US3850737A - Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode - Google Patents

Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode Download PDF

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Publication number
US3850737A
US3850737A US00317960A US31796072A US3850737A US 3850737 A US3850737 A US 3850737A US 00317960 A US00317960 A US 00317960A US 31796072 A US31796072 A US 31796072A US 3850737 A US3850737 A US 3850737A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
chamber
plating
drum
anode
metallic
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
US00317960A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Lui
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.)
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Original Assignee
TRW Inc
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.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TRW Inc filed Critical TRW Inc
Priority to US00317960A priority Critical patent/US3850737A/en
Priority to DE19732353592 priority patent/DE2353592C3/de
Priority to GB5333273A priority patent/GB1415107A/en
Priority to IT7383672A priority patent/IT1010546B/it
Priority to FR7345556A priority patent/FR2211541B1/fr
Priority to JP49004884A priority patent/JPS4997731A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3850737A publication Critical patent/US3850737A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • C25D17/16—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk
    • C25D17/18—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk having closed containers
    • C25D17/20—Horizontal barrels

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An electroplating barrel having a rotary plating drum with one or more plating chambers containing anode and cathode electrodes to reduce the inter-electrode distance and thereby adapt the barrel to plating applications, such as aluminum plating, using a plating solution of relatively low electrical conductivity.
  • This invention relates generally to the electrolytic deposition of metal, and more particularly to a novel electroplating barrel.
  • Such a plating barrel comprises a rotary plating drum having at least one interior plating chamber for containing the work parts to be plated.
  • the drum is rotated submerged in a plating solution while a voltage is impressed across the plating electrodes.
  • the plating solution circulates through the plating chamber via passages in the chamber walls, and the work parts undergo a tumbling motion.
  • the tumbling motion establishes random contact of the work parts with one another and with a cathode electrode in the barrel to effect electrodeposition of the anode metal on the parts.
  • the existing plating barrels are ill-suited toplating applications which involve the use of a plating solution having low electrical conductivity, such as aluminum plating with the aluminum hydride plating solution described in US. Pat. No. 2,651,608.
  • the conductivity of this latter plating solution is so low that plating current flow between the external anode and internal cathode or cathodes of the existing plating barrels is very small.
  • the plating time and hence costs are too high to warrant use of the existing plating barrels for such plating applications, except in very special or unusual circumstances.
  • the improved electroplating barrel of the present invention has a plating drum rotatable support on a frame.
  • the drum contains one or more plating chambers for receiving work parts to be plated.
  • One wall of each chamber has an access opening with a closure or door which may be opened to insert parts into and remove parts from the chamber.
  • the barrel has passages for circulating plating solution through each drum chamber. In use, the plating drum is submerged in plating solution and rotated to tumble the parts in the drum while the solution is circulated through the drum chambers.
  • each plating chamber of the plating drum contains both anode and cathode electrodes.
  • the anode of each plating chamber is exposed for contact by the plating solution in the chamber but is shielded against contact by work parts in the chamber.
  • the cathode of each plating chamber is exposed for contact by both the plating solution and work parts in the chamber as the parts tumble during rotation of the plating drum.
  • the present plating barrel is particularly suited to such plating operations. It will become evident as the description proceeds, however, that barrel is not limited to these plating operations and may be used to advantage for virtually any barrel plating operation including those which use a high conductivity plating solution.
  • FIG. 1 is an end elevation of an improved plating barrel according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation ofthe plating barrel
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged half-sectionl taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2. i
  • cathode electrodes 22 are exposed for contact by both the plating solution and the work parts as the latter tumble in the drum, whereby the parts are plated with the anode metal.
  • this location of both the anode and cathode electrodes within the plating drum constitutes a major feature of difference between the present plating barrel and the plating barrels of the prior art.
  • This internal electrode location reduces the distance between the anode and cathode electrodes and thereby achieves two important benefits.
  • reduction of the interelectrode distance permits economically feasible use of the plating barrel for plating applications, such as aluminum plating, which'involve a plating solution of relatively low electrical conductivity.
  • reduction of the interelectrode distance acplating solutions are economically feasible use of the plating barrel for plating applications, such as aluminum plating, which'involve a plating solution of relatively low electrical conductivity.
