An elastic electrolytic cell, electrochemical measuring system
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202620067137.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-11-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2036-01-19
AI Technical Summary
In existing electrolytic cell designs, the electrode layout leads to crowded space in the cell opening area, making operation inconvenient and posing a risk of accidental collisions between electrodes, which affects measurement accuracy and reproducibility.
The counter electrode is placed at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body and is floatingly connected to the electrolytic cell body via a buffer spring. The electrode depth is adjusted using a linear drive module, and the buffer spring absorbs impact energy to avoid collisions, freeing up space above to accommodate other electrodes.
This solution eliminates the risk of collisions between electrodes, optimizes the use of space above the electrolytic cell, and improves operational convenience and measurement reliability.
Smart Images
Figure CN224933932U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of electrochemical measurement, and more particularly to an elastic electrolytic cell and an electrochemical measurement system. Background Technology
[0002] In electrochemical measurement and analysis systems, a three-electrode system consisting of a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode is typically used. This system is widely applied in corrosion research, battery testing, and electrosynthesis. Currently, common electrolytic cell designs usually place the mounting interfaces of all three electrodes at the top of the electrolytic cell container. While this layout is simple, it also has drawbacks: when all three electrodes are inserted from the top of the electrolytic cell, the space at the cell opening becomes crowded, and components such as electrode clamps, wires, and the salt bridge tube of the reference electrode can interfere with each other, resulting in very limited operating space and causing inconvenience for experimental setup and adjustments.
[0003] To alleviate the congestion problem at the top, a potential improvement is to design the counter electrode (typically a large-area inert electrode such as a platinum sheet or graphite rod) inside the electrolytic cell, for example, fixed to the cell wall or bottom. However, this built-in approach introduces new risks: during the insertion of the working and reference electrodes into the electrolytic cell from above, especially when adjusting their immersion depth or position, their lower ends are highly susceptible to collision with the fixed counter electrode inside the cell. This collision can not only damage the working electrode and the brittle salt bridge tip of the reference electrode, leading to experimental failure, but also disrupt the surface condition of the counter electrode, affecting the accuracy and reproducibility of the measurement.
[0004] Therefore, the existing electrode layout of electrolytic cells presents a contradiction between operational convenience and equipment safety, and a new design is urgently needed that can effectively avoid the risk of accidental collisions between electrodes while ensuring that the operation of each electrode does not interfere with each other. Utility Model Content
[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this application provides a flexible electrolytic cell, comprising:
[0006] Support;
[0007] A linear drive module, connected to the support base, is used to drive the support base to move in the vertical direction;
[0008] The electrolytic cell body is floatingly connected to the support base above it via a buffer spring;
[0009] The counter electrode is disposed at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body, so that the space above the electrolytic cell body is reserved to accommodate other electrodes. There is also a conductive element that penetrates the side wall or bottom wall of the electrolytic cell body and is connected to the counter electrode.
[0010] In one possible implementation, the system further includes a nozzle and a drain conduit: the nozzle is positioned above the opening of the electrolytic cell body, with its nozzle facing the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body; the drain conduit passes through the wall of the electrolytic cell body, with one end located in the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body.
[0011] In one possible implementation, the nozzle includes a hollow bolt with an axial slit and a fluid conduit passing through it; the hollow bolt contracts radially by being screwed into a threaded hole in the electrolytic cell body to hold the fluid conduit tightly.
[0012] In one possible implementation, the conductive element includes an electrode contact and a terminal block. One end of the electrode contact abuts against the counter electrode, and the terminal block is screwed onto the electrode contact and passes through the electrolytic cell body to conduct electricity to an external circuit.
[0013] In one possible implementation, the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body is configured in a stepped shape to suppress splashing of liquid within the tank.
[0014] In one possible implementation, a vertically arranged guide rod is also included; the lower end of the guide rod is slidably engaged with the bearing seat, the upper end is connected to the electrolytic cell body, and the guide rod passes through the central hole of the buffer spring, so that the buffer spring, the guide rod and the electrolytic cell body are coaxially arranged.
[0015] In one possible implementation, a guide bushing is provided in the mounting hole of the bearing seat, and the guide rod is provided in the center hole of the guide bushing and the buffer spring.
