Cell balance detector for electrolytic cell assemblies

Claim 1

A sodium hypochlorite cell voltage balance detector assembly comprising a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to a DC source of potential, first and second arms connected in parallel with each other between said pair of input terminals, said first arm comprising a plurality of serially connected cells whereby adjacent cells are connected together at cell junctions and each cell has a normal voltage drop thereacross when the cell is operating properly, said second arm comprising a plurality of serially connected impedances in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of cells and wherein adjacent impedances are connected together at impedance junctions, each one of said plurality of impedances being associated with a respective one of said plurality of cells and having a value such that the voltage drop across the impedance is equal to the normal voltage drop across said associated cell, detecting means connected between an impedance junction and the corresponding cell junction and responsive to voltage variations between the junctions to which said detecting means is connected for producing an imbalance signal, said detecting means comprising first amplifying means connected between said impedance junction and said corresponding cell junction for producing said imbalance signal when said cell voltage drop increases above said cell normal voltage drop, second amplifying means connected between said impedance junction and said corresponding cell junction for producing said imbalance signal when said cell voltage drop decreased below said cell normal voltage drop, meter means for monitoring said imbalance signal, and control means responsive to a predetermined value of said imbalance signal for disconnecting the source of potential from said plurality of cells.