  • the plating drum 12 is a cylindrical drum having three radially spaced cylindrical wall members 24, 26, and 28 concentrically arranged about the rotation axis of the drum and generally flat end wall members 30, 32 joined to the ends of the cylindrical wall members.
  • the central opening through the innermost cylindrical wall member 24 provides a passage 34 which, and radial passages 36 through the cylindrical wall members 24, 26 and 28, comprise part of the passage means 18 for circulating plating solution through the plating drum. Attention is direction to the fact the radial passages 36 are uniformly distributed, with the spacing shown, over the entire surface area of the wall members, but only a few of the passages in each wall member have been shown.
  • the three cylindrical wall members define therebetween radially inner and outer concentric annular plating chambers 38, 40 for receiving work parts to be plated.
  • the center and outer cylindrical wall members 26, 28 have access openings 42 with closures or doors 44 which may be opened or removed to place parts in and remove parts from the plating chambers.
  • the outer door is held in closed position within its access opening by a door clamp 46.
  • the inner door is secured to the outer door by sector shaped endwalls 44a for removal of the doors as a single unit.
  • the innermost cylindrical wall member 24 comprises a pair of radially spaced electrical insulating sleeves 47, 48 and an intervening metallic sleeve 50.
  • the center and outer cylindrical wall members 26, 28 each comprise center and radially inner electrical insulating sleeves 52 and 54.
  • Extending longitudinally of the plating drum 12 between and spaced longitudinally about the sleeves 52, 54 are a plurality of metallic conductor bars 56 and intervening arcuate electrical insulating spacers 58.
  • Each conductor bar 56 carries a number of metalliccontact buttons 60 each having a shank 62 which is press fitted in the bar and extends radially inwardthrough the adjacent inner insulating sleeve 54 and a head 64 on the inner end ofthe shank.
  • a metallic sleeve 66 Surrounding the central insulating sleeve 52 of the center and outer cylindrical wall members 26, 28 is a metallic sleeve 66.
  • An electrical insulating sleeve 68 surrounds the metallic sleeve 66 of the wall member 26.
  • the metallic sleeves 50, 66 of the cylindrical wall members 24, 26 and 28 constitute the anode electrodes of the plating drum 12.
  • the conductor bars 56 and contact buttons 60 of the cylindrical wall members 26, 28 constitute the cathode electrodes 22 of the drum.
  • the anode electrodes or anodes 20 are located about the radially inner sides of the plating chambers 38, 40 and are exposed to the adjacent chamber through the passages 36 in the cylindrical wall members 24, 26 for contact by the plating solution in the chambers.
  • the radially outer insulating sleeves 47, 68 of the latter wall members shield the anodes against contact by work parts in the chambers.
  • the cathode electrodes or cathodes 22 are located about the radially outer sides of the plating chambers and are exposed for contact by both the plating solution and work parts in the chambers.
  • the plating drum end wall members 30, 32 are essentially identical and each comprises axially inner and outer electrical insulating plates 70, 72. Each outer plate 72 has an annular flange 74 about its edge which projects axially inward over and is sealed to the edge of its inner plate 70. Between the plates 70, 72 of each endwall is a metallic conductor plate 76.
  • the conductor plate 76 of endwall member 30 comprises the same metal as and is mechanically and electrically joined by screws 78 to the anode sleeves 50, 66.
  • the conductor plate 76 of the endwall member 32 comprises the same metal as and is mechanically and electrically joined by screws 80 to the cathode bars 56.
  • the plating barrel frame 14 has an upper plate 90 which extends across the top of the plating drum 12 and hanger arms 92 which straddle the drum endwise. These hanger arms carry electrical insulating bushings 94 which rotatably receive the bearing shafts 82 to support the plating drum for rotation on its rotation axis. Attached to the upper frame plate 90 are rings 96 for attachment to a hoist cable by which the plating barrel 10 may be lowered into and raised from a plating tank containing plating solution.
  • the ends of the plating drum shafts 82 project beyond the hanger arms 92.
  • Rotatably mounted on the projecting shaft ends are metallic bushings 98 which have sliding electrical contact with the shafts.
  • Mechanically and electrically joined to these bushings are conductor rods 100 having upper terminals 102 for connection to cables leading to a plating voltage source (not shown).
  • Conductor rods 100 are secured by brackets 106 to the frame hanger arms 92 and serve to retain the bushings 98 on the drum shafts 82.
  • the bushings and conductor rods are covered with an electrical insulating sheath or jacket 108.
  • conduits 112. Connected by elbows 110 to the bushings 98 are conduits 112. The passages in the conduits communicate to the passage 34 through the inner wall member 24 of the plating drum 12. Conduits 112 connect to a pump (not shown) for circulating plating solution from the plating tank through the drum.
  • the work parts to be plated are placed in the plating chambers 38, 40 of the plating drum 12.
  • the barrel is then lowered into a plating solution and the motor 16 is energized to drive the drum in rotation.
  • Rotation of the drum causes the work parts to undergo a tumbling motion in the plating chambers, thereby establishing random contact of the work parts with one another and with the cathode contacts 60 to effect plating of the parts with the metal of the anodes 50, 66.
  • the anodes when consumed, are replaced by removing the ends of the plating drum.
  • the present plating barrel is designed primarily for plating applications using a plating solution of relatively low electrical conductivity, such as aluminum plating with the aluminum hydride plating solution described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,651,608.
