Electrolyzer for plating waste water

In an electrolyzing apparatus for depositing metals from plating waste water, said apparatus including a housing defining therein an electrolytic treating chamber for treating plating waste water, comprising the improvement wherein:

• said housing includes an elongate cylindrical tubular side wall joined between first and second end walls and defining said treating chamber therein;
• diffuser means mounted on and positioned within said treating chamber adjacent said first end wall for supplying plating waste water into the treating chamber adjacent one end thereof, said diffuser means including a plurality of small discharge ports which are disposed in angularly spaced relationship relative to the cross section of said treating chamber for supplying plating waste water into said treating chamber in a more uniform cross sectional pattern;
• said second end wall comprising a removable cover so as to facilitate access into said treating chamber;
• inlet means formed in said housing and communicating with said diffuser means for supplying plating waste water thereto;
• a first generally cylindrical sleevelike and elongate electrode positioned generally concentrically within said treating chamber and extending axially throughout a majority of the length thereof, said first electrode being disposed radially inwardly at least a small distance from the cylindrical side wall of said housing, said first electrode functioning as an anode, and at least a first electrical conductor engaged with said anode and projecting outwardly through said housing for connection to one side of a direct current power source;
• a second elongated electrode position generally concentrically within said treating chamber in radially inwardly spaced relationship from said first electrode and extending throughout substantially the entirety of the length of said treating chamber, said second electrode functioning as a cathode to permit deposit of metals thereon, and a second electrical conductor joined to said second electrode and mounted on and projecting outwardly of said housing for connection to the other side of the direct-current power source;
• said second electrode comprising a first elongate coil spring of electrically conductive metal positioned within and extending coaxially along the treating chamber between the first and second end walls and maintained in a resiliently compressed condition but with individual adjacent coils of the spring being axially spaced apart to permit waste water flow therebetween, said first coil spring being disposed concentrically relative to the first electrode in radially inwardly spaced relationship therefrom;
• said second electrode comprising a second elongate coil spring of electrically conductive material disposed concentrically and in radially spaced relationship within said first coil spring, said second coil spring also extending concentrically along the treating chamber substantially between the first and second end walls and being maintained in a resiliently compressed condition but with individual adjacent coils of the spring being axially spaced apart to permit waste water flow therebetween;
• and
• discharge conduit means projecting into the treating chamber generally concentrically within said second coil spring, said discharge conduit means defining therein a discharge passage which terminates in an inlet opening which is positioned more closely adjacent said cover, said discharge conduit means and the passage defined therein projecting outwardly of the housing for external discharge of waste water from which metals have been removed.