[19]
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`United States Patent
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`
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`I 1111111111111111111111111111111 lllll 11111111111111111111 lll111111111111111
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`US005378339A
`
`[t t] Patent Number:
`5,378,339
`[45]Date of Patent:
`Jan.3, 1995
`
`Aoki et al.
`
`[54]WATER ELECTROLYZER
`
`[56]
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,801,488 4/1974 Okuhara et al ................. 204/260 X
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3,984,303 10/1976 Peters et al ......................... 204/260
`
`
`4,169,035 9/1979 Stummer et al .................... 204/260
`4,426,261
`
`1/1984 Fushihara ....................... 204/260 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`60-20073 3/1978 Japan .
`
`62-102890 5/1987 Japan .
`
`10/1989 Japan .
`1-262985
`
`
`
`
`WO93/15022 1/1993 WIPO .
`
`1710519 2/1992 U.S.S.R . .............................. 204/260
`
`[75]Inventors:
`Kazuaki Aoki; Tomio Tadokoro;
`Sbozo Miyazawa, all of Suzaka,
`Japan
`
`[73]Assignee:
`
`Techno Excel Kabushiki Kaisha,
`
`Nagano, Japan
`
`[21]Appl. No.: 94,044
`
`[22]PCT Filed:Jan. 21, 1993
`
`[86]PCT No.: PCT/JP93/00084
`§371 Date:Aug. 2, 1993
`
`§102(e) Date:Aug. 2, 1993
`
`[87]PCT Pub. No.: W093/15022
`PCT Pub. Date: Aug. 5, 1993
`
`
`
`[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`R. Valentine
`Primary Examiner-Donald
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`An object of the present invention is to provide a water
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`electrolyzer, which has higher electrolyzing efficiency
`
`
`and smaller size than conventional ones. In an electro­
`
`
`
`
`lyzing tank, at least three cylindrical electrodes, each of
`
`
`
`which has different polarity with respect to adjacent
`
`
`one, are arranged concentrically with cylindrical parti­
`
`
`Jan. 30, 1992 [JP] Japan .................................. 4-040183
`
`
`tions. Surface area of the one cylindrical electrode,
`
`Feb, 12, 1992 [JP] Japan ··············----4-058916
`
`
`which is provided between other two, is equal to the
`
`sum of surface area of an outer face of the inner cylin­
`[51]Int. Cl.6 •••••••••••••••••••••••• C25B 9/00; C25B 15/08;
`
`
`
`drical electrode and that of an inner face of the outer
`C25B 11/10
`
`
`cylindrical electrodes,.so that maximum electrolyzing
`
`[52]U.S. Cl ..................................... 204/260; 204/263;
`
`efficiency can be gained.
`204/290F
`
`
`[58]Field of Search .................... 204/257, 260, 290 F,
`
`204/263-266, 255
`8 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`16e
`
`36
`
`32
`
`14
`
`22
`
`t
`10
`
`16a
`
`20
`
`24
`
`28
`
`47
`
`48
`44
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`16c
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`46
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`40
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`51
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`50
`
`16d
`
`t
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`52
`
`Tennant Company
`Exhibit 1047
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Jan. 3, 1995
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`Sheet 2 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`FIGZA
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`
`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`5,378,339
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`FIG.3A
`
`42b
`
`b04
`
`FIG.3B
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`

`US. Patent
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`Jan. 3, 1995
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`Sheet 4 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`FIG.4A
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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Jan. 3, 1995
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`Sheet 5 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Jan. 3, 1995
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`Sheet 6 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`'
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`72
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` 81
`
`/////,,,
`'HIII”.
