US1693683A

US1693683A - Apparatus for electrodeposition

Info

Publication number: US1693683A
Application number: US130136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer M Wanamaker
Original assignee: ANACONDA SALES CO
Current assignee: ANACONDA SALES CO
Priority date: 1926-08-19
Filing date: 1926-08-19
Publication date: 1928-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1945-12-04
Also published as: DE476106C; GB276306A

Description

es. 4, 1928. 61,693,683 E. M. WANAMAKER APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOS ITION Filed Aug. 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1928. i

llfi ifiidd PATENT FHCE.

ELMER M. WANAMAKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANACONDA SALES GOM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION.

Application filed August 19, 1926. Serial No. 130,136.

This invention relates to electrolytic apparatus and is concerned more particularly with apparatus which is used for electroplating articles of uniform size in large quantities. The apparatus is particularly useful in the manufacture of so-called copperclad roofing elements which consist ofa base of various non-metallic materials such as im-- pregnated roofing felt and a layer or coating of copper or other weather-resistant metal on that part of the felt which is normally exposed to the weather when the elements are laid in courses in the usual way.

In Patent No. 1,593,397 issued July 20, 1926, there is described a method and apparatus for the production of these copperclad products and the apparatus includes apair of electrolytic cells of considerable. length together with a plurality of frames or carriages each of which supports a series of anodes. Between adjacent anodes are placed the roofing element bases which have previously been given a conducting coating over -those surfaces which are to receive the deposit. In theoperation of the device, pairs of bases are placed back to back between adjacent anodes in each carriage and the conducting coatings are separated from the anodes by suitable insulating members. Suitable contact strips which engage the conducting coatings on the bases are in turn conlltt'i'fitl to individual contact members which make contact with the negative bus bar extending along the cell and each anode is likewise connected to a contact member which reccives current from the positive bus bar at the side of the cell.

The conveyor has a large number of such carriages and the carriages are moved by it through an endless path. They pass through the upper of the superimposed cells and in such movement current flows into the cell through anodes causing the metal of which they are composed to go-into solution. Ourrent is likewise withdrawn from the cell through theconducting coatings of the bases and the contact members which engage them, thus establishing the ordinary electric circuit so that metal is deposited from the solution upon the conductive areas of the bases.

The apparatus described in the patent is in general satisfactory and it provides means for producing electroplated bases at a high rate of production with all of the bases of substantially uniform quality. In the apparatus 'illustrated in the patent, however, each anode paratus is intended as an improvement over that of the patent with respect primarily to certain of its electrical features.

In the new apparatus, the conveyor carries frames, generally of rectan ular shape and having an open, center. he longitudinal frame members carry distributor bars which support the anodes, in the form of plates of a shape generally corresponding to the deposit to be made. These anode plates are suspended from bars which rest at one end directly on a distributor bar. This distributor bar is connected electrically to a shoe which bears on the positive bus bar ofthe cell and the weight of the anodes provides a good contact between the distributing bar and the anode supporting bar in each instance. The other end of each anode supporting bar is enclosed within an insulating member. Mounted on each anode are spacer blocks of insulating material which project beyond the faces of the anode and on each anode supporting bar and insulated therefrom is a cathode bar which is provided with a. plurality of contact strips which depend from either side of the cathode bar and overlie the faces of the spacer blocks. These contact strips are arranged to lie in contact with the conducting surfaces of the elements which are to be plated and one end of-each cathode bar extends around the insu' lated end of the anode supporting bar and contacts with the second or negative distributor bar which is electrically connected by a spring pressed shoe to the negative bus bar of the cell. With this arrangement, all the anodes receive current from a single bar on which they rest and all the contact strips which receive current from the bases deliver it to a single bar. The weight of the anodes insures that good contact will be made between these bars and the parts engaging them and current is received from and delivered to the bus bars by heavy shoes having extended faces. Sparking dificulties are thus avoidedand the apparatus is also very easy to manipulate.

Fig. -5 is a View in verticaltransverse seeside elevation of a tion of 'an electrolytic cell showing one of the carriages partly in section,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a carriage withcertain parts removed,

Fig.7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 5, and,

Fig. 8 isa view in side elevation of one of the contacts used.

\Vith reference now to the drawings the apparatus is shown as including anelectrolytic cell 10 which may be made of any convenient material but is preferably formedof concrete and provided with a mastic protective lining 11 of some material unaffected by the electrolyte. The complete apparatus includes a pair of these tanks which have a considerable length and are placed one aboye the other to conserve floor space. Mounted on top of each longitudinal wall of the tank is a base member 12 secured to the wall in any convenient manner and providing a support for side rails 13. These rails provide a track for the wheels 14 of the conveyor chains 15. The conveyor is made up of double links 16 (Fig. 6) and at suitable intervals the cross pins 17 of the links are provided with the wheels or rollers 14. Each link 18 connecting the pins 17 has secured to it a main cross shaft 19 from which the carriage is suspended.

This carriage includes a pair of side frame members 20 connected by rods 21 at either end and depending from the rods are frame members 22 terminating at their ends in hooks 23 which hang from the cross bars 21. The members 22 are likewise connected by cross bars 24 which with the bars 21 provide an anchorage for abutment means.

