US1873826A - Apparatus for the electrolytic deposition of metals - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1932. M. DEVECIS 1,873,826

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTiC DEPOSITION 0F METALS Filed May 14, 19:0 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 23, 1932. M. DEVECIS 1,373,826

APPARATUS THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION 0F METALS Filed May 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVN'TgR Aug. 23, 1932. I DEVECIS 1 ,873,82 6

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION OF METALS Filed May 14, 19250 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5.

} Fig.8.

W 1 J3 rec a Patented Aug. 23, 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICHAEL DEVECIS, or BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR 'ro SOCIETE woman: WALD- Bnne, or PARIS, FRANCE APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION OF METALS Application filed May 14, 1930, Serial No.

In a. previous application filed on 4th December 1929, Serial No. 411,663 in the name of Mr. Devecis, for: galvanizing process, is described a process adapted to improve the electrolytic deposition of metals, on small articles in bulk; this process essentially consists in causing a supplementary force to act, which force is capable of pressing the articles against a portion of the wall of the vessel in which they are treated, and thus to ensure a more efficient action of the current particularly when strong densities of current are necessary such as forexample in the case of the chromium electrolyte.

The apparatus forming the subject-matter of the present invention is adapted to carry the above process into practice. It is essentially characterized by the application of stationary magnets or electro-magnets in the vicinity of the rotating vessel containing the articles to be treated or by having such magnets rotate around the stationary vessel. These magnets or electro-magnets are so arranged as to attract from the outside the inside laying articles to the wall of the vessel.

These magnets or electro-magnets are also so arranged as to insure the displacement and the turning over of the articles. For that purpose, according to a first form of execution, the magnetic force is interrupted, in the case of permanent magnets, by removing the magnetic field of the vicinity of the vessel, while in the case of electro-magnets, the curdium of a contact which is automatically opened from time to time, thus interrupting the attraction and allowing the articles under treatment to alter their position. In a second form of execution, the magnets or electromagnets have dissymmetrically distributed polarities, or polar'surfaces of different sizes,

this ensuring the turning over of the articles,

. without the interruption of the current being necessary.

V The invention is characterized, moreover, by an anode movable according to the'axis of the vat, so that it can be immersed therein 1 or removed from the same, and which is provided with an electro-magnet. The latter is supplied with current at the time the 452,432, and in- Franee December 27, 1929. I

anode is removed from the vat, so that it draws along with it the finished articles. At the end of the stroke of the anode, the current is automatically cut oil, and the anode allows the articles to fall. The latter are received in a trough which is withdrawn during the operation, and which comes under the anode when the same is out of the vat. In a modification of the invention, the anode is pivoted on the carriage, so that this anode, once raised, can take a vertical position before the current is cut off at the upper electro-magnet. When the anode has taken a vertical position, the current is switched oil in its electro-magnet and the articles fall into a receptacle arranged on the side of the apparatus. I v

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a profile view of the apparatus.

Figs. 2 and 3 are two sections made respectively according to line AA Fig; 1.

Fig. 4 is a profile view of a modified view of execution.

Fig. 5 is a back view of 4.

Fig. 6 is a section of the electro-magnets placed under the vat.

Fig. 7 shows another modification of the electro-magnets.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the latter.

As illustrated in the drawing, Figs. 1 to 3, the apparatus comprises a frame a on WhlCh are mounted the various parts arranged according to a general axis X X, more or less inclined, this inclination being, in the example shown, of about 60. The articles are. treated in'a vat b constituting the cathode this vat has a nonmagnetic bottom, or is protected by a member made of nonmagnetic material, for instance a plate 2; the said vat, supported by a disc 0 which may be nonmagnetic in order to avoid the loss of magnetic energy, is held by a ring 0 On another ring a, or on the same ring 0 rubs a brush supplying the negative current.

This vat b can be made of metal, and in the case of sheet steel, it is provided with a nonmagnetic bottom, or lined-at the bottom with a member made of nonmagnetic material, as above stated. For avoiding any unnecessary consumption of current and any metallic deposit, the inner wall can be coated with an unattackable insulating material, such as glass, porcelain, earthenware, etc. For certain electrolytes, the vat can be lined with lead, wood, or it can be-made entirely of wood, or entirely of insulating material,

earthenware, etc. also lined at the bottom with a nonmagnetic plate acting as a cathode to which the electrolysis current is supplied by suitable means. The cathodes can also be arranged within the vat, all round it, and

connected to the ring I) The plate 0 is rigid with a shaft d on which is secureda pinion d gearing with a worm d which drives it.

