US1182173A

US1182173A - Silver-cleaner.

Info

Publication number: US1182173A
Application number: US7963816A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Hoen
Original assignee: FRANK A ROLLING CO Inc
Current assignee: FRANK A ROLLING Co Inc
Priority date: 1916-02-21
Filing date: 1916-02-21
Publication date: 1916-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1933-05-09

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. HOEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, EENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRANK A. ROLLING 00., INC., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SILVER-CLEANER.

Application filed February 2 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Joiix B. Hoax, a citazen of the l nited States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silver-Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means whereby tarnished metal articles such as silverware, either solid or plated, mesh bags. toilet articles and the like, and articles of gold and other electronegative metals, may be quickly and etlectively cleaned of the tarnish by electrolytic action instead of or preparatory to polishing.

The silver or other articles to be cleaned are immersed in an alkaline solution in con junction with an apparatus so constructed that the silver or the like becomes the cathode of a voltaic couple, and the coating or tarnish is electrolytically reduced by the electric current thus set up, and the silverware thereby rendered clean and bright. According to the present invention, the apparatus whereby this result is effected is economical to manufacture, compact in design, rugged in construction, eflicient in its electrochemicall action, and convenient to use and clean.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of an apparatus suitable for carrying out the results desired; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. an" an enlarged fragmentary eleration.

In the construction shown there is provided an electrode 1 of circular outline having a fiat top, and having at its edge a. downwardly extending flange in the form of a circumferential bead 2 (Fig. 2) which stiltens said tlat top and raises it above the bottom of the dish pan or other container in which the apparatus is to be used, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This electrode or disk 1 consists of electro-positiw3 metal, as, for exampleQzinc, and its flat top has one or more perforations 3 communieating with the shallow pocket formed be tween this flat top and the bottom of the dish pan or container. Secured to the zinc Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 79,638.

electrode and in effective electrical connection therewith is a grid adapted to receive and support the articles to be cleaned and to maintain good electrical connection between said articles and the zinc. The grid preferably covers substantially the entire top face of said electrode and has a contacting surface which is of a metal or alloy electro-positive to the zinc, as, for example, tin, silver, solder, gold, etc. Preferably the exposed surface is of tin.

In the embodiment illustrated, the tinned grid includes a pair of segmental brackets and preferably of round wire, opposed to one another, and spaced from the fiattop of the disk near its periphery but withv

flattened ends

6 and 7 offset at 8 and 9 (Fig. 2) and soldered to the flat top of the disk so that there may always be good electrical connection between the disk and the brackets. Supported on these brackets and preferably made integral therewith by welding, are a plurality of Crossbars 10, preferably in the form of separate, straight, round rods of progressively varying length. lf iron is used for the brackets and crossbars, the entire grid should be heavily tinned after welding, so that when assembled with the disk, it will throughout present an exposed surface electro-negative to the zinc and well adapted for making contact with the silverware to be cleaned.

The electrolyte used in the dish pan or other container of Fig. 2, when silverware or the like is to be cleaned, is an alkaline solution prepared, for instance, by dissolving one tablespoonful of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda and one-half cup of table salt (sodium chlorid) in each gallon of water. Preferably, but not necessarily, warm or hot water is used. \Vhen this electrolyte is poured into the dish pan or other container wherein the cleaning is to be carried out, there will beset up an electrolytic action by which the zinc or disk 1 will tend to pass into solution and reducing agents will be liberated on the tinned wire grid, thereby reducing any oxid on the grid and rendering it bright and therefore in good condition for making efi'ective electrical con tact with any silverware or other articles put into the dish pan for cleaning. Owing to the quick polarization of the tinned wires and to the high overyolt-age of the tin, the total flow of current from the zinc to the wires when no silverware is in the dish is ielatively small. Silver areor other articles to be cleaned are then immersed in the electrolyte and by resting on the cleaned tinned wires are placed in electrical connection with the zinc of the disk so that current can flow from the zinc or clectro-positive' metal through the electrolyte to the silverware with sil'nnltaneous electrolytic reduction of the oxids, sulfids and the like, which constitute the layer of tarnish on the silverware. come out bright and of good appearance, and there is no removal of silver from the surface of the articles but merely an electrolytic reduction of the tarnish. The articles may then be rinsed in clear water and rubbed with a soft cloth.

