Silver recovery

Claim 2

A fluid tight silver recovery unit accommodating fluid flow therethrough under force of gravity: a container comprising a bucket comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution, the bucket being closed at one end and along the length thereof and having a large opening at the other end thereof and a lid sized and shaped to close the opening of the container and comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution, said bucket and lid together presenting opposed mating male-female press-fit sealing adjacent the opening of the bucket for releasably fastening the bucket and the lid together, the lateral dimensions of each being essentially the same and substantially equal to the lateral dimensions of the bucket, a continuous ribbon of sealant composition inert to photographic fixing solution interposed between the opposed male-female sealing means, the lid receiving liquid-conducting influent and effluent means comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution for introducing and removing solution from the container and a mass of exchange metal disposed within the container.

Claim 3

A fluid tight silver recovery unit accommodating fluid flow therethrough under force of gravity: a container comprising a bucket comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution and having an opening at one end thereof and a lid sized and shaped to be compatible with the container and comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution, the bucket and lid being disposed in releasably sealed relation adjacent the bucket opening, the lid comprising two spaced apertures each receiving female fitting means of material inert to photographic fixing solution respectively sealed to the lid at the associated aperture and each female fitting means defining bore means, influent and effluent connector structures for introducing and removing solution from the container, each connector structure comprising a conduit press fit into the bore means of one female fitting means to establish a seal which conduits can be manually pulled from their press fit relation in the bore means when desired, a metallic core disposed within the container having a cylindrical configuration and an axis essentially parallel to the axis of the container, the metallic core comprising a metal higher than silver in the electromotive force series and being substantially impervious to fluid flow in the axial direction but defining a plurality of liquid flow paths essentially transverse of the axis of the metallic core, and wherein the influent connector structure terminates immediately centrally adjacent the outside cylindrical surface of the metallic core and the influent connector structure commences within a central hollow of the magnetic core.

Claim 4

A fluid tight silver recovery unit accommodating fluid flow therethrough under force of gravity: a container comprising a bucket comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution and having an opening at one end thereof and a lid sized and shaped to be compatible with the container and comprised of plastic material inert to photographic fixing solution, the bucket and lid being disposed in releasably sealed relation adjacent the bucket opening, the lid comprising two spaced apertures each receiving female fitting means of material inert to photographic fixing solution respectively sealed to the lid at the associated aperture and each female fitting means defining bore means, influent and effluent connector structures for introducing and removing solution from the container, each connector structure comprising a conduit press fit into the bore means of one female fitting means to establish a seal which conduits can be manually pulled from their press fit relation in the bore means when desired, a metallic core disposed within the container having a cylindrical configuration and an axis essentially parallel to the axis of the container, the metallic core comprising a metal higher than silver in the electromotive force series and being substantially impervious to fluid flow in the axial direction but defining a plurality of liquid flow paths essentially transverse of the axis of the metallic core, and wherein the influent connector structure terminates immediately centrally adjacent the outside cylindrical surface of the metallic core and the influent connector structure commences within a central hollow of the magnetic core.

Claim 5

A silver recovery unit as defined in claim 2 wherein the influent connector structure defines an ingress flow path having a maximum elevation greater than the maximum elevation of the egress flow path defined by the effluent connector structure.

Claim 6

A silver recovery unit as defined in claim 2 further comprising hollow emergency overflow means interconnecting the effluent and influent connector structures whereby solution in excess of that which can be received by the container when operating normally or when clogged is displaced through the emergency overflow means to the effluent connector structure.

Claim 7

A silver recovery unit as defined in claim 2 further comprising lubricant interposed between contiguous surfaces of the influent and effluent conduits and the female fitting means whereby ready insertion and removal of the conduits within the bore of each female fitting means is accomplished and when insertion is completed a fluid tight relation therebetween exists.

Claim 8

A silver recovery unit as defined in claim 2 further comprising fitting means comprising part of the effluent connector structure, the fitting means defining a through bore along which the processed solution is displaced and a port normally closed by removable closure structure whereby the effluent solution can be inspected and tested.

Claim 9

A silver recovery unit as defined in claim 4 wherein at least part of the hollow emergency overflow means comprises a transparent conduit accommodating visual observation of excess flow, if any.