Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct.,
1897
America, Chemist. ]]
Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
I, HERBERT SEFTON JONES, of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co., Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord
Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Patent Agent,
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:
My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for the separation of
precious metals by electrolysis, and the object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus of such construction that the metals which it is desired to separate,
in whatever form they have been precipitated out of the electrolyte, can be easily,
and readily removed from the bath, without in any way interfering with or
stopping the electrolytic separation. A further object is to construct a simple
and cheap vessel in which the separation is effected and in which no motive power
is required to effect or assist the reaction, and also to provide a form of tank in
which the greatest possible diffusion of the magnetic density of the electric current
is effected.
The invention relates particularly to that class of electrolytic apparatus in which
the cathode is placed upon the bottom of the box or tank in which the precipita-
tion is effected, and the anodes are formed of the alloys, mattes or ores to be treated,
and which are suspended in suitable cases in the box or tank, submerged in the
electrolyte or which may be used with an insoluble anode.
The desired object is accomplished; first, by making the box or tank (herein-
after called the cathode case), very shallow, and of such size and shape, with
respect to the frames or cases in which the anodes are placed, or in respect to the
anodes themselves if insoluble anodes be used, that the latter will only partly cover
the cathode case and will leave at one side an open space from which the metals,
deposited, whether in the form of crystals, or otherwise, can be removed when
desired; secondly, in lining this box or tank wholly or partly with metal which
can form a cathode thereby making a cathode out of it; and thirdly, in so
inclining that portion of the bottom of the box or tank not covered by the anodes,
that it will be possible to obtain access to the bottom of the box or tank beneath
the anode at any time and thus render it possible to remove the precipitated
crystals as they are separated from the electrolyte, and fall to the bottom of the
tank, by means of scrapers, rakes, hoes, shovels or other convenient tools without
in any way impeding or retarding the process.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings forming a part of the Specification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional

page_text: view of the apparatus on the lines 1-1 of Figure 2, and Figure 2 is a plan view
of the same. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings A represents the tank or vessel called the cathode case, in which
the process is carried out. This is a shallow box of the general form indicated
in the drawings. It may be constructed of wood, metal, earthenware or other
convenient material. It is made as is shown in the drawings with a divided
bottom, one portion of which is flat and is indicated by A2, and the other part of
which is sloping as indicated by A'. The sloping bottom A', slopes down to and
connects the horizontal or flat bottom, preferably throughout its length, as shown
in the views. A cross beam E, may run lengthwise across the top of the box, as
shown in Fig. 1, for supporting the ends of the anode cases when a number of
them is used as hereinafter indicated.
BB are the cases in which the anodes are placed. These anode cases are
suspended over that portion of the box or tank A3 which is provided with the
flat bottom. Any number of these may be used and they may be of any convenient
dimensions, but in practice they are made of such size that it will take at least
three to cover the horizontal portion of the bottom A³, so that they may be readily
removed one by one, in order to facilitate cleaning out the different parts of the
tank, if desired.
These anode cases consist essentially of an interior frame work B₁ of hard wood
or other material, provided with a grated bottom B. These are held suspended
in the box or tank A by the projecting ends of their side pieces B which bridge
over and rest upon the side of the case A at one end and upon the crossbeam E
at the other end as shown in Figure 2. Each of the anode cases B, is arranged
to hold within it a smaller case C, which is provided with filter cloth bottom C.
In the smaller cases C, is placed the material which is to be electrolytically
separated, either in the form of ore or mattes, if the same is capable of being treated
or else in the form of an alloy. If the material to be treated is previously made
into the form of a suitable alloy, then the alloy is simply placed in the anode case
and connected with the electrolytic circuit direct and thus made the anode. In
such a case, the alloy is cast in the form of ingots or bars SS, which are laid upon
the bottom of the inner case C, as shown in the views, and a block, D, which is
cast of the alloy to be treated and is provided at its upper extremity with a pole
piece D, by which it is connected with the circuit as shown by Figure 1, is
placed upon the row of bars or ingots SS and if necessary a second row of bars
may be laid upon the first row BO that electrical connection is effected throughout
all parts of the anode case. H is the battery and I is a circuit breaker in the
circuit, of any suitable construction.
The anode case may be replaced by any insoluble anode suspended in the
solution over the cathode and any dispositions of the insoluble anodes may be 4
made, that will not prevent and interfere with the access to the space under the
anodes, above the cathode plate hereafter referred to.
The cathode case A is provided with a plate upon the flat part of the bottom,
to which the negative terminal of the battery is connected, thus making it the
cathode, or the cathode case may be lined throughout with a single sheet of metal 4
to which the negative terminal is attached, thus making the entire box serve as
a cathode. In practice the cathode plate may be made of carbon plates placed
side by side so as to form a continuous cathode plate or it may be made of a plate
of any suitable metal, or of plates of the particular metal which it is desired to
separate from the electrolyte.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
The anode cases BB where one or more are used, are suspended from the box
or tank A as shown in the drawings. The inner cases C of the anode cases, which
are provided with the filter cloth bottom, are then placed in the cases B, so as to
rest upon the grated bottom 132, and over filter cloth C laid thereon.
5
On top 5
of the blocks of alloy are placed the anode blocks D, the electric connections made,

