US3776186A

US3776186A - System for wet impact plating

Info

Publication number: US3776186A
Application number: US00256191A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Coch
Original assignee: Waldes Kohinoor Inc
Current assignee: Mcgean Rohco Inc
Priority date: 1970-07-08
Filing date: 1972-05-23
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

A system for wet impact plating of metal parts utilizing single tumbling barrel for independent parts rinsing and impacting operations respectively when interchangeable, smaller perforate and imperforate barrel doors are secured to a larger door of the barrel. Rinsing water is supplied to the barrel while rotating with the perforate door in position. Water expenditure is thereby minimized and the rinsing effluent is thereby effectively separated from the impacting medium. A stationary bin with a screen for separating parts from the impacting medium and aqueous solutions is positioned beneath the barrel. Communicating with the bin in selectively operable relationship is a venturi eductor which, together with a pump communicating with a water storage tank, is operable to rapidly transfer the impacting medium to a hopper positioned over the barrel for reuse while generating sufficient turbulence to tend to cleanse the impacting medium of spent plating material and promoter chemicals. These spent materials pass, with overflow water, through an overflow strainer in the hopper to the water storage tank where they settle and are subsequently removed. Substantially all water is thereby recovered and reused, and the frequency of impacting medium rectification is materially lessened. Two separate charges of impacting medium are used in the system, and several tumbling barrel units may be supported by a single water storage tank where the water level and temperature are controlled.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Coch [ SYSTEM FOR WET IMPACT PLATING [75] Inventor: Lester Coch, Northport, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Waldes Kohinoor Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 256,191

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 53,123, July 8, 1970, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 118/603, 118/418, 209/268 [51] Int. Cl. B05c 3/08 [58] Field of Search 118/19, 418, 603,

Primary Examiner--Morris Kaplan AttorneyPeter H. Smolka Dec. 4, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A system for wet impact plating of metal parts utilizing single tumbling barrel for independent parts rinsing and impacting operations respectively when inter changeable, smaller perforate and imperforate barrel doors are secured to a larger door of the barrel. Rinsing water is supplied to the barrel while rotating with the perforate door in position. Water expenditure is thereby minimized and the rinsing effluent is thereby efi'ectively separated from the impacting medium. A stationary bin with a screen for separating parts from the impacting medium and aqueous solutions is positioned beneath the barrel. Communicating with the bin in selectively operable relationship is a venturi eductor which, together with a pump communicating with a water storage tank, is operable to rapidly transfer the impacting medium to a hopper positioned over the barrel for reuse while generating sufficient turbulence to tend to cleanse the impacting medium of spent plating material and promoter chemicals. These spent materials pass, with overflow water, through an overflow strainer in the hopper to the water storage tank where they settle and are subsequently removed. Substantially all water is thereby recovered and reused, and the frequency of impacting medium rectification is materially lessened. Two separate charges of impacting medium are used in the system, and several tumbling barrel units may be supported by a single water storage tank where the water level and temperature are controlled.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HEB 4197a SHEET 1 UF 2 HUI I nor FIG. 3

SYSTEM FOR WET IMPACT PLATING This is a continuation, division of application Ser. No. 53,123, filed July 8, 1970 and now U. S. Pat. No. 3,690,935.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to wet impact plating of metal parts. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved system for wet impact plating of such parts.

It has been common for many years to provide a base metal with a bright and permanently adhered metalliccoating through wet mechanical plating processes. Such processes generally involve the utilization of metal dust particles th'atare cold welded to the base metal by impacting against its surfaces. An impacting medium placed with theparticles in an agitated container, with or without promoterchemicals to aid in th e platin process, andjmm'ersed irgaliquid carrier as a pre-treating and plating barrel, the other, a

generally sieve-like unit, functioning as a separating drum. Parts to be plated may be cleansed in the first container or barrel into which a chemical solution is placed. The parts are then plated in the same barrel.

Transfer of the barrel contents to the separating drum is followed by rotation of that drum.

The drum is speciallyconstructed so that rotation in one direction tumbles the load, with liquid and small particles falling through perforations in the drum. Opposite rotation discharges the parts from the drum; Water may be added for cleansing purposes and to aid in the separation. The entire drum contents passing through the perforations are collected in a pan and then transferred to the first container, or barrel, for further use. I

Although such systems may be adequate for some purposes, their use may sometimes prove undesirable for a number of reasons. For example, cleansing and impact plating of the parts in the same solid barrel may result in unnecessary attrition of the impacting medium or in the need for substantial fresh water rinsing and ensuing effluent disposal. During a cleansing operation in the solid barrel, corrosion, scale and carbon smut, etc. is often removed from the parts to be plated. In the absence of some special steps taken for complete removal of these elements from the barrel p'riorto the plating ing rinsing cycles is provided. Although this chute may permit disposal of the rinsing effluent prior to plating, the use of substantial fresh water is required for rinsing since the rinse water must be spilled or overflowed out of the barrel into the chute.