Each frame member 22 (Fig. 5) is of angle section and carries an insulating member 25 which may take the form of a bar of wood secured in the angle of the member 22 in any convenient way. Mounted on the insulating member 25 is a distributor bar 26 extending the length of the'carriage. This distributor bar has a flat portion resting on the top of the insulating bar and a contact strip 27 extendingupwardly therefrom along one edge of theinsulator bar. The distributor bar is connected by a pair of projecting tongues 28 to a spring strip 29 having the shape of a double U, each tongue 28 being connected to an upper bend of the spring strip. This strip is connected at its mid-portion and at.

by means of the spring into contact with the positive bus bar 31 secured to one of the base members 12 (Fig. 5). This positive bus bar is of angle-shape and is bolted to the base member and supported by an insulating block 32. The contactstrip with the spring strip together form the contact shoe by which current is taken from the positive bus bar and led to the distributor bar 26.

The opposite frame member 22 also has an insulating bar 25 which carries a distributor bar 33, of a shape somewhat similar to the bar 26 but having a shorter upwardly extending edge-3-it. The distributor bar is connected by tongues 35 to a second contact shoe similar to that previously described. This contact shoe travels on a negative bus bar 36 of the cell which is of angle section and secured to the 7 opposite base member 12 The anodes used in the apparatus consist of plates 37 having three upwardly extending tongues 38 the central tongue'being of less height than those on either side of it. The end tongues have slots 39 in which are engaged hooks40 of a supporting'bar 4.1. This bar resting at one end on the upwardly extending portion 27 of the distributor bar 26 makes a good contact therewith due to the weight of the anode. The opposite end of the bar 11 has an insulating cap 42 and an insu lating strip 43 of wood or similar material is secured to the face of the upper supporting bar 41. Mounted on the anode is a pair of separator blocks 44. of any suitable insulating material such as wood treated to be inert to the electrolyte. These separator blocks as shown in Fig. a project beyond either face of the anode a suitable distance and they serve to hold the bases out of contact with the anode and also to partially mask the anode so as to expose an area thereof which corresponds in shape to theshape of the area of the base which is to be p lated.

Each anode also carries a cathode bar with contact strips depending therefrom. This cathode bar 45 is of conducting material and it is provided with apertures 46 through which project centering pins 46' extending upwardly from the insulating strip -13. Secured to the cathode bar at suitable points along it are metallic strips -17 which serve as contacts. These strips have portions which depend on either side of the bar and they are connected thereto electricz'illy. At one end the bar has a- U-shaped portion 48 and it is placed in position on the anode supporting bar 41 with the U -shaped part 48 extending around the insulating cap 42 of the anode supporting bar, the relation of the parts being as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the terminal 48 of the cathode bar contacts with the upwardly projecting part 34 ofthe cathodeits contact strips is mounted in placeon eachv anode supporting bar with the end of the cathode bar projecting around the insulating end of the supporting bar. The parts in this relation are now placed on a frame with one end of each anode bar resting on the positive distributor bar and they-shaped endof each cathode bar resting on the'negative distributor bar. In the apparatus as illustrated there are eleven anode assemblies mounted in a single carriage and between each pair of anodes is placed a pair of bases 49.. These bases are of any suitable material which has previously been treated so that the areas of the base which are to be plated have a conducting film. The bases are placed backto back with their conductive areas facing the anodes. An abutment bar or wedge 50 is now placed in. position with its upper end lying between the

transverse bars

21 and 24 and the first anode assembly is moved into contact with it. A pair of basesis now placed in position between this assembly and the one next to it and the second assembly is moved toward the abutment or wedge so that i the bases are held in position between the two assembles. This operation is repeated until the ten pairs of bases are in position whereupon another abutment bar or wedge 51 is forced down between the

transverse bars

21 and 24 at theo-pposite end of theframe and a third wedge 52 is forced into position between the upper end of the wedge 51 and thebar 21 to cause the assemblies and bases to be held tightly together by endwise pressure.

The conveyor by whichthe anodes with their various associated parts and the bases are carried through. the electrolytic cells moves at a low rate of speed and the tanks are properly proportioned and the current density regulated so that a deposit of the desired thickness will be made in a .complete circuit of the conveyor. At one end of each tank the carriages are lowered into the electrolyte and at the opposite end the carriages are removed. At one point of removal a workmanis stationed who removes the wedges orabutment bars 51 and 52 and slides the first anode assembly along its supporting means so as to free the bar of bases which lie in contact with it. Another pair of bases is then placed in position and the second anode assembly is then moved to hold these bases-tightly and to free the next pair of completed bases. These operations are repeated until all of the completed or finished bases have been replaced by implated bases and the operations may be carried on so rapidly that it is not necessary to interrupt the conveyor movement. Owing to the fact that the anodes are carried on the frames, atjthe same time that the bases are removed the condition of the anodes may be inspected and such anodes. as. require replacement may readily ,be changed at that time.