`
`
`77
`75
`79
`90b
`
`74
`
`75
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
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`Jan. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
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`5,378,339
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`F108
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`81
`
`44
`
`70
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`72
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`42b
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` 75
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`5,378,339
`
`-
`
`FIGS
`
`
`
`

`

`5,378,339
`
`1
`
`WATER ELECI'ROLYZER
`
`FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
`
`The present invention relates to a water electrolyzer,
`and more precisely relates to a water electrolyzer,
`which comprises an electrolyzing tank, electrodes,
`which are mutually faced in the electrolyzing tank, and
`a porous partition provided between the electrodes,
`whereby alkali water is introduced from a cathode elec-
`trode.
`
`BACKGROUND OF TECHNOLOGY
`
`A conventional water electrolyzer, which electro-
`lyzes raw water in an electrolyzing tank to alkali water
`and acid water by supplying electric power to elec-
`trodes in the electrolyzing tank, has been known. An
`example is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication
`No. 60-20073.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`The water electrolyzer disclosed in the Japanese
`Patents has an electrolyzing tank whose inner space is
`divided into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber .
`by a porous partition, and there is provided a rod-like
`electrode in each chamber so as to electrolyte raw wa-
`ter.
`
`25
`
`In the water electrolyzer, alkali water having higher
`pH value is electrolyzed in the cathode chamber when
`electric power is supplied to the rod-like electrodes.
`However, it is impossible for the conventional rod-
`like electrodes to broaden surface area for electrolyzing
`raw water, so that the electrolyzing tank and the water
`electrolyzer including it must be larger.
`Furthermore, the rod—like electrodes, which if used
`for a long time, are necessary to be replaced. Being a
`larger electrolyzing tank, it cannot be replaced en-
`tirely, so the rod-like electrodes are replaced.
`However, replacing only the rod-like electrodes is a
`complicated task, and maintenance work is difficult.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the present invention is to provide a
`water electrolyzer having higher electrolyzing effi-
`ciency than conventional water electrolyzers and being
`capable of compacting an electrolyzing tank in size.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a water electrolyze being capable of easily exchanging
`the compacted electrolyzing tank.
`To achieve the object, the inventors of the present
`invention have found that: the surface area of the elec-
`trodes can be made broader by forming the electrodes
`into concentric cylinders, and the electrolyzing effi-
`ciency can be increased; and exchanging the electrolyz-
`ing tank can be easy by arranging an inlet for raw water,
`outlets for alkali and acid water and through-holes,
`through which said terminals pass, on same face of the
`electrolyzing tank.
`The water electrolyzer of the present invention has
`the following structure: an electrolyzing tank, elec-
`trodes, which are mutually faced in the electrolyzing
`tank, and a porous partition provided between the elec-
`trodes, whereby alkali water is introduced from cath-
`ode electrodes;
`the electrodes are a first cylindrical
`electrode, a second cylindrical electrode which is con-
`centrically arranged outside of the first cylindrical elec-
`trode, and a third cylindrical electrode which is concen-
`trically arranged outside of the second cylindrical elec-
`trode; one of the adjacent cylindrical electrodes is a
`cathode and the other is an anode; and the surface area
`
`3O
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`of the second cylindrical electrode is equal to the sum of
`surface area of the outer face of the first cylindrical
`electrode and the surface area of inner face of the third
`cylindrical electrodes.
`The water electrolyzer of the present invention also
`has the following structure: an electrolyzing tank, elec-
`trodes, which are mutually faced in the electrolyzing
`tank, and a porous partition provided between the elec-
`trodes, whereby alkali water is introduced from a cath-
`ode of the electrodes; the electrodes are three cylindri-
`cal electrodes, which are concentrically arranged, one
`of the adjacent cylindrical electrodes is a cathode and
`another is an anode, each cylindrical electrode has a
`terminal on one end face, the partition is a cylindrical
`partition and is concetrically arranged between adja-
`cent cylindrical electrodes; a branching plate for
`branching alkali water, which is formed on the cathode
`side, and acid water, which is formed on the anode side,
`to predetermined paths contacts the other end faces of
`the cylindrical electrodes with a packing made of an
`elastic material; and the electrolyzing tank has a tank
`casing, which is capable of accommodating the cylin-
`drical electrodes,
`the cylindrical partitions and the
`branching plate, the tank casing has outlets for the alkali
`water and acid water, an inlet for raw water and
`through-holes, through which the terminals pass, on the
`same face, the electrolyzing tank is detachably attached.
