Electroplating device & process
AssigneeHardwood Line Manufacturing Co.
InventorsAnton E. Lazaro, William Yates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for electroplating that has an electrolyte continually circulating through a rotating plating barrel along with its parts to be plated by having a nozzle spray means with perforation on an elongated perforated tube that is positioned above the center of a barrel, whereby the spray means barrel is provided with recirculated electrolyte by means of a pump recirculating electrolyte from a plating tank to the elongated perforations while the barrel is rotating, so that the parts are agitated and greater speed and efficiency of the plating process can be achieved.
Claims22
An apparatus for providing a spray of a recirculated electrolyte fluid from a source onto a plurality of parts that are disposed within a rotatable plating barrel that agitates the parts by its rotation comprising:
- a tank adapted to receive and cooperate with the plating barrel in removable engagement;
- spray means extending within said plating barrel for spraying the parts with electrolyte, said spray means mounted eccentrically with respect to a central axis of said plating barrel a predetermined distance above the central axis and said parts;
- and
- at least one hub means in communication with said spray means and with the source of the fluid for directing the fluid under pressure from the source to said spray means;
- whereby enhanced and more efficient electroplating of parts can be accomplished.
A method of spraying a plurality of parts to be plated in a plating barrel that is operatively associated with a plating tank containing electrolyte, said barrel including a perforated spray means that sprays electrolyte on the parts below said spray where the barrel can be moved to removably associate it with a source of electrolyte under pressure comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving the electroplating barrel into a position where it is removably coupled with the source of electrolyte under pressure;
- (b) agitating the parts to be plated in the plating barrel by rotating the plating barrel;
- (c) spraying the parts with said electrolyte through the perforated spray means from a fixed position within the plating barrel above the parts and central axis of the plating barrel while said barrel, rotates whereby more efficient electroplating is accomplished.
An apparatus for providing a spray of a recirculated electrolyte fluid from a source onto a plurality of parts that are disposed within a rotatable plating barrel that agitates the parts by its rotation comprising:
- a tank adapted to receive and cooperate with the plating barrel in removable engagement;
- spray means extending within said plating barrel for spraying parts below it with electrolyte;
- at least one stationary hub means having a portion in selective communication with said fluid source and having journalling means for enabling said plating barrel to rotate while said spray means is mounted on said hub means and remains stationary,
- a pair of coupling members, one of said coupling members being associated with said hub member of the barrel and extending from said barrel at a fixed location, the other of said coupling members being positioned in communication with the source of fluid for directing the fluid under pressure to said spray means when said coupling members are in engagement with each other at a fixed location to achieve enhanced and more efficient electroplating of parts.
A method of spraying a plurality of parts to be plated in a plating barrel that is operatively associated with a plating tank containing electrolyte, said barrel including a perforated spray means that sprays electrolyte on the parts below said spray where the barrel can be moved to removably associate it with a source of electrolyte under pressure and can be rotated while the hub thereof remains stationary by a coupling device wherein at least one of the coupling members is associated with said barrel and extending therefrom in a fixed location with respect to said barrel, the other of said coupling members is located at a fixed position to enable removable engagement with said other coupling member, comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving the electroplating barrel into a position where it is removably coupled with the source of electrolyte under pressure;
- (b) agitating the parts to be plated in the plating barrel by rotating the plating barrel;
- and
- (c) spraying the parts with said electrolyte through the perforated spray means from a fixed position above said parts within the plating barrel while said barrel agitates the parts whereby more efficient electroplating is accomplished.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.