US3884791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolytic cell having metal electrodes
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-30
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-11-30
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a bipolar electrolyzer useful for the electrolysis of alkali metal halides to yield alkali metal halates. The electrolyzer contains a series of individual bipolar units. Each of the individual bipolar units has a backplate with a cathodic surface, and cathodes extending from the cathodic surface. The opposite surface of the backplate is an anodic surface with anodes extending from the anodic surface. The anode assembly of the halate cell of this invention has an electrolyte resistant base member extending from the anodic side of the backplate. The electrolyte resistant base member has finger-like metal anodes mounted on and extending from one side and an electroconductive, hydrogen impermeable member bonded to the opposite side. The electroconductive, hydrogen impermeable member corresponds to an aperture in the backplate. A threaded bolt extends from the hydrogen impermeable member through the aperture in the backplate to the cathodic surface of the backplate. By maintaining a suitable tension on the threaded bolt, an electrolyte tight seal is maintained between the backplate and the electrolyte resistant anode base member.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl W Raetzsch
- 👤 Hugh Cunningham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:51
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B11/00; C25B11/02; C25B11/036; C25B9/00; C25B9/70; C25B9/73; C25B9/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual bipolar units in series, each of said individual bipolar units including a backplate having an aperture extending therethrough, a cathodic surface, cathode means mounted on and extending from said cathodic surface, an anolyte resistant surface, and anode means extending from said anolyte resistant surface, the improvement wherein said anode means is detachably supported independently of said cathode means and comprises: an acid resistant anode base member larger than said aperture; finger-like metal anodes mounted on and extending from one side of said acid resistant anode base member; an electroconductive, substantially hydrogen impermeable copper member friction welded to the opposite side of said acid resistant anode base and corresponding to the aperture in the backplate; and threaded bolt means friction welded to and extending from the hydrogen impermeable copper member through said aperture to the cathodic surface of the backplate and means for securing said anode means and said backplate in electrolyte impermeable, electroconductive contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual bipolar units in series, each of said individual bipolar units including a backplate having an aperture extending therethrough, a cathodic surface, cathode means mounted on and extending from said cathodic surface, an anolyte resistant surface, and anode means extending from said anolyte resistant surface, the improvement wherein said anode means is detachably supported independently of said cathode means and comprises: an acid resistant anode base member larger than said aperture; finger-like metal anodes mounted on and extending from one side of said acid resistant anode base member; an electroconductive, substantially hydrogen impermeable copper member friction welded to the opposite side of said acid resistant anode base and corresponding to the aperture in the backplate; and threaded bolt means friction welded to and extending from the hydrogen impermeable copper member through said aperture to the cathodic surface of the backplate and means for securing said anode means and said backplate in electrolyte impermeable, electroconductive contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said backplate comprises an alkali resistant structural member and an acid resistant sheet on the anodic side of said structural member, and wherein said anode base member applies a compressive force on said acid resistant sheet thereby forming an electrolyte tight seal between said acid resistant anode base member and said acid resistant sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 2 wherein a gasket is interposed between said acid resistant sheet and said acid resistant anode base member, and wherein compressive forces are imposed between said gasket and said acid resistant anode base member forming an electrolyte tight seal therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the anode means of one bipolar unit and the cathode means of the next adjacent bipolar unit are in the same electrolyte compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
201 words