During the electrolytic action the tinned grid remains clean and bright, but the zinc or clcctro positive metal of the disk becomes coated with a porous film or inerustation. llowcver. the soldered connection between the wire grid and the zinc dish maintains ctfcctive electrical connection betwcen'thc silverware and the zinc and the film or in- ;rustation on the zinc or other elcctro-positive metal is porous enough to allow the electrolytic action to go on. so that in practice, the operation may be continued for long periods without substantial loss in efficiency. Aluminum can he used for the electropositive disk 1 and ni kel-plated wires ca he used for the metal grid.

.iy making the cross-bars 10 of the grid integral with the

peripheral segments

4 and 5 as by welding thereto. a high electrical conductivity is insured. and there is no chance of loose contacts in the path of electric current flowing from the silverware to the zinc, and by making the grid large cnough to substantially cover the flat top of the disk. and with the cross-bars l0. relatively close together. as illustrated. the silverware cannot work down under the gridtribution of current through the electrolyte and an equalizationof the electrolytic action on the zinc, such as would not he bad if the cross-bars l0 rested directly on the Zinc surface. This arrangement also tends to equalize the electrolytic action throughout the entire surface of the silver articles- The articles cl'san very quickly and being cleaned, instead of confining it to limited areas as might be the case if the electrolytic path between the zinc and the articles to be cleaned was very short at any point.

By making the zinc electrode of circular outline it fits well in the bottom of a dish pan. or the like, and the circumferential bead holds the flat face of the disk spaced above the bottom of the dish pan so that the electrolyte may contact not only with the top face. but also with the bottom face of the disk. The opening 3 through the disk permits the escape of air which might otherwise become entrapped under the disk. and it also affords a path for current through the electrolyte to the under-surface of the disk. and while the flow of current through this opening will ordinarily not be large.

any impairment in the eff ctiveness of the top face of the disk. as through abuse of the apparatus. will not render the device inoperative. for current can still llow to the lower face of the disk and cleaning will still go on, though at a slower rate.

It has been found in practice that housc wives in order to keep the electrolyte warm. and therefore in most effective condition, ofter place the dish pan on a stove. and with the present arrangement the pcrforation through the disk permits limited cir cu'lation of electrolyte from beneath the disk or the escape of steam from beneath in case of too energetic heating. and the Zinc plate is protectcd from such detrimental action as might result to the zinc or to its incrustation. were there no layer of electrolyte be tween the zinc and the bottom of the pan. The low thermal coinlnctivity of zinc and of the imrrustation which forms on its active surface as an incident to use as described herein. limits the transfer of heat through the disk and gives a particular importance to the pocket. bounded by the circnmferen tial llangc ol the disk and lillcd always with clectrolydc which is in connection with the main body of the electrolyte through opening 3. By making the active surface of the zinc flat. and by spacing the grid well above that llat surface, the cleaning and drying of the active surface may be readily ctl'ectcd.

Changes in the apparatus shown in the drawing may be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the clectroflvtic cleaning of silverware and the like. comprising a zinc electrode of circular outline having at its edge a stiffening llange. and a grid consisting of segmental wire brackets opposed to one another and spaced from the top of said electrode near its periphery. and crossbars secured to said brackets and having a surface of tin.

:2. Apparatus for the electrolytic cleaning of silverware and the like. comprising a zinc electrode of circular outline to fit the bottom of a dish pan, and a grid for said electrode consisting of segmental wire brackets opposed to one another and spaced from the top of said electrode near its periphery but with oll'-set ends soldered to said top, and cross-bars lyin g across said brackets and secured thereto, said crossbars and brackets ha ving a surface of tin.