  • the existing plating barrels are ill-suited to such plating applications owing to the location of the anode externally of the plating drum. This external anode location results in a relatively large distance between the anode and cathode and a correspondingly small plating current flow because of the low conductivity of the plating solution.
  • the plating time is thus so long as to make it economically unfeasible to use the existing barrels for anything other than very specialized plating applicatrons.
  • This disadvantage of the existing barrels is avoided in the present plating barrel because of the internal location of the anode and cathode within each plating chamber of the plating drum.
  • the distance between the anode and cathode is substantially reduced by this internal anode location and the plating current flow is correspondingly increased to a point which permits aluminum plating and other plating operations using low conductivity plating solutions to be accomplished in reasonable time and at a reasonable cost.
  • this advantage of the present plating barrel is enhanced by increasing the number of plating chambers in the drum and thereby further reducing the distance between the anode and cathode of each chamber.
  • the anode and cathode arrangement also results in a superior metal plate on the finished parts.
  • the plating barrel of the invention is particularly suited to aluminum plating and other plating applications using a low conductivity plating solution, the barrel also may be used for plating with high conductivity solutions. In these latter plating applications, the advantage achieved by the plating barrel is a substantial reduction in plating time.
  • An electroplating barrel for plating work parts comprising: a
  • a plating drum having at least one plating chamber for containing said parts, means for placing parts in and removing parts from each chamber, cathode and soluble anode means within said drum adjacent each chamber with said anode means exposed for contact by plating solution in the chamber and said cathode means exposed for contactby both plating solution and work parts in the chamber, said cathode and anode means being rigidly fixed to and forming structural elements of the drum;
  • each chamber has radially inner and outer walls relative to the rotation axis of said drum; and the inner and outer walls of each chamber mount said anode and cathode means, respectively, of the chamber.
  • said inner and outer walls extend about said axis
  • said anode means of each chamber comprises a metallic sleeve fixed to the inner chamber wall;
  • said shielding means of each chamber comprises one electrical insulating sleeve between said anode sleeve and the chamber;
  • said cathode means of each chamber comprises metallic contacts fixed to and projecting into the chamber from the outer chamber wall.
  • An electroplating barrel according to claim 1 including:
  • said drum contains a plurality of said plating chambers.
  • said chambers are concentric annular chambers.
  • each chamber has radially inner and outer walls mounting said anode and cathode means, respectively, of the chamber.
  • said anode means of each chamber comprises a metallic sleeve fixed to and concentric with the inner chamber wall;
  • said shielding means of each chamber comprises an electrical insulating sleeve between said anode sleeve and the chamber;
  • said cathode means of each chamber comprise metallic contacts fixed to and projecting into the chamber from the outer chamber wall.
  • An electroplating barrel for plating work parts comprising:
  • a rotary plating drum having an axis of rotation, radi ally spaced annular wall members concentrically surrounding said axis, and wall members joined to the ends of said annular wall members to define a central plating solution passage within the inner most annular wall member and annular plating chambers between the adjacent: annular wall members, metallic bearing shafts secured to and extending coaxially from said endwall members, closure means which may be opened to place parts in and remove parts from said chambers, and passages extending longitudinally through said shafts to said central passage and radially through said annular wall members for circulating plating solution through said chambers;
  • said innermost annular wall member comprising a pair of radially spaced electrical insulating sleeves and a metallic sleeve between said insulating sleeves;
  • each remaining annular wall member comprising a central electrical insulating sleeve, a radially inner electrical insulating sleeve, metallic bars extending endwise of said drum between and spaced circumferentially about the latter sleeves, metallic contacts fixed to said bars and extending radially inward through the adjacent inner insulating sleeve into the adjacent plating chamber, and a metallic sleeve about said central sleeve;
  • each remaining annular wall member which separates two adjacent plating chambers further comprising an electrical insulating sleeve about the respective metallic sleeve;
  • each endwall member comprising a central metallic end plate electrically joined to the adjacent barrel shaft and electrical insulating plates enclosing said metallic plate;
  • said metallic sleeves comprising soluble anodes and said bars and contacts forming cathodes
  • An electroplating barrel according to claim 10 including:
  • means including a motor on said frame for driving said drum in rotation.
  • An electroplating barrel for plating work parts comprising:
  • a plating drum having a plurality of plating chambers for containing said parts, means for placing parts in and removing parts from each chamber, cathode and anode means within said drum adjacent each chamber with said anode means exposed for contact by plating solution in the adjacent chamber and said cathode means exposed for contact by both plating solution and work parts in the adjacent chamber;

