United States Patent 19 ay 4,369,102 Galluzzo et al. (45) Jan. 18, 1983 [54] ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS FOR 4,236,989 12/1980 Dahibe 204/266 X DECOMPOSING WATER INTO HYDROGEN 4280354 4/4981 Bjokmuny Ss onc. 208/266 X (75) 73 en 24 is (82) 158) (54) GAS AND OXYGEN GAS. Inventors: Daniel T. Galluzzo, Jarrettsville; Charles L. Dumler, Towson, both of Ma. ‘Hydor Corporation, Towson, Ma, + 210,336 Nov. 25, 1980 (C2SB 15/08; C25B 9/04; (C25B 13/02; C25B 11/02 ' - 204/228; 204/258; 204/266; 204/260; 204/282; 204/129 Fleld of Search .. 204/129, 253, 257-258, 204/254-256, 228, 282, 263-266, 252, 262; 429/34 References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 146,736 2/1923. Clark USM B16 1/1936 Start 3,214,362 10/1965. Juda « S)314158 3/1968. Lord et al 5/384568 5/1968 Kato et a, 33394062 7/1968. Rhodes « 53/477 937 11/1969. Golet eta 1 209/257 X 31532580 10/1970 Truitt : 229/34 31650431 3/1972 Reynolds 5969214 7/1976 Harris 53086452 11/1977 Campbell. 4057479 11/1977 Campbell 460,711 7/1979. Nishizawa etal FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 2650217 7/1978 Fed. Rep. of Germany 2906821 9/1979 Fed. Rep. of Germany 987879 4/1951 France 543835. 1/1979 Japan 1151145. 5/1969. United Kingdom Primary Examiner—Donald R. Valentine Attorney, Agent, or Firn—Wigman & Cohen bn ABSTRACT An electrolysis apparatus decomposes water into hy- ‘drogen gas and oxygen gas. The apparatus comprises a housing for the water to be decomposed, a plurality of symmetrically folded and edged unipolar electrodes for decomposing the water held in the housing, micropo- rous membranes for separating each of the plurality of unipolar electrodes from one another, and an arrange- ‘ment for wiring the plurality of unipolar electrodes in parallel. The apparatus also comprises separate outlets, collectors, and consumers for each gas. There is also & ‘water supply, a water feed regulator, and a water inlet. ‘A power source supplies electrical wattage to the paral- lel wiring arrangement. An electrolytic solution con- taining only about 2.2% or less KOH concentration by ‘weight is used to help decompose the water. Invertible plates may be used either for diverting the free upward flow of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas laterally to sepa- rate gas outlets or for diverting the free downward fall Of minerals laterally to a collection chamber. 39 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures4,369,102 Sheet 1 of 7 Jan. 18, 1983 U.S. Patent FIG1U.S. Patent Jan. 18, 1983 Sheet 2 of 7 4,369,102