`In the above stated structures, if the first and third
`electrodes are cathodes and the second electrode is an ,
`anode, and/or the anode is made of titanium (Ti) and
`coated with platinum (Pt), the life spans of the elec—
`trodes can be longer.
`The branching plate has groove paths, which are
`connected to the paths, through which the alkali water
`and acid water pass, on faces, which contact the tank
`casing and the packing, so the alkali water and the acid
`water can be easily branched.
`Furthermore, the outlets for the alkali water and acid
`water, the inlet for raw water and the through—holes,
`through which the terminals pass, are formed on a bot-
`tom face of the electrolyzing tank, so the electrolyzing
`tank can be easily replaced.
`In the present invention, at least three cylindrical
`electrodes are concentrically arranged, so that the sur-
`face area of the electrodes, which contact water, can be
`broader and the electrolyzing efficiency can be in-
`creased. Thus, the electrodes and the electrolyzing tank
`can be compacted in size.
`Further scope of applicability of the present inven-
`tion will become apparent from the detailed description
`given hereinafter. However, it should be understood
`that the detailed description and specific examples,
`while indicating preferred embodiments of the inven-
`tion, are given by way of illustration only, since various
`changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of
`the invention will become apparent to those skilled in
`the art from this detailed description.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention will become more fully under-
`stood from the detailed description given hereinbelow
`and the accompanying drawings which are given by
`way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of
`the present invention, and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is an explanation view showing a summary
`system of a water electrolyzer;
`
`

`

`3
`FIG. 2A is a partially sectional front view of the
`electrolyzing tank 32 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 2B is a bottom View of the electrolyzing tank 32
`shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3A is a transverse sectional view of the elec-
`
`5,378,339
`
`trodes ass-bled in the electrolyzing tank 32 shown in
`FIG. 2;
`FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of the elec—
`trodes assembled in the electrolyzing tank 32 shown in
`FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4A is a front view of partitions 42a and 42b
`shown in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 4B is a sectional View of partitions 42a and 42b
`shown in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5A is a plan View of a branching plate, which is
`assembled to one end of the electrodes;
`FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the branching plate
`assembled to one end of the electrodes;
`FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the branching plate
`shown in FIG. 5 taken along the line B—B;
`FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the branching plate
`shown in FIG. 5 taken along the line C—C;
`FIG. 7 is a front view of a packing;
`FIG. 8 is an explanation view showing a flow route of 2
`water in the electrolyzing tank; and
`FIG. 9 is a front view showing another embodiment.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`1
`
`O
`
`l
`
`5
`
`02
`
`5
`
`0
`
`5
`
`4
`Note that, the first thermosensor 24 is provided for
`detecting temperature of the raw water flowing into, so
`the position thereof is not limited to the position shown
`in FIG. 1.
`A first water pressure sensor 28 for detecting pressure
`of the raw water introduced into the pipe 16a is pro-
`vided in the pipe 16a. A water meter for detecting flow
`quantity of the raw water may be used instead of the
`first water pressure sensor 28.
`A mineral adding section 36 add some mineral, e.g.,
`calcium, to raw water (purified water) in the pipe 16b,
`which flows into the electrolyzing tank 32.
`There is provided a second water pressure sensor 30
`and a regulator 34 in the pipe 16b, and the second water
`pressure sensor 30 detects pressure of the purified water
`flowing into the electrolyzing tank 32. Choking degree
`of the purifying section 18 can be detected by compar-
`ing the water pressure in the pipe 16b, which is detected
`by the second water pressure sensor 30, and the water
`pressure in the pipe 16a, which is detected by the first
`water pressure sensor 28.
`Note that, a water meter for detecting flow quantity
`of the purified water may be used instead of the second
`water pressure sensor 30.
