US3161578A - Apparatus for carrying out electrolytic treatments on the entire surface - Google Patents

Apparatus for carrying out electrolytic treatments on the entire surface Download PDF

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Publication number
US3161578A
US3161578A US89679A US8967961A US3161578A US 3161578 A US3161578 A US 3161578A US 89679 A US89679 A US 89679A US 8967961 A US8967961 A US 8967961A US 3161578 A US3161578 A US 3161578A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
work
piece
bath
coil
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US89679A
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English (en)
Inventor
Facquet Louis
Daboval Jacques
Chauvin Guy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Original Assignee
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA filed Critical Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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Publication of US3161578A publication Critical patent/US3161578A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23G—CLEANING OR DE-GREASING OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY CHEMICAL METHODS OTHER THAN ELECTROLYSIS
    • C23G3/00—Apparatus for cleaning or pickling metallic material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/005—Contacting devices
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/007—Current directing devices
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/008—Current shielding devices
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/06—Suspending or supporting devices for articles to be coated
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
    • C25D7/04—Tubes; Rings; Hollow bodies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C21/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof
    • G21C21/02—Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings
    • G21C21/14—Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings by plating the fuel in a fluid
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for carrying out electrolytic treatments on the entire surface of metallic objects or parts, or of non-metallic parts having a surface which is conductive of electricity.
  • the invention may be advantageously utilized for the nickel plating of uranium bars used in atomic piles.
  • the invention permits the electrolytic production of continuous coatings over the entire surface of such parts.
  • This invention also provides .a process for carrying out chemical non-electrolytic treatments on metallic and nonmetall-ic surfaces.
  • Devices for carrying out these processes are also included in the invention and also the parts or objects treated according to these processes and with such devices and the coatings thus obtained.
  • electrolytic treatments are usually effected on conductive metallic parts or on parts of which the surface has been rendered conductive if the constituent material of the parts is not conductive.
  • the parts to be treated are connected to one of the poles of a source of direct or alternating current and are then immersed in an electrolytic bath so as to constitute one of the electrodes thereof, the other pole of the source of current being connected to one or several electrodes placed in the same electrolytic hath as the work-pieces, but not in contact with them.
  • Electrolytic plating is also carried out by placing the workapieces in appropriate baths as the cathode which baths include among their constituents one or several salts of metal compounds (or salts or compound of the metals themselves in the case of alloys) which it is desired to deposit.
  • anodic oxidation treatments can be efiected on the surfaces of metals such as aluminium, the work-pieces placed in the acid baths constituting either of the electrodes when utilising alternating current, or the anode when utilising direct current.
  • a process known as drum treatment can be employed for the electrolytic covering of the entire surface of metallic work-pieces; it consists of placing these workpieces in a non-conductive receptacle of generally cylindrical form; this receptacle may be watertight and in that case contains the electrolytic bath, or it may be pierced with numerous holes and in that case is immersed totally or partly in a tank containing the electrolytic bath; contacts provided in the drum are connected to a source of electric current such that the work-pieces, lying loose in the bottom of the drum, and immersed in the "bath, constitute one of the electrodes: the other electrode or electrodes are fixed and immersed in the same bath.
  • the drum is made to rotate so as to maintain the workpieces under continual displacement. During this operation, they receive a current which is sent to them via the various contacts and is transmitted from one work-piece to any other.
  • Non-electrolytic chemical treatments of workapieces are generally effected over their whole surface and generally take place in a bath of a reactive liquid; the region of the work-pieces to be treated which is in contact with the fixing or su porting means does not allow treatment to be effected homogeneously over their entire surface.