3. Apparatus for the electrolytic cleaning of silverware and the like, comprising a zinc electrode having a Hat top and having, at its edge a dounuardly extending flange, said llat top havin; an opening permitting the escape of air or steam from beneath said electrode and a ll'ording a path for current from the bottom l'acc thereof, and a grid for said electrode consisting of wire brackets oppos d to one another and spaced from said flat top near its periphery, but with otl set ends soldered to said t p. and cross-para lying across said bracl-(cts, said crossbar-s and brackets having a surface of tin.

4'. Apparatus tor the electrolytic cleaning of sibenvare and the like, com n'ising a zinc electrode of circular outline baring a flat top and having at its edge a downwardly ext-ending: circumlerential flange, said fiat top having an opening permitting the escape of air or steam from beneath said electrode and affording a path for current from the bottom face thereof, aud'n grid for said electrode comprising opposed brackets and straight tinned bars secured thereto and spaced from the flat top of said electrode to facilitate cleaning thereof and adapted to receive and support the articles to be cleaned. said grid maintaining good electrical connection between said articles and the zinc.

73 Apparatus for the electrolytic clcanin; of silverware and the like. comprising a Zinc electrode of circular outline having a. flat top and having at its edge a downwardly extending circunifcrential flange, said flat top bai ing an opening permitting the escape of air or steam from beneath said electrode and all'ording a path for current from the bottom t'ace thereof. and a grid For said electrode consisting of opposed \vire braclc ets and tinned \vires welded thereto and spaced from the top of the electrode to equalize the fltl'd' of current. therefrom. and to facilitate cleaning of the electrode. said wires being adapted to receive and support the articles to be cleaned and to maintain good electrical connection between said articles and the zinc.

0. Apparatus for the electrolytic cleaning of silverware and the like, comprising a zinc electrode of circular outline having a flat top and having at its edge a downwardly extending circumferential flange, said flat top ha ring an opening permitting the escape of air or steam from beneath said electrode and all'ording a path lor current, from the bottom face thereof, and a grid for said electrode consisting of segmental Wire brackets Uppflnttl to one another and spaced from said flat top near its periphery, but with otl-s t ends soldered to said top and cross-burs lying across said brackets and welded thereto, said cross-bars and brackets having a surface of tin.

7. Apparatus for the electrolytic cleaning of silverware and the like, comprising a zinc electrode of circular outline having a flat top and having at its edge a downwardly extending circuml'erential bend to still'en said flat top and to raise it above the bottom of the container in which the electrolyte is held, said flat top ha ing an opening permuting the escape of air or steam from beneath said electrode and atlording a path for current from the bottom face thereof, and a grid for said electrode consisting of segmental wire brackets opposed to one another and spaced from said that top near its periphery, but with off-set ends soldered to said top and cross-bars secured to said brackets, said cross-bars and brackets having a surface of tin.

8. A paratus for the electrolytic cleaning of silverware and the like, comprising" a zinc electrode of circular outline having a flat top and having at its edge a downwardly extending circmnl erential bead to stiffen said flat top and to raise it above the bottom of the container in which the electrolyte is held. said flat top having" an opening permitting: the escape of air or steam from beneath raid electrode and all'ordingj path for current. f om the bottom face thereof, and a grid for said electrode consisting of c;jnici'3t::l wire brackets opposed to one another and spaced from said flat top near its periphery but with oil-set and flattened ends oldered to said top, and er0ss-bars in the form of separate straight, round rods of progressively varying length lying across said brackets and welded thereto, said crossbars and brackets liming a surface of tin; substantially as described.

in testimony whereof I allin my signature.

JOHN B. HOEN.

\v ituesses:

ll. ll. \VILLIAMsoN, J12, ute, Orr.