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
US00317960A 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode Expired - Lifetime US3850737A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00317960A US3850737A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode
DE19732353592 DE2353592C3 (de) 1972-12-26 1973-10-25 Galvanisiertrommel
GB5333273A GB1415107A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-11-16 Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode
IT7383672A IT1010546B (it) 1972-12-26 1973-12-10 Barile per galvanostegia con anodo e catodo interni
FR7345556A FR2211541B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-12-26 1973-12-19
JP49004884A JPS4997731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-12-26 1973-12-25

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00317960A US3850737A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode

Publications (1)

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US3850737A true US3850737A (en) 1974-11-26

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ID=23236006

Family Applications (1)

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US00317960A Expired - Lifetime US3850737A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Electroplating barrel with internal anode and cathode

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3850737A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4997731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2211541B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1415107A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1010546B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4305804A (en) * 1980-05-07 1981-12-15 Harshaw Chemical Company Plating barrel contact
US4390399A (en) * 1980-11-24 1983-06-28 Mcinnes Robert Method and apparatus for plating articles
US4571291A (en) * 1984-08-20 1986-02-18 Alumatec, Inc. Apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal
US4736868A (en) * 1986-06-24 1988-04-12 Singleton Corporation Plating barrel door apparatus
US6402366B1 (en) * 1998-06-26 2002-06-11 Ernst Eichholzer Drum unit for receiving bulk material for surface treatment
US6675984B1 (en) * 2001-06-20 2004-01-13 Jessup Engineering, Inc. Metal finishing barrel cover locking system
US20040256220A1 (en) * 2003-06-18 2004-12-23 Yamamoto-Ms Co., Ltd. Plating barrel, barrel plating apparatus and drain equipment
US20100108527A1 (en) * 2007-04-19 2010-05-06 Ewald Dorken Ag Drum and method for coating workpieces with a non-metallic coating
US20210017664A1 (en) * 2019-07-18 2021-01-21 Tennessee Technological University Apparatus and process for producing coatings

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6194573U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1984-11-21 1986-06-18
JPH0784678B2 (ja) * 1993-02-02 1995-09-13 春行 長谷川 バレルメッキ装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US639766A (en) * 1898-03-17 1899-12-26 Lewis E Porter Apparatus for extracting precious metals from ores.
US2865831A (en) * 1955-12-06 1958-12-23 Ransohoff Inc N Electroplating machine
GB1204902A (en) * 1967-01-26 1970-09-09 Schering Ag Process for the electrolytic coating of articles of synthetic organic materials
US3582526A (en) * 1967-12-15 1971-06-01 Spectranome Plating Co Inc Electroplating barrel
US3650937A (en) * 1968-08-20 1972-03-21 Schering Ag Plating barrel assembly

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB631015A (en) * 1947-06-27 1949-10-25 Canning & Co Ltd W Improvements in or relating to electroplating apparatus
NL252756A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1959-06-20

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US639766A (en) * 1898-03-17 1899-12-26 Lewis E Porter Apparatus for extracting precious metals from ores.
US2865831A (en) * 1955-12-06 1958-12-23 Ransohoff Inc N Electroplating machine
GB1204902A (en) * 1967-01-26 1970-09-09 Schering Ag Process for the electrolytic coating of articles of synthetic organic materials
US3582526A (en) * 1967-12-15 1971-06-01 Spectranome Plating Co Inc Electroplating barrel
US3650937A (en) * 1968-08-20 1972-03-21 Schering Ag Plating barrel assembly

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4305804A (en) * 1980-05-07 1981-12-15 Harshaw Chemical Company Plating barrel contact
US4390399A (en) * 1980-11-24 1983-06-28 Mcinnes Robert Method and apparatus for plating articles
US4571291A (en) * 1984-08-20 1986-02-18 Alumatec, Inc. Apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal
US4736868A (en) * 1986-06-24 1988-04-12 Singleton Corporation Plating barrel door apparatus
US6402366B1 (en) * 1998-06-26 2002-06-11 Ernst Eichholzer Drum unit for receiving bulk material for surface treatment
US6675984B1 (en) * 2001-06-20 2004-01-13 Jessup Engineering, Inc. Metal finishing barrel cover locking system
US20040256220A1 (en) * 2003-06-18 2004-12-23 Yamamoto-Ms Co., Ltd. Plating barrel, barrel plating apparatus and drain equipment
US20100108527A1 (en) * 2007-04-19 2010-05-06 Ewald Dorken Ag Drum and method for coating workpieces with a non-metallic coating
US20210017664A1 (en) * 2019-07-18 2021-01-21 Tennessee Technological University Apparatus and process for producing coatings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2211541A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-07-19
DE2353592A1 (de) 1974-07-11
IT1010546B (it) 1977-01-20
DE2353592B2 (de) 1975-06-05
GB1415107A (en) 1975-11-26
FR2211541B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-03-24
JPS4997731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-09-17

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