Improvements in or connected with Electrical Conductors and Anodes for Electrolytic and similar purposes
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept.,
1899
Improvements in or connected with Electrical Conductors and
Anodes for Electrolytic and similar purposes.
We, THE GENERAL ELECTROLYTIC PARENT COMPANY LIMITED, Chemical Manu-
facturers, LUKE HARGREAVES, Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM STUBBS,
Engineer, all of Derby Road, Farnworth in Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby metallic or other
electrical conductors and the junction of such conductors with the anodes of
carbon or other material, or with their connections, may be protected against any
action of the current or of the electrolyte which would tend to disintegrate or
destroy such conductor or destroy electrical contact at the junction of the anodes
or their connections with the conductor; and to provide simple means for attach-
ing anodes to conductors or making contact therewith so that such anodes can be
easily removed and replaced when worn.
For these purposes we interpose between the conductor and the electrolyte,
oil, or liquid which is not miscible with the electrolyte, in such manner that
such oil or liquid prevents access of the electrolyte either by capillary attraction
or otherwise along the anodes or connections to the said conductor or to the
junction of the anodes or connections with such conductor. In electrolytic cells
which are worked at higher than atmospheric temperature the oil or liquid is
preferably one which is semi-solid or nonflowing at ordinary temperature but
which becomes fluid at the normal working temperature of the electrolytic cell.
We have found that resin oil having dissolved therein a proportion of resin gives
good results in connection with anodes used in electrolysing brine as it becomes
nearly solid when cold so that the anodes and connections may be carried about or
stored without liability to loss of oil. We use the oil or liquid in a casing at
such a head or pressure that such oil or liquid tends to diffuse along the anodes
or connections or through any cracks or pores in the casing towards the electrolyte
thereby counterbalancing the hydrostatic head or pressure of the electrolyte or
the capillary attraction of the anodes or their connections and preventing such
electrolyte reaching the conductor, or junction of the anodes or their connections
with the conductor. By this arrangement also any leakage through the casing
can readily be detected by means of a gauge or other means of indicating head or
pressure, and if such leakage is in consequence of the porosity of the casing or
minute crevices therein we may add to the oil or liquid, plumbago or other suit-
able powdery material which will be carried into the pores or crevices and fill
them up. It is advisable that the specific gravity of the oil or liquid be as near
as possible to that of the electrolyte because by this means the tendency of the
electrolyte to leak into the casing at the bottom is counterbalanced without
having such an excess of head of oil as would unduly tend to force the oil out
of the casing at the top.
In some cases we may use the oil or liquid without any head or pressure, the

page_text: superior capillarity or diffusive power of the oil or liquid being sufficient to
prevent access of the electrolyte to the conductor or to the junctions of the anodes
or their connections with such conductor; or to displace the electrolyte from
such anodes or connections.
We make contact between the conductor, whether metallic or otherwise, and
the anodes by means of blocks of carbon or material not affected by the electrolyte.
The said blocks pass through the casing surrounding" the conductor and are
pressed against the conductor by bolts and nuts or equivalent devices. The
anodes are secured to the said blocks by bolts or otherwise as desired. The
blocks may form part of the anodes if desired. The securing bolts are made of
nonconducting material or if such bolts are metallic they are insulated by any
convenient means so that they do not act as bearers of current or are not exposed
to the action of the electrolyte.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections partly in elevation at right angles to each
other of apparatus or appliances according to our invention as applied to a vertical
electrolytic cell. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections at right angles to eacli'
other and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at A A on Fig. 3 all to an enlarged scale
of a portion of a conductor, casing, anodes and connections under our invention.
a is a metallic conductor connected in any suitable way to one terminal of a
dynamo or other source of electricity. b is a casing or receptacle made of non-
conducting material preferably Portland cement which surrounds the conductor.
c is a space between the conductor and the casing which space is filled with oil
or other liquid or solution not miscible with the electrolyte contained in the
cell d. The level of this oil or liquid is kept so much above that of the electro-.
lyte that the hydrostatic pressure of such electrolyte and its tendency to diffuse
through the casing b carbon anodes e and carbon blocks f is counterbalanced by
that of the oil such electrolyte being thereby prevented from reaching the con-
ductor or the junction of the blocks f at fi with the conductor. The diffusion
of the oil through the blocks f does not impair the conductivity of such blocks.