[0016] In one possible implementation, the upper and lower ends of the buffer spring form load-bearing bends for respectively abutting against the electrolytic cell body and the guide bushing, thereby increasing the contact area between the buffer spring and the electrolytic cell body and the guide bushing.
[0017] In one possible implementation, the buffer spring is a convex helical spring.
[0018] This application also provides an electrochemical measurement system, including the above-mentioned elastic electrolytic cell, and further including a reference electrode and a working electrode located above the electrolytic cell.
[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are:
[0020] The counter electrode is located at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body, thereby freeing up the space above the electrolytic cell body to ensure that this area is dedicated to accommodating the working electrode and the reference electrode, reducing space congestion during installation. The electrolytic cell body is floatingly connected to the support base via a buffer spring, which gives the electrolytic cell body a certain elastic displacement capability. When the linear drive module drives the electrolytic cell upward to allow the working electrode and the reference electrode to enter the electrolytic cell, if the working electrode or the reference electrode accidentally comes into contact with the counter electrode, the buffer spring can absorb the impact energy and contract, causing the height of the electrolytic cell to drop slightly, avoiding electrode damage caused by rigid collision.
[0021] In summary, the improvement of this scheme lies in the fact that by embedding the counter electrode at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body, the problem of the counter electrode occupying the space above is avoided. When the working electrode or reference electrode comes into contact during the adjustment of the immersion depth, the floating characteristics of the buffer spring allow the electrolytic cell body to generate a certain displacement to buffer the impact. Therefore, this scheme not only solves the risk of collision between the working electrode and the reference electrode and the counter electrode during the adjustment of electrochemical measurements, but also optimizes the utilization efficiency of the space above the electrolytic cell. Attached Figure Description
[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0023] Figure 1 A frontal schematic diagram of an elastic electrolytic cell is shown;
[0024] Figure 2 A side view of the flexible electrolytic cell is shown;
[0025] Figure 3 A front sectional view of the electrolytic cell body is shown;
[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the buffer spring structure is shown;
[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the nozzle structure is shown;
[0028] Figure 6 A top view of a hollow bolt is shown.
[0029] Explanation of key component symbols:
[0030] 1-Bearing base; 2-Linear drive module; 3-Electrolytic cell body; 4-Counter electrode; 5-Conductive component; 6-Nozzle; 6a-Hollow bolt; 6b-Fluid conduit; 7-Drainage conduit; 8-Guide rod; 9-Guide bushing; 10-Buffer spring; 10a-Bearing bending part. Detailed Implementation
[0031] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.
[0032] In the field of electrochemical measurement, the standard three-electrode system (working electrode, reference electrode, and counter electrode) is fundamental for accurate measurements. Traditional electrolytic cells typically place the mounting interfaces of all three electrodes at the top of the cell, resulting in cramped space above the cell, interference between components, and inconvenient operation. To address this space issue, existing technologies attempt to embed the counter electrode within the cell wall or bottom. However, this introduces new risks: the working and reference electrodes are prone to colliding with the embedded counter electrode during insertion, potentially damaging the electrode, affecting its surface condition, and threatening the accuracy and reproducibility of the measurement. Therefore, the existing layout presents a trade-off between operational convenience and equipment safety, necessitating the development of novel electrode arrangement schemes that balance space efficiency and operational safety.
[0033] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides an elastic electrolytic cell, including a support base 1, a linear drive module 2, an electrolytic cell body 3, and a counter electrode 4.
[0034] Specifically, the support 1 can be understood as a structure that provides basic support. Its specific form can be a flat plate structure, a frame structure, or other support components with similar functions. It is mainly used for installing and fixing other components.
[0035] The linear drive module 2 is connected to the support base 1 and is used to drive the support base 1 to move vertically. The linear drive module 2 can be a device capable of linear motion, such as an electric actuator, hydraulic cylinder, or pneumatic cylinder. Its main function is to adjust the height of the electrolytic cell body 3 by driving the support base 1 to move vertically. In this application, a vertically arranged linear bearing is used for guidance. The electrode drives the support base 1 to move along the linear bearing through a transmission structure. The linear drive module 2 with linear bearings is prior art and will not be described in detail here.
