Hydrogen rod electrode with integrated hydrogen source

• US 5,407,555 A
• Filed: 02/18/1993
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: August Winsel
• Original Assignee: August Winsel
• Inventors: Winsel, August
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US07/958,343
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 204/433, 204/435, 204/292, 204/293, 429/12, 429/30, 429/41, 429/42, 429/72, 429/192, 429/229, 429/218
• US Class Current: 204/435
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 11/10 by pressure of another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/301 Reference electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/302 pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/00 Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/26 Cells without oxidising active material, e.g. Volta cells

Abstract

A hydrogen rod electrode including a hydrogen electrode in one aperture of a gas tube, which is connected at the other aperture to a cell holder for containing a hydrogen generation cell. This is used as a reference electrode for electrochemical measurements or as a pH measuring electrode. Through an electric circuit, which is also integrated, hydrogen is provided in adequate quantities for the operation concerned.

Claims

1. A hydrogen measurement electrode comprising a reference electrode, a gas generating cell for producing hydrogen for introduction to the reference electrode, and a conduit connecting the reference electrode and the gas generating cell, wherein the gas generating cell includes an anode, a cathode and an aqueous electrolyte in an enclosed cell housing, and wherein the cathode is formed of a hydrogen releasing substance.

2. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 1 wherein the reference electrode and the gas generating cell are remotely positioned relative to each other, and wherein the reference electrode and the gas generating cell are operatively connected only by the conduit so that hydrogen produced by the gas generating cell is supplied to the remotely positioned reference electrode.

3. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 2 wherein the reference electrode and the gas generating cell communicate with opposing ends of the conduit.

4. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 1 wherein the cathode is a hydrogen diffusing electrode for communicating with the conduit through a hydrophobic diffusion membrane.

5. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 4 wherein the cathode includes a catalyst layer bound with polytetrafluoroethylene and rolled into a metal mesh, and a porous polytetrafluoroethylene foil covering the catalyst layer and the metal mesh.

6. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 5 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene foil lies on a side of the cathode which faces away from the anode.

7. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 5 wherein the anode is zinc.

8. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 7 wherein the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide.

9. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 1 which further includes means for electrically connecting the anode and the cathode.

10. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 9 wherein the connecting means is a resistor.

11. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 10 wherein the connecting means is a potentiometer.

12. The hydrogen measurement electrode of claim 1 wherein the reference electrode is formed of a material having a catalytic capacity for chemisorptive cleavage of hydrogen molecules selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metals of the Periodic Table of Elements, alloys of such metals, and electron-conducting solids metallized with such metals and alloys of such metals.

13. A hydrogen measurement electrode comprising:

a conduit having a first end for receiving an electrode body which serves as a reference electrode, and a second end opposing the first end for receiving a hydrogen generating cell having an anode and a cathode, for producing hydrogen for introduction to the reference electrode;

an electrical connection extending along the conduit for connecting the electrode body to a terminal for the hydrogen measurement electrode; and

means for electrically connecting the anode and the cathode of the hydrogen generating cell, for producing a flow of hydrogen from the hydrogen generating cell, along the conduit, to the electrode body.

14. The measurement electrode of claim 13 wherein the electrode body and the hydrogen generating cell are remotely positioned relative to each other, and wherein the electrode body and the hydrogen generating cell are operatively connected only by the conduit so that hydrogen produced by the hydrogen generating cell is supplied to the remotely positioned electrode body.

15. The measurement electrode of claim 13 which further includes an electrode body received by the first end of the conduit.

16. The measurement electrode of claim 15 wherein the electrode body is formed of a material having a catalytic capacity for chemisorptive cleavage of hydrogen molecules selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metals of the Periodic Table of Elements, alloys of such metals, and electron-conducting solids metallized with such metals and alloys of such metals.

17. The measurement electrode of claim 15 wherein the electrode body is retained over the first end of the conduit by an end cap for engaging the first end of the conduit, and for retaining the electrode body in electrical contact with the electrical connection.

18. The measurement electrode of claim 17 which further includes means for electrolytically separating the electrode body from an external test solution, in operative association with the end cap.

19. The measurement electrode of claim 13 which further includes a cell housing formed at the second end of the conduit, for receiving the hydrogen generating cell therein.

20. The measurement electrode of claim 19 wherein the cell housing further includes a sealing gasket positioned adjacent to the second end of the conduit, for engaging the hydrogen generating cell received within the cell housing.

21. The measurement electrode of claim 19 which further includes a cover for enclosing the cell housing so that the cell housing and the second end of the conduit with which it communicates are sealed, and for retaining the hydrogen generating cell within the cell housing.

22. The measurement electrode of claim 21 wherein the cover includes electrical contacts for electrical connection with the anode and the cathode of the hydrogen generating cell.

23. The measurement electrode of claim 22 wherein the electrical contacts are electrically connected with each other for operating the hydrogen generating cell.

24. The measurement electrode of claim 23 wherein the electrical contacts are electrically connected with each other by a resistor.

25. The measurement electrode of claim 24 wherein the electrical contacts are electrically connected by a potentiometer.

26. The measurement electrode of claim 25 wherein the potentiometer includes an on-off switch.

27. The measurement electrode of claim 23 wherein the electrical contacts are electrically connected with each other to develop a differential in voltage between the anode and the cathode of the hydrogen generating cell.

28. The measurement electrode of claim 27 wherein the differential in voltage is from 0 to 0.4 volts.

29. The measurement electrode of claim 22 wherein the electrical contacts provide spring means for placing the gas generating cell tightly against the second end of the conduit, for sealing engagement of the second end with the gas generating cell.

30. The measurement electrode of claim 22 wherein the electrical contacts extend to exterior portions of the cover, for connection with external monitoring means.

31. The measurement electrode of claim 21 wherein the cover includes spring means for placing the gas generating cell tightly against the second end of the conduit, for sealing engagement of the second end with the gas generating cell.

32. The measurement electrode of claim 31 wherein the cover is in snap-fit engagement with the cell housing.

33. The measurement electrode of claim 13 wherein the electrical connection extends through the conduit to a terminal fastened to the conduit and which is accessible from exterior portions of the conduit.

34. The measurement electrode of claim 13 which further includes a reservoir for containing a reference solution in communication with the conduit, and positioned along the conduit between the first end and the second end.

35. The measurement electrode of claim 34 wherein the reservoir further includes means for separating the reference solution and the hydrogen from each other.

36. The measurement electrode of claim 35 wherein the separating means is a capillary system for separately transporting the reference solution and the hydrogen.

37. The measurement electrode of claim 35 wherein the separating means is a porous system for separately transporting the reference solution and the hydrogen.

38. The measurement electrode of claim 34 which further includes a hydrogen generating cell received by the second end of the conduit, for providing hydrogen for interacting with the electrode body and for conveying the reference solution through the conduit.

39. The measurement electrode of claim 13 which further includes a hydrogen generating cell received by the second end of the conduit, including a cell housing having an aperture formed therein, and containing the anode, the cathode and an aqueous electrolyte, wherein the cathode is a hydrogen diffusing electrode for communicating with the aperture through a hydrophobic diffusion membrane.

40. The measurement electrode of claim 39 wherein the cathode includes a catalyst layer bound with polytetrafluoroethylene and rolled into a metal mesh, and a porous polytetrafluoroethylene foil covering the catalyst layer and the metal mesh.

41. The measurement electrode of claim 40 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene foil lies on a side of the cathode which faces away from the anode.

42. The measurement electrode of claim 40 wherein the catalyst layer is Raney nickel.

43. The measurement electrode of claim 40 wherein the anode is zinc.

44. The measurement electrode of claim 43 wherein the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide.