US3926768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silver recovery system
Assignee: Hydrospace Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-12
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1993-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Silver is recovered from spent photographic solutions by feeding the spent solutions into a pre-collecting vessel where the solution collects until a predetermined volume has been received, at which time it is automatically dispensed, by a self-triggering syphon, into an electroylsis chamber, and direct current is automatically turned on for a predetermined period of time between an anode and a cathode in the chamber to plate out the silver onto the cathode. A magnetic agitator is automatically energized to keep the silver suspended.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth G Burgess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:31
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C7/00; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/46; C02F1/461; C02F1/467; C02F1/4676; C02F1/4678; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/34; C02F2103/40; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/46; C02F2201/461; C02F2201/46105; C02F2201/4612; C02F2201/4615; C02F2301/00; C02F2301/02; C02F2301/024; C02F2301/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SILVER FROM SPENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS COMPRISING: A. AN ELECTROLYSIS VESSEL HAVING AN ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER THEREIN; B. AN ELECTRODE REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID VESSEL ADJACENT A WALL THEREOF; C. AN ELECTRODE OF OPPOSITE SIGN POSITIONED AT OR NEAR THE CENTER OF SAID VESSEL; D. AN IMPELLER LOCATED WITHIN SAID VESSEL ADJACENT TO OR NEAR THE BOTTOM THEREOF; E. MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID IMPELLER; F. A PRE-COLLECTING VESSEL POSITIONED ABOVE THE ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR RECEIVING SPENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOLUTION TO BE FED INTO SAID CHAMBER AND SIPHON MEANS FOR DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF SAID SOLUTION INTO SAID CHAMBER; AND G. MEANS FOR PASSING AN ELECTRIC CURRENT BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES AND THROUGH THE SOLUTION IN SAID ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME IN RESPONSE TO THE DISPENSING OF SAID VOLUME OF SOLUTION FROM THE PRE-COLLECTING VESSEL INTO THE CHAMBER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SILVER FROM SPENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS COMPRISING: A. AN ELECTROLYSIS VESSEL HAVING AN ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER THEREIN; B. AN ELECTRODE REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID VESSEL ADJACENT A WALL THEREOF; C. AN ELECTRODE OF OPPOSITE SIGN POSITIONED AT OR NEAR THE CENTER OF SAID VESSEL; D. AN IMPELLER LOCATED WITHIN SAID VESSEL ADJACENT TO OR NEAR THE BOTTOM THEREOF; E. MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID IMPELLER; F. A PRE-COLLECTING VESSEL POSITIONED ABOVE THE ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR RECEIVING SPENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOLUTION TO BE FED INTO SAID CHAMBER AND SIPHON MEANS FOR DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF SAID SOLUTION INTO SAID CHAMBER; AND G. MEANS FOR PASSING AN ELECTRIC CURRENT BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES AND THROUGH THE SOLUTION IN SAID ELECTROLYSIS CHAMBER FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME IN RESPONSE TO THE DISPENSING OF SAID VOLUME OF SOLUTION FROM THE PRE-COLLECTING VESSEL INTO THE CHAMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the centrally positioned electrode is graphite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the centrally positioned electrode is of a parabolic shape in vertical cross-section with its apex adjacent the impeller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotating means comprises means for magnetically rotating the impeller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrolysis vessel includes an exit opening in a side wall thereof adjacent the top thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aparatus according to claim 1 wherein the impeller includes a plurality of vertical vanes of equal areas and different shapes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the removably positioned electrode is a flat stainless steel sheet bent into cylindrical form and inserted into said chamber, which is readily removable therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An aparatus according to claim 7 wherein the removably positioned electrode includes an electrical connection at a top portion thereof and includes an opening in a side wall thereof mating with an exit opening in the electrolysis vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the centrally positioned electrode has an opening in its lower end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the centrally positioned electrode has a parabolic shape in vertical cross-section with its apex adjacent the impeller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the impeller is circular and the rotating means comprises means for magnetically rotating the impeller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the centrally positioned electrode is the cathode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pre-collecting vessel includes a self-triggering siphon for dispensing photographic solution into said electrolysis chamber after a predeteRmined volume of solution collects in said-collecting vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the means for passing an electric current between the electrodes and through the solution in the electrolysis chamber for a predetermined period of time in response to the dispensing of a volume of solution from the pre-collecting vessel into said chamber includes switch means in said pre-collecting vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said switch means includes a pair of vertically spaced-apart magnetic reed switches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the electrode removably positioned in the electrolysis vessel and adjacent a wall thereof is essentially cylindrical and is positioned adjacent the inner side wall of the electrolysis chamber so that it can be removed directly upwardly from said chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the electrode is a flat stainless steel sheet bent into a cylinder and inserted in said chamber and can be removed by bending it into a smaller cylinder and pulling it directly upwardly out of said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the self-triggering siphon includes external and internal vertical tubes with an annular passageway between them so that photographic solution can rise in the annulus between the tubes as it rises in the pre-collecting vessel, said cylinders being closed across the tops thereof and having a passageway between them at the tops thereof to permit siphoning flow of solution from the pre-collecting vessel body of solution, through the annulus, the passageway and the internal tube to the electrolysis chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |