FR2852023A1 - Coloring of a sheet of chain mail made of light metal rings by anodization of the sheet on a stretcher frame, enabling the chain mail to be used for aesthetic applications - Google Patents

Abstract

The coloring of a sheet made as a coat of mail constituted by the assembly of light metal rings, consists of: (a) hooking all the outer rings making up two outer rows on a stretcher frame; (b) exerting a tension on the hooked rings; (c) plunging the stretcher frame on which the sheet to be colored is hooked into an electrolysis tank containing an anodizing bath, as well as a cathode; (d) connecting respectively the stretcher frame and the cathode to the poles of a generator, in order to create an anodization layer; (e) coloring the sheet. Independent claims are also included for: (a) a device for putting this method of coloring a chain mail sheet into service; (b) an article of chain mail colored by this method.

Description

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of coloring a sheet produced in chain mail consisting of the assembly of rings of a light metal, in particular aluminum, each ring passing through the four rings which are peripheral to it.

  Specialists have long offered protective clothing made of chain mail.

  Such protective clothing is generally intended for the food industry, and in particular for the food industry.

  In accordance with the invention, we had the idea of widening the field of use of chain mail by proposing a chain mail for aesthetic use, in particular intended for the clothing industry, or in the fields of architecture, decoration of objects, historical reconstruction ...

  However, the stainless steel chainmail with welded rings which is conventionally used for the manufacture of protective clothing is relatively heavy, it is moreover incapable of coloring; it could therefore not be favored by consumers 20 in the abovementioned fields.

  To overcome these drawbacks, the invention has set itself the aim of proposing a colored chain mail made of a light metal such as aluminum.

  The invention therefore relates to a method of coloring a web produced in chain mail.

  This process is characterized by the succession of the following stages: - all the external rings making up two opposite sides of the tablecloth to be colored or external rows are hung on a tensioning frame made of an electrically conductive material, this by means of hooking members electrically conductive, - a tension is exerted on the rings thus hung so that the rings of the same row connecting the two outer rows are aligned end to end without overlapping, - the tensioning frame is plunged on which the part to be colored is hung previously tensioned in an electrolysis tank containing an anodization bath, in particular a bath of dilute sulfuric acid, as well as a cathode, in particular of aluminum or lead, - the tensioning frame and the cathode are connected respectively to the poles d '' a generator so that the part to be colored, acting as an anode, transforms into a thin layer of anodization, in particular a layer of alum ine porous, and - the tablecloth to be colored thus coated is colored.

  The method according to the invention therefore corresponds to the adaptation of the conventional method of protecting aluminum parts by anodic oxidation of the metal in an electrolysis and then to the coloring of the sheet of chain mail.

  Such an adaptation requires the resolution of specific problems taking into account the peculiarity of the chain mail.

  The invention also relates to an article in chain mail consisting of the assembly of rings of a light metal, in particular aluminum colored by the implementation of this process.

  The rings of such a chain mail are often not welded.

  A chain mail of this type is a flexible product, comparable to a textile fabric, constituted by the assembly of rings which are not perfectly identical due to the tolerances existing on the diameter of the basic metallic wire as well as on the inner and outer diameters of the rings.

  In order for an article thus produced to be able to claim favor with consumers, it is essential that it is colored in a uniform manner, and that all the rings are colored therefore, that the electric current which is uniformly distributed between all the rings during electrolysis.

  However, such uniformity requires that the chainmail is sufficiently tight to guarantee the electrical contacts between the rings, but taking care to exclude any deformation or opening thereof, which would cause an anodization break.

  It is also essential to reduce as much as possible the contact zones between the tensioning frame and the ply to be anodized, as well as the contact zones between the rings, since such zones constitute treatment reserves likely to harm the appearance. of the colored article finally obtained.

  The present invention also proposes a device for implementing the aforementioned method of a nature to satisfy these various requirements.

  According to the invention, this device is characterized in that it consists of a rigid essentially rectangular frame made of an electrically conductive material and equipped at its internal part, on the one hand on one of its sides or first side d 'A first attachment comb 5 made of an electrically conductive material, and on the other hand, on a second side opposite the first of a mounting bar carrying a second attachment comb similar to the first.

  According to the invention, the mounting bar is capable of moving in translation parallel to the second side of the rigid frame and is connected to an adjustable tension system making it possible to vary the stress applied to each of the rings according to their physical characteristics. .

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the attachment combs are each equipped with a series of attachment teeth 1 5, the spacing of which corresponds to the outside diameter of the rings constituting the chain mail.