The articles to be treated are pulled against the bottom by the electro-magnetic system, according to the essential principle of the invention. The said system may consist in an annular electro-magnet e arranged .beneath the vat, Fig. 1. If the vat is sufiiciently wide, it is desirable for obtaining a uniform field, to constitute the magnet by means of two or more annular concentric windings e e ,as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6; this-figure shows clearly the shape of the metal armature of this electromagnet which comprises several annular manner in the circuit of the electro-magnet.

When the conducting portion of the'disc f is in contact with the wiper, the current passes. When, on the contrary, the insulatmg portion 7 is in contact with the wiper,

the current is cut off. It results therefrom,

that, during a certain time, the articlesare drawn against the bottom of the vat, this allowing the electrolysis current to pass through them. When they are released the rotary movement ofthe v'at stirs the said articles, owing 'to the inclination'of this vat. The'duration of theinterruption'may be adjustable.

a cam, or the like.

The arrangement which has just been described allows to carry out a first method of operation. of the electromagnetic system.

The invention comprises a second method of operation which is particularly characteristic. Under the vat. are arranged several It suflices to vary the time during which the wiper does not touch the conducting portion by any suitable means, such as polar masses, for instance four in number (Fig. 7), care being to form a dissymetrical distribution of the polarities. In fact, a polar distribution such that, by'following the contour of the circumference of the vat, the.

combination NSNS or NNSS is found, tends to hold the articles in a fixed position w thout rocking movement of the said articles.

Such combinations are suitable only for thefirst method of operation above described.

For obtaining the turning over of the articles, particularly in the case of fiat members, combinations such as NNNS or SSSN are necessary. i

Generally speaking, for the latter purpose, the magnetic poles must have one polar surface larger than the other, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, or the reverse arrangement, the south pole being the most extended.

With this arrangement of the poles, the

displacement and turning over of the articles in the vat take place without having to out ofi the current at intervals, even for fiat articles.

The same vat can Work according to either of both methods of operation, by adjusting i the cam of the switch for giving it a predetermined value, or a zero value.

In case it is desired to carry out the first methodof operation with the system of electro-magnets of Fig. 7, it is necessary to arrange under the vat a magnetic steel or sheet metal plate which creates a partial magnetic short circuit, or to connect the electro-magnets so as to come back to the first method of operation, with an arrangement of poles such as NSNS or NNSS. 1

The application of this plate under the vat, or the modification of the connection are. useful for .certain works, particularly for the treatment of long articles.

Whatever may be the arrangement of theelectro-magnet, 'it is surrounded by a nonmagnetic sheath, for instance formed of lead,

for protecting it against any damage by pro- I jections of electrolyte.

The anode is constituted by a metal member hprovided with an electro-magnet i;

the Whole is protected by a le'ad jacket or 3 casing j which does not present any remanent magnetism. a

This anode is carried by a carriage 70 Capeble of sliding ona rail 1. This movable structure is balanced by acounterweight m bearing on rollers.

On the carriage is arranged a contact 1', (Fig. 1) whichcan slide on a rail 0. This contact is inserted in the circuit of the electro-magnet z. At the end of its upstroke, the contact it engages with a small plate p, madeof insulating material, this opening the circuit. 7 o On the anode is secured a thermometer 4 (Fig. .4), with an indicating dial 5 which allows to know at any moment the temperature of the bath.

In the arrangement of Figs. 4 and 5, the anode is rendered rigid through an arm 6, with the carriage k. This carriage runs on rails Z. It is provided with two upper rollers 7 wider than the lower rollers 8 (Fig. 2). The rails are provided with notches 9, into which can enter the lower rollers, but not theupper rollers. Opposite the notches are arranged guides 10 (Fig. 4).

The circuit of the elect'ro-magnet i is completed by means of two brushes 1:}, n on conducting railso? and 0 (Fig. 5), connected to the positive pole and to thenegative pole. At the end of the stroke, when the anode has .been raised and has moved away by rocking, the current is cut ofl by the passage of one of the wipers on a plate made of insulatmg material.

The carriage lc carries another brush 11,

which comes in contact with an end of the conducting rail 12 connected to the positive pole when the anode has completely lowered. These contacts supply the electrolysis current which is cut off as soon as the anode begins to rise.

An adjustable abutment 13 stops the carriage in its downward movement, this adjusting the depth to which the anode is immersed.

In order to avoid that at the time the anode is introduced into the vat the over-flow pours out, the vat is provided with a kind of ledge or trough u through which the excess of liquid is led to an overflow orifice v (Fig. 1).

This device allows of introducing into the vat 1n a contlnuous'manner, for instance by means of a pump, cold liquid which renews the electrolyte and cools it, issues through the overflow orifice and returnsto a-tank from which it is sucked again by the pump.

