US4276147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for recovery of metals from solution
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-08-17
•
Granted: 1981-06-30
•
Expires: 1999-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A recovery cell placed directly into the tank holding the metal containing solution is used to recover the metal from solution. A cathode for use in recovery cells is formed of a cellular nonconductive base layer having an outer layer of conductive material.
Inventors
- 👤 Randolph L. Epner
- 👤 Ahmad Sam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:33
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C7/00; C25C1/00; C25C1/20; C25C7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution contained in a tank adapted to be placed directly in said tank comprising a housing including an inlet and outlet to permit circulation of the solution containing the metal to be recovered therethrough, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current, whereby solution may be circulated through said housing and metal from said solution deposited in said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution contained in a tank adapted to be placed directly in said tank comprising a housing including an inlet and outlet to permit circulation of the solution containing the metal to be recovered therethrough, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current, whereby solution may be circulated through said housing and metal from said solution deposited in said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the metal in solution is gold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cellular nonconductive material is a plastic foam and said conductive layer includes copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said copper layer is formed on said base layer by electroless plating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus of electrolytic recovery of metals from a solution contained in a tank comprising a housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive solution containing said metal and to permit said solution to enter said housing, said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode comprising a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby solution may be circulated through said housing and metal from said solution deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus of electrolytic recovery of metals from a solution contained in a tank comprising a housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive solution containing said metal and to permit said solution to enter said housing, said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode comprising a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby solution may be circulated through said housing and metal from said solution deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said housing is constructed and arranged to be positioned within the solution containing tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for recovery of gold from the drag-out rinse contained within the drag-out rinse tank on a gold plating line comprising a housing adapted to be placed into the drag-out rinse tank including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the drag-out rinse and to permit said drag-out rinse to enter said housing, said outlet adapted to permit said drag-out rinse to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit said drag-out rinse to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC voltage whereby said drag-out rinse may be circulated through said housing and gold deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for recovery of gold from the drag-out rinse contained within the drag-out rinse tank on a gold plating line comprising a housing adapted to be placed into the drag-out rinse tank including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the drag-out rinse and to permit said drag-out rinse to enter said housing, said outlet adapted to permit said drag-out rinse to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit said drag-out rinse to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC voltage whereby said drag-out rinse may be circulated through said housing and gold deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cellular nonconductive material is a plastic foam and said conductive layer includes copper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for recovery of gold from a solution contained within a tank comprising a housing adapted to be placed into the tank including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution and permit said solution to enter said housing, said outlet being adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit said solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of dc voltage whereby said solution may be circulated through said housing and gold from said solution be deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for recovery of gold from a solution contained within a tank comprising a housing adapted to be placed into the tank including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution and permit said solution to enter said housing, said outlet being adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit said solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of dc voltage whereby said solution may be circulated through said housing and gold from said solution be deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for recovery of gold from the drag-out rinse contained within the drag-out rinse tank on a gold plating line comprising a recovery cell positioned in the drag-out rinse tank including a housing having an inlet and an outlet to permit circulation of the drag-out rinse therethrough, an anode positioned in the housing, a cathode positioned in the housing in spaced apart relationship to permit the drag-out rinse to circulate between the anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, a pump having an outlet coupled to the inlet of said recovery cell and an inlet coupled to receive the drag-out rinse, a source of DC current coupled between the anode and cathode whereby said pump circulates drag-out rinse into the inlet of said recovery cell, through said recovery cell and out of the outlet thereof and gold from the drag-out rinse is plated onto the cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for recovery of gold from the drag-out rinse contained within the drag-out rinse tank on a gold plating line comprising a recovery cell positioned in the drag-out rinse tank including a housing having an inlet and an outlet to permit circulation of the drag-out rinse therethrough, an anode positioned in the housing, a cathode positioned in the housing in spaced apart relationship to permit the drag-out rinse to circulate between the anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of cellular nonconductive material having a conductive layer thereon, a pump having an outlet coupled to the inlet of said recovery cell and an inlet coupled to receive the drag-out rinse, a source of DC current coupled between the anode and cathode whereby said pump circulates drag-out rinse into the inlet of said recovery cell, through said recovery cell and out of the outlet thereof and gold from the drag-out rinse is plated onto the cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution comprising a housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution and said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of nonconductive material having a conductive layer selected from a group consisting of at least one of copper, silver, nickel, lead, and cadmium formed thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby when solution is circulated through said housing metal from said solution is deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution comprising a housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution and said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of nonconductive material having a conductive layer selected from a group consisting of at least one of copper, silver, nickel, lead, and cadmium formed thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby when solution is circulated through said housing metal from said solution is deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said housing is constructed and arranged to be positioned in the solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution comprising a housing adapted to be positioned in the solution, said housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution, and said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of nonconductive material having a conductive layer formed thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby when solution is circulated through said housing metal from said solution is deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for electrolytic recovery of metal from a solution comprising a housing adapted to be positioned in the solution, said housing including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to receive the solution, and said outlet adapted to permit said solution to flow out of said housing, an anode positioned within said housing, a cathode positioned within said housing in spaced apart relationship with said anode to permit the solution to flow between said anode and cathode, said cathode including a base layer of nonconductive material having a conductive layer formed thereon of sufficient thickness to render said cathode operative, said anode and cathode being adapted to be coupled to a source of DC current whereby when solution is circulated through said housing metal from said solution is deposited on said cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for recovery of metal from solution contained within a tank comprising a recovery cell positioned in the tank including a housing having an inlet and an outlet to permit circulation of the solution in the tank therethrough, a generally cylindrically shaped anode within the housing having an axis extending in a pre-selected direction, a generally cylindrically shaped cathode having an axis and a diameter greater than the diameter of said anode and positioned within the housing surrounding said anode with the axis of said cathode substantially parallel to the axis of said anode, said anode and cathode arranged within said housing with respect to the inlet and outlet thereof to permit the solution to circulate between the anode and cathode in a direction generally parallel to the axes of the anode and cathode, a pump having an outlet coupled to the inlet of said recovery cell and an inlet coupled to receive the solution, a source of DC current coupled between the anode and cathode whereby as the solution is circulated through said recovery cell metal from the solution is deposited onto the cathode from which it may be recovered.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for recovery of metal from solution contained within a tank comprising a recovery cell positioned in the tank including a housing having an inlet and an outlet to permit circulation of the solution in the tank therethrough, a generally cylindrically shaped anode within the housing having an axis extending in a pre-selected direction, a generally cylindrically shaped cathode having an axis and a diameter greater than the diameter of said anode and positioned within the housing surrounding said anode with the axis of said cathode substantially parallel to the axis of said anode, said anode and cathode arranged within said housing with respect to the inlet and outlet thereof to permit the solution to circulate between the anode and cathode in a direction generally parallel to the axes of the anode and cathode, a pump having an outlet coupled to the inlet of said recovery cell and an inlet coupled to receive the solution, a source of DC current coupled between the anode and cathode whereby as the solution is circulated through said recovery cell metal from the solution is deposited onto the cathode from which it may be recovered.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US820113A
Cited
US3003942A
Cited
US2901410A
Cited
US3161919A
Cited
US3282808A
Cited
US3457152A
Cited
US3980541A
Cited
US3459646A
Cited
US3706646A
Cited
US3718552A
Cited
US3767558A
Cited
US3694341A
Cited
US3899404A
Cited
US3859195A
Cited
US4000056A
Cited
US4026784A
Cited
US4105531A
Cited
US4093532A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-29 | 1984-12-29 | 1985-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-29 | 1988-12-29 | 1989-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-29 | 1992-12-29 | 1993-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |