US1318054A

US1318054A - Assig-noe to

Info

Publication number: US1318054A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1936-10-07

Description

M. F. DAVORAN. APPARATUS FOR ELECTBOPLAHNG, APPLICATION FlLED AUG.I2. 1918.

Patented Oct. 7,1919, 2 SHEETS-SHEETI M. F. DAVORAN.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTBOPLATING. APPLICATION HLED AuG. 12. 1918.-

Patented Out. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` article-carrier out 'of the bath afterpassing MICHAEL r. DnVonAN, 'or' cINcINNATI, oHIo, AssrGNon 'ro .THETCRANE aumnnn MANUFACTUBING coMrANY, oF cINcINNA'rI, emo, A CORPORATION oF oHIo.

APPAR ATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. DAvoRAN, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State vof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electroplating, of which'the following ls a specification.

My invention relates to means for msuring good electric contact between a'tra'vehng article-carrier and the terminals of an electro-plating bath, and is especially useful in apparatus for electro-plating employlng the continuous operation principle, such for instance as shown and .describedy in my application fo-r Letters Patent 'of the United States, forimprovements inrmethod of and apparatus for` electro-platmg, Serlal No.

184,265,1fi1ed August. 3, 1917, of which this application is la 'division It is the object of my invention to pro- Vide cathode-bars for an electro-plating bath 'arranged in such manner as to receive a portion of an article-carrier therebetween for making good electric contact with the cathode-bars and a traveling article-carrier so correlated'that a contact-part .of the article-carrier is received between the cathodebars and urged into frictional lateral contactwith thebars at the respective sides of said contact-part; further, to provide a plat-v ing tank with cathode-bars at different ele- Vations and a traveling article-carrier vhav- -ing a contact-part received between said cathode-bars and urged into lateral contact with said cathode-bars by gravity; and, further, to provide means arranged to lower` the articles into the bath and pass the same along the cathode-'bars, with a contact-part of the article-carrier making lateral contact with the cathode-bars, and for lifting the along the cathode-bars.-

The invention willV be further readily. understood from the following description and claims, and from |the drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, partly broken away, and showing an article-carrier lowered into the plating tank at one end of the tank and having a contact-part thereof received between the cathode-bars, and showing' an article- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '7, 1919.

Serial No. 184,265.v Divided and this application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249,543.

carrier elevated out of the tank at the other end of the tank.

Fig; 2 is a Vertical cross-section of the same,'taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the plating tank.

Fig. 4 is a |detail in Vertical cross-section taken dn the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the means for attaching the anode-bars.-

Fig. 5 is a detail in Vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the means forv attaching the cathode-bars Fig. 6 is a cross-section, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing a detail of the means for supporting the article-support.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, showing a detail of the article-carrier. v

F ig. 8 is a detail'in Vertical section, taken on the 1in'e'8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fi'g. 9 is an axial section of the articlesuiport, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10; an v Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the same, taken in the' plane of theline 10-10 of Fig. 9.

A suitable plating tank is represented at 11 and is exemplified as containing a. suitable electrolytic plating bath 12. The plating bath comprises anode-

bars

15, 16, which are electro-conductive bars having flexible therewith, the fiexible electric conductors .leading from a suitable battery orv generator.

Anodes 18 are suspended in the electrolytic bath in the Plating =tank.,and are electrically connected with the anode-bars by an electroconductiveSuspension-book 19. Both of the electricall'y connected anode-bars are positive pole bars of theplating bath and connect in multlple with one pole of the battery or generator. The anode bars are suitably secured to the frame of the plating tank, as by means of clamp-'brackets 21 suitably secured to the framing of the tank by bolts 22, the bars being insulated from the tank by insulating bushings 23 through which the bolts are received and by insulating

wa'shers

24, 25, respectively between the head of the bolt and the bracket and between the bracket and the tank.

The articles 27 to be plated form the cathodes of the receive the plating from the anodes by means of the electrolytic action in the plating bath.

plating bath arranged to' Electro-

conductive bars

31, 32, extend.

lengthwise of the plating tank and constitute cathode-bars, exemplified as supported from the sides of the tank by brackets 33 mounted on arms 34 secured to the sides of the tank by bolts 35. Eachof the brackets is insulated from and secured to its arm by means of a bolt 36 which passes through lan insulating sleeve 37 in 'a hole 38 in the bracket, the insulating sleeve having a flange 39 thereon between the bracket and the head 'of the bolt 36. The bolt is threaded into the arm '34, an 'insulating plate 40 being located between the bracket and the arm.

' The electro-

conductive bars

31, 82, are exenplified as stifl' bars, which, at their enthe cathode-bars and the entrance'e'nd wall 46 'of the tank and an exit space 47 between the exit ends of Tthe cathode-bars 'and the exit wall 48 of the tank.

The articles itv is'desired to plate are exemplified as small pieces of hardware, repreaov sented' by the cathodes 27, supported in manner to cause the' same to 'descend 'into the plating bath through the entrance space 45, to pass along the cathode-bars, to have electric connection made therewith in manner to be hereina-fter described, and to be raised i ``through the exit space 47 after having'received the'electrolytic action.

