Back to results
US 5,176,808 AGranted
High current density continuous wire plating cell
AssigneeGTE Products Corporation
InventorsTom E. Byler, Robert S. Orbanic, Kimberly J. Suchar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wire plating cell comprises an enclosed housing into which plating solution is pumped at a high velocity so as to create substantial fluid pressure therein. The plating cell contains a plurality of consumable anodes through which a wire passes axially and through which plating solution flows transversely. Current densities of at least 200 amps per square foot are obtained. Use of a highly concentrated plating solution in the cell results in high-speed, high quality wire plating. The invention particularly applies to the plating of nickel onto steel wire at current densities of up to 14,500 amps per square foot.
Claims16
A plating cell for the electroplating of wire, comprising:
- a) an enclosed electrically insulative housing divided into two reservoir supply chambers each containing an inlet opening at the top for forced introduction of plating solution therein, an outlet opening at the bottom for exit of said plating solution therethrough, and a wire passageway therein through which said wire moves;
- b) an anode containment unit which houses a plurality of consumable anode structures positioned at the bottom of each of said chambers, said anode structures at least partially surrounding said wire passageway and being connected to an external power source for supplying a positive electrical potential thereto and being aligned with said wire passageway such that said wire passes axially therethrough and said plating solution passes transversely therethrough;
- c) electrical contact means positioned external to said chambers and aligned with said wire passageway for contacting said wire and imparting a negative electrical potential thereupon;
- d) pumping means to inject said plating solution into each of said chambers to achieve a minimum pressure of 50 pounds per square inch therein, said plating solution passing transversely through said anode structures and around said wire;
- and
- e) recovery means for reheating and recycling said plating solution through said plating cell.
3 more elements
A plating cell for the electroplating of steel wire, comprising:
- a) an enclosed electrically insulative housing divided into two reservoir supply chambers each containing an inlet opening at the top for forced introduction of plating solution therein, an outlet opening at the bottom for exit of said plating solution therethrough, and a wire passageway therein through which said steel wire moves;
- b) an anode containment unit which houses a plurality of consumable anode structures positioned at the bottom of each of said chambers, said anode structures at least partially surrounding said wire passageway and being connected to an external power source for supplying a positive electrical potential thereto and being aligned with said wire passageway such that said steel wire passes axially therethrough and said plating solution passes transversely therethrough;
- c) electrical contact means positioned external to said chambers and aligned with said wire passageway for contacting said steel wire and imparting a negative electrical potential thereupon;
- d) pumping means to inject said plating solution into each of said chambers to achieve a minimum pressure of 50 pounds per square inch therein, said plating solution passing transversely through said anode structures and around said steel wire;
- and
- e) recovery means for reheating and recycling said plating solution through said plating cell.
3 more elements
A plating cell for the elecroplating of steel wire, comprising:
- a) an enclosed electrically insulative housing divided into two reservoir supply chambers each containing an inlet opening at the top for forced introduction of plating solution therein, said plating solution being a highly concentrated nickel fluoborate bath consisting essentially of nickel fluoborate and boric acid, said plating solution being pumped through said cell at a current density of at least 200 amps per square foot, an outlet opening at the bottom for exit of said plating solution therethrough, and a wire passageway therein through which said steel wire moves;
- b) an anode containment unit which houses a plurality of consumable anode structures positioned at the bottom of each of said chambers, said anode structures at least partially surrounding said wire passageway and being connected to an external power source for supplying a positive electrical potential thereto and being aligned with said wire passageway such that said steel wire passes axially therethrough and said plating solution passes transversely therethrough;
- c) electrical contact means positioned external to said chambers and aligned with said wire passageway for contacting said steel wire and imparting a negative electrical potential thereupon;
- d) pumping means to inject said plating solution into each of said chambers to achieve a minimum pressure of 50 pounds per square inch therein, said plating solution passing transversely through said anode structures and around said steel wire;
- and
- e) recovery means for reheating and recycling said plating solution through said plating cell.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.