GB645834A - Improvements in or relating to the electroplating of metallic wire - Google Patents

Abstract

645,834. Electroplating coiled metallic material. KENMORE METALS CORPORATION. March 18, 1947, No. 7465. Convention date, March 13, 1946. [Class 41] [Also in Group XXII] A method of electro. plating a coil of metallic material comprises supporting the coil in the form of a helix and advancing it along a helical path by means of a driven roller, holding the helix against the roller by the application of pressure during advancement through one or more electro-plating baths, and determining and maintaining uniform the size of the turns of the helix fed to the driven roller, by means including grooved rollers driven in synchronism with the driven roller. As shown, wire 12 is fed at a high speed between grooved rollers 61, 62 and below an adjustable grooved roller 67 before passing in helical form over a roller 10 against which it is passed by an adjustable roller 15. The wire passes through several baths, such as rinsing baths and acid baths, before passing through an electroplating bath 33. Partitions between the baths are offset and tapered to facilitate passage of the coil from one bath to the other. The wire may be maintained in position in the bath 33 by rods 42, 43 and spacers 41. Two wires may be plated simultaneously, the wires being spaced apart and each wire having its own set of rollers for forming the helix. Steel wire may be plated first with copper and then with zinc, and the platings then annealed to form a brass-like coating on the wire. The wire can then be drawn down to a smaller size, for use, for example, in the formation of screens. A bronzelike plating may similarly be formed, tin being used instead of zinc. Specification 601,994 is referred to.