Silver recovery apparatus

Claim 1

A silver recovery apparatus comprising an electrolytic chamber having a generally liquid tight cylindrical shape disposed with its axis in a generally vertical position, said chamber having a fixed plastic bottom and a removable plastic top, an anode of a relatively small diameter cylindrical shape fixedly disposed on the general vertical center axis of and within the cylindrical electrolytic chamber, a plastic tube sealingly affixed around its circumference to said bottom and extending upwardly within said cylindrical anode, said plastic tube closed at its upper end, said closed ended plastic tube defining a vertical central passage within said electrolytic chamber, a cathode of a relatively larger diameter cylindrical shape arranged and constructed in a concentric position with and spaced outwardly from the center anode and defining the outer extent of the cylindrical electrolytic chamber, an inlet passage in the electrolytic chamber for silver contaminated hypo solution, said inlet passage communicating with the central passage in the closed ended plastic tube, a plurality of spaced apart jet tubes affixed in a generally radial position in the walls of said plastic tube, said jet tubes having their inner ends in liquid communication with the central passage in the plastic tube and their outer ends passing through the walls of the anode and extending into the space between the anode and the cathode, the outer end of each jet tube bent at substantially right angles in the same direction so that hypo solution delivered to the inlet passage will flow into the central passage within the plastic tube, thence outwardly through the jet tubes, and thence in a circular path in the concentric space around the anode and within the cathode, whereby silver freed from the hypo solution is deposited on the inner surface of the cathode to thus rejuvenate the hypo solution, and a discharge passage communicating with the electrolytic chamber between the anode and the cathode.