  • a process for carrying out electrolytic or chemical treatments on the entire surface of a work-piece which is substantially a solid of revolution in one dimension in which at least one work-piece is disposed inside a coil spring of elongated form on which it rests freely, the sole electrical contact with the workpiece being the spring, and at least the part of the spring containing the work-piece is immersed in a bath for effecting the treatment to be carried out, the work-piece being subjected to a continuous rotation for maintaining it in contact with the spring by rotating the spring about its own axis of revolution.
  • an apparatus for carrying out electrolytic or chemical treatments on the entire surface of a Work-piece which is substantially a solid of revolution in one direction which comprises a treatment receptacle for containing a treatment bath, a substantially horizontal spring of cylindrical form which can be at least partially immersed in the bath, and a substantially horizontal, rotatable support passing inside the spring and supporting it freely over all its length.
  • the process is particularly applicable to the treatment of solid or hollow bars, rods or spindles, the length of which is greater than the diameter. It can be utilised for all electrical or chemical treatments of such work-pieces and particularly for electrolyti plating, anodic oxidation, degreasing, pickling, polishing, brightening, and similar treatments as well as for chemical treatments of the kind mentioned above. It is uitilisable for all coverings or treatments currently employed in treating metallic and other work-pieces; in the case of electrolytic treatment, the work-piece to be treated must be conductive; in other cases, it may be conductive or not.
  • the process of the invention can be used particularly to provide a nickel plating free from discontinuity on the uranium bars utilised in nuclear reactors.
  • the spring used in accordance with the present process should have at least one generatrix permanently in the horizontal position, the other generatrices being necessarily at a level higher than that first mentioned.
  • the spring should be provided with elastic properties in its transverse direction; it can be a spring of customary form, for example approximately helicoidal.
  • the means for rotation may suitably comprise a motor and a rod driven by the motor; the rod supports the spring along the entire length of the upper generatrix of the inside surface of the spring.
  • This arrangement requires the part of the spring containing the Work-piece to have cylindrical shape; the rod rests at its two extremities on bearings, rollers or other equivalent means allowing it to rotate freely.
  • the spring must be constituted by a conductive wire, for example a metallic wire, and preferably should be covered by an insulating material so that instead of the passage of electric current occurring over the entire surface of the wire, this passage occurs only at the part of the internal surface of the spring in contact with the support rod and the work-piece to be treated; the current to be applied to the work-piece is led to the support rod via the bearings or rollers or by sliding contacts, whence it passes into the spring and from the spring into the Work-piece.
  • the assembly constituted as just described is located in a treatment vessel in such a manner that the work-piece is immersed in the bath which also contains the electrodes necessary for completing the electric circuit.
  • the work-piece When the work-piece is substantially cylindrical, it undergoes a regular rotary movement so long as its length is greater than the internal diameter of the spring so that it does not become located across it.
  • the piece should be prevented from leaving the spring at one or other of the ends thereof; this may be attained by various means such as by attaching abutments of a suitable diameter to the support rod, which abutments can be the collars for arresting the spring and which are then made of suilicient diameter, or by placing fixed abutments in the bath at the ends of the spring, which abutments can simply be the ends of the vessel or by utilising a cylindrical helicoidal spring containing the work-piece in its central portion (the greater part of its length) but having coils of smaller diameters than those in the central portion.
  • the weight of the work-piece causes the spring, due to its elastic properties, to take up an inwardly curved shape in its lower immersed part which constitutcs a kind of pocket in which the work-piece remains and from which it cannot be displaced merely by the rotary movement to which it is subjected.
  • the present invention can also be utilised if it is desired to carry out a series of chemical and/0r electrochemical treatments which must be applied in a certain order one after the other.
  • the work-piece can then be taken out of a spring located in a given bath corresponding to a given treatment and put into another spring in the bath corresponding to the following treatment.
