Electrolysis apparatus

Claim 2

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor, and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electrical energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor wherein the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses, which converter means is such that said pulses as applied between the anode and cathode are each at a greater current value than said uniform current and a lower voltage than said uniform voltage.

Claim 3

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical conversion means is a voltage step-down transformer comprising a primary coil to receive the pulse discharge from said dump capacitor and a secondary coil electrically connected between the anode and cathode and inductively coupled to the primary coil.

Claim 4

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold a electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor, and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electric energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses which converter means comprises a transformer means having primary coil means energized by direct current energy from said source and secondary coil means inductively coupled to the primary coil means; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil means of the transformer means so as to be charged by electrical output of that coil means; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the scondary coil means of the transformer means and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the transformer means to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and electrical conversion means to receive the pulse discharges from the dump capacitor and to convert them to said pulses of electrical energy which are applied between the anode and cathode.

Claim 5

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold a electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor, and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electric energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses which converter means comprises a transformer means having primary coil means energized by direct current energy from said source and secondary coil means inductively coupled to the primary coil means; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil means of the transformer means so as to be charged by electrical output of that coil means; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the scondary coil means of the transformer means and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the transformer means to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and electrical conversion means to receive the pulse discharges from the dump capacitor and to convert them to said pulses of electrical energy which are applied between the anode and cathode.

Claim 6

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor, and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electrical energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the cathode encompasses the anode, and the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses such that said pulses are each at a greater voltage than said uniform voltage which greater voltage causes discharges between the anode and cathode so as to produce in the electrolytic conductor pulses of current which are greater than said uniform current and constitute said pulsating current.

Claim 7

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor, and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electrical energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the cathode encompasses the anode, and the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses such that said pulses are each at a greater voltage than said uniform voltage which greater voltage causes discharges between the anode and cathode so as to produce in the electrolytic conductor pulses of current which are greater than said uniform current and constitute said pulsating current.

Claim 8

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cathode encompasses the anode.

Claim 9

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the anode is hollow and the primary and secondary coils of the second transformer means are disposed within it.

Claim 10

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anode is tubular and its ends are closed to form a chamber which contains the primary and secondary coils of the second transformer means and which is charged with oil.

Claim 11

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein that side of the secondary coil of said second transformer means which is connected to the cathode is also connected to the negative side of the primary coil of the second transformer means.

Claim 12

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor and including an anode and cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor; and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electrical energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses which converter means comprises a first transformer means having primay coil means energized by direct current energy from said source and a secondary coil means inductively coupled to the primary coil means; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil means of the first transformer means so as to be charged by electrical output of that coil means; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the secondary coil means of the first transformer means and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the first transformer means to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and second transformer means comprising a primary coil to receive the pulse discharges from the dump capacitor of the converter means and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the first coil to produce a voltage step-up and electrically connected between the anode and the cathode.

Claim 13

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor and including an anode and cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor; and b. electrical supply means to apply between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell pulses of electrical energy to induce a pulsating current in the electrolytic conductor, wherein the electrical supply means comprises a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current and electrical converter means to convert that energy to said pulses which converter means comprises a first transformer means having primay coil means energized by direct current energy from said source and a secondary coil means inductively coupled to the primary coil means; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil means of the first transformer means so as to be charged by electrical output of that coil means; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the secondary coil means of the first transformer means and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the first transformer means to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and second transformer means comprising a primary coil to receive the pulse discharges from the dump capacitor of the converter means and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the first coil to produce a voltage step-up and electrically connected between the anode and the cathode.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said current generating means comprises a transformer situated inside said first electrode.

Claim 15

Apparatus acroding to claim 10, wherein the secondary winding of said transformer is connected whereby said first electrode operates as an anode and said second electrode operates as a cathode.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said current generating means further comprises means to generate a pulsed exciting current to the primary winding of said transformer.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said current generating means comprises a source of direct current; a transformer means having primary coil means energized by direct current energy from said source and secondary coil means inductively coupled to the primary coil means; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coils means of the transformer means so as to be charged by electrical output of that coil means; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a nonconducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the second coil means of the transformer means and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the transformer means to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and electrical conversion means to receive the pulse discharges from the pump capacitor and to convert them to pulses of electrical energy which are applied between said first and second electrodes.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising delay means to delay the first discharge from said dump capacitor a period of time sufficiently long to enable substantially full charging thereof.

