Improvements in Apparatus for use in Obtaining Copper.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Obtaining Copper.
We, THE ROVELLO SYNDICATE LIMITED and JOHN CHARLES HOWELL, both
of Mansion House Buildings, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in obtaining copper
by what is known as the "Rovello " process which forms the subject matter of
Letters Patent No. 12208 of 1888.
According to this invention the parchment or parchmentised paper or other
suitable material of a flexible nature, forming the porous diaphragms which separate
the two electrolytes, is in a single length supported or wound upon two series of
uprights secured to opposite sides of a wooden frame adapted to be placed in a vat
and in such a manner that, when secured to the ends of the vat, it divides the said
vat into two sets of compartments, the compartments of each set advantageously
communicating with a common space.
To prevent the liquid contained by one set of compartments from escaping
beneath the diaphragms into the other set of compartments, plaster of Paris or
other suitable material is run in to a sufficient depth, or the lower edges of the
diaphragms enter grooves into which a packing material, such as an india-rubber
tube capable of being inflated, can also be placed.
To ensure the circulation of the electrolyte in cach set of compartments it is
only necessary to provide longitudinal pipes with suitable openings opposite each
compartiment at the top and bottom of each side and to cause the liquid to flow
through these pipes by any of the well known means.
Instead of winding a single length of flexible material round uprights as
above described, flexible material forming each compartment is carried in grooves
between two uprights, each groove, when viewed from the side, being, say, in the
form of the letter U.
This parchment is preferably held in position at each end by a length of india-
rubber tube which is squeezed into the groove alongside the parchment and
afterwards expanded by air or fluid pressure in the manner hereinbefore described
or by other means.
In this arrangement, in order to give free access to the space at the ends of the
rats, openings can be made in the uprights, or the electrolyte can be supplied to
them by tubes or other similar means, the circulation being advantageously induced
by the application of heat. A surface condensing apparatus, such as is used for
heating feed-water by exhaust steam, can be readily utilized for this purpose as
a large surface is exposed to the action of the heating agent. Or a centrifugal
pump, or a screw, similar to a ship's screw, or jets of air at high pressure may be
employed to produce the circulation.
To enable any one or a pair of diaphragins to be replaced without the necessity
of replacing the whole we make one or more grooves on the exterior of each frame,
and fix the sheets forming the diaphragms into these grooves by wedge-shaped
pieces of wood of dove-tail or other form of section, so that they retain their place
when forced into position by end pressure only. These wedges may be used alone
or in combination with strips of elastic material such as india-rubber between which
the wedges are placed.
Another convenient means of fixing the diaphragms comprises a frame having a
bottom and provided with grooves corresponding to the number of diaphragmns.
Each diaphragm may consist of a single sheet or in some cases of two sheets of the
parchment or parchmentised paper or other suitable porous material which is

page_text: passed into the groove and afterwards held in position by elastic wedges similar to
those above described. The porous diaphragms may be mounted between perforated
sheets of metal, or in some cases between perforated sheets of ebonite, celluloid or
glass. If these perforated sheets are of metal, such as iron, they must be protected
by varnish or enamel which will resist the action of the electrolyte, but lead,
hardened by the addition of antimony, is a material which requires no such pro-
tection. In this case the frames may be single or double or the porous material
may be arranged in separate openings or panels or perforations in the sheets so that
any damage may be confined to one panel. These partition frames or sheets
carrying the porous diaphragms may be fixed by dropping them into grooves and
jointing them with india-rubber tubing inflated or expanded as herein before
described.
The vats are sometimes formed in excavations in the ground lined with brick-
work or masonry and afterwards coated with resisting plaster formed of asphalte or
asphalte coated with mixtures of marine glue, ozokerite, paraffin or other non
conducting cement. This mode of construction is applicable to those cases in
which the process is employed near the mines in hilly districts, as the circulation
can then be easily effected by the cascade arrangement of electrolyte from one vat
to that situated next below it.
Dated the 25th day of May 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Obtaining Copper:
We, THE ROVELLO SYNDICATE LIMITED and Joux CHARLES HOWELL,
both of Mansion House Buildings, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in what is known as the Rovello electro-
lytical apparatus for use in obtaining copper which forms the subject matter of
Letters Patent No. 12208 of 1388 and it consists mainly in the means hereinafter
described for securing the parchment or parchinentised paper which forms the
porous diaphragms separating the two electrolytes.
Our invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan with the top of the tank or casing removed; and,
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of an apparatus for use in obtaining
copper, embodying some of our improvements :
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a similar apparatus illustrating some other
of our improvements:
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same; and,
Figure 5 is a plan of part of the apparatus with the top of the tank or casing
removed:
Figure 6 is a plan illustrating a modification of our invention.
Figures 7 and 8 are an elevation and plan respectively illustrating another
modification; and,
Figure 9 is a plan illustrating a further modification.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is the tank or casing, and is the parchment or
parchmentised paper or other suitable material of a flexible nature, forming the
porous diaphragmns which separate the two electrolytes. This material we make in
a single length supported or wound upon two series of uprights c, a secured to the
bottom of the tank a in such a manner that, when the material is secured by
wedges d, d to the ends of the tank, it divides the said tank into two sets of
compartments e and the compartments of each set communicating with common

