US1599608A - Electroplated aricle and method of making same - Google Patents

Description

' Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,608

' J. R. BROWN E-r A.

' ELECTROPLATED ARTICLE AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Original'F'iled Feb.- ll. 1922 Patenten sept. 14, 192e.

UNITED srA'rEsPATENT ori-'ICE'.

JOHN ROWLAN D BROWN AND JOHN C. MULLNNI, OF C EVELAND, omo, Assieiroits TO'THE RELIANCE GAUGE COLUMN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORA- TIoN oF omo.

ELECIQROPLATED ARTICLE AND METHOD OF MAKING i Application led February 11, 1922, Serial No. 535,951. YRenewed June 21, 1924.

The present improved method of makingv electro-plated articles has been developed in connection with the manufacture of hollow articles and particularly floats of the kind used in steamtraps, water columns, etc., the object being to make a ioat composed of an internal hollow foundation and an external seamless metallic shell electro-deposited thereon, instead of s inning the float from sheet metal in hemisp eres and then lapping together and brazing the two sections at the y means hereinafter fully described and means` embodying the joint, asis the current practice in manufacturing suchv floats. The present improve- `ments, however, are not limited to the manufacture of such low articles, but at least in certain phases will be found of utility in electro-plating solid forms composed of various materials, as for example in the manufacture of statuary, vases and other art objects.

Where non-metallic articles are to be elec- Y tro-plated it is, of course, necessary first to .coat the same with finely powdered graphite or with some equivalent material that will render the surface a conductor for electricity. For many purposes the present practice is to use in place of suoli" graphite, bronze or copper powder (copper schlif and one object of thepresent invention acordingly is to provide an improved method for attaching a coating of such metallic powder in uniformly distributed condition over the surface of the article tobe plated. Resulting from such method of attachment an article having certain novel characteristics is produced. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then consists of the steps and particularly pointed out in thel claims, the annexe'd'drawinv and the following description setting forth in detail certain steps and invention, such disclosed steps and means constituting, however, but one of various ways in which the principle` ofthe invention maybe used.

o In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is =a perspective view of'- an internal hollow foundation or core suitable for use -in the maufacture of a `hollow spherical float, in -accordance withour? present improved method; Fig. 2 is .a central section, on a somewhat larger scale, through floats, or even to hol'- Ser'. No. 505,524, filed inventors February viewv similar to Fig. 3, but showing the article ina subsequent stage of its manufacture;` and Fig. 5 is a view likewise similar to Fig. 3, but showing the completed article, i. e., after the outer metal coat yhas been electro-deposited on the lfoundation or The core or foundation 1, while shown in the drawing as of approximately spherical form, may, of course takev on any shape required by the exigencies of the use to which the completed float is to beput. For

that matter, as pointed out above, our` improved process is not limited to the fabrication of floats but is applicable to the making of various solid, where a non-metallic foundation is to be coated with a thin layer of metal. The

spud 2, shown as attached tothe core in Fig. 2, accordingly is a feature of incidental interest only and may not be required at all where the article to be made requires no external attaching means, the particular Y spud shown forming separate application Brown,

the subject-matter of a filed by John Rowland one of the present inventors, viz.,

October 5,' 1921.

Where the device is intended for use as a float, the core pulp material, as for example, wood pulp or papier-mch, and is Acharacterized by having its'exterior surface closely and more orv less uniformly dotted with small rounded protuberances 3, this particular type of core likewise forming the subject-matter of va lis preferably molded from.

articles, either hollow' or separate application filed" by the present s, i922, ser. N o. 535,037. So far as' the present improved process is concerned, such surface may be entirely smooth, 'such process primarily relating, as previously incl'cated, to 'the preparation of the surface, whatever its character,` for the electro-deposition of the metallic coating.

According to the present process, assuming where a spud or like element 1s to be ido - `thereupon deposited on the surface of the solved in a suitable liquid vehicle and ca-` pable of hardening when subjected to evaporation orl other treatment will serve as .a satisfactory lacquer for the purpose. After the first coating of such lacquer has been applied, the surface, particularly where the core isimade of molded pulp material, is sandpapered or otherwise polished so as to remove any tiny projecting strands of the base material. Thereupon one or more additional coats of the same or a similar lacquer are applied, the coating being com.

veniently accomplished by simply dipping the core or foundation in a bath of the lacquer maintained in proper fluid condition. Thusv there is built up, closely surrounding .the core or foundation, a shell 4 of pyroxylin, cellulose or equivalent cellulosic derivative, and it is upon this shell that the final coat of metal is'deposited.

It is necessary first, however, to coat such intermediate shell with electro-conductive material, as previously explained. To this end vsuch material, for example, the bronze or -copper powder hereinbefore referred to, is thoroughly mixed in a liquid vehicle consisting of a solvent for the celluloid or equivalent layer, for example, amyl acetate, chlorhydrin or like known solvent. Preferably a small quantity of the pyroxylin or other cellulosic derivative is also included` in such mixture, the latterbeing left suiiiciently Huid to permit it to be applied to the core or foundation by spraying with an air brush or like device. A thin uniform coating of such mixture is applied with the result 'that the solvent ingredient will soften the exterior surface of the previously applied layer or coat sufficiently to render the same tacky, thereby causing the fine metal par- ".icles to firmly adhere; but the Aevaporation rf the solvent ingredient leaves such parexposed, so that they are ticles 5 otherwise not coated with the pyroxylin and so prevented from subserving their proper function as a conductor for the electric current. The articles thus prepared are now ready to be immersed in an electrolytic'bath and a coating 6 of copper or other metal is article in the usual way.

