Improvements in Electro-depositing.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1891—Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-depositing.
I, WILLIAM GIBBINGS of 67 Island Road Garston in the County of Lancaster
Metallurgist, and Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of depositing copper or other
metals by electrolysis with the object of refining it or them or of recovering the
precious, and or other metals contained in or alloyed with the metal under
treatment.
The tanks or vats used may be of slate, wood, or other suitable material lined
with any suitable non-conducting composition or material. They must not be
lined with metal. Some of the heat and acid-proof compositions are very suitable
for the purpose.
I will describe my invention in detail, pointing out the many improvements
which I claim.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a plant suitable for carrying out my
invention.
Fig. 1 is a plan of two vats or tanks.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the electrolytic vat or tank arranged in series
or in parallel showing in part my invention for suspending and fixing the metal
plates or sheets to be refined.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a tank showing my invention for accomplishing an
improved method of discharging the circulating liquor from the vats or tanks,
by means of a small overflow box and flexible tubes as referred to hereinafter.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of a vat or tank, showing in part my inven-
tion for suspending and fixing the metal to be refined.
Fig. 5 is
sectional side view of one of a number of suspension beams (marked B)
showing also one of a number of suspending pieces (marked S) for suspending the
metal plates or sheets in the vats or tanks.
Fig. 6 is an elevation showing one of a number of suspension beams with two
suspending pieces in position for sustaining the metal plates or sheets (marked C) in
the vats or tanks. For clearness of illustration the suspending pieces are shown a
slight distance from the ends of the plates or sheets. In practice they may be
placed flush with the ends of the plates or sheets.
The reference letters correspond to the same portion of the plant or appurtenances
in each drawing.
The first plate (or plates if more than one be used as shown in Fig. 4) is con-
nected with the positive pole of the dynamo electric machine and the last plate
with the negative pole of the dynamo electric machine or with the next vat or tank
as shewn in Fig. 1. The plate or plates connected with the positive pole should be
Bomewhat thicker than the other plates or sheets so that by the time the inter-
mediate plates or sheets are deposited there will still be some of the first plate or
plates, sheet or sheets, left to maintain electrical connection.
The plates or sheets suspended throughout the vat form separate cells and also
their own connection between the cells. The action of the electric current passing
through such cells and through a suitable electrolyte is to dissolve the metal from
the surfaces of the suspended plates or sheets nearest the negative connection and
to deposit it on the surface of the opposite plate or sheet. The surface of the
plates or sheets thus forming the cathode of each cell may be suitably prepared so
that any portion which may not be deposited may be easily stripped off and

page_text: removed. For the last plate or sheet in each vat it will be best to use plates or
sheets of deposited copper.
The insoluble foreign matters and the precious metals which may have been
contained in or alloyed with the metal plates or sheets under treatment become
liberated and partly fall to the bottom of the vat from which they are periodically
gathered.
The vats or tanks may be worked in parallel or they may be joined up in series
throughout, according to the electrical output of the dynamo electric machine.
The total number of vats connected to any one dynamo electric machine, or to
more than one dynamo electric machine will depend upon the electrical output of
such machine or machines.
Although I have shown in Figs. 1. 2. and 4 the plates or sheets of metal
arranged transversely they may also by my improvement be arranged longitudinally
as shown in Fig. 7. By such an arrangement the anode and cathode surfaces are
considerably increased, whereby the electrical resistance is diminished.
I claim this very important economy for my system of suspending the plates or
sheets.
By suspending the plates or sheets immersed in the vat or tank by insulating
material, and working each cell in series, instead of supporting them on the sides of
the vat directly, nearly the whole of the anode surfaces of the plates or sheets are
subjected to electrolytic action, whereas when the plates or sheets form their own
support on the edge of the vat or tank, a more or less large percentage of such
plates or sheets is not subject to electrolytic action at all, and the scrap metal
has to be remelted. Further by suspending the plates or sheets by non-conducting
suspending pieces, the insulation of the cells is more perfect. If the suspending
pieces are made of wood, it will be better to render them non-conducting by any of
the well known methods.
In Fig. 5, I have shown the suspending pieces solid at the bottom. They may
however be made in two pieces joined at the bottom.
I do not claim any improvement in the method of conveying the liquor to the
vats or tanks, but I do claim as an improvement my method of discharging the
circulating liquor from the vats or tanks whereby the liquor is withdrawn from the
lower part of the vat or tank, where it is more dense through electrolytic action.
The improvement consists of a small lead box attached to the side or end of the vat
or tank at a suitable height, according to the predetermined height of the liquor in
the vat or tank, having one connection by means of a flexible tube with a
plug inserted in the side of the vat, and another connection by means of a flexible
tube with the channel wherein the liquor is conveyed to the storage tank.
Fig. 3 shows a vat with the invention attached to it.
Fig. 8 shows a plan of the lead box, and
Fig. 9 a transverse vertical section of the lead box.
Fig. 10 is a side view.
By this method of returning the discharge liquor to the circulation well all the
vata may be fixed at one floor level and by my method of withdrawing the liquor
from the vate the liquor is kept approximately at one uniform level in them.
Further by my method of suspending the plates or sheets, all connection with
the bottom of the vat is avoided, and the danger of short-circuiting the cells through
the slimes which collect at the bottom of the wat is avoided.
Further by my system of suspending the plates or sheets whether longitudinally
or transversely the distance between the plates or sheets may be easily adjusted,
without stopping the working of the vat.
