US1427875A - Means for suspending plates during treatment by electrolysis - Google Patents

Description

B. M. WEEKS. MEANS FOR susmzmilmn PLATES DURING TREATMENT BYIELECT'ROLYSIS.) v APPucm0N mm m. 5, 1921.

1,427,875. P n dSep 5, 1922.

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#TTUR/VEK V R..M. WEEKS. MEANS FOR, SUSPENDIVNG PLATES DURING TREATMENT BY ELECTROLYSIS APPLICATION FILED FEB.5,1921- Patented Sept 5, 1-922.

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RAYMOND M. WEEKS, 0F NARBERTI-I, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQR TO WEEKS PHOTO- ENGRAVING COMPANY, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, FENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR SUSPENIDING PLATES DURING TREATMENT BY ELECTROLYSIS.

Application filed February 5, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND M. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Narberth, county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Suspending Plates During Treatment by Electrolysis, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

y invention relates to novel means for suspending plates in electrolytic baths in the process of electrical etching.

Heretofore in the process of electrical etching, it has been customary to suspend the plate to be coated in a bath of electrolyte by means of conducting wires leading from the corners of the plates to a hook suspended rom a bus bar. Such method of suspending the plate is open to a number of objections, chief among which are that the edges of the plate must be drilled for the reception of the suspending wires, thus injuring the plate, and that in the process of plating the action of the electrolyte on the wires rendersthem useless and necessitates their replacement after a relatively short period of use.

Further, the present method of suspension is unsatisfactory because of the time required for making and breaking the connections between the wires and plate and for the adjustments necessary to secure uniform submersion of the plate throughout its surace.

By virtue of my invention, suspending means are provided which are unaffected by the electrolyte or by electrolysis, which may be attached to, and unattached from, a plate in a minimum of time, and which may be readily adjusted to suspend and maintain the plate at a uniform depth of submersion.

I will now describe a preferred embodiment of my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like symbols indicate like parts in the several figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a plate suspending device embodying my invention.

nected suitable leads.

Serial No. 442,637.

Figure 2 is an end view of the subject of igure 1, partly in section.

igure 3 is a side view of the suspending device with a plate suspended therefrom.

Figure fl is a detail view of a portion of the device.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an electroplating tank with the device in position.

Figure 6 is a detail of the supporting means for the plate suspending device.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an application of the device for the suspension of a large plate.

a is a plating tank of any suitable construction for containing liquid electrolyte, to the sides of which are secured supports 6 to which in turn are secured bars, of conducting material, 0, 0' provided with lengthwise extending slots d. Terminals e are provided at the ends of bar 0 to which are con- Rods f of conducting material adapted to support the plate suspending device extend between the bars 0, 0', their ends being reduced and threaded, as at g, to extend through the slots d in bars 0, 0' so that the rods may be adjusted lengthwise of the bars. Thumb screws 72. threaded on the ends of the rods are tightened to secure the rods in desired position. i

The plate suspending device proper comprises a strip of conducting material 2' hav and provided with a hook 70 at its upper or solid end adapting it to be suspended from one of the rods 7. The lower end of the strip 2' is passed between the carbon plates Z, Z having aligning slots on cut in their edges, the plates being drawn together to secure them to the strip by means of a bolt, which passes through the slot j, and a thumb screw as indicated at s. 'Theexposed surfaces of the carbon plates, except for that portion withinthe slot m and those portions of their adjacent faces as contact with the strip 2', are covered with any suitable non-conducting paint which will not be attracted by the electrolyte. j

The strip 2' is secured to a bar a of conducting material having a lengthwise extending slot a by means of a bolt and thumb screw passing through the slots in the bar and strip respectively, as indicated at t. Secured to the strip 71 above the bar, by a bolt passing through slot and a thumb screw as indicated at u, is an angle piece 1).

In operation, a normal sized plate may be supported in the bath at two points, as shown in Figure 5, the plate being shown in dotted lines. A pair of suspenders, as above de scribed, are secured together by means of a bolt and thumb screw passing through bars a, as shown g, Fig. 3, and attached to the plate a by inserting opposite edges of the plate into the slot in in the carbons thus forming contact between the carbon and plate, after which the thumb screw at q is tightened up, securing the bars a tightly together, and the hooks 7c engaged with one ot the rod 7, thus suspending the plate in the electrolytic bath in the tank a.