Preliminarily to the application of the first coat of lacquer, we find it desirable to Vheat the core, where the latter is of the hollow type illustrated and required for use in the case of floats or similar articles, the point to which such heating'.` is carried being determined by the temperature -which the material composing the core will stand without injury. The result will of course be the expansion of the air or other gas within the core so that when the latter is subsequently immersed -in a bath of lacquer,- which is maintained at a lower temperature preferably as coldfas it can be conveniently maintained without rendering it too stiff, the air within the core will contract and so create a suction effect that will tend to cause the lacquerto penetrate the'core rather than just cling to the surface. Indeed where the relative temperatures of the core and lacquer are reversed, there is ,a tendency for the air upon expansion during the dipping operation to escape through the core and form bubbles under the coatingl of lacquer. i

Other forms may-be employed embodying the features of our invention instead of the' one here explained, change being made in the form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by our preferred method or by Vothers embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention 1. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, first coating such article with a cellulose applying a coating of electro-conductive material, and thereupon electrolytically deposit- -ing the desired metal.

2. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, the steps which consist in first coating such article with a cellulose derivative on the order of celluloid, then applying a coating of electro-conductive material intermixed with a volatile solvent for such derivative as a vehicle, evaporating oil such solvent, and thereupon electrolytically depositing the vdesired metal.

3. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, the steps which consist in first repeatedly dipping such article in a solution of a cellulose derivative on the order of celluloid and evaporating oil the solvent until a substantial layer of such derivative is obtained, then spraying a coating of electro-conductive material intermixed with a volatile solvent for such derivative as a vehicle, evaporating off such solvent, and thereupon electrolytically depositing the desired metal.

the steps which consist in Vderivative on the order of Celluloid, then i 4. In a method of electroplating a non-lY metallic article, the steps which consist in 1,599,6os p B solution ot a cellulose derivative on the or- 9. A hollow float or like article comprisder of celluloid and evaporating oil the soling a core molded from pulp material, a vent until a substantial layer of such decoating of Celluloid applied to such core, and rivative is obtainedhthen spraying a coating an-electro-deposited coating of desired metal 55 ot finely divided metallic powder intersurrounding such first coating. i mixed with a volatile solvent for such del0. An. electroplating base, which comrivative as a vehicle, evaporating off such prises a'hollow core of pulp material having solvent, and thereupon electrolytically dea coating of a cellulosic derivative on the positing the desired metal. order of Celluloid. 60 5. ln a method of electroplating a hollow l1. An electroplating base, which comair-permeable article, the steps which consist prises a hollow core ot pulp material, the in dipping same in a bath of acid-resisting exterior surface being covered with closely lacquer, the interior of sucharticle being spaced small protuberances and having a sealedk with'. air or other gaseous medium coating of cellulosic derivative on the order 65 therein'and the temperature of such article. of Celluloid. 7 Y

being higher than that of such bath, remoV- 12. In a method of coating a hollow aring the article from such bath, whereupon ticle molded from pulp material .so as to the contraction of the air or other gaseous render the same non-permeable to air, the medium therein due to cooling will create step which consists in dipping such article 70 a suction eiect, then applying to the arin a solution of a cellulosic derivative on ticle a coating of electro-conductive matethe order ofA Celluloid, the temperature of rial, and thereupon electrolyt-ically-depositsuch article being higher than that of such ing the desired metal. solution. y

6. ln a method of electroplating a hollow 13. 1n a method 'of coating a hollow ar- I5 article molded from pulp material, the steps ticle molded from. pulp material so as to which consist in dipping same in a solution render the same non-permeable to air the o oi a cellulose derivative on the order 'o r' steps which consist in dipping such article celluloid, the temperature of such article bein a solution `of a cellulosic derivative on ing higher than that jof such solution, the order of Celluloid, the temperature of. 80

3o evaporating 0E the solvent so as to leave a such article being higher than that of Such coating of such derivative, polishing the'arsolution, evaporating oli thesolvent so as ticle thus coated, similarly applying one or to leave a coating of'such derivative, polish- 4 more additional coatings of such derivative ing the article thus coated, and similarly y until a substantial layer thereof is obtained, applying one or more additional coatings 85 :sa then spraying a coating of electro-conducof such derivative until a substantial layer ltive material intermixed with a volatile thereof is obtained.

" solvent for such derivative as a vehicle, 14. .In a method of coating 'a hollow arevaporating off such solvent, and thereupon ticle molded :trom pulp material so as to electrolytically depositing the desired metal. render the same non-permeable to air,`the 90 40 7 An electroplated article comprising a steps whichconsist in dipping such article core of non-metallic material other than celin a solution of a cellulosic derivative on luloid, a coating ot ail cellulose derivative the order of celluloid, polishing the article on the orderV of celluloid. applied to such thus coated, and thereupon applying one or core, and an electro-deposited coating ot'de- ,morel additional coatings of such deriva- 95 sired metal surrounding such rst coating. tive until a substantial layer thereotl is 'ob- ,8. An electroplated article comprising a tained. i f f core molded trom pulp material, a coating Signed by us, this 7th day of February, of a cellulose. derivative on the order of v1922. celluloid applied to such core, and an elecv,

tro-deposited coating of desired metal sur` JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

rounding such rst coating. JOHN IC. MU'LLINNIX.A

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