Abstract: An apparatus for producing alkaline water and acidic water which includes a container which houses an electrolytic cell, said electrolytic cell containing a lower chamber provided with a water inlet zone and a water outlet zone, and an upper chamber containing anode plates and cathode plates disposed in a spaced apart predetermined relationship, inlet means for introducing water into the water inlet zone of the lower chamber of said electrolytic cell, said inlet means including valve means, first and second outlet means disposed at the upper end portion of the upper chamber for removing alkaline water and acidic water respectively, therefrom, said first outlet means provided with means for discharge from the apparatus, and said second outlet means provided with means for communicating with the water outlet zone for discharge from the apparatus, and electrical means for providing the necessary electrical power to the apparatus.

Abstract: The device is a small, portable receptacle having a top closure and a bottom closure which are sealingly joined to define an interior cavity which holds a small battery. A cathode plate is in electrical contact with the negative terminal of the battery and extends through the bottom closure for direct contact with electrolyzing solution, and an anode is in electrical contact with the positive terminal of the battery and extends through the top closure for direct contact with electrolyzing solution. The unit is especially designed for use to recover silver from photographic fixing solution.

Abstract: This disclosure involves the employment of novel assemblies of electrode structures deposited upon, for example, strongly hygroscopic insulators and activated by small voltages to effect active electrolysis of adsorbed water as an effective getter for semiconductor and similar devices, with the process of preparation of the same being adapted either to enable modification of existing devices, or for supplementation to existing device manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A portable unit for recovering metallic silver from photographic processing solutions includes a lightweight, molded tank structure. Spaced, elongate, stationary anodes are disposed within the tank and are positioned parallel to each other. An elongate cathode assembly is supported for rotation in the tank about an axis parallel to the anodes. The cathode assembly includes a specially configured apertured barrel designed to promote efficient contact between photographic solution and the remainder of the cathode components. The barrel is readily removed from the unit and disassembled to permit cathode components to be stripped of plated silver. Alternate cathode constructions are disclosed by which extremely efficient plating and silver recovery may be accomplished. The unit also includes a drive shaft seal assembly for supporting the cathode assembly for rotation. The seal assembly is flexible to permit operation of the device even when misaligned bearing support structures are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for the electrochemical development of damage tracks in dielectric transparent material sheets comprises a first elongated prismatic vessel within which an axial cavity is provided extending over most of the prism length and communicating with a circular transverse cavity which extends from an opening on one face of the prism thereinto for less than one half of the prism thickness; said longitudinal and transverse cavities being so dimensioned that when enough liquid is supplied thereinto for abundantly flooding the transverse cavity with the vessel upright and the transverse cavity lowermost, the same liquid will not reach the bottom of the transverse cavity when the vessel is set horizontally with the transverse cavity opening up.

Abstract: Pulses of a pulse duration not greater than 100 microseconds are applied by an electronic switch between a tool electrode having abrasive particles distributed over its surface and a workpiece across a polishing gap supplied with an electrolyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytically disinfecting an object which comprisesan electrolytic cell containing at least one pair of electrodes, said electrodes being positioned within said cell such that when said cell receives an electrolyte containing solution therein, said electrodes will be at least partially immersed in said solution,an electrically conductive substrate having means for holding said object to be disinfected, said electrically conductive substrate being of sufficient size so as to be capable of being immersed into the solution, when said cell receives said solution, between said electrodes, and wherein said substrate functions as a bipolar electrode when a potential is impressed across said electrodes, and wherein said holding means is capable of holding the object to be disinfected completely submerged in said solution, and between said electrodes.

Abstract: A hand held plating applicator for electroplating a relatively soft metal onto a substrate consisting of an anode composed of the relatively soft metal, an electrically insulating handle, and a backing composed of a metal substantially harder than the relatively soft metal. The backing is secured to the handle, and has a plurality of countersunk apertures therein, the soft anode having integral protuberances which extend through the apertures and hold the anode in firm contact with one face of the backing. The protuberances are flattened at their ends to fill up the countersunk portions of the apertures, and provide surfaces which are flush with the opposite face of the backing.