`The regulator 34 defines the maximum quantity (or
`pressure) of water flowing into the electrolyzing tank
`32.
`
`The purified water in the electrolyzing tank 32 is
`electrolyzed by the cathode electrode 40 and the anode
`electrode 48, which are arranged to face each other, and
`a porous partition is provided therebetween, so that
`alkali water is produced in a cathode chamber 44 in
`which the cathode 40 is provided; acid water is pro-
`duced in an anode chamber 46 in which the anode 48 is
`provided.
`The alkali water produced in the cathode chamber 44
`is introduced out from the electrolyzing tank 32 to the
`faucet 10 via pipes 16c and l6e and the selector 12.
`on the other hand, the acid water produced in the
`anode chamber 46 is introduced out via a pipe 16d for
`further objects.
`'
`The front end of the pipe 16c is connected to the pipe
`16d, a second electromagnetic valve 51 is provided at a
`junction to the pipe 16e, and a third electromagnetic
`valve 50 is provided on downstream side of the junction
`to the pipe 16c.
`When the second electromagnetic valve 51 is opened
`and the third electromagnetic valve 50 is closed, the
`alkali water is introduced to the faucet 10 via the pipe
`16e.
`On the other hand, when the second electromagnetic
`valve 51 is closed and the third electromagnetic valve
`50 is opened, the alkali water is discharged via the pipe
`16d.
`For example, to discharge leftover water in the elec-
`trolyzing tank 32 when the water electrolyzer is reused
`after a long time stoppage, or to mix the alkali water and
`the acid water, the valves are controlled as described
`above.
`The alkali water is discharged, so as to, for example,
`discharge left-over water in the cathode chamber 44
`and the anode chamber 46 before reuse of the water
`electrolyzer, or so as to mix the alkali water and the acid
`water.
`
`Note that, in the case of mixing the alkali water and
`the acid water, the amount of the acid water can be
`adjusted by the adjusting screw 52 in the pipe 160’. Note
`that, a summary system of the electrolyzing tank 32, etc.
`
`3
`
`The present invention will now be described in detail 3
`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 shows a schematic explanation view showing
`a summary system of a water electrolyzer of the present
`embodiment.
`In FIG. 1, raw water or alkali water is selectively
`spouted from a faucet 10. Raw water or alkali water is
`selected by turning a selection lever 14, which is pro-
`vided to a selector 12. When the selection lever 14 is
`turned to a raw water position, raw water, which is
`supplied via a water pipe (not shown), directly spouts
`from the faucet 10.
`On the other hand, when the selection lever 14 is
`turned to an alkali water position, raw water supplied
`via the water pipe (not shown), is introduced from the
`selector 12 to a purifying section 18 via a pipe 16a.
`Raw water introduced into the purifying section 18
`passes through an activated charcoal cartridge 20 and a
`hollow fiber filter 22, so that impurities, chlorine, etc. in
`the raw water are adsorbed and filtered by them, and
`filtered water is introduced out from a pipe 16b.
`Note that, all of chlorine, etc. in the raw water is not
`filtered; a part of that will be included in the purified
`water.
`
`45
`
`5
`
`0
`
`A first thermosensor 24 is provided at the pipe 16a.
`The first thermosensor 24 is, for example, a thermister,
`and detects water temperature in the pipe 16a so as to
`prevent water therein from freezing, and prevent hot
`raw water from flowing into the purifying section 18
`and deteriorating the activated charcoal in the cartridge
`20.
`
`To_ prevent freezing, for example, if the first thermo-
`sensor 24 detects cold raw water, whose temperature is
`lower than 5° C., AC voltage is inputted to electrodes in
`an electrolyzing tank so as to warm water therein. On
`the other hand, if hot raw water, whose temperature is
`higher than 35° C., is detected, a first electromagnetic
`valve 47 closes the pipe 16a.