  • a support, spring and Work-piece and, if rcquircd, rotation means can together constitute a movable entity. in this case, the pieces can be placed in the spring before beginning the treatments and can be successively transported from one bath to another by transfer of this entity in order to carry out degreasing, pickling, Washing, electrolytic plating and so forth.
  • the length and diameter of the spring, the number of turns and the diameter of the wire employed are determined as a function of the length, diameter and weight of the work-pie es.
  • the spring should advantageously be suiiiciently flexible to ensure good electrical contact between all its coils and the work piece and the support rod which supplies the current; the spring should be able to provide the Work-piece with the current of the necessary intensity for the treatment envisaged Without its being liable to heating which would make it lose its mechanical properties, destroy the insulation or upset the treatment.
  • the interior diameter of the spring should be sufficient to ensure the immersion or" the piece, while remaining below the length of the latter when it is of cylindrical form.
  • the length of the spring should in principle be greater than the length of this piece.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic section, along II of FIG. 2, of a device according to the invention
  • a treatment vessel 1 is provided at its upper part with two bearings 2 and 3 in which a nickel steel rod 4 is mounted which serves to support a helicoidal spring 5.
  • the worn-piece 6 to be treated is supported by the spring 5 and is immersed in a treatment bath '7.
  • the rod 4 is rotated by a motor 10 through the intermediary of a pulley 8 and a belt 9.
  • the support 4 comprises two collars 16 and 17 maintaining the helicoidal spring 5 in place during its rotation.
  • This device as just described can be utilised to effect a chemical treatment; additional components are required for carrying out electrolytic treatment, the treatment bath 7 then being an electrolytic bath.
  • additional components are as follows: a sliding contact 11 supplies the current, through the intermediary of the rod 4 and the spring 5, to the workpiece 6 which constitutes the cathode; two anodes 12 and 13 constituted by two nickel plates are provided and are shown in section in FIG. 2 on either side, for providing return of the current.
  • the spring was supported by a support rod of nickel steel of about 10 mm. diameter; it rotated at a speed of about 60 turns per minute.
  • the assembly formed by the support rod and the spring was connected to a source of direct current so as to constitute a cathode; electrical contact with the uranium bar was thus affected.
  • This uranium bar was immersed in the nickel plating bath; the current intensity was regulated as a function of the composition and characteristics of the bath.
  • the operation was stopped and the bar was removed from inside the spring and Washed. It was then found to be covered over the whole of its surface with a layer of nickel without discontinuity and of good regular thickness, better than that which can be obtained by any other electrolytic process.
  • Apparatus for electrolytic treatment of the surface of an electrically conductive work piece, the work piece being substantially a solid of revolution about one axis comprising a container containing an electrolytic bath including salts of metal compounds to be deposited, an 7 electrically conducting substantially helicoidal coil for containing and for supporting the Work piece, the part of said coil containing the work piece being immersed in said bath, a horizontal cylindrical member projecting through and supporting said coil, means for imparting rotation to said member about its longitudinal axis, the coefiicients of friction between said coil and said member and between said coil and the work piece imparting rotation to said coil and to the work piece, means for limiting the axial displacement of said coil along said member, at least one electrode immersed in the bath and means for applying an electric voltage between said coil and said electrode, the interior surface of said coil being electrically conducting and constituting an electrode, said support being electrically conducting and being connected to said electric voltage supply means and insulation on the exterior surface of said coil.
  • Apparatus as described in claim 1 including abutments at the extremities of said coil for preventing movement of the Work piece out of said coil.
  • Apparatus as described in claim 3 including end coils for said coil of smaller diameter than said coil, said end coils constituting said abutments.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
US89679A 1960-03-22 1961-02-16 Apparatus for carrying out electrolytic treatments on the entire surface Expired - Lifetime US3161578A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR822063A FR1260086A (fr) 1960-03-22 1960-03-22 Procédés et appareils pour l'exécution de traitements et de revêtements electroly tiques continus sur la surface entière de pièces ou objets

