Spouted bed apparatus for contacting objects with a fluid

An apparatus for electrolytically treating a plurality of objects with an electrolytic fluid while immersed in said fluid, said objects being at least partially electrically conductive and said apparatus comprising:

• a vessel having at least one bottom wall inclined downwardly from at least one sidewall toward a fluid inlet arranged to provide an upwardly directed stream of said fluid for causing said objects to flow upward from a feed position adjacent to said inlet to a disengaging position at which said objects are disengaged from said stream and from which said disengaged objects are deposited on an upper portion of said bottom wall, said bottom wall being arranged to cause a bed of said objects to move downwardly along said bottom wall away from the upper portion thereof toward said feed position;
• an electrode positioned to contact said moving bed and a counterelectrode positioned to contact said fluid;
• pump means for conveying said fluid from a container to said vessel inlet;
• control valve means for controlling the flow of fluid from said container to said vessel inlet;
• and
• a frame for engaging said container and supporting thereon said vessel, said pump means and said valve means to provide a portable unit for transfer between a plurality of containers.

An apparatus for contacting a plurality of objects with a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a vessel having at least one bottom wall inclined downwardly from at least one sidewall toward a fluid inlet arranged to provide an upwardly directed stream of said fluid for causing said objects to flow upward from a feed position adjacent to said inlet to a disengaging position at which said objects are disengaged from said stream;
• a distribution shield mounted in said vessel and having an upper surface inclined downwardly and extending away from the vicinity of said disengaging position to a return position such that said disengaged objects fall on the upper surface of said distribution shield and move downwardly thereon away from said disengaging position to said return position, said return position being arranged above an upper portion of said inclined bottom wall to deposit said disengaged objects onto the upper portion of said inclined bottom wall, and said inclined bottom wall being arranged to cause a bed of said deposited objects to move downward along said inclined bottom wall from the upper portion toward said feed position;
• and,
• an electrode arranged to contact said moving bed and a counterelectrode arranged to contact said fluid, said fluid being a liquid electrolyte comprising a metal for coating said objects and said objects being at least partially electrically conductive.

An apparatus for contacting a plurality of objects with a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a vessel having at least one bottom wall inclined downwardly from at least one sidewall toward a fluid inlet arranged to provide an upwardly directed stream of said fluid for causing said objects to flow upward to a disengaging position from a feed position adjacent to said inlet;
• a deflecting member located in the vicinity of said disengaging position for intercepting and disengaging said upwardly flowing objects from said fluid stream;
• and,
• a distribution shield mounted in said vessel and having an upper surface inclined downwardly and extending away from the vicinity of said disengaging position to a return position such that said disengaged objects fall on the upper surface of said distribution shield and move downwardly thereon away from said disengaging position to said return position, said return position being arranged above an upper portion of said inclined bottom wall to deposit said disengaged objects onto the upper portion of said inclined bottom wall, and said inclined bottom wall being arranged to cause a bed of said deposited objects to move downward along said inclined bottom wall from the upper portion toward said feed position.