Apparatus for the galvanic deposition of aluminum
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsKlaus Stoeger, Siegfried Birkle, Johann Gehring
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for the galvanic deposition of aluminum from aprotic organo-aluminum electrolytes free from oxygen and water wherein it is not necessary to remove a galvanizing drum from its associated galvanizing tank in order to load and unload work pieces being galvanized from the drum.
Claims16
Apparatus for the galvanic deposition of aluminum onto work pieces from an aprotic, organo-aluminum electrolyte which is free of oxygen and water, comprising:
- a heatable, gas-tight galvanizing tank;
- a rotatable galvanizing drum mounted inside said galvanizing tank, including mounting means therefore;
- means for supplying said galvanizing tank with an inert gas;
- an electrolyte feed container and associated conduit means for supplying electrolyte to said galvanizing tank;
- a pair of further containers each for the storage of inert fluid;
- first airlock means associated with said galvanizing tank;
- transport means for conveying said work pieces into the interior of said galvanizing tank via said first airlock means;
- a discharge container;
- means for supplying said discharge container with inert fluid;
- said discharge container being arranged gravitationally below galvanizing tank;
- and
- second airlock means interconnecting said discharge container to said galvanizing drum and adapted for passage therethrough of said work pieces after galvanization.
Apparatus for the galvanic deposition of aluminum onto work pieces from an aprotic organo-aluminum electrolyte free from oxygen and water comprising:
- (A) a fluid-tight galvanizing tank;
- (B) a galvanizing drum rotatably mounted within said tank, including mounting means therefore, said galvanizing drum having hatch means provided in a wall portion thereof;
- (C) transport means for conveying such work pieces to said tank;
- (D) airlock means associated with said tank for entrance of such work pieces into said tank from said transport means;
- (E) operating means for opening and closing said hatch means from a location exterior of said tank;
- (F) a discharge container located gravitationally below said tank including an interconnecting duct means and valve means for closing said duct means;
- (G) said hatch means being alignable with said airlock means for receipt into said drum of such work pieces charged through said airlock means from said transport means and said hatch means further being alignable with said interconnecting duct means for receipt into said interconnecting duct means of such work pieces from said galvanizing drum after aluminization thereof;
- (H) a powerhead for rotatably driving said galvanizing drum exteriorly located relative to said tank;
- (I) means for supplying to and taking from, said tank inert fluid to remove air and moisture therefrom and to keep such substances out of said tank;
- (J) reservoir means for such an electrolyte and including conveyance means for charging such electrolyte to and for removing such electrolyte from said tank and said drum therein;
- and
- (K) anode and cathode means for passing an electric current through such electrolyte in said drum for electrolytically depositing aluminum from said electrolyte on such work pieces which said drum is rotating.
A process for the galvanic deposition of aluminum onto pieces from an aprotic organo-aluminum electrolyte free from oxygen and water comprising the steps of sequentially:
- (A) charging such work pieces into a rotatably mounted drum positioned in a fluid tight treatment zone, said drum having a hatch through which such work pieces are so charged;
- (B) closing said hatch from a location which is exterior relative to said zone;
- (C) flushing said zone and its contents with inert fluid to remove oxygen and water therefrom;
- (D) charging such electrolyte to said zone in an amount sufficient to immerse a functional portion of said drum;
- (E) rotating said drum and concurrently passing an electric current through said electrolyte to electrolytically deposit aluminum onto said work pieces;
- (F) removing such electrolyte from said zone;
- (G) opening said hatch from said location;
- and
- (H) removing such aluminized work pieces from said drum through said treatment zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.