7 Owing to the large areas which are to be plated, a heavy current flows from the positive bus bar to the anode bars and is likewise withdrawn through the cathode bar and delivered to the negative bus bar. The use of such heavy currents has caused considerable difiiculty in the provision of suitable contact members which make sliding contact with the bus bars as the carriages move. The present contact shoes, however, have been found to obviate all these difficulties and to distribute the current properly so that all of the bases accordingly may be kept in continuous use for indefinite periods.

I claim: Y

1. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell. a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell and car-- rying a plurality of anodes and cathodes, a pair of shoes carried by the frame and contacting with the positive and negative bus bars respectively, and electrical connections between the anodes and the shoe contacting with the positive bus bar maintained by the weight of the anodes, and between the cathodes and the negative bus bar through the other shoe. I

2. In apparatus for electrodcposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell and carrying a plurality ofanodes and cathodes, a distributor bar on the frame connected electIica-lly to the anodes, the electrical connections between the anodes and the said bus bar being maintained in part by the weight of the anodes, a second distributor bar on the frame connected electrically to the cathodes, and shoessecured to the frame and contacting'with the positive and negative bus bars, these shoes being connected electrically 'ill ill)

tive bus bar, this shoe being connected to one distributor bar, a second shoe secured to the frame and running on the negative bus bar,

this shoe being connected to the other distributor bar, a plurality of anodes supported on the distributor bars, these anodes being electrically connected to the positively charged bar and insulated from the other, the said electrical connections being maintained by t-he Weight of the anodes, and a plurality of cathodes supported by the frame and electrically connected to the negatively charged distributor bar.

4. In apparatus forelectrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars on the frame electrically connected respectivel to the positive and negative busbars, anc a plurality of anodes to each shoe, a plurality of anodes mounted on.

the frame and having parts held in contact with the positive distributor bar by the weight of the anodes, a plurality of cathodes on the frame, and connections leading from the cathodes to the negative distributor bar and held incontact therewith by the weight of the anodes.

6. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a plurality of anodes and cathodes movable in a group along the cell, a single contact member engaging the positive bus bar and supplying current to all the anodes of the group, a single contact member engaging the negative bus bar and delivering current thereto from all the cathodes of the group, and connections between thc'anodes, the cathodes and their respective contact members, the said connections being maintained in part by the weight of the anodes.

7. In apparatus for electrodcposition, the combination of an electrolytic'ccll, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell, a plurality of anodes supported on the frame. a plurality of cathodes disposed between the anodes, means carried by the frame for drawing current from the positive bus bar and delivering it to allthe anodes, the said means being rendered efi'ective in part by the weight of the 1,eee,cse

anodes and means carried by the frame for receiving current from all the cathodes and delivering it to the negative bus bar, the said means together providing a support for the anodes.

8. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative busjbar'adjacent the cell, a

frame movable alon'g'the cell, aplurality of anodes-supported on the frame, a plurality of cathodes disposed between the anodes, dis-.

tributor bars mounted on the frame means connecting each bar to one of the bus bars, the bars together providing a support for the'anodes, and means contacting with one bar and bearing a part ofthe weight of the anodes for receiving current from the cathodes and delivering it to the said distributor bar.

9. "In'apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus-bar adjacent the cell, a'

frame'movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars carried by the frame, each bar being connected electrically to one of the bus bars, an anode supported on the distributor bars but connected electrically to one only of the bars. this connection being maintained in part by the Weight of the anode, a cathode disposed adjacent the anode and means for connecting the cathode electrically to the distributor bar with which the anode is out of electrical contact.

10. In apparatus for electrodeposition. the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a

frame movable along the cell, a pair of discombination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell. a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes carried by the frame and a pair of shoes secured to the frame, each shoe bearing resiliently on one of the bus bars, and means for connecting 'one shoe electrically to theanode's and the other shoe electrically to the'cathodes, the said connecting means being rendered effective by the weight of the anodes.

12. In apparatus for clectrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars on the frame and a two-part shoe connected to each distributor bar, one shoe being adapted to bear against one of the bus bars and having a contact member, the area of which is extended in the direction of movement of the frame, and a resilient connecting member between the contact member and the distributor bar.

13. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a

frame movable along the cell, a distributor bar carried by the frame and a two-part shoe I connected electrically to the distributor bar and bearing against the bus bar, this shoe having a contact member, the area of which is extended in the direction of movement of the frame, and a spring member secured to said contact member and to the distributor bar.

14. In apparatus for. electrodeposition, the combination of an electrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell, a frame movable along the cell, a distributor bar at each side of said frame, means connecting one distributor bar electrically to the positive bus bar and the other distributor bar electrically to the negative bus bar, an anode supporting bar resting at its ends on the distributor bars and in electrical contact with only one of said bars, a cathode contact strip mounted on the said supporting bar and insulated therefrom, this strip having a portion interposed between one end of the said supporting bar and the second distributor bar, and an anode depending from the supporting bar, the Weight of the anode providing a good electrical connection between the anode supporting bar and one distributor bar and between the said portion of the oathode strip and the other distributor bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ELMER M. \VANAMAKER.