IN A BIPOLAR ELECTROLYZER HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL BIPOLAR UNITS IN SERIES, EACH OF SAID INDIVIDUAL BIPOLAR UNITS INCLUDING A BACKPLATE HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A STEEL CATHOFIC SURFACE, CATHODE MEANS MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CATHODIC SURFACE, A TITANIUM ANODIC SURFACE, AND ANODE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID ANODIC SURFACE, WHEREBY THE ANODE MEANS OF ONE BIPOLAR UNIT AND THE CATHODE MEANS OF THE NEXT ADJACENT BIPOLAR UNIT ARE IN THE SAME ELECTROLYTE COMPARTMENT, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID ANODE MEANS IS REMOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CATHODE MEANS AND COMPRISES: A TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER LARGER THAN SAID APERTURE, FINGER-LIKE METAL ANODES MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER, AN ELECTROCONDUCTIVE, SUBSTANTIALLY HYDROGEN IMPERMEABLE COPPER MEMBER FRICTION WELDED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ACID RESISTANT ANODE BASE AND CORRESPONDING TO THE APERTURE IN THE BACKPLATE, AND THREADED BOLT MEANS FRICTION WELDED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE HYDROGEN IMPERMEABLE COPPER MEMBER THROUGH SAID APERTURE TO THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF THE BACKPLATE, WHEREBY SAID ANODE BASE MEMBER APPLIES A COMPRESSIVE FORCE ON THE TITANIUM ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID BACKPLATE THEREBY FORMING AN ELECTROLYTE TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER AND SAID BACKPLATE.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
201 words
IN A BIPOLAR ELECTROLYZER HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL BIPOLAR UNITS IN SERIES, EACH OF SAID INDIVIDUAL BIPOLAR UNITS INCLUDING A BACKPLATE HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A STEEL CATHOFIC SURFACE, CATHODE MEANS MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CATHODIC SURFACE, A TITANIUM ANODIC SURFACE, AND ANODE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID ANODIC SURFACE, WHEREBY THE ANODE MEANS OF ONE BIPOLAR UNIT AND THE CATHODE MEANS OF THE NEXT ADJACENT BIPOLAR UNIT ARE IN THE SAME ELECTROLYTE COMPARTMENT, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID ANODE MEANS IS REMOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CATHODE MEANS AND COMPRISES: A TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER LARGER THAN SAID APERTURE, FINGER-LIKE METAL ANODES MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER, AN ELECTROCONDUCTIVE, SUBSTANTIALLY HYDROGEN IMPERMEABLE COPPER MEMBER FRICTION WELDED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ACID RESISTANT ANODE BASE AND CORRESPONDING TO THE APERTURE IN THE BACKPLATE, AND THREADED BOLT MEANS FRICTION WELDED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE HYDROGEN IMPERMEABLE COPPER MEMBER THROUGH SAID APERTURE TO THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF THE BACKPLATE, WHEREBY SAID ANODE BASE MEMBER APPLIES A COMPRESSIVE FORCE ON THE TITANIUM ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID BACKPLATE THEREBY FORMING AN ELECTROLYTE TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID TITANIUM ANODE BASE MEMBER AND SAID BACKPLATE.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
A bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual bipolar units in series, each of said individual bipolar units including a backplate having a cathodic surface and an anodic surface and being provided with a countersunk aperture extending through said backplate between said surfaces, at least one cathode member secured to said backplate and extending laterally from the cathode surface thereof, an electroconductive, substantially hydrogen impermeable copper member disposed within said aperture in contact with the countersunk surface thereof, an acid resistant anode base member having opposing surfaces overlying and extending beyond the edge of said aperture, said anode base member being secured on one surface to said copper member, a plurality of anode members secured to said anode base member and extending laterally from the surface, of said anode base member opposing the surface of said base member to which the copper member is secured, a rod-like member secured to the surface of said copper base member adjacent said backplate, said rod-like member being adapted to extend through said aperture toward the cathode surface of the backplate; and means engaging said rod-like member for exerting a force thereon and on said copper member to clamp said copper member and anode base member to said backplate whereby to seal the aperture therein against the flow of liquids and gases therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual bipolar units in series, each of said individual bipolar units including a backplate having a cathodic surface and an anodic surface and being provided with a countersunk aperture extending through said backplate between said surfaces, at least one cathode member secured to said backplate and extending laterally from the cathode surface thereof, an electroconductive, substantially hydrogen impermeable copper member disposed within said aperture in contact with the countersunk surface thereof, an acid resistant anode base member having opposing surfaces overlying and extending beyond the edge of said aperture, said anode base member being secured on one surface to said copper member, a plurality of anode members secured to said anode base member and extending laterally from the surface, of said anode base member opposing the surface of said base member to which the copper member is secured, a rod-like member secured to the surface of said copper base member adjacent said backplate, said rod-like member being adapted to extend through said aperture toward the cathode surface of the backplate; and means engaging said rod-like member for exerting a force thereon and on said copper member to clamp said copper member and anode base member to said backplate whereby to seal the aperture therein against the flow of liquids and gases therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |