytic operation is separated from the electrolytic
compound is absorbed by the metal, running down in or over the grooves and
projections b, and collecting at the bottom, and the alloy will issue through the
exit pipe c.
d represents the flange hereinbefore referred to at the outside of the vessel and
fis the cooling ring above the said flange.
As an example, the use of the vessel for obtaining an alloy such as lead-sodium
may be explained. If chloride of sodium forming the electrolyte, is contained in
the vessel either in a molten or a liquid state, the molten lead is allowed to slowly
run down from the top groove a into the lower grooves b and over their projections,
and if during this contact electrolytic action is maintained on the electrolyte the
latter will separate into chlorine and sodium, of which the former will escape in
gaseous form through a proper opening in the cover of the vessel, whereas the
sodium will be continuously absorbed by the running down lead and these two will
form the alloy lead-sodium.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me I declare that what I claim is :-
A vessel of electrically conducting or non-conducting material for the electro-
lytic separation and alloying of metals in the molten state, the inner wall of
the said vessel having grooves and projections so that a molten metal will run
slowly down the said wall and absorb or form an alloy with another metal, which
by the electrolytic action is separated from the molten or liquid compound in
the vessel, the upper part of which may be cooled, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of August 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.