page_text: or tank A²
This
and the solution for dissolving the blocks whicli may be of any desired composi-
tion, is then introduced into the box or tank until the whole cathode case including
the flat portion of the blocks D, is covered therewith. Thereupon the alloy will
immediately commence to dissolve in the solution and when the current is applied
from the battery, as fast as the alloy is dissolved, the solution will be decomposed
and the precious metal to be separated, will be precipitated upon the plate forming
the cathode. In case silver bullion is being treated, the pure silver will be
deposited in the form of small crystals on the flat portion of the bottom of the box
This can readily be removed by hoeing, raking, or shoveling it away,
by the insertion of a suitable tool at the point G into the cathode case.
may be done at any time without disturbing any parts of or interfering with the
work. If for any reason it is desired to obtain access to the flat bottom of the
tank or box forming the cathode case, one or more of the anode cases may be
removed without disturbing the others or interrupting the operation. During
the electrolysis, gold or platinum and other non-soluble metals will remain upon
the filter cloth as a fine slime, from which they can be removed and collected at
any time by lifting out the cases B or otherwise. I do not necessarily
confine myself either to the use of any particular anode, or to the use of a
particular number of anode cases, as in certain cases an insoluble
anode may preferably be employed suitably suspended over the cathode plate and
in the case of smaller apparatus a single anode case covering the flat portion of
the cathode case will be found sufficient for all practical purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of a cathode case, composed of a trough having its bottom
divided into two portions, one of which is horizontal and the other of which is
inclined, so as to slope down to and connect with the horizontal portion,
throughout its length, and provided with a cathode plate; and an anode suspended
therein, arranged to cover the horizontal portion of the bottom only.
2. The combination of a cathode case, composed of a trough having its bottom
divided into two portions, one of which is horizontal and the other of which is
inclined, so as to slope down to and connect with the horizontal portion through-
out its length, and lined throughout with a suitable material whereby the whole
inner surface thereof serves as a cathode; and an anode suspended therein,
arranged to cover the horizontal portion of the bottom only.
3. The combination of a cathode case composed of a trough having its bottom
divided into two portions, one of which is horizontal and the other of which is
inclined, so as to slope down to and connect with the horizontal portion throughout
its length, and provided with a cathode plate; and an anode case composed of an
exterior frame having a grated bottom and provided with an inner frame with a
filter cloth bottom, fitting into the exterior case, arranged to cover the horizontal
portion of the cathode case, only.
4. The combination of a cathode case composed of a trough having its bottom
divided into two portions, one of which is horizontal, and the other of which is
inclined, so as to slope down to and connect with the horizontal portion throughout
its length; a cathode upon said bottom; and a series of removable anode cases
arranged transversely side by side, to cover the horizontal portion of the cathode
case, only.
5. The combination of a cathode case composed of a trough having its bottom
divided into two portions, one of which is horizontal, and the other of which is
nclined, so as to slope down to and connect with the horizontal portion throughout
ts length; a cathode upon said bottom; and a series of removable anode cases
arranged transversely side by side each composed of an exterior frame having a
grated bottom and provided with an inner frame with a filter cloth bottom fitting

page_text: into the exterior case, arranged to cover the horizontal portion of the cathode
case only.
Dated this 17th day of August 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.