  This characteristic is essential for optimizing the tension and bringing all of the rings into contact.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the ri20 gide frame, the attachment combs and the mounting bar are made of titanium or aluminum.

  Titanium and aluminum are the only metals capable of chemically and durably withstanding the entire anodization process.

  The characteristics of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a block diagram of the tensioning of a sheet of chain mail to be colored by the process object of the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic view of a tensioning frame.

  According to FIG. 1, the tablecloth to be colored 1 is a piece of rectangular shape produced in chain mail.

  Such a sheet is formed by the assembly of open rings 2 of aluminum.

  Each ring 2 passes through the four rings which are peripheral to it so as to obtain a fabric having a flexibility assimilable to that of a textile fabric.

  In order to be able to anodize the ply 1 satisfactorily, it is necessary for the current to be uniformly distributed between the rings 2, which requires that these all be in contact with one another.

  Such contacting requires energizing of the sheet 1.

  To this end, a tension is shown diagrammatically by the arrows a, a 'on each of the outer rings 21, 2 ′ composing the two outer rows 20, 20 ′ of the ply 1.

  As a result, the rings of the same row connecting the two outer rows 20, 20 'are aligned end to end.

  Such a row is shown diagrammatically by the double arrow A in FIG. 1.

  In addition, to obtain a satisfactory tension of the ply 1, it is essential that the spacing e of the points at which a tension is exerted a, a 'on the outer rings 21, 2'i neighbors 15 corresponds to the outside diameter of these rings.

  According to FIG. 2, the coloring sheet 1 is hung on a rigid titanium or aluminum tensioning frame 3 of rectangular shape.

  This frame 3 is equipped with a first attachment comb 4 on a first of its sides 30.

  The frame is also equipped, on a second side 30 'opposite the first side 30 with a mounting bar 5 connected to a tension system shown diagrammatically by the arrow B. The mounting bar 5 is capable of moving in translation parallel to the second side 30 'of the rigid frame 3.

  A second attachment comb 4 ′ similar to the first attachment comb 4 is fixed to the mounting bar 5.

  The attachment combs 4, 4 ′ are each provided with a series of attachment teeth 6, 6 ′, the spacing of which corresponds to the outside diameter of the rings 2 of the chain mail constituting the ply 1. 30 Thus the outer rings 21 of the outer rows 20 are each hooked to a hooking tooth 6 of the first hooking comb 4 while the outer rings 2'l of the outer rows 20 'are each hooked to a hooking tooth 6' of the second 4 'hanging comb.

  The adjustment of the tension system (arrow B) makes it possible to tension the ply 1 in an optimum manner to carry out the anodization in the best conditions.

Claims (5)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S   10) Process for coloring a sheet produced in chain mail consisting of the assembly of rings of a light metal, in particular aluminum, each ring passing through the four rings which are peripheral to it, characterized in that - hooks all the outer rings making up two opposite sides of the part to be colored or outside rows on a tensioning frame made of an electrically conductive material, this by means of electrically conductive hooking members, - tension is exerted on the rings thus hung so that the rings of the same row connecting the two outer edges are aligned end to end without overlapping, - the tensioning frame is immersed on which is hung the coloring sheet 15 previously stretched in an electrolysis tank containing a bath anodization, in particular a bath of dilute sulfuric acid, as well as a cathode in particular of aluminum or lead, the tensioning frame is thus connected respectively that the cathode at the poles of a generator so that the sheet to be colored serving as anode 20 is covered with a thin layer of anodization, in particular a layer of porous alumina, and - the sheet is colored with color thus coated.   2) Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is constituted by a rigid frame (3) essentially rectangular made of an electrically conductive material and equipped at its internal part, on the one hand on one of its sides or first side (30) of a first hooking comb 30 (4) made of an electrically conductive material, and, on the other hand, on a second side (30 ′ opposite to the first, an assembly bar (5) carrying a second attachment comb (4 ') similar to the first, this assembly bar (5) being capable of moving in translation 35 parallel to the second side (30') of the rigid frame (3) and being connected to a tension system B).   30) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment combs (4, 4 ') are each equipped with a series of attachment teeth (6, 6' whose spacing corresponds to the outer diameter of the rings (2) constituting a chain mail.   40) Device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the rigid frame (3), the attachment combs (4, 4) and the mounting bar (5) are made of titanium or aluminum. 50) An article of chain mail colored by the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is produced in a sheet of chain mail constituted by the assembly of rings (2) in one light metal, in particular aluminum, each ring (2) passing through the four rings which are peripheral to it.   60) An article of mail coat fabric according to claim 5, characterized in that the rings (2) are not welded.