GB1097358A - Electrolytic treatment of prismatic workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1097358/C6-C7/1> In a method for the electrolytic surface treatment of prismatic parts having in transverse cross-section n long sides of substantially equal length, said prismatic parts are supported within a coiled polygonal spring which is connected to a source of electrical supply having a horizontal axis, the spring having N sides where N > n and the spring is rotated about its own axis or about a line parallel thereto, such that the prism rotates within the spring and contacts each wall of the spring in turn, at least that part of the spring which contains the prism to be treated being immersed in an electrolytic bath. In the form shown a plurality of springs are positioned between flanges 20, 22 fitted upon an axle 24. The drum 18 thus formed is mounted with the axle horizontal and may be rotated about said axle by means of electric motor (16) Fig. 1 (not shown) within bath (10). The spring may for instance be triangular in cross-section, as shown, being provided for treatment of parts of rectangular cross-section Fig. 5 (not shown) or may be pentagonal for treatment of parts of square cross-section, Fig. 6 (not shown). The springs 36 are connected through the flange 20 to an electrically conductive plate 42 which is connected to a source of electric supply via a friction-brush (48) Fig. 1 (not shown). The prisms to be treated are passed into the springs via openings 35 and 52 in the flange 22 and plate 39 affixed thereto respectively, in such manner that the plate 39 may be rotated to seal the openings 34 during operation of the apparatus.