GB857351A - Electrolytic plating - Google Patents

Abstract

857,351. Electroplating. KENMORE, H. May 19, 1958, No. 16060/58. Class 41 In a device for continuously electroplating wire, tube or strip material, which is continuously formed into the shape of a horizontal helix and rotated so as to move.lengthwise along at least two horizontal rollers positioned above a bath structure and supporting a multiplicity of consecutive individual coils of the helix, the lower portions of the coils dipping into an electroplating bath, at least one of the supporting rollers comprises a length of an electrically conducting surface, on which a plurality of the coils is supported, electrical contact means being provided to feed an electroplating current to the roller whereby to supply the current to each of the said coils of the helix, and means are provided to spray the electrically conducting surface of the said roller or rollers with the solution of the electroplating bath. As shown the material 10 to be plated is formed into a helix and supported on rollers 20 and 21 over the electrolytic bath 28. These rollers may be sufficiently conductive of themselves, or may have a conducting tape wound around them. Electric current is supplied to the rollers through collars 57 on the rollers, and carbon brushes mounted on the assembly 60 which is supported by the frame 36. The rollers 20 and 21, where they support the helix, but not the collars 57 are sprayed with the bath solution from perforated tubes 39 and 40. The helix may be oscillated backwards and forwards along the rollers by means of a slowly oscillating guide-rod (not shown) running parallel with the rollers, and carrying guide pins that fit in between the coils of the helix. Alternatively, the rollers 20 and 21 may be slowly oscillated to produce the same effect. One or more pretreatment or water-wash baths may be provided under the rollers 20 and 21, so that the helix passes through them before it reaches the plating bath. In this case the rollers where they contact this part of the helix are sprayed with water, which is caught in drip pans (not shown) which empty into the wash baths, to avoid diluting the liquid in the pretreatment baths. The apparatus may be used to plate copper on to steel wire. Specification 775,769 is referred to.