Gasket means for electrolytic cell assembly

• US 4,342,460 A
• Filed: 03/30/1978
• Issued: 08/03/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oxytech Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corp.
• Inventors: Eng, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Robert I.
• Application Number:
  US05/891,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 277/206, 277/166, 277/165, 277/207 A, 277/1, 277/205, 204/279, 204/253
• US Class Current: 277/312
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type

Abstract

In filter press electrolytic cell assemblies, gasketing materials are frequently used for sealing the cell contents between individual frames. An improved design of gasket is disclosed, having a bulb profile at one surface with a hollow or indented profile on the opposite. Use of this specific profile gasket, positioned in properly molded or machined sealing grooves in the mating surfaces of electrolytic cell frame members, permits repeated disassembly and reassembly of cell frame components without leakage of electrolytic fluids between cell compartments, or leakage from cell interior to exterior.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of electrolytic cell frames and gasket means for sealing opposing mating surfaces, the cell frames having longitudinal recesses of generally rectangular cross section for accommodating said gasket, the gasket comprising parallel side walls, bottom shoulders, an indented, arched cavity between the bottom shoulders, top shoulders and when in a relaxed state an elevated, bulb shaped bearing surface between said top shoulders, the dimensions of the indented cavity being equal to or greater than the dimensions of the elevated bearing surface, the parallel walls and shoulders of the gasket conforming in shape to the generally rectangular configuration of the recesses, said apparatus being further characterized by the absence of lateral movement of said gasket when compressed against opposing surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross section of the elevated bearing surface to the indented cavity of the gasket is from about 0.10 to 1.00.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the cross sectional area of the gasket to the cross sectional area of the recess in which the gasket fits is about 0.80 to about 1.0.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gasket is fabricated from an elastomeric organic polymeric material.

5. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the polymeric material comprises EPDM rubber.

6. A process of sealing a filter press type electrolytic cell which comprises (a) inserting a gasket into individual electrolytic cell frames, said frames having longitudinal recesses of generally rectangular cross section for accommodating said gasket, the gasket comprising parallel side walls, bottom shoulders, an indented, arched cavity between the bottom shoulders, top shoulders and when in a relaxed state an elevated, bulb shaped bearing surface between said top shoulders, the dimensions of the indented cavity being equal to or greater than the dimensions of the elevated bearing surface, the parallel walls and shoulders of the gasket conforming in shape to the generally rectangular configuration of the recesses, and (b) assembling a plurality of the individual gasketed cell frames into a filter press configuration wherein the frames are held together by compressive forces without causing lateral movement of the gasket.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the cross section of the elevated bearing surface to the indented cavity of the gasket is from about 0.10 to 1.00.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the cross sectional area of the gasket to the cross sectional area of the recess in which the gasket fits is about 0.80 to about 1.0.

9. The process of claim 6 wherein the gasket is fabricated from an elastomeric organic polymeric material.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the polymeric material is EPDM rubber.