Abstract: A selective plating brush applicator for selectively plating a workpiece. The plating brush consists of an electrically conducting core having a holding means attached to one end of the core for holding the plating brush. A plating current application means is attached to the core for applying a plating current to the core. A brush head is attached to the other end of the core for applying a selective plating solution to the workpiece. The brush head is comprised of anodic electrically conducting flexible fibers and electrically non-conducting flexible fibers which are in liquid communication with each other. The conducting fibers are conductively attached to the core. The conducting and non-conducting fibers are positioned in the brush head in such a manner that when the plating brush is used to apply the plating solution to the workpiece the conducting fibers do not come in contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus particularly useful in connection with film processing and like systems provides for the separation and removal of metal from a solution such as a fixing bath. The separator apparatus comrises a housing containing anode and cathode elements positioned concentric to each other and to a delivery tube. A distributor means, at the discharge end of the delivery tube, has no moving parts and is formed to induce a swirling helical flow of the metal bearing solution as it is directed thereby to the space between the anode and cathode elements of the separator. A simple block type manifold facilitates the circulation and recirculation of the metal bearing fluid within the separator and the delivery thereby of an essentially "clean" reusable fluid the metal content of which has been removed and left as a relatively hard plating on the cathode element.

Abstract: A method of electrochemically polishing a metal body which comprises juxtaposing the surface to be polished with a tool electrode in the presence of an abrasive and an electrolyte, and applying pulses having a duration not exceeding 100 microseconds between the electrode and the workpiece with the electrode being poled negatively.

Abstract: The casing of apparatus for purifying water encloses a chamber and is formed with two orifices spaced from the chamber in opposite directions and communicating with the same for gravity flow of the water to be purified from one of the orifices through the chamber and out of the other orifice. Two electrodes spacedly mounted in the chamber for flow of the water therebetween are conductively connected to an electric battery in the casing by circuitry which causes current to flow between the electrodes through the water when the water and the battery satisfy proper conditions for the functioning of the apparatus, such conditions being indicated by a sensible signal. A compartment in the casing, sealed from the electrode chamber, encloses almost all the circuitry.

Abstract: A purification unit includes an electrolytic cell adapted to hold a body of water to be purified and provided with two electrically insulated electrodes, a pump supplying the water to be purified to the cell through a filter and driving purified water out of the unit, a power supply for supplying electrolyzing current to the electrodes, a control circuit which generates a sensible signal indicative of the operating conditions of the pump, the power supply, and the filter, and a housing which encloses the cell, the pump, the power supply, and the control circuit. The housing is partly received in a container for the raw water. The portion of the housing projecting from the container carries a discharge spout for purified water, a connector for an external source of current, and the signal display elements of the control circuit.

Abstract: A water pot with an electrolyzing device comprises a pot body having an opening at the top thereof and a handle, the pot body including an electrolyzing vessel divided into two chambers by a porous partition formed into a hollow shape, the chambers having therein negative and positive electrodes respectively, means for removing the water from the positive electrode chamber after an electrolyzing operation, a cover detachably mountable on said opening at the top of the pot body, said opening being adapted to supply water to the vessel and said hollow porous partition being adapted to be inserted into the vessel and removed therefrom through said opening. A nozzle is formed in the cover or in the remaining portion of the pot body so as to communicate with the negative electrode chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming silver from solution. Photographic film is transported through a plurality of compartments within which fluids act upon the constituents in the film coating. One of the compartments contains fluid that includes a silver complex dissolved therein, and a silver precipitating unit is positioned within that compartment. The precipitating unit includes anode-cathode elements connected to a source of electrical potential for depositing silver upon the elements.

Abstract: An electrolytic water purification system operated from a battery includes an electrolytic cell which may purify water properly only when an applied voltage exceeds the battery output voltage. A power supply circuit energized by the battery furnishes the necessary higher voltage. An electrically driven pump is directly energized by the battery for pumping the water to be purified through the cell. The pump is automatically deenergized when the conductivity of the water or the available voltage is outside prescribed limits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a metal from a liquid solution is herein disclosed. The apparatus includes a receiving tank. A circulating tank is connected to the receiving tank. A circulating pump is connected to the circulating tank. A circulating tank drain pump is connected to the circulating tank. A recovery tank is connected to the circulating tank and the circulating pump. The recovery tank has an anode and a cathode positioned therein. A source of electric current is connected to the anode and the cathode. Metal is removed from the liquid by the method of circulating the liquid between the circulating tank and recovery tank. While the liquid is circulating, the source of electric current supplies a decreasing electric current to the anode and the cathode to collect the metal on the cathode.