`
`5
`
`5
`
`65
`
`

`

`5,378,339
`
`5
`has been explained with reference to FIG. 1, so detailed
`structure of the electrolyzing tank 32 is omitted.
`The electrolyzing tank 32 shown in FIG. 1 has, as
`shown in FIG. 2A, a cylindrical tank casing 50 and
`electrodes E, which has a cathode terminal 43 and an
`anode terminal 49 on an end face, inserted therein. The
`tank casing 50 has an upper casing section 52 and a
`lower casing section 58, which are mutually screwed
`together.
`The lower casing section 58 has, as shown in FIGS.
`2A and 2B, through-holes for the terminals 43 and 49,
`an inlet 62 for raw water, an outlet 60 for the acid water
`and an outlet 64 for the alkali water on a bottom face,
`and further has an inner cylinder section 54, through
`which a pipe 56 for the acid water connected to the
`outlet 60 runs.
`
`The electrodes E are provided between an outer
`circumferential face of the inner cylinder section 54 of
`the lower casing section 58 and an inner circumferential
`face of the outer casing section 52. The electrodes E
`are, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, concentrical three
`cylindrical electrodes.
`In the cylindrical electrodes, as shown in FIGS. 3A
`and 3B, there is provided an anode electrode 48 be-
`tween cathode electrodes 40a and 40b, and porous parti-
`tions 42a and 42b are provided therebetween. The
`anode electrode 48 is a cylindrical body made of tita-
`nium (Ti) and coated with platinum (Pt). By using such
`a cylindrical body as the anode electrode 48, the fre-
`quency of replacing the anode electrode 48 can be
`lower.
`
`Note that, deterioration speed of the cathode elec-
`trodes 40a and 40b is slower than that of the anode
`electrode 48, so it may be made of stainless steel.
`DC voltage will be inputted to the terminals 43 and
`49, which are provided on the end faces of the cathode
`electrodes 40a and 40b and the anode electrode 48.
`Each partition 420 and 42b has a basket-like cylinder
`45 made of a plastic and a polyester nonwoven fabric
`sheet 42, which is on the whole inner face of the basket-
`like cylinder 45.
`The basket-like cylinder 45 has a plurality of vertical
`ribs 45a, which are vertically provided along edges of
`the cylinder 45, and a plurality of horizontal ribs 45b,
`which are provided in the circumferential direction.
`Each vertical rib 45a has, as shown in FIG. 4B which is
`a sectional view taken along line A—A in FIG. 4A, a
`circular sectional shape, and works as a spacer between
`the cathode electrodes 400 and 40b and the anode elec-
`trode 48.
`
`Therefore, diameter t of the vertical rib 45a is equal
`to the clearance between the cathode electrodes 400
`and 40b and the anode electrode 48.
`
`In the electrodes 400, 40b and 48 of the present em-
`bodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and SB, the surface area
`of the anode electrode 48 is equal to the sum of the
`surface area of an inner circumferential face of the cath—
`ode electrode 40a, which faces an outer circumferential
`face of the anode electrode 48, and surface area of an
`outer circumferential face of the cathode electrode 40b,
`which faces an inner circumferential face of the anode
`electrode 48.
`The relationship among the radii of the electrodes
`400, 40b and 48 is indicated by the following formula.
`As shown in FIG. 3A, the radius of the cathode elec-
`trode 40a is r; the radius of the anode electrode 48 is R;
`and the radius of the cathode electrode 40b is L (r<-
`
`6
`R< L). If the thickness of the electrodes with respect to
`their radius is ignorable, the relationship is:
`
`2X27rR=Zwr+21rL
`
`R=(r+L)/2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`When the purified water is introduced into the elec-
`trolyzing tank 32 whose electrodes have the above
`described relationship, it is electrolyzed between the
`inner circumferential face of the cathode electrode 400
`and the outer circumferential face of the anode elec—
`trode 48, and between the outer circumferential face of
`the cathode electrode 40b and the inner circumferential
`face of the anode electrode 48.