The depth of submersion of the plate is then regulated by adjusting the carbon plates Z, Z and the bars a of the suspenders up or down on the strips 2'. Blocks 0 are then adjusted so that their flanges 39 will bear on the upper edge of bars a, the lower edges of which bear on the upper edge of the carbon plates Z, and sagging or tipping as illustrated in Figure 4 is prevented.

The plates may be readily adjusted lengtl wise of the ta by adjusting rods f relative to bars 0, 0. In the plating process the current passes from a suitable source, through'the bar 0, rod f and strip 6 to the carbon plates Z, forming electrodes. in engagement with the plate and from which the current passes to the plate. From the plate the current passes through the electrolyte to a suitable cathode (not shown) immersedtherein and suitably connected to the negative pole of the source of current. I

In Figure 7'1 have shown the application of the suspender to a plate ofa size necessitating support from all four of its edges. The suspenders used are as above described with the exception that the bars at extending between one of the pairs of suspenders have secured to them, by means of bolts 41, and support angle pieces 0 which extend toward opposite edges of the plate and support suspenders which engage the edges of the plate.

From the above description it will be obvious that the suspender embodying my invention is readily adjusted and applied to any size plate and the depth of submersion of the plate in the electrolyte may be accuii'ately fixed and made uniform through out its surface.

It will be further noted that the life of the suspender is practically indefinite because all parts of the conductors submerged in and subject to the deteriorating action of relatively laterally,

the electrolytic bath are fully protected, without in any way reducing their etliciency.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desiretoprotect by Letters Patent is 1. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a. bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode adapted to engage an edge of the plate and means adapted to support the electrode.

52. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte. comprising a pair ct electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of the plate, and means to suspend the electrodes and adjust them laterally with relation to each other.

8. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode provided with a groove open ing laterally for the reception of an edge of the plate, and means to suspend the electrode.

4:. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of the plate, and means to sus pend the electrodes vertically and adjust them relatively laterally.

5. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of the plate, and means to {id just the electrodes vertically, to adjust them and to hold them fixed in their adjusted position.

6. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode having a groove into which the edge of the plate is insertable and thereby supportable, and a covering, resistant to the action of the electrolyte, applied superficially to the electrode but not to the walls of the groove, thereby maintaining the sup ported edge of the plate in direct contact with the material of the electrode.

7. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising a suspension device of conductive material, an electrode and a non-conductive and electrolyte-resistant covering for the electrode, said electrode having exposedportions adapted respectively to directly engage the suspension' device and the plate.

8. Means "for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode composed of two members, a suspending device, and means to clamp the suspension device between the two members of the electrode, aligning vertical edges of the two electrode members having lateral and aligning grooves into which the edge of the plate is insertable,

9. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode intended for partial submergence in the electrolyte and composed of two members, a suspension bar of conductive material, means to clamp said bar between opposing surfaces of the electrode members, aligning vertical edges of the electrode members having lateral and aligning grooves adapted to receive and hold the edge of a plate, a non conduc'tive covering of electrolyte-resistant material applied to the electrode but leaving exposed the surfaces thereof adapted for engagement with the suspension bar and plate. ,7 i

10. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte, comprising a support adjustable relative to the electrolyte in a horizontal plane, a pair of hangers adapted to engage the support, an extensible brace secured to and adjustable vertically and horizontally relative to the hangers,

and electrodes slotted for the reception of opposite edges of a plate adjustably secured to said hangers. I 11; Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bathoit' electrolyte, comprising a support adjustable relative to the surface of the electrolyte in a horizontal plane, a

pair of hangers adapted to engage the support an extensible bracesecured to and adjustable vertically and horizontally relative to the hangers, arms secured to and extend ing at an'angle from said brace, and electrodes slotted for the reception of opposite edges ofa plate adjustably secured to said arms and hangers.

hereunto set my hand, at'Philadelphia, Pa,

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