Claim 19

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor; b. first tubular electrode disposed within the cell and having a fluid external peripheral surface comprised of outwardly concave longitudinally extending flutes meeting at sharp longitudinally extending crests spaced circumferentially around said electrode; c. a second tubular electrode surrounding said first electrode and segmented into a series of electrically connected, circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending strips, said strips being equal in number to the number of said flutes; said strips being disposed in radial alignment with said crests such that each said crest is directed toward the centerline of the respective strip midway between the side edges of that strip; and said strips having a total active surface area approximately equal to the total active surface area of said flutes; and d. current generating means for generating a flow of electrolyzing current between said first and second electrodes.

Claim 20

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an electrolytic conductor; b. first tubular electrode disposed within the cell and having a fluid external peripheral surface comprised of outwardly concave longitudinally extending flutes meeting at sharp longitudinally extending crests spaced circumferentially around said electrode; c. a second tubular electrode surrounding said first electrode and segmented into a series of electrically connected, circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending strips, said strips being equal in number to the number of said flutes; said strips being disposed in radial alignment with said crests such that each said crest is directed toward the centerline of the respective strip midway between the side edges of that strip; and said strips having a total active surface area approximately equal to the total active surface area of said flutes; and d. current generating means for generating a flow of electrolyzing current between said first and second electrodes.

Claim 21

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said current generating means is such that the electrolyzing current flows between said first and second electrodes with the first electrode operating as an anode and the second electrode operating as a cathode.

Claim 22

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an aqueous electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor; and b. electrical supply means for producing electrolysis in the aqueous electrolytic conductor between the anode and the cathode, said electrical supply means comprising: a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current; a first transformer having a primary coil energized by direct current energy from said source and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil of the first transformer so as to be charged by the electrical output of that coil; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the secondary coil of the first transformer and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the first transformer to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and a second transformer comprising a primary coil to receive the pulses discharged from the dump capacitor and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the first coil to produce a voltage step-up.

Claim 23

Electrolysis apparatus comprising: a. an electrolytic cell to hold an aqueous electrolytic conductor and including an anode and a cathode to contact the electrolytic conductor; and b. electrical supply means for producing electrolysis in the aqueous electrolytic conductor between the anode and the cathode, said electrical supply means comprising: a source of direct current electrical energy of substantially uniform voltage and current; a first transformer having a primary coil energized by direct current energy from said source and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil; a dump capacitor connected to the secondary coil of the first transformer so as to be charged by the electrical output of that coil; oscillator means to derive electrical pulses from direct current energy of said source; a switching device switchable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state in response to each of the electrical pulses derived by the oscillator means and connected to the secondary coil of the first transformer and the dump capacitor such that each switching from its non-conducting state to its conducting state causes the dump capacitor to discharge and also short circuits the first transformer to cause the switching means to revert to its non-conducting state; and a second transformer comprising a primary coil to receive the pulses discharged from the dump capacitor and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the first coil to produce a voltage step-up.

Claim 24

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cathode encompasses the anode, the anode is hollow and the primary and secondary coils of the second transformer are disposed within the anode.

Claim 25

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the anode is tubular and its ends are closed to form a chamber which contains the primary and secondary coils of the second transformer and which is charged with oil.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the roots of said flutes are cylindrically curved.

Claim 27

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the anode and cathode are disposed about a common central axis with the cathode encompassing the anode and wherein the anode has a fluted external peripheral surface comprised of outwardly concave flutes extending longitudinally of the central axis and meeting at sharp crests spaced circumferentially around the anode.

Claim 28

Electrolysis apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cathode is comprised of a plurality of electrically interconnected strips disposed in tubular array around the anode; said strips being equal to the number of said flutes and said strips being disposed in radial alignment with said crests such that each crest is directed toward the centerline of the respective strip midway between the side edges of that strip.