US889103A - Holder for electroplating. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 26, 1'908.

W. Y.- BUCK. HOLDER POR ELEGTROPLATING.

APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.25,1907.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM Y. BUCK, OF MUNCIE,` INDIANA.

HOLDER. For. ELECTROPLATING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented May 2'6, 1908.

Application filed September 25, 1907. Serial No. 394,494.

This invention relates in general to thatv method of electroplating which consists in' holding between two anodes in an electrolytic bath separate pieces of work, `facing toward and near each other, and in passing ourrent from the anodes through the plating solution to the work, while held inthat position; 'and' relates in particular to apparatus which is used in electro lating by that method for the purpose o4 holding, inthe plating solution, spoons, forks and other articles of fiat ware, which are to be plated. un. equally upon opposite sides. f

, It is the object of the invention to facilitate the placing of such articles in their appropriate positions in such a holder; to hold those articles in their proper attitudes invariably, and without -d anger of turning or facing labout to promote an automatic return of the same to their predetermined positions,

whenever slightly displaced by accident; to

prevent markings upon the work, where it touches the holder; to diminish electrodepoi sition upon the holder, and at the same time to increase the inequality of deposit upon opposite sides of the work. `To accomplish these objects I incorporate 'in ythe holder an indeiinite number ofconnected and partly insulated wire loops, which'are of a peculiar pattern, and are peculiarly positioned. In the accompanying drawin s, Fi ure 1 is .an end elevation ofmy improve hol er, with ,spoons therein, all in workingposition in an c ectro lating vat. Fig. 2 is a pers ective view o the upper portion of the same older.

. Fig. 3 is a horlzontalse'ction .on line .of

Fig. 2. Fig.- ll-is a vertical section on the line y-'-y of Fig. 2. t

In these drawin s, a single loop, for asingle piece vof work, is `denoted by the numeral 1..

` lts-shown in Fig. 3, this loop consists .of two ar 'and curvilinear posite side 3 and the ends 4` are formed by wires, y2 and-3, which formits boundary, andv are twisted. together at each end of the loop to form its terminal connections. Being aproximately flat, it has the form ofan irreguvarallelogram, whereof one side 2 is formed y wire 2, while the opshown tipped o wire 3. Side 2 curves symmetrically a little outward near the middle, and side 3 a little inward, so that the opening between them, as seen from above, conforms rudely with the shape of the work, which is seen in cross-section in the same, Fig. 3. The ends of the loop are rounded out Yin the middle, so that the opening between them is longest between the points which are indicated by the numerals 4. Wire Sis preferably of steel, while wire 2 is either madeof n'onconductive material or thoroughly insulated' with a covering of that character.. Wire 3 yis similarly' msulated. 1n those portions only which form no part ofthe loo s. i

xcepting the loops and 'wires 1, 2 and 3, the .frame of the holder consists'of a (pair of vertical side bars 6,v which are unite by an arched handle 5, and are provided, atv ldifferent levels, with. pairs of horizontal'and parallel cross-bars 7, all formed of coarse and electrically conductive wire, preferably` of steel. In the side barsl of this frame 'are formed two hooks, or bends, 8, by which'the device may be suspended in the usual manner. At these points of support, the frame is provided with copy er contact ieces, which f I are applied to the ame in the orm of closeiitting sleeves, before bends 8 .are formed'. Below these points of support, the side bars 6 and the cross-bars Y are insulated with a coat# ing of vulcanized rubber, porcelain, or other noncoriductive material, which will protect the coatedsurfaces from all deposit, and will receive no deposit upon itself.

` The cross-bars 7 of each pair are connected by two paralleland duplicate chains of loops 1, the latter being formed of wires 2' `andy 3 as described, and being connected with each other by intermediate portions 9 f thesame wires, twisted together, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of these chains are soldered -to the ends of cross-bars 7 the loops 1 being laced in inclined positions, as s own in where the front 1tportion of the loops is plainly liquely downward. In Fig. 1 the numerals 10 denote the side walls of a vat, containing a platin solution 11, inwhich the work 1s sus en ed. The anod-'es 12, being plates of si ver or other -metal, are submer ed` in the solution at a little distance from t e work, on o posite sides )of the holder, being supported y hooks' 13, Awhich are in electrical contact with a co per strap 14, representing the positive pole o the current generator.

In the operation of my invention, the work, which is represented by spoons 15, is placed in position in the holder in the following manner: Thehandles 16 of the spoons are first inserted from above in the several loo s 1, and are `permitted to descend therein till sto pedbycontact ofthe s oon bowls 17 wit the end wires 4 of those oo s; then, being aided or. propelled by gravitation, and being guided by t 'e bulging and sloping ends 4 of the loo s, the spoons 15, either lautomatically, or aided1 by alittle shaking of the apparatus by hand, settle down into the pre'- cise position which is indicated in the drawings. In that position they seek to remain, and to that position they' tend to return in the same manner, as often as they are disturbed. Resting or swinging in Vthat position, they are severally supportedin their respective loops by edge contacts only, as shown in F ig. 3, and hence receive no wire marks while being plated'.

In each loop 1, the back wire 4, being bent outward, leaves ample room for the accommodation of bowl 17, as it swings in the motion of the vat; and, being insulated, leaves the solution wholly unimpoverished, where it comes in contact with the back ofthe work;

` at the same time, the front of the loo being bent inward as described, prevents t e work from turning or facing about; and theloop ends 4, being divergent, curved and sloping, as described, not only throw the work forward into theposition indicated in the drawings, but also prevent the same from catching and binding in the corners of the 1005s, Where the wires 3 and 4 come together. n the same holder, the deposit, being limited to a portion of each loop, is practically equal only to the insignificant deposit laid on the Work 4during'the loading and unloading of the vat', and hence may be entirely disregarded; so that the weight of metal deposited on the Work, may be determined at any time from the weight of the holder and work together, as observed before and after exposure in the plating solution.

I claim as my invention` 1. In a holder for electroplating, a pair of insulated conductive bars, which are provided with al connecting handle and with suspensory hooks, in combination with a pair of insulated, parallel and normally horizontal cross-bars, which are rigidly and conductively united with said conductive bars respectively, and a number of work-engaging loops, which are formed by and between two wires, namely: an insulated or non-conductive back wire, bent outward from the middle of each loop, and an exposed conductive front Wire, bent inward atthe front of each loo and bent divergently outward at` the en s of each loop, said wlres being twisted together between said loops, 'and said loops being arranged in duplicate, parallel and inclined chains, connecting said crossbars.

2. In a holder for electroplating, a pair of insulated side bars, which are united by a handle, and are pr'ovided with conductive hooks, in combination vwith two conductive and insulated crossbars, which are sepa.

rately united with said side bars respectively, and work-engaging loops, which are severally formed by and between two wires, viz.: an insulated or non-conductive back wire, bent outward from the middle of each loop, and an exposed conductive front wire, bent inward at the front of each loop, and bent outward at the ends of each loop, said loops being connected by said wires, twisted together, and being arranged in duplicate chains, connecting said cross-bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name in the presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM Y. BUCK. Witnesses:

LAURANGE MILLER, LN. BUsKINs.

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