This liquid can be contained in a tank 14 '(Fig. 4) provided with a double casing 15 in the which hot water or cold water may be caused ,to circulate, according as it is desired to raise or lower the temperature. Heating means can be provided for reheating this water.

On the troughm may be placed a (nonrepresented) arrangement, viz: a pipe connected with a ventilator with the object of exhausting the fumes of the electrolyte'during the work.

The ventilator, the pump and the apparatus may be worked by one single motor.

The operation is as follows:

When the articles to be treated have been placed in the vat b the anode, is introduced therein by acting on the carriage 1a. For that purpose, a hand wheel can be rigidly secured on the shaft, 9, or can be arranged in any other manner. .The negative current is supplied to the vat and the positive current to the anode. Moreover, the current is sent in the lower electro-magnet e.

For remedying the inconvenience consisting in that the deposit tends to take place on one face only of the articles to be treated, the electrolysis current is reversed at the end of va given time, after having cut oil the current at the lower electro-magent and after sending thecurrent to the magnet of the anode, so as to lift the articles.

Once the operation is finished, theelectrolysis current is cut off by means of any circuitbreaker, then the current is cut oil at the lower electro-magnet e and is sent to the upper electro-magnet z'. The anode h is then raised. The later draws along with it the articles treated. At the time the contact 11. comes on to the insulating plate 1), the current of the upper electro-magnet i is automatically cut oil. In the case of Fig. 1, the articles then fall in a trough 1' which has come to the position indicated in full lines, whilst, during the opening of the vat. At the end of the stroke, the current of the electromagnet z is cut off, the anode, which has drawn'alon the articles with it, immediately. releases t em, and the said articles fall into' a hopper provided with a screen, or other suitable receptacle.

It'is obvious that the improved apparatus can be devised according to other forms of construction. Thus, the vat can be fixed and the electro-m'agnet e can be movable.

These electro-magnets instead of being I underneath the vat, can be arranged around the latter.

'In the case of the second'met-hod of operation, it is not necessary that the vat should be inclined, as it can also be vertical.

The arrangements above described are given by way of example only, all the details of construction, the forms, materials and dimensions can be varied without departing thereby from the scope of the invention.

Claims 1'. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, and means to-impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system.

2. In an apparatus for. the electrodeposi- -tion of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic sys,

.tem in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to beplated, a non-magnetic sheet forming the bottom of the vessel.

3. In an apparatus for the electrodeposi- -tion of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the system and to regulate the time during which the current is cut off.

5. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, and a cam adapted to periodically cut off the current to the cathode electromagnets.

V 6. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated,

this electromagnetic system having poles of dissymetrical polarities, and means adapted to impart a relative movement of said vessel and said poles.

7. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, this electromagnetic system having poles of dissymetrical polarities, and means adapted to suitably modify the polarities of the electromagnetic system.

8. In an apparatus for the electrodepositlon of metals, a vessel adapted to contain .the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, this electromagnetic system having poles of dis- ;symetrical polarities, a plate of metal creatmg a partialmagnet short-circuit.

9. Inan apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, a movable anode provided with an electro-magnet by means of which the articles are removed from the vat simultaneously with the anode.

10. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, an arrangement to reverse the electrolysis current in order to produce the deposition of metal on the surface of the articles not yet treated.

11. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, means adapted to give to the anodean upward movement and a movement of inclination in order to draw articles and deposit them into a receptacle near the vessel.

12. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in. close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, a movable anode, an anode-supporting carri age and guide means therefor for allowing the anode to move away from the vat at the end of the upward stroke.

13. In an apparatus for the electrodepositionof metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, a movable anode, an anode-supporting carriage, rollers" on said carriage, rails forming a track for the rollers, passages in the rails, the width of the upper rollers being greater than that of the lower rollers, permitting the latter alone to pass in the entrances of the rails causing the anode to rock.

14. In an apparatus forthe electrodeposi- L.

tion of metals,-a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic sys tem in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system and means for automatically switching on the electrolysis current when theanode is lowered in the vat, and cutting it off as soon as the anode rises.

tion of metals, a vessel adapted-to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic system in close contact with the body of this vessel and facing the articles to be ing carriage, an adjustable abutment limiting the strokeof the carriage and thus determin- 15. In an apparatus for the electrodeposiing the depth of the immersion of the anode.

16. In an apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals, a vessel adapted to contain the articles to be plated, an electromagnetic s stem in close contact with the body of t is vessel, and facing the articles to be plated, means to impart a relative movement to said vessel and electromagnetic system, a vat with a trough adapted to avoid the overflow of the liquid and permitting the circulation of same with the object of renewing and cooling the electrolyte. MICHAEL DEVECIS.

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