The pieces 27 are exemplified'as supported on pins 51 of an article-support 52, the pins extending, from cross-bars 53 projecting' from a center shank 54. The shank, cross-` bars and pins are |of electro-conductive ,material.` That portion of the shank and crossbars subject to the electrol tic action of the electrolyte of the plating ath, is provided with insulation, as shown by the insulating covering 55'about the shank, and the insulat-I ing coverings 56 about the cross-bars. These insulating coverings may be coatings of porcelain fused on the article-support.

A plurality of the article-supports is preferably provided, the article-supports being moved lengthwise of and through the plat-- ing tank. This may be accomplished'in manner to form a continuous operatlon, as more fully descrlibed and cl'aimed in my aforesaid application.

Article-carriers are exemplified at 61, as suspended carriers provided with fianged wheels 62 which move along a pair of tracks 63 suspended byfsuitable hangers l64 from the ceiling of the room in which the apparatus is located. The tracks are represented as angle-irons supported to face each other.

The fianges on the Wheels coact with the' tending from the-main frame.

inner edges of the angle-irons and act to support the article-support with relation to the cathode-bars, in manner to be hereinafter described.4 f I The article-carriers comprise a main frame 66 which is suspended by a bearing 67 from an axle 68 to which the flanged Wheels 62 are secured. I

The article-carriers are connected together and propelled along the tracks by a suitable link-chain 71, which is preferably an endless link chain having a path coincident with the preferably endless pair of .tracks 63. The main frame 66 may comprlise a link 72 of the link-chain to which the respective upper and lower parts of the main frame are secured, as by means of bolts 73. 'The main frame comprises a depending 'guide 75 with. which a supplemental frame,-

exemplified as a supporting rod 76, has guid'ed 'movement, as by being received in a `guide-groove 77 of said guide and held' therein by means' of straps 78. The lower part of said supplemental frame is providedv with a fork 79 in which an insulating spool 80 is secured, as on a bolt 81 received in bearings 82 in the tines of said fork. The shank 54 of the article-support is provided with a hook 83' arranged to be releasably receivedover said spool, being received in the annular groove 84 in said spool,so that said shank is insulated from the fork by means of the bottom of said annular' groove and the side fianges of said spool. The spool further aids in positioning the article-support with relation to the cathode-bars.

A sheave 86 is fixed on ashaft 87 j'our- I naled in a bearing 88 on a bracket 89, ex'- has a pinion 90 fast thereon. A flexible connectionI 91 is secured to the sheave as at 92 and to a lug 93 extending from the supplemental frame 76, s'o that when the Shea-ve is turned the fiexible connection is received" in the groove 94 of the sheave for vchanging the elevation of the article-support.

A lever 96 is pivoted onl a studshaft 97 located in a bearing98 in the bracket 89. This lever comprises a gear 99 which meshes with the pinion 90.

Means are provided for swinging thelever and thereby `changing the elevation of the,

article-support. This is shown accomplished by causing4 coaction between the swinging end of the lever and supplemental tracks 100. Thus the swinging end of the lever is provided With a roller 102 journaled in a fork 104 at the free end of'the lever, the fork being preferabl-y located to one side of the main portion of the shank of the lever.

The roller 102 normally ride-s on the under Thi Shaa f surface of one of the tracks 63, in which relation the article-support is in lowered positlon, for lnstance, located in the' lating tank, the lowering being accomplis ed by permitting the roller to ride along a retreating portion 105 of the supplemental trackfi `When the roller rides along the supplemental track, the article-support is in elevated position, the eleVa-ting being accomplished by permitting the roller to ride along the descending portion 106 of the supplemental.

' traok. If desired suitable means inay be the article-supportis accomplished for causing entire raising and descending movements within a short range of the progressive travel of the article-supports.

In order to prevent a j arring of the arti- 'cle-support when raised or lowered, and

especially to provide for a quick lowering without jarring ,of the article-support, I

provide cushioning means, these cushioning means being exemplified' as a spring 107, one end oif the spring being received in a hole in the lever and the other end of the spring being hooked into an eye-bolt 108 having adjustable connection by means of a nut 109 with a lug- 110 ofthe main frame for adjusting the spring.

l`It is desirable to maintain proper relation between thetraveling-carrier and the tracks during operation of-the lever by preyenting a swinging of the carrier about a Vertical axis during swinging movement of the lever, the lever being shown at one side of the carrier and to the side of the propelling chain i therefor. For accomplishing this I provide the supplemental tracks. as grooved tracks .having the lengthwise groove 111 formed'by the side flanges 112 of the U-bar, which forms the supplemental tracks. A doubleflanged wheel 113 is instancedv as on the shaft 97, being rotatable on said shaft and held against endwise movement thereon.

. The flanges of this wheel slope outwardly towardthe ends of the wheel, forming a spool- 'i like arrangement;` The inner faces of the flanges coact with the outer side edges of the fianges 112 of the supplemental track, for locating the double-fianged Wheel` centrally with relation to the track.