The carbon blocks may if desired be saturated with oil before being placed in
position. By employing a float or the like in the oil any variation in the level
thereof caused by leakage through the casing or otherwise can readily be detected.
If it is desired to close the casing at the top pressure may be put on the oil by
any desired means and a gauge may be used for indicating such pressure.
the anodes of carbon or other suitable material in contact with the electrolyte.
These anodes are connected to the conductor a by blocks of carbon f. The
blocks rest at one end against the anodes and at the other end against the
conductor or against washers g attached to such conductor. The washers 9 are
preferably of soft metal so that the blocks f may closely bed therein. h are bolts
and nuts by means of which the anodes are pressed closely against the blocks f
and the blocks f against the conductor or the washers g so that good electrical
connection is made from the conductor to the anodes. The blocks fare cemented
into the casing 6 by cement i. The bolts and nuts are covered by insulating
material to protect them from the action of the electrolyte and also prevent
them from acting as bearers of electric current which would tend to corrode
them. The bolts and nuts may be made of nonconducting material if desired
and in such case will not need insulating. Also if desired separate bolts might
be used for attaching the anodes to the blocks f and the blocks to the conductor.
The blocks may as shown in Fig. 6 be formed of a number of pencils of
carbon embedded in cement f³.
e are
Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrative of a modification of our invention as
applied in connection with anodes for use in horizontal electrolytic cells say of
the type shown in Fig. 8. e are the carbon anodes affixed to the metallic con-
ductor a by casting the conductor in the form of a plate around the tops of the
anodes or otherwise attached as desired. The conductor when cast is preferably

page_text: of lead and by the edges being turned up itself forms a casing or tray which con-
tains oil . The pressure of the oil downwards prevents the rising of the electro-
lyte up the carbon anodes by capillary attraction thereby preventing such electro-
lyte reaching the junction f¹ between the carbon anodes and the conductor a.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrative of another modification of our invention
as applied in connection with anodes for use in horizontal electrolytic cells. In
this modification the oil is used without any head or pressure as regards the
junctions of the anodes and conductor. d is the electrolytic cell of any convenient
or well known type. b are trays or casings of nonconducting material which con-
tain oil l. a is the conductor cast around the tops of the carbon anodes e and
above the surface of the oil 7. The anodes pass through the bottoms of the
casings b and are immersed in the electrolyte as shown. The oil by its superior
diffusive power or capillarity ascends the anodes to the conductor a and pre-
vents the electrolyte d ascending the anodes or reaching the junction f¹ of such
anodes with the conductor.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing another method of attaching the conductor
to the anodes. Here each anode e has a separate conductor cap a¹ cast on it
such caps being connected by wires to the source of electricity. The action of
the oil in this modification is the same as described under Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrative of another modification of our invention
applicable for vertical electrolytic cells. a is the conductor encased in imperme-
able material such as vulcanite b, which prevents access of electrolyte to such
conductor. are the carbon blocks making contact with the anodes e and
washers g on the conductor a. The casing is extended at intervals as at bl
so as to surround each carbon block f and form separate spaces or receptacles c
into which oil is placed. iis cement or other convenient material for retaining
the oil in the spaces c.
The blocks f become saturated with the oil and access
of the electrolyte to the junctions f¹ of the blocks f and washers g is prevented.
If desired the extensions 61 of the casing might fit closely round the blocks f and
in such case the said blocks are saturated with oil the superior capillarity of
which prevents access of the electrolyte through the blocks to the junctions f¹
of the conductor with such blocks.
We do not confine ourselves to the particular details described as it will be
obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the
nature of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: -
:
First. In electrolytic or similar apparatus the interposition between the
electrolyte and the. electric conductor of oil or its equivalent or oil saturated
material substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination with anodes and conductors of oil containing casings
or receptacles substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The method of making electric connection between anodes and con-
ductors by means of blocks of carbon passing through nonconducting casings
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The method of securing anodes to conductors by bolting substantially
as described under Figs. 3, 4 and 5 for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. Saturating anodes at or near their junctions with conductors with oil or
its equivalent substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated the Eighth day of Nov 1800
W. B. JOHNSON,
51, Egerton Street, Liverpool,
Agent for Applicants.