Abstract: The housing of an electrolytic purification apparatus defines a receiving chamber and an electrolytic cell. The receiving chamber communicates with a filling aperture at the top of the housing which is upwardly open in the operating position of the apparatus. A first conduit connects a bottom portion of the chamber with an inlet portion of the cell, and a second conduit connects an outlet portion of the cell, upwardly spaced from the inlet portion but lower than the filling aperture, with a discharge aperture at the lower end of the housing. The chamber, cell, and conduits define a continuous path of liquid flow from the filling to the discharge aperture, the path extending downward in the chamber, upward in the cell, and downward again in the second conduit. Two electrodes, offset from the flow path in the cell in opposite, transverse directions, are supplied with direct current for passage of the current in the cell through liquid flowing in the afore-described flow path.

Abstract: Portable apparatus is disclosed for recovering metal from metal bearing solutions. The apparatus includes a chamber arranged to be mounted on a container for the solution to establish a fluid flow path between an anode and cathode in the chamber for deposition of metal on the cathode, the unit being arranged to prevent unauthorized removal of deposited metal from the cathode.

Abstract: A wet chlorine generator for providing precisely controlled rates of gas flow for instrumentation purposes, characterized by a safe and reliable gas source provided by precisely controllable electrolysis of a metal chloride electrolyte to form chlorine gas that is then passed through a flow regulating device into a gas conduit that guides the gas from the generator to associated instrumentation.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically replacing anodes and cathodes disposed alternately in an electrolytic cell used for the electrolytic refining of a metal. The anodes are each formed with a pair of recesses on opposite edges of the upper end thereof, and a central cutout having a sufficient depth is formed between the recesses of the anodes. The apparatus comprises a pair of parallel rods engageable with the recesses of all the anodes and a plurality of clamping units adapted for clamping the cathodes on opposite sides of the upper end without engaging the anodes during clamping movement by virtue of the provision of the cutout in the anodes. Thus, the anodes and cathodes can be automatically loaded into and unloaded from the electrolytic cell while maintaining the predetermined inter-electrode distance required for the electrolysis of the metal.

Abstract: The disclosed electrolytic field respirometer consists of a sample vessel in which oxygen is utilized by a biological sample. Oxygen is provided on demand from an electrolytic cell which is turned on when the electrolyte level in a contact tube rises because of decreased pressure in the sample vessel due to oxygen consumption. A compensating vessel is operatively connected to the electrolytic cell to balance pressure fluctuations due to changes in the environmental pressure or temperature to which the respirometer is subjected.

Abstract: A method and means whereby a neutral salt water solution is electrolyzed in a confined compartment to achieve decomposition products which remove adsorbed film and microorganisms from teeth and oral cavity. The decomposition solution is sprayed from a container whereby the compartment is arranged in connection with the spray means. The electrodes in the compartment are activated from a current source.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for blood and tissue detoxification by oxidation of excess undesirable or toxic substances such as ammonia, urea, creatinine, alanine, carbon monoxide, drug overdoses, uric acid, actone, aceto acetate and ethanol in an electrochemical cell which may be implanted or used in an extracorporeal shunt system. The cell may be hybridized with a battery to drive the cell under certain conditions, and the cell may be employed as part of a blood toxic substance level monitoring system. The invention is typified by the case where electrochemical cells convert oxygen and the enumerated toxic substances in the body fluids to harmless products such as CO.sub.2, water and nitrogen which are easily dissipated. The cells have hydrophobic cathodes having a membrane thereover of silicone rubber, polyfluorocarbon, polycarbonate, and copolymers thereof which permit diffusion of oxygen therethrough.

Abstract: An improved portable conductivity meter for automatically and rapidly drawing an electrolyte sample and for measuring and providing an accurate output indication of its electrical conductivity, which is independent of temperature variations of the electrolyte. A pen-like dip probe, housing an electrode pair and a thermistor in unique configuration, is designed to rapidly draw an electrolytic dialysate sample whenever the probe is immersed within the electrolyte. A high frequency AC source drives a balanced active measurement circuit, having a reference leg and a measurement leg which contains the electrode pair and the temperature compensating thermistor. The balanced circuit provides measurement and reference output signals of opposite polarity to a summing amplifier which drives a visual conductivity indicator.