page_text: spaces and respectively at the sides of the tank. i and are the two sets of
electrodes suspended in the compartments e and respectively by rods k, Figure 2,
from the copper slabs or bars similarly to the electrodes in "Rovello's "apparatus
hereinbefore referred to.
To prevent the liquid contained by one set of compartments from escaping
beneath the diaphragms into the other set of compartments, plaster of Paris or
other suitable material m, Figure 2, is run in to a sufficient depth.
Or the lower edges of the diaphragms may enter grooves in the bottom of the
tank, into which grooves a packing material, such as an india-rubber tube capable
of being inflated, can also be placed.
To ensure the circulation of the electrolyte in each set of compartments we
provide longitudinal pipes and with suitable openings p opposite each compart
ment e and at the top, and similar pipes y and with openings
opposite each
compartment at the bottom of each side and cause the liquid to How through these
pipes by any well known means. The arrows indicate the direction of flow of the
liquid.
Instead of winding a single length of flexible material round uprights as above
described, we can, as shewn in Figures 3, 4 and 5 secure the flexible material b
forming each compartment in groovest, made in the uprights which in this case
are fixed to the sides of the tank a, each groove, when viewed from the side, being,
say, in the form of the letter U, as clearly shewn in Figure 3.
C
Each edge of the material is preferably held in position by a length of india-
rubber tube which is squeezed into the groove alongside the material and
afterwards expanded by air or fluid pressure by suitable means.
In this arrangement the electrolyte can be supplied to the compartments e and f
by horizontal tubes and from which tubes and extend downwards to near
the bottom of the compartments e and respectively, whilst the liquid flows off
from the tank a through the short pendent tubes o and p connected respectively to
horizontal tubes and y at the opposite side of the tank a and dipping into the
liquid in the compartments e and respectively. The direction of flow of the
liquid in circulation is indicated by arrows, the said circulation being advantageously
induced by the application of heat. A surface condensing apparatus, such as is
used for heating feed water by exhaust steam, can be readily utilized for this
purpose as a large surface is exposed to the action of the heating agent. Or a
centrifugal pump, or a screw, similar to a ship's screw, or jets of air at high pressure
may be employed to produce the circulation.
Instead of the arrangement of tubes just described for allowing the liquid to
circulate we can employ any other suitable means, for example, we can make
passages in the uprights and sides of the tank forming communications between
the compartments (the other compartments e communicating at the bottom of the
tank a, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4) and supply and run off the liquid at the ends
of the tank, as will be well understood without further description or illustration.
Figure 6 illustrates a means we sometimes employ to enable a diaphragm b to
be replaced without the necessity of replacing the whole. We form grooves tin
the walls of the tank or in a frame adapted to fit within the tank and we fix the
sheets forming the diaphragms into these grooves by means of wedges or strips of
wood d forced into the said grooves and clamping the edges of the diaphragms. The
strips d may be used in combination with strips of elastic material such as india-
rubber.
and 8.
Another convenient means of fixing the diaphragms is illustrated in Figures 7
It comprises a frame, having sides and a bottom adapted to fit within the
tank and provided with a series of internal strips at forming grooves the diaphragms
being held by having their edges clamped between strips a² and the sides of the
grooves, the strips a being so placed that they may be tightened in pairs by
wedges d. Each diaphragm may consist of a single sheet (or in some cases of
two sheets) of the parchment or parchmentised paper or other suitable porous
material.

page_text: As shewn in Figure 9, the porous diaphragm is mounted between perforated
sheets of metal (or in some cases between perforated sheets of ebonite, celluloid
or glass). If these perforated sheets are of metal, such as iron, they must be
protected by varnish or enamel which will resist the action of the electrolyte but
lead, hardened by the addition of antimony, is a material which requires no such
protection.
The edges of the diaphragm and perforated sheets are inserted in grooves in
the sides of the tank a and are secured by india-rubber tubes placed on each side
of the edges and then inflated, strips c¹ of wood or other suitable material being
advantageously employed to confine the tubes in the grooves.
The sheets of material and perforated plates can, if required, be mounted in single
or double frames or the porous material may be arranged in separate openings or
panels or perforations in the sheets so that any damage may be confined to one
panel. These partition frames or sheets carrying the porous diaphragms may be
fixed by dropping them into grooves and jointing them with india-rubber tubing
inflated or expanded as hereinbefore described.
The tanks are sometimes formed in excavations in the ground lined with brick-
work or masonry and afterwards coated with resisting plaster formed of asphalte or
asphalte coated with mixtures of marine glue, ozokerite, paraffin or other non-
conducting cement. This mode of construction is applicable to those cases in
which the process is employed near the mines in hilly districts as the circulation
can then be easily effected by the cascade arrangement of electrolyte from one
tank to that situated next below it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described arrangement of the parchment or parchmentised paper
which forms the porous diaphragms separating the two electrolytes in a Rovello
electrolytical apparatus and means for securing the same, consisting of a single
length of material, supported upon or wound around two series of uprights fixed in
the tank, and secured to the ends of the tank, substantially as set forth.
2. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus the combination with the two series of
uprights and the single length of material constituting the diaphragms supported
upon or wound around the same, of the pipes located in the common spaces g and hy
as described, and having openings opposite the compartments, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus, the combination with the uprights
formed with grooves, as described, adapted to receive the edges of strips of porous
material each of which strips constitutes a compartiment for an electrode, of lengths
of india-rubber tube, introduced into the said grooves after the edges of the porous
material have been placed therein, and then inflated substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth and as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus the arrangement of horizontal tubes
having tubes depending therefrom into the various compartments containing the
electrolytes for the purpose of circulating the liquids, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus, fixing the sheets of material constituting
the diaphragms by means of strips or wedges substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus fixing the sheets of material constituting
the diaphragms by means of strips and wedges, substantially as set forth and
illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a Rovello electrolytical apparatus the arrangement of the sheets of material
constituting the diaphragms between perforated sheets of metal or other suitable

page_text: material, inflated elastic tubes u being employed for securing the edges of the said
diaphragms and the protecting plates in grooves, substantially as set forth and
illustrated in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 24th day of March 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.