Method for treatment of elongated flexible material

Abstract

A method for treating elongated flexible material such as metallic strips, wire and tubes in a processing container holding a treatment fluid for treatment of the material chemically, electrolytically, by pickling, deposition and similar processes, provides for the steps of: coiling the material; imparting the coiled material the shape of a helix having a plurality of loops; causing at least a partial immersion of the loops of the helix in the treatment fluid; advancing the helix in the said container at an advance speed; controlling the entry speeds of the helix relative to a predetermined speed withdrawal of the helix from the container. In a preferred and more efficient mode of treatment, the inlet speed of the helix exceeds the exit speed with a consequent slow and progressive increase of the length of the helix immersed in the treatment fluid at a time in a first phase of the operation. In an additional improvement of the process in a second phase the inlet speed of the helix is temporarily lowered for restoring the initial length of the helix. Optimum speed limits are identified. The progress of the loops within the container is subjected to momentary stops to control also the size of the loops. The helix is imparted forward and backward directed wave patterns of controllable amplitudes, durations and directions, resulting in optimum desirable treatment fluid exposures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.