Then 'in the travel of thev article-carrier the roller 102 is received in the groove 111 of the supplement-al'track and the flanges of the double-flanged Wheel are received at the outside of the side `fianges of said groove,

'the travel of the lever is maintained in a path parallel withl the tracks 63 and parallel with the cathode-bars, for preventing a' the cathode-bars, accomplished in the present instance by placing the cathode-bars at different elevations and in Vertical planes extending lengthwise' of the path of travel of the article-supports, the cathode-bars being spaced apart by a Vertical space 114. The article-support is preferably so suspended that its gravity will cause lateral pressure between the cathode-support and the bars along which it travels. This lateral pressure is instanced as between the shank of the article-support and both thebars, for accomplishing which the Suspension ofthe articlesupport is had in such manner that the upper bar 31l causes a slight movement laterally of the shank 54 toward the bar 32, the

article-support being normally suspended article support permitting this slight movement, but insuring such contact with both cathode-bars, the gravity action-of the article-support being such as to cause lateral pressurefof the shank against both of the

bars

31, 32, for 'insuring intimate electrical contact between said bars and isaid'shank. Vhen' the shank 54 approaches the cathode- .bars it is readily directed into thespace 114 bythe laterally bent ends of said bars, forming a contracting mouth for the entrance end of said space. b

'When the article-support arrives at the end of the plating tank, it is elevated through the exit space 47 in manner hereinbefore bescribed, the article-carrier l continuing its travel.

My improved device insures good electric connection between the cathode-bars and the cathodes while the latter travel lengthwise of the plating tank, so as to receive the full vbenefit of electrolytic action on the electrolyte and a maximum amount of plating while passing through the tank.

Having thus fully described my invention,

`minals extending lengthwise thereof in secure by 'lproximity toeach other, a conveyer for the articles to be plated, a catlde-carrier suspendedtherefrom, said cathode-terminals located at different elevations and said cathode-carrier arranged forl laterally pressing said cathode-terminals by gravity.

2. In an electro-plating apparatus, the combination of a plating tank, coacting cathode-terminals extending lengthwise lao thereof, aconveyer for the articles 'to be plated, a cathode-carrier suspended therefrom, said conveyer comprlslng means for. .lowering the artlcle-carrymg portion of said cathode-carrier into said tank andplacing said cathode-carrier in coactive relatlon With said cathode-terminals, land means for ele-` '3. In an electro-plating app-aratus, the.

combination of a conveyer, an electro-plat- .ng tank, coacting cathode-terminals ex ten ing lengthwise of said tank spaced from the respective ends o f saidt-ank, said cath-,

ode-terminals having a' Vertical space between them, the entrance ends of said cathode-terminals bent laterally away from one. another for forming an entering converging month for said Vertical space, a cathodecarrier comprising a stem and an article attaching portion, said conveyer comprising means forl lowering said article attaching portion into one end of said tank and said stem into said converging mouth for guid'. ance into and passage through said Vertical space in coactive relation with said ca'thodeterminals, and said coacting cathode-terminals and said stem arranged for lateral pressure between them.

4. In an electro-plating apparatus, the

combinationof a plating tank, cathode-terminals therefor in .the form of electric cathode-bars extending lengthwise of said plating tank and located at different elevations, a cathode-'carrier, and means for suspending said cathode-carrier and moving the same lengthwise of sald cathode-bars between said cathode-bars for causing lato a cathode-carrier and means for suspending said cathode-carrier and moving the vsame lengthwise'of said cathode-bars between said cathode-bars for causing lateral pressure by said cathode-carrier between and against said cathode-bars by the action of gravity upon said cathode-carrier, said .cathode-'bars having their enterin'g ends relatively spread for ready entrance of said cathode-carrier. A

6. In an electro-plating apparatus, the combination of an electro-plating tank, cathode-terminals in the form of cathoclebars extending lengthwise of said tank, one

of said cathode-bars being higher than thel other of said cathode-bars, said cathodebars having a Vertical space between them, a cathode-conveyer, and a cathode-carrier suspended from said conveyer, one of said cathode-bars arranged to move said cathodecarrier into contact with the other of said cathode-bars.

7. In an -el'ectro-plating apparatus, the

comlbination of an electro-plating tank,

.cathode-terminals in the form vof cathode- ,of said cathode-bars being' higher than the' other of said cathode-bars, said 'cathodebars having a Vertical space between them, there being a Vertical space between the ends of said cathode-bars and the-ends ofsaid plating tank, a cathode-conve'yer anda cathode-carrier suspended from said conveyer, said conveyer comprising means for lowering said cathode-carrier at. one of said end spaces and 'elevating said cathode-carrierl at the other of said end spaces, and said higher cathode-bar arrang'ed to move said cathodecarrier into contact with the other .of said cathode-bars. i

8. Inan electro-plating apparatus, the combination of, an electro-plating tank, cathode-terminals in the form of cathodebars extending lengthwise of said tank, said cathode-bars' being located at different elevations, said cathode-bars having a space between them, and a cathode-carrier having a' partomovable lengthwise of andbetween said bars, and arranged for contact with both said bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscri'bing witnesses. a

MICHAEL F. DAVORAN.

Witnesses:

DAWso E. BRADLEY, THERsA M. mnn;