[0036] The electrolytic cell body 3 is floatingly connected to the support base 1 above by a buffer spring 10. The buffer spring 10 can be a helical spring, a leaf spring, or other components with elastic properties. Its main purpose is to provide elastic displacement capability when the electrolytic cell body 3 is subjected to external force.
[0037] The counter electrode 4 is located at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3 so that the space above the electrolytic cell body 3 is reserved to accommodate other electrodes. There is also a conductive element 5 that penetrates the side wall or bottom wall of the electrolytic cell body 3 and is connected to the counter electrode 4.
[0038] Specifically, the counter electrode 4 is disposed at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3. Its specific form can be a metal sheet, a conductive coating, or other conductive materials. In this application, a high-purity carbon rod is used as the material for the counter electrode 4. Because the counter electrode 4 is disposed at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3, space above the electrolytic cell body 3 can be freed up to accommodate other electrodes. The conductive element 5 penetrates the side wall or bottom wall of the electrolytic cell body 3 and connects to the counter electrode 4. Its specific form can be a wire, a metal rod, or other conductive materials. Its main function is to achieve electrical connection between the counter electrode 4 and the external circuit without affecting the internal layout of the electrolytic cell.
[0039] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The working principle of this solution is as follows:
[0040] The support base 1 serves as the basic support structure, providing a stable installation platform. The linear drive module 2 is connected to the support base 1 and is used to drive the support base 1 to move in the vertical direction, thereby facilitating the overall adjustment of the electrolytic cell height to meet experimental requirements.
[0041] The counter electrode 4 is located at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3, thereby freeing up the space above the electrolytic cell body 3 and ensuring that the area is dedicated to accommodating the working electrode and the reference electrode, reducing space congestion during installation.
[0042] The electrolytic cell body 3 is floatingly connected above the support base 1 via a buffer spring 10, which gives the electrolytic cell body 3 a certain elastic displacement capability. When the linear drive module 2 drives the electrolytic cell to rise and the working electrode and reference electrode enter the electrolytic cell, if the working electrode or reference electrode accidentally contacts the counter electrode 4, the buffer spring 10 can absorb the impact energy and contract, so that the height of the electrolytic cell drops slightly, avoiding electrode damage caused by rigid collision.
[0043] In summary, the improvement of this scheme lies in embedding the counter electrode 4 at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3, thus avoiding the problem of the counter electrode 4 occupying the space above it. Simultaneously, the buffer spring 10 enables the floating connection of the electrolytic cell body 3. When the working electrode or reference electrode comes into contact during adjustment of the immersion depth, the floating characteristic of the buffer spring 10 allows the electrolytic cell body 3 to generate a certain displacement to buffer the impact. Therefore, this scheme not only solves the risk of collision between the working electrode and reference electrode and the counter electrode 4 during adjustment in electrochemical measurements, but also optimizes the utilization efficiency of the space above the electrolytic cell.
[0044] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the system also includes a nozzle 6 and a drain conduit 7: the nozzle 6 is arranged above the opening of the electrolytic cell body 3, with its nozzle facing the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body 3; the drain conduit 7 passes through the wall of the electrolytic cell body 3, with one end located in the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body 3.
[0045] Specifically, multiple nozzles 6 are arranged around the opening of the electrolytic cell body 3. The nozzles 6 are designed with their orifices facing the inner cavity, allowing the cleaning agent to be directly sprayed into key areas inside the electrolytic cell, thereby effectively removing deposits. A drain conduit 7 is used to discharge waste liquid after cleaning; one end of the drain conduit 7 is located inside the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body 3, and the other end extends to the outside, ensuring that the liquid can be smoothly discharged under gravity or external suction. In summary, the combined use of nozzles 6 and drain conduit 7 significantly improves the cleaning efficiency of the electrolytic cell and the convenience of experimental operation, while avoiding cross-contamination problems caused by liquid residue.
[0046] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the nozzle 6 includes a hollow bolt 6a with an axial slit and a fluid conduit 6b passing through it; the hollow bolt 6a contracts radially by being screwed into a threaded hole in the electrolytic cell body 3 to hold the fluid conduit 6b tightly.
