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US3910833A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for recovering silver from photographic film processing liquids

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-26
•
Granted: 1975-10-07
•
Expires: 1994-09-26
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus is described for the recovery of silver from photographic film processing liquids such as spent photographic fixing solution. The apparatus includes an electrolytic cell having electrode means whereby the silver is recovered by means of electrolysis. A rotary agitator is disposed within the electrolytic cell with said agitator being mounted on a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft extends through the wall of the electrolytic cell and is connected to a suitable driver means outside of said cell. A seal means is described that includes a housing for mounting in the wall of the electrolytic cell. Bearing means are disposed within the housing to engage and support the rotating shaft. A rotating seal member surrounds and is affixed to the shaft within the housing. The rotating seal member contacts a stationary seal member within said housing to form a seal face. A reservoir between the shaft and the housing at a point intermediate the seal face and the bearing means is filled with a suitable seal liquid. The seal liquid is maintained at a pressure sufficient for said seal liquid to be forced onto the seal face as said shaft rotates.

Inventors

  • 👤 David R Knighton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 23:34
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C7/00; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/36; F16J15/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SILVER FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSIGN LIQUIDS WHICH COMPRISES: AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL HAVING ELECTRODE MEANS TO EFFECT RECOVERY OO SAID SILVER BY ELECTROLYSIS: A ROTARY AGITATOR MEANS CONNECTED TO A ROTATING SHAFT TO AGITUATE LIQUID WITHIN SAID CELL: A DRIVER MEANS TO ROTATING SAID SHAFT: AND A SEAL MEANS FOR SEALING SAID SHAFT INCLUDING (A) A SHAFT HOUSING FOR MOUNTING IN AN APERTURE IN THE WALL OF SAID CELL, (B) BEARING MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING TO ROTATIONALLY ENGAGE AND SUPPORT SAID SHAFT, (C) A ROTATING SAEAL MEMBER SURROUNDING AAND AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID ROTATING SEAL MEMBER CONTACTING AAND FPRMING A SEAL FACE WITH A STATIONARY SEAL MEMBER WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND SAID ROTAINING SEAAL MEMBER BEING AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT SO AS TO FORM A LIQUID RESERVOIR BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID HOUSING AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE
Claim 2
Independent Claim 141 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SILVER FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSIGN LIQUIDS WHICH COMPRISES: AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL HAVING ELECTRODE MEANS TO EFFECT RECOVERY OO SAID SILVER BY ELECTROLYSIS: A ROTARY AGITATOR MEANS CONNECTED TO A ROTATING SHAFT TO AGITUATE LIQUID WITHIN SAID CELL: A DRIVER MEANS TO ROTATING SAID SHAFT: AND A SEAL MEANS FOR SEALING SAID SHAFT INCLUDING (A) A SHAFT HOUSING FOR MOUNTING IN AN APERTURE IN THE WALL OF SAID CELL, (B) BEARING MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING TO ROTATIONALLY ENGAGE AND SUPPORT SAID SHAFT, (C) A ROTATING SAEAL MEMBER SURROUNDING AAND AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID ROTATING SEAL MEMBER CONTACTING AAND FPRMING A SEAL FACE WITH A STATIONARY SEAL MEMBER WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND SAID ROTAINING SEAAL MEMBER BEING AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT SO AS TO FORM A LIQUID RESERVOIR BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID HOUSING AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotating seal member engages said shaft to rotate at the same speed as said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said seal face and said liquid reservoir are intermediate said bearing means and the interior of said cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a mechanical seal is disposed in said housing at a point intermediate said reservoir and said bearing means, said mechanical seal surrounding and engaging said shaft thereby preventing liquid in said reservoir from entering said bearing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rotating seal member is slidably affixed to said shaft by a flexible collar surrounding said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said stationary seal member is seated within said housing in a resilient seating ring, said seating ring frictionally engaging the interior walls of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 65 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a compressed coil spring surrounds said flexible collar with one end of said spring engaging a flange rigidly affixed to said shaft and the other end of said spring engaging said rotating seal member to hold said rotating seal member in contact with said stationary seal member thereby establishing and maintaining said seal face during rotation of said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said rotating seal member is made of carbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stationary seal member is a ceramic member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1959531A Cited
US3838901A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-06 1979-04-07 1979-10-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-06 1983-04-07 1983-10-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-06 1987-04-07 1987-10-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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