Silver recovery device
AssigneeFabrikan Company
InventorJerome A. Azzara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A silver recovery device for recovering silver from photographic fluid is provided. The silver recovery device includes an outside container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet has an extension tube which causes the entering fluid to fall upon a silver recovery cartridge. The silver recovery cartridge generally includes compressed steel wool surrounded by an outside liner. The steel wool reacts with the silver contained within the photographic fluid. The silver recovery cartridge can also include baffle plates for further dispersing the fluid as it filters through the steel wool. The silver recovery cartridge is supported within the outside container by a support grid. The support grid allows fluid to filter through the cartridge and then flow out the fluid outlet.
Claims22
A device for recovering silver from fluids which contain silver therein, said device comprising:
- an outside container defining a fluid inlet positioned a predetermined distance from the top of said container and a fluid outlet;
- a silver recovery cartridge contained within said outside container, said cartridge being received within said outside container such that a space is defined therebetween, and wherein said cartridge is positioned in relation to said fluid inlet such that fluid entering said outside container may contact said cartridge and filter down through, said silver recovery cartridge comprising an elastic tubular liner having an open top and an open bottom, said liner surrounding a silver recovery element containing a metal above silver in the electromotive force series, said silver recovery element being forcibly packed within said tubular liner such that said recovery element applies a pressure of at least about 10 pounds per square inch to the interior surface of said liner;
- and
- support means for supporting said silver recovery cartridge within said outside container, wherein fluid may flow from said recovery cartridge through said support means and out said fluid outlet.
An improved silver recovery device for recovering silver from fluids, said device including an outside container defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluids respectively, said device further including a silver recovery cartridge received within said outside container, said cartridge containing a metal above silver in the electromotive force series adapted to undergo a replacement reaction with silver contained in the fluid being processed, said improvement comprising:
- a liner surrounding said metal, said metal being forcibly loaded into said liner causing said liner to apply a compressive force of at least about 10 pounds per square inch thereto, said compressive force preventing the formation of channels within said metal and causing fluid to filter more slowly through said silver recovery cartridge.
A device for recovering silver from photographic processing fluids, said device comprising:
- an outside container defining a fluid inlet, wherein said fluid inlet is adapted to receive a respective inlet hose for carrying fluid to said container;
- a silver recovery element enclosed within said outside container, said silver recovery element having a top and a bottom and positioned within said container such that fluid entering said fluid inlet falls upon said top of said recovery element, said silver recovery element comprising compressed steel wool, wherein, when fluid filters through said recovery element, silver contained within the fluid undergoes a replacement reaction with iron contained within said steel wool;
- fluid dispersing means in communication with fluid entering said fluid inlet for dispersing the fluid in multiple directions before the fluid contacts said silver recovery element;
- an elastic tubular liner surrounding and applying a compressive force of at least about 10 pounds per square inch to said silver recovery element, said liner having an open top and an open bottom for allowing fluid to filter therethrough;
- support means for supporting said silver recovery element in said liner within said container;
- and
- a fluid outlet defined by said outer container and adapted to receive an outlet hose, said fluid outlet being located on said outside container at a predetermined height below the top of said tubular liner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.