`
`During the electrolyzing, all circumferential faces of
`the anode electrode 48 work for electrolyzing, so elec-
`trolyzing efficiency can be maximum.
`The acid water is produced among the partitions 42a
`and 42b and the anode electrode 48; the alkali water is
`produced between the partition 420 and the cathode
`electrode 40a and between the partition 42b and the
`cathode electrode 40b.
`The alkali water and the acid water electrolyzed are
`branched by a branching plate, which is attached to an
`end section of the electrode B, then the alkali water is
`introduced out from the electrolyzing tank 32 via the
`pipe 16c, shown in FIG. 1, and the acid water is dis-
`charged via the pipe 16d.
`A plan View of the branching plate 70, which is at-
`tached to the end section of the electrode E, is shown in
`FIG. 5A, and its rear view is shown in FIG. 5B. And a
`sectional view taken along line B—B of FIGS. 5A and
`5B is shown in FIG. 6A, and a sectional view taken
`along line C—C is shown in FIG. 6B.
`As shown in FIG. 5A, there is grooved a Y-groove
`having a through-hole 78 on a front face of the circular
`branching plate 70. And a front looped groove 74 hav-
`ing a plurality of oval through-holes 76 is arranged on
`outer edge side with respect to the through-hole 78 and
`across each branch section of the Y-groove 72.
`There are grooved a plurality of vertical grooves 80
`on a side face of the branching plate 70, and the vertical
`grooves 80 are connected to an L-groove 81 (see FIG.
`6A), which contacts the Y—groove 72.
`As shown in FIG. 5B, there is grooved an inverted
`Y-groove 73, which corresponds to the Y-groove 72 on
`the front face, on a rear face of the branching plate 70,
`and a rear looped groove 75, which contacts the in-
`verted Y-groove 73, between the outer edge of the
`branching plate 70 and the oval through—holes 76. The
`inverted Y-groove 73 does not cross the through-hole
`78 and the oval through-holes 76, and the through-hole
`78 is connected to a short pipe section 79 (see FIGS. 6A
`and 6B), which is extended to a bottom face of the
`branching plate 70.
`There is formed a short pipe section 77, whose open-
`ing section is opened along the inverted Y-groove 73, in
`the inverted Y-groove 73 (see FIG. 6A).
`There are projected bosses 90a, 90b and 90c, which
`are arranged along side both edges of the rear looped
`groove 75 and the oval through-holes 76, on the rear
`face of the branching plate 70. The bosses 900, 90b and
`90c are capable of biting a packing 82, which is inserted
`between the end face of the electrode E and the branch-
`ing plate 70 and which is made of an elastic material,
`e.g., rubber, so as to seal the rear looped groove 75 and
`the oval through-holes 76.
`
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`

`5,378,339
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`7
`FIG. 7 is a front view of the packing 82. The packing
`82 has notches 80a, which correspond to the vertical
`grooves 80 on the branching plate 70, on an edge, and
`oval holes 76h, which correspond to the oval through-
`holes 76, are circularly arranged on an inner side of the
`notches 80a. There are circularly arranged oval holes
`75h, which are connected to the rear looped groove 75,
`between the oval holes 76h and the notches 80a, and
`there are bored inserting holes 77h and 79h, into which
`the short pipe sections 77 and 79 are respectively in-
`serted, inside of the circularly arranged oval holes 76h
`and 75h
`
`The packing 82 and the branching plate 70 are inte-
`grated to branch the alkali water and the acid water,
`which have electrolyzed by the electrode E.
`In FIG. 8, the electrode E, which is having the pack-
`ing 82 and the branching plate 70 on the end face, is
`accommodated in the tank casing 50. The raw water,
`which has been introduced into the tank casing 50 via
`the inlet 62 on the bottom face, climbs up in the elec-
`trode E and is electrolyzed. During electrolyzing, the
`raw water between the cathode electrode 40a and the
`partition 42a and between the cathode electrode 40b
`and the partition 42b will be the alkali water; the raw
`water between the anode electrode 48 and the partitions
`420 and 42b will be the acid water.
`The alkali water between the cathode electrode 40b
`and The partition 42b flows into the front looped
`groove 74 via the oval holes 76h of the packing 82 and
`the oval through-holes 76 of the branching plate 70. The
`alkali water between the cathode electrode 40a and the
`partition 42a flows into the L—groove 81 via the notches
`80a of the packing 82 and the vertical grooves 80 of the
`branching plate 70. The alkali water in the front looped
`groove 74 and the L-groove 81 further flows into the
`Y-groove 72, which is connected to the front looped
`groove 74 and the L—groove 81, and the inner cylinder
`section 54 via the through-hole 78 and the short pipe
`section 79. The alkali water concentrated in the inner
`cylinder section 54 is introduced out from the outlet 64,
`which is provided on the bottom face of the tank casing
`50.
`On the other hand, the acid water between the anode
`electrode 48 and the partitions 42a and 42b flows into
`the inverted Y-groove 73 via the oval holes 75h of the
`packing 82, the rear looped groove 75 of the branching
`plate 70.
`The acid water in the inverted Y-groove 73 is intro-
`duced out from the outlet 60, which is provided on the
`bottom face of the tank casing 50, via the short pipe
`section 77 and the pipe 56 in the inner cylinder section
`54.
`»
`
`In the present embodiment, the electrode E, the pack-
`ing 82 and the branching plate 70 are integrally accom-
`modated in the tank casing 50, and the terminals 43 and
`49, the inlet 62 for the raw water, the outlet 60 for the
`acid water and the outlet 64 for the alkali water are
`provided on the bottom face of the tank casing 50, thus
`the electrolyzing tank can be attached to and detached
`from the water electrolyzer in one action, so that the
`electrolyzing tank can be exchanged quite easily.
`In the above described embodiment, the partitions
`42a and 42b shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are made of
`polyester non woven fabric and held by the basket-like
`cylinder 45 shown in FIG. 4A. The basket-like cylinder
`45 has the vertical ribs 45a and the horizontal ribs 45b.
`The vertical ribs 45a also work as spacers between
`the cathode electrode 400 or 40b and the anode elec-
`
`8
`trode 48, so that the water flows along the vertical ribs
`45.
`
`The raw water stays in the electrodes for longer, the
`electrolyzing efficiency will be higher because the raw
`water is capable of contact with the electrodes for a
`long time. Thus, it is preferable to use the cylindrical
`body, such as the basket-like cylinder 45 shown in FIG.
`9.
`
`The basket—like cylinder 45 shown in FIG. 9 has a
`plurality of vertical ribs 47a and a plurality of spiral ribs
`47b, which cross the vertical ribs with a predetermined
`angle. The spiral ribs 47b work as spacers between each
`cathode electrode 40a or 40b and the anode electrode
`48, so that the water flows along the spiral ribs 47b
`during electrolyzing.
`By above described function, the basket-like cylinder
`45 shown in FIG. 9, in comparison with the basket—like
`cylinder 45 shown in FIG. 4A, makes the water possible
`to stay in the electrode longer, and the electrolyzing
`efficiency will be higher.
`Note that, in FIG. 9, a polyester nonwoven fabric
`sheet is sticked on a whole inner face of the basket-like
`
`cylinder 45 as the partition 42.
`In the above described embodiment, a cylindrical
`electrode made of titanium (Ti) and coated with plati-
`num (Pt) is used as the anode electrode but it, of course,
`may be used as the cathode electrodes.
`And there is provided one cylindrical anode elec-
`trode between two cylindrical cathode electrodes in the
`embodiment but one cylindrical cathode electrode be-
`tween two cylindrical anode electrodes, furthermore
`four or more cylilndrical electrodes may be concentri-
`cally arranged.
`In the water electrolyzer in the present invention, the
`electrolyzing tank and the water electrolyzer can be
`smaller in size.
