US3840217A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silver recovery
Assignee: BR MACKAY & SONS Inc A CORP OF UT
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Filing: 1973-11-02
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-11-02
Abstract
Abstract Equipment and methods for recovering silver from a silvercontaining solution. The equipment comprises a plastic container and rotatable spaced T-connectors comprising an influent liquid passage and an effluent liquid passage. A transparent U-shaped tube with an elevated aperture therein spans between the two Tconnectors. The influent and effluent liquid passes through fittings in a lid which fittings are externally sealed adjacent respective openings in the lid. The circumference of the lid comprises a female slot ending in a downwardly extending exposed lip or flange. The lid and container are thus joined in releasable press-fit relation during use. The fittings, carried at the mentioned apertures in the lid, are each in two parts, one threaded into the other from opposite sides of the lid. A recovery element made of a metal above silver in the electromotive force series fits within the container. The metalforming the element is arranged in a woven matrix, such as, for example, galvanized window screen, which is wound upon itself around its longitudinal axis which is offset from but parallel to the axis of the container to form a hollow cylinder having an inside surface and an outside surface and which is transversely pervious in respect to the container. A pedestal of wood with a male extension disposed in the hollow of the coil supports the coil well above the bottom of the container, where sludge collects. The influent passages are in liquid communication with the interior of the container adjacent the outside surface and near the bottom of the element, and the effluent passage is in liquid communication with the hollow interior and near the top of the element. The influent passage terminates within the container in a baffle comprising a T-shaped fitting. The solution precipitates silver in exchange for the metal of the woven matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 M Mackay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:13
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B11/00; C22B11/10; C22B11/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
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, 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 influent means comprising a T-connector rotatably coupled to adjacent components of said influent means for selectively setting the direction of influent flow of solution, said effluent means comprising a second T-connector rotatably coupled to adjacent components of said effluent means for selectively setting the direction of effluent flow of solution, the influent means and effluent means each further comprising male and female fittings coupled together in sealed relation against the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the lid, and a hollow coil of transversely pervious exchange metal disposed within the container and said influent means comprising a baffled distal end terminating within the container near the bottom thereof adjacent the exterior of the coil of metal and said effluent means beginning within the container near the top thereof within the hollow of the coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
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, 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 influent means comprising a T-connector rotatably coupled to adjacent components of said influent means for selectively setting the direction of influent flow of solution, said effluent means comprising a second T-connector rotatably coupled to adjacent components of said effluent means for selectively setting the direction of effluent flow of solution, the influent means and effluent means each further comprising male and female fittings coupled together in sealed relation against the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the lid, and a hollow coil of transversely pervious exchange metal disposed within the container and said influent means comprising a baffled distal end terminating within the container near the bottom thereof adjacent the exterior of the coil of metal and said effluent means beginning within the container near the top thereof within the hollow of the coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The silver recovery unit of claim 1 wherein said baffled distal end comprises a T-fitting with one vertically oriented passage coupled to an adjacent component of the influent means and two horizontally oriented passages opening communicating solution into the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The silver recovery unit of claim 1 further comprising: a flexible transparent inert plastic tube spanning between top vertically oriented passages of said two T-connectors to accommodate solution overflow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The silver recovery unit of claim 3 wherein: said transparent inert plastic tube is removable from the effluent T-connector to allow for inspection and testing of effluent solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
242 words
A fluid tight silver recovery unit accommodating fluid flow therethrough under force of gravity comprising: 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 respectively receiving fitting means of material inert to photographic fixing solution respectively in sealed relation with the lid at the associated aperture and each fitting means defining interior passage means for introducing and removing solution from the container utilizing influent means and effluent means respectively comprising said fitting means, a centrally hollow metallic core disposed within the container having a cylindrical configuration and an axis essentially parallel to but eccentric 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 means terminates at a baffled end thereof immediately adjacent the outside cylindrical surface of the metallic core near the bottom of the bucket and the influent means commences within a central hollow of the core near the top of the bucket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
242 words
A fluid tight silver recovery unit accommodating fluid flow therethrough under force of gravity comprising: 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 respectively receiving fitting means of material inert to photographic fixing solution respectively in sealed relation with the lid at the associated aperture and each fitting means defining interior passage means for introducing and removing solution from the container utilizing influent means and effluent means respectively comprising said fitting means, a centrally hollow metallic core disposed within the container having a cylindrical configuration and an axis essentially parallel to but eccentric 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 means terminates at a baffled end thereof immediately adjacent the outside cylindrical surface of the metallic core near the bottom of the bucket and the influent means commences within a central hollow of the core near the top of the bucket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The silver recovery unit of claim 5 further comprising: a pedestal of substantial height interposed between the bottom of the bucket and the core, the core resting thereon, the pedestal being of a material inert to photographic fixing solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The silver recovery unit of claim 6 wherein: said pedestal further comprises an upwardly extending male projection, sized and shaped to be compatible with the hollow of the core, extending into said hollow to retain said core in said elevated eccentric disposition within the bucket in parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the bucket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |