US 4,229,279 AGranted

Electroplating electrode and method of mounting an article to be plated thereon

AssigneeSilver Engineering Works, Inc.

InventorsFrank B. Price, Mathieu J. Vertenstein

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Abstract

This invention relates to an electroplating electrode characterized by a drum having a longitudinally-extending groove therein that constitutes the groove of a first tongue and groove connector, the tongue of which comprises a second tongue and groove connector adapted for insertion into the groove of the first. The invention also encompasses the method of mounting an article to be plated on the drum of such an electrode which includes the steps of preshaping the article to define a drum-encircling portion thereof bearing a precise predetermined dimensional relationship to the outer circumference of the drum, clamping the edges of said article bordering said drum-encircling portion in the second of the two tongue and groove connectors to establish a continuous current path therearound, placing the endless loop thus formed around the drum of the electrode and depressing the tongue of the first tongue and groove connector defined by the second into the groove of the first to bring that drum-encircling portion of the article to be plated into intimate conductive contact.

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a drum-like electrode for use as a mandrel to support a sheet material wrapped therearound when being electroplated:

a first channel-shaped element having a longitudinally-extending groove therein;
a first tongue-forming element adapted for insertion into the groove in the first channel-shaped element;
and first fastener means connecting the first channel-shaped element and first tongue-forming element together to form a first clamp subassembly effective to fasten the ends of the article to be plated together and cooperate therewith to define an endless electrically-conductive loop;
a hollow cylindrical shell of electrically-conductive material sized for insertion into the endless loop defined by the article to be plated and the first clamp subassembly, said shell having a longitudinally-extending slit therein of a width substantially greater than that of the first clamp subassembly;
a second channel-shaped element having a longitudinally-extending groove therein sized to receive the first clamp subassembly, said second channel-shaped element being fastened in bridging relation across the slit in the shell with its groove facing outwardly;
second fastener means connected between the first clamp subassembly and the second channel-shaped element operative upon actuation to draw the former down into the groove in the latter so as to tighten the article to be plated snugly against the surface of the shell;
and means within the hollow interior of the shell effective to conduct an electrical current thereto upon connection to a source of electrical energy.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.