Dated this 29th day of January 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-depositing.
I, WILLIAM GIBBINGS of 67 Island Road Garston in the County of Lancaster
Metallurgist and Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 an improved method of depositing copper or other
metals by electrolysis with the object of refining it or them or of recovering the
precious, and, or, other metals contained in or alloyed with the metal under treat-
ment. The tanks used may be of slate, wood or other suitable material lined with
any suitable non-conducting composition or material. They must be lined with
metal. Some of the heat and acid proof compositions are very suitable for the
purpose. I will describe my invention in detail pointing out the many improvements
which I claim.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a plant suitable for carrying out my
invention.
Fig. 1 shows a tank in elevation with one side removed to show the metal plates
in position.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same tank further illustrating my invention for supporting
the metal plates or sheets to be refined.
Fig. 4 is an end view, with the end of the tank removed to show the end view of
one of the plates.
None of the drawings are made to scale.
The reference letters correspond to the same portion of the plant in each drawing.
In these two drawings S is a beam of non-conducting material on which the plates
of metal P rest. When the plates are fixed transversely as shewn in Fig. 1 there
will be two of such beams one against each side of the tank as shewn in Fig. 2.
These beams are themselves supported from the ends of the tank as shown in Fig. 1
by hangers H. These must be of non-corrodible material. I may employ iron
covered with pure rubber tubing for this purpose, or any other suitable material.
If the beam be made of wood it must be rendered non-conducting by any well known
method.
The first plate is connected with the positive pole of the dynamo electric machine
and the last plate with the negative pole of the dynamo electric machine or with
the next tank. The plate connected with the positive pole should be somewhat
thicker than the other plates or sheets, so that by the time the intermediate plates
or sheets are deposited there will still be some of the first plate or sheet left to
maintain electrical connection. The plates or sheets supported throughout the tank
form separate cells and also their own connection between the cells. The action of
the electric current passing through such cells and through a suitable electrolyte is
to dissolve the metal from that surface of each of the suspended plates or sheets
which is nearest to the negative connection and to deposit it on the surface of the
opposite plate or sheet. The surface of the plate or sheet thus forming the cathode
of each cell may be suitably prepared so that any portion of any plate or sheet
which may not be deposited may be easily stripped off and removed. For the last
plate or sheet in each tank it will be best to use deposited copper. The tank or
tanks will be provided with any suitable appliance for conveying liquor to and from
it or them so as to maintain the liquor as nearly as possible at one density
throughout. Any of the ordinary, methods may be.employed to accomplish this.
The insoluble foreign matters and the precious metals which may have been con-
tained in or alloyed with the metal plates or sheets under treatment become liberated
and partly fall to the bottom of the tank from which they are periodically gathered.
The tanks may be worked in parallel or they may be joined up in series
throughout according to the electrical output of the dynamo electric machine.

page_text: When the plates or sheets are supported longitudinally as shown in Fig. 3
I prefer to work in series.
The total number of tanks connected to any one dynamo electric machine or to
more than one dynamo electric machine will depend upon the electrical output of
such machine or machines.
Although I have shewn in Fig. 1 the plates or sheets of metal arranged trans-
versely they may also by my improvement be arranged longitudinally as shewn in
Fig. 3. By such an arrangement the anode and cathode surfaces are considerably
increased whereby an increase in the quantity of metal deposited may be effected
without increasing the number of tanks in use. I claim this very important economy
for my system of supporting the plates or sheets.
By supporting the plates or sheets immersed in the tank on insulating material
and working each cell in series instead of supporting the plates or sheets on the
sides of the tauk directly, the whole of the anode surfaces of the plates or sheets
excepting the first and last are subject to electrical action, whereas when the plates
or sheets form their own support on the edge of the tank a more or less large
percentage of such plates or sheets is not subject to electrolytic action at all and
the scrap metal has to be remelted. This is sometimes very considerable and forms
an important item in the cost of carrying on the ordinary processes of electro-
deposition. I claim for my invention the economy resulting from little or no scrap
having to be remelted.
Further by supporting the plates or sheets on non-conducting material itself
supported from the top of the tank the insulation of the cells in such a tank as I
have described is more perfect. If the supporting beams are made of wood they
must be rendered non-conducting by any of the well known methods.
Further by my method of supporting the plates or sheets all connection with the
bottom of the tank is avoided and the danger of short circuiting the cells through
the slimes which collect at the bottom of the tank and elsewhere is avoided.
The plates or sheets may be separately hung by non-conducting hangers or in
any manner such that they be insulated from one another and so that their
bottom edges are quite free from all connection with the bottom of the tank and so
that the whole of their anode surfaces be subject to electrolytic action but I
prefer above all the method described.
Further by my method of supporting the plates or sheets whether longitudinally
or transversely the distance between the plates or sheets may be easily adjusted
without stopping the working of the tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
The process of electro deposition of copper or other metals by electrolysis for the
purpose of refining it or them or for the purpose of recovering the precious metals
contained in them, the metal plates or sheets under treatment with the exception
of the first and last in each tank being totally immersed in the electrolyte and
supported on non-conducting beams or suspended in such manner that the total anode
surface of each plate or sheet is subject to electrolytic action the cells being insulated
from each other and from the bottom of the tank substantially as specified.
Dated this 11th day of November 1891.
WM. GIBBINGS.