[0047] Specifically, the hollow bolt 6a refers to a fastener with a hollow structure and threaded outer wall, which can be made of stainless steel or corrosion-resistant alloy materials to provide sufficient mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. The axial gap refers to a cut made along the axial direction of the hollow bolt 6a; it can be a straight or curved design, intended to allow controlled radial shrinkage deformation of the hollow bolt 6a when screwed into the threaded hole. The fluid conduit 6b refers to a pipe used to transport liquids or gases, which can be made of corrosion-resistant flexible materials, designed to adapt to different fluid transport requirements and ensure connection stability.
[0048] By screwing a hollow bolt 6a into the threaded hole of the electrolytic cell body 3, the nozzle 6 is fixed above the opening of the electrolytic cell body 3. During this process, due to the force of the threaded push, the outer wall of the hollow bolt 6a is constrained and undergoes radial contraction, thereby applying a uniform clamping force to the internal fluid conduit 6b. Therefore, this design not only fixes the nozzle 6 to the electrolytic cell body 3, but also effectively solves the problems of leakage and loosening between the nozzle 6 and the fluid conduit 6b caused by vibration or adjustment.
[0049] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments, the conductive element 5 includes an electrode contact and a terminal. One end of the electrode contact abuts against the counter electrode 4, and the terminal is screwed onto the electrode contact and passes through the electrolytic cell body 3 to conduct electricity to an external circuit. Specifically, the electrode contact is a threaded sleeve with an M4 internal thread, an M8 external thread, and a length of 20mm, and the terminal is a slotted copper rod that matches the threaded sleeve.
[0050] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments, the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body 3 is configured in a stepped shape to suppress splashing of liquid in the tank.
[0051] Specifically, the stepped type refers to a design form in which a multi-level stepped structure is formed on the inner wall of the electrolytic cell body 3. In practical applications, this design can be achieved by machining annular bosses of different heights in the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body 3, with the aim of changing the flow characteristics of the liquid through changes in geometry.
[0052] When the working electrode and reference electrode are inserted from above and the immersion depth is adjusted, the liquid disturbance caused by the electrode movement will generate fluctuations in the inner cavity. At this time, the multi-step structure in the stepped inner cavity plays a key role in suppressing splashing by dispersing the liquid impact kinetic energy.
[0053] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, a vertically arranged guide rod 8 is also included; the lower end of the guide rod 8 is slidably engaged with the support seat 1, the upper end is connected to the electrolytic cell body 3, and the guide rod 8 passes through the central hole of the buffer spring 10, so that the buffer spring 10, the guide rod 8 and the electrolytic cell body 3 are coaxially arranged.
[0054] Specifically, the guide rod 8 is a rigid component used to limit the direction of movement. It can be implemented using a cylindrical metal rod, and the bottom end of the guide rod 8 can be fixed to the worktable. The surface of the guide rod 8 is precision machined to ensure its straightness and smoothness, thereby reducing sliding friction and improving guiding accuracy. In this design, the support 1 is a perforated plastic plate, and a sliding fit function is achieved by installing a linear bearing in the drilled hole. The central hole of the buffer spring 10 is a through hole extending through its axis to accommodate the guide rod 8.
[0055] The guide rod 8 passes through the central hole of the buffer spring 10. Utilizing the geometry of the spring's central hole, the guide rod 8 is embedded within it, ensuring that the spring can only deform axially when compressed or extended, preventing the electrolytic cell body 3 from twisting or tilting due to spring bending. This coaxial configuration ensures that all components remain concentric during movement, eliminating vibrations caused by eccentric forces, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of electrode collisions and improving operational safety and experimental reliability.
[0056] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, a guide bushing 9 is provided in the mounting hole of the bearing seat 1, and a guide rod 8 is provided in the center hole of the guide bushing 9 and the buffer spring 10.