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3161578A true US3161578A (en) 1964-12-15

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Family Applications (1)

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US89679A Expired - Lifetime US3161578A (en) 1960-03-22 1961-02-16 Apparatus for carrying out electrolytic treatments on the entire surface

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3161578A (de)
BE (1) BE599500A (de)
CH (1) CH399862A (de)
DE (1) DE1288869B (de)
ES (1) ES265179A1 (de)
FR (1) FR1260086A (de)
GB (1) GB943038A (de)
LU (1) LU39790A1 (de)
NL (2) NL261927A (de)
SE (1) SE205364C1 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3547796A (en) * 1968-12-24 1970-12-15 Atomic Energy Commission Apparatus for electropolishing spherical surfaces
US4789450A (en) * 1986-12-16 1988-12-06 Bateman Engineering (International) Limited Electrolytic cell
US5865979A (en) * 1992-01-27 1999-02-02 Thomas & Betts Corporation Ground rod and apparatus and method for electroplating
US5893966A (en) * 1997-07-28 1999-04-13 Micron Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2439149A1 (fr) * 1978-10-20 1980-05-16 Morin Secretan Rech Perfect Procede et installation pour revetir des pieces, notamment de revetements metalliques
ITBO20070068A1 (it) 2007-02-06 2008-08-07 Corima Internat Machinery S R L Apparecchiatura per la riverniciatura elettroforetica di oggetti metallici, in particolare di coperchi per contenitori ad uso alimentare

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US189533A (en) * 1877-04-10 Improvement in process and apparatus for electroplating wire
US638917A (en) * 1899-05-04 1899-12-12 Elisha Emerson Process of producing wire-bars.
US696109A (en) * 1901-07-01 1902-03-25 Richard David Sanders Apparatus for the manufacture of compound wire bars by electrodeposition.
US903164A (en) * 1907-05-11 1908-11-10 Paul Borgnet Electrolytic apparatus.
US907426A (en) * 1907-07-29 1908-12-22 Hanson & Van Winkle Company Electroplating apparatus.
US1381883A (en) * 1918-08-02 1921-06-14 Copper Products Company Electrolytic process, product, and apparatus
US2894885A (en) * 1945-01-06 1959-07-14 Allen G Gray Method of applying copper coatings to uranium

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE195674C (de) *
DE184011C (de) *
DE1766823U (de) * 1954-05-08 1958-05-14 Gewerk Keramchemie Vorrichtung zum bewegen von gegenstaenden aller art in behaeltern mit fluessigkeiten.

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US189533A (en) * 1877-04-10 Improvement in process and apparatus for electroplating wire
US638917A (en) * 1899-05-04 1899-12-12 Elisha Emerson Process of producing wire-bars.
US696109A (en) * 1901-07-01 1902-03-25 Richard David Sanders Apparatus for the manufacture of compound wire bars by electrodeposition.
US903164A (en) * 1907-05-11 1908-11-10 Paul Borgnet Electrolytic apparatus.
US907426A (en) * 1907-07-29 1908-12-22 Hanson & Van Winkle Company Electroplating apparatus.
US1381883A (en) * 1918-08-02 1921-06-14 Copper Products Company Electrolytic process, product, and apparatus
US2894885A (en) * 1945-01-06 1959-07-14 Allen G Gray Method of applying copper coatings to uranium

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3547796A (en) * 1968-12-24 1970-12-15 Atomic Energy Commission Apparatus for electropolishing spherical surfaces
US4789450A (en) * 1986-12-16 1988-12-06 Bateman Engineering (International) Limited Electrolytic cell
US5865979A (en) * 1992-01-27 1999-02-02 Thomas & Betts Corporation Ground rod and apparatus and method for electroplating
US5893966A (en) * 1997-07-28 1999-04-13 Micron Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers
US6132570A (en) * 1997-07-28 2000-10-17 Micron Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers
US6277262B1 (en) 1997-07-28 2001-08-21 Micron Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers
US20030116429A1 (en) * 1997-07-28 2003-06-26 Salman Akram Apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers
US6605205B2 (en) 1997-07-28 2003-08-12 Micron Technology, Inc. Method for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers
US6899797B2 (en) 1997-07-28 2005-05-31 Micron Technology, Inc. Apparatus for continuous processing of semiconductor wafers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB943038A (en) 1963-11-27
ES265179A1 (es) 1961-08-16
CH399862A (fr) 1965-09-30
NL261927A (de)
NL125954C (de)
LU39790A1 (de) 1961-04-17
FR1260086A (fr) 1961-05-05
BE599500A (fr) 1961-05-16
SE205364C1 (de) 1966-06-14
DE1288869B (de) 1969-02-06

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