`
`Furthermore, the smaller electrolyzing tank can be
`easily replaced, so that maintenace work can be simpli-
`fied.
`’
`The invention being thus described, it will be obvious
`that the same may be varied in many ways. Such varia-
`tions are not to be regarded as a departure from the
`spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifica—
`tions as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are
`intended to be included within the scope of the follow-
`ing claims.
`We claim:
`1. In a water electrolyzer comprising an electrolyzing
`tank, electrodes, which are mutually faced in said elec—
`trolyzing tank, and a porous partition provided between
`said electrodes, whereby alkali water is introduced from
`a cathode of said electrodes,
`characterized in that:
`said electrodes are a first cylindrical electrode, a
`second cylindrical electrode which is concentri-
`cally arranged outside of said first cylindrical elec-
`trode, and a third cylindrical electrode which is
`concentrically arranged outside of said second
`cylindrical electrode; one of said adjacent cylindri-
`cal electrodes is a cathode and the other is an an-
`ode; and the surface area of said second cylindrical
`electrode is equal to the sum of the surface area of
`an outer face of said first cylindrical electrode and
`surface area of an inner face of said third cylindri-
`cal electrode; wherein said anode electrode is made
`of titanium (Ti) and coated with platinum (Pt).
`2. The water electrolyzer according to claim 1,
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`50
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`5,378,339
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`9
`wherein said first and said third electrodes are cath-
`odes, and said second electrode is an anode.
`3. In a water electrolyzer comprising an electrolyzing
`tank, electrodes, which are mutually faced in said elec-
`trolyzing tank, and a porous partition provided between
`said electrodes, whereby alkali water is introduced from
`a cathode of said electrodes,
`characterized in that:
`
`10
`4. The water electrolyzer according to claim 3,
`wherein said cylindrical electrodes are a first cylin-
`drical electrode, a second cylindrical electrode
`which is concentrically arranged outside of said
`first cylindrical electrode, and a third cylindrical
`electrode which is concentrically arranged outside
`of said second cylindrical electrode, one of said
`adjacent cylindrical electrodes is a cathode and the
`other is an anode, surface area of said second cylin-
`drical electrode is equal to the sum of surface area
`of an outer face of said first cylindrical electrode
`and surface area of an inner face of said third cylin-
`drical electrodes.
`5. The water electrolyzer according to claim 3,
`wherein said first and third electrodes are cathodes,
`and said second electrode is an anode.
`6. The water electrolyzer according to claim 3,
`wherein said anode electrode is made of titanium (Ti)
`and coated with platinum (Pt).
`7. The water electrolyzer according to claim 3,
`wherein said branching plate has groove paths, which
`is connected to the paths, through which the alkali
`water and acid water pass, on faces, which contact
`said tank casing and said packing.
`8. The water electrolyzer according to claim 3,
`wherein said outlets for the alkali water and acid
`water, said inlet for raw water and said through-
`holes,
`through which said terminals pass, are
`formed on a bottom face of said electrolyzing tank.
`*
`3
`*
`t
`i
`
`said electrodes are three cylindrical electrodes,
`which are concentrically arranged, one of adjacent
`cylindrical electrodes is a cathode and the other is
`an anode, each cylindrical electrode has a terminal
`on one end face, said partition is a cylindrical parti-
`tion and concetrically arranged between adjacent
`cylindrical electrodes;
`a branching plate for branching alkali water, which is
`formed on the cathode side, and acid water, which
`is formed on the anode side, to predetermined paths
`contacts the other end faces of said cylindrical
`electrodes with a packing made of an elastic mate-
`rial; and
`said electrolyzing tank has a tank casing, which is
`capable of accommodating said cylindrical elec-
`trodes, said cylindrical partitions and said branch-
`ing plate, said tank casing has outlets for the alkali
`water and acid water, an inlet for raw water and
`through-holes, through which said terminals pass,
`on same face, said electrolyzing tank is detachably
`attached.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`65
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`