[0057] Specifically, the guide bushing 9 refers to an intermediate component used to optimize guiding and supporting functions; in this application, it is a T-type linear bearing. In practical applications, the guide bushing 9 is fixed in the drilled hole of the bearing seat 1 by passing it through the mounting hole. After the guide bushing 9 passes through the mounting hole of the bearing seat 1, the original direct metal-to-metal contact between the guide rod 8 and the bearing seat 1 is changed to indirect support through the bushing. This design effectively reduces friction and wear by utilizing the wear-resistant properties of the bushing, while also allowing the guide rod 8 to obtain a smooth channel during sliding, thereby reducing the occurrence of jamming.
[0058] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the upper and lower ends of the buffer spring 10 form load-bearing bends 10a, which are used to abut against the electrolytic cell body 3 and the guide bushing 9 respectively, so as to increase the contact area between the buffer spring 10 and the electrolytic cell body 3 and the guide bushing 9.
[0059] Specifically, the load-bearing bending part 10a refers to an L-shaped structure with a specific curvature formed at the end of the buffer spring 10, which can be achieved by heat treatment shaping, machining or integral molding of elastic material.
[0060] In this design, the increased contact area strengthens the frictional constraint between the spring and the two components, ensuring that the buffer spring 10 maintains axial alignment during long-term use, and making the floating state of the electrolytic cell body 3 more stable.
[0061] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the buffer spring 10 is a convex helical spring. A convex helical spring is a helical spring with a central convex structure. In practical applications, this spring design can effectively suppress lateral bending deformation, and its purpose is to ensure that the electrolytic cell body 3 always remains vertically aligned during vertical movement, avoiding tilting or swaying problems caused by lateral displacement or vibration of ordinary springs.
[0062] This application also provides an electrochemical measurement system, including the aforementioned elastic electrolytic cell, and further including a reference electrode and a working electrode located above the electrolytic cell. In this system, by placing the counter electrode 4 at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 3 and combining it with a buffer spring 10 to achieve a floating connection of the electrolytic cell body 3, the problems of narrow operating space and accidental collisions between electrodes caused by electrode layout in electrochemical measurements are effectively solved.
[0063] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.
[0064] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.
Claims
1. A flexible electrolytic cell, characterized in that, include: Support; A linear drive module, connected to the support base, is used to drive the support base to move in the vertical direction; The electrolytic cell body is floatingly connected to the support base above it via a buffer spring; The counter electrode is disposed at the bottom of the electrolytic cell body, so that the space above the electrolytic cell body is reserved to accommodate other electrodes. There is also a conductive element that penetrates the side wall or bottom wall of the electrolytic cell body and is connected to the counter electrode.
2. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a nozzle and a drain conduit: the nozzle is arranged above the opening of the electrolytic cell body, with its nozzle facing the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body; the drain conduit passes through the wall of the electrolytic cell body, with one end located in the inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body.
3. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The nozzle includes a hollow bolt with an axial slit and a fluid conduit passing through it; the hollow bolt contracts radially by being screwed into a threaded hole in the electrolytic cell body to hold the fluid conduit tightly.
4. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive component includes an electrode contact and a terminal. One end of the electrode contact abuts against the counter electrode. The terminal is screwed onto the electrode contact and passes through the electrolytic cell body to conduct electricity to an external circuit.
5. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner cavity of the electrolytic cell body is constructed in a stepped shape to suppress splashing of liquid in the tank.
6. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a vertically arranged guide rod; the lower end of the guide rod is slidably engaged with the bearing seat, the upper end is connected to the electrolytic cell body, and the guide rod passes through the central hole of the buffer spring, so that the buffer spring, the guide rod and the electrolytic cell body are coaxially arranged.
7. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, A guide bushing is inserted through the mounting hole of the bearing seat, and the guide rod is inserted through the center hole of the guide bushing and the buffer spring.
8. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 7, characterized in that, The upper and lower ends of the buffer spring form load-bearing bends, which are used to abut against the electrolytic cell body and the guide bushing respectively, so as to increase the contact area between the buffer spring and the electrolytic cell body and the guide bushing.
9. The elastic electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer spring is a convex helical spring.
10. An electrochemical measurement system, characterized in that, The system includes the elastic electrolytic cell as described in any one of claims 1-9, and further includes a reference electrode and a working electrode located above the electrolytic cell.