It would, therefore, be highly desirable to rovide a I wet impact plating system whereinclea'nsing and this ing are accomplished. prior to plating while minimizing the amount of rinse water required and insuring separation of the rinse water andreffluent from theparts prior to plating. e o

A particularly significant disadvantage of the. prior proposed system involved the reuseof the impacting medium transferred to the-plating barrel from the pan beneath the separating drum. Since spent plating material and promoter-chemicals are present in the mass of material so transferred, and since these spent materials become present in increasing amounts during subsequent cycles, the length of time between periods of needed rectification of the impacting medium may be extremely short. Since the quantity of impacting medium utilized is generally disporoportionally great in relation. to the quantity of parts plated, the requirement of frequent rectification may make commercial plating operations impractical.

Moreover, even the water utilized in the prior system totransfer the impacting medium to the barrel for reuse were drained off prior to a plating operation, the spent materials may not be effectively removed and, at any rate, drainage may significantly increase the amount 'offresh water utilized.

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a wet impact plating system wherein the frequency of impact medium recitification is reduced through separation of spent materials therefrom. It would also be desirable to incorporate a water recovery and reuse mechanism in the system so as to minimize fresh water expenditure.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to. provide a system for wet impact plating of metal parts which obviates or minimizes disadvantages of the sorta' stiz ls ynoted:

It is a particular (Eject of the ifitzririoii to provide a system for wet impact plating of metal parts wherein the frequency of rectification of the impacting medium is substantially decreased.

It is a related object of the invention to provide such a system wherein efficient separation of spent materials from the impacting medium is involved and which may utilize alternately two charges of impacting medium in order to further decrease the frequency of impacting medium rectification.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for wet impact plating of metal parts wherein a water recovery and re-use mechanism is employed in the rapid transfer of the impacting medium for reuse while effectively separating the spent material from the impacting medium, both with virtually minimal fresh water expenditure and disposal of effluent.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system for wet impact plating of metal parts wherein separate and independent parts rinsing and impacting operations are performed in the same container with the rinsing operation involving minimal fresh water expenditure and'effluent disposal and insuring efficient separation of therinse water andv effluent from the parts prior to plating;

A preferred form of the invention intended to accomplish at least some of the foregoing objects comprises a system for wet impact plating of metal parts wherein a single tumbling barrel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis is utilized for independent parts cleansing, rinsing and impacting phases of the system operation. A rinsing valve communicates with means defining an opening in the barrel on the axis of rotation. A side opening extends longitudinally of the barrel between opposite ends, the barrel being otherwise imperforate. A large, imperforate door having an access opening is selectively securable to the barrel coextensively with the side opening thereof.

Selectively and interchangeably securable to the large, imperforate door coextensively with its access opening are a smaller perforate door and a smaller imperforate door. The perforate door is sized to retain the metal parts and the impacting medium utilized in the process while permitting aqueous solutions to pass through the perforations in the door. The smaller imperforate door, together with the larger imperforate door when both are secured in position, entirely blocks the side opening of the barrel.

A stationary bin is positioned beneath the barrel and supports a screen adjacent the bin top. The screen is sized to retain the plated parts and to pass the impacting medium and aqueous solutions. A venturi eductor communicates with the bottom of the bin in selectively operable relationship and a conduit provides communication between the venturi eductor and an overhead hopper positioned above the barrel. The bottom of the overhead hopper is provided with a valve selectively operable to permit the hopper contents to fall into the barrel.

In gravity feed communication between the top of the overhead hopper and a water storage tank is an overflow strainer, the strainer blocking passage of the impacting medium. A pump is provided for pumping water from the water storage tank through the venturi eductor and to the overhead hopper from which overflow water and suspended spent materials pass to the water storage tank. Several container systems may be supported by a single water storage tank, and the tank water level as well as its temperature are controlled.

In operation the metal parts to be plated are loaded into the tumbling barrel through the side opening thereof. The selectively operable valve, or pet cock, of the overhead hopper is opened to permit a charge of impacting medium settled at the bottom of the overhead hopper to drop into the barrel through its side opening. An amount of water in the overhead hopper, usually enough to cover the charge in the hopper, is also permitted to pass into the barrel with the impacting medium. The larger imperforate door is then secured in position on the barrel across its side opening.

Conventional cleansing chemicals are then added to the barrel through the access opening in the larger imperforate door. Upon securing of the smaller imperfor ate door to the larger imperforate door so as to block its access opening, the barrel is rotated about a generally horizontal axis for a time period sufficient to cleanse the parts. At the same time the cleansing chemicals will effect the cleansing of the impacting medium.

Thereafter the smaller imperforate door is replaced with the perforate .door. Used cleansing chemicals and dirty solution may be rinsed out by opening the rinsing, valve and admitting rinsing water to the barrel during rotation thereof. Thus a rolling rinse is accomplished with minimum water expenditure. During the time period of the rinsing cycle, the parts the impacting medium are retained in the barrel by the perforate door and the rinsing effluent comprised of the remaining barrel contents passes through theperforate door, through the screen adjacent the top of the bin'beneath the barrel, and into the bin. 1 l

Removal of the perforate door is followed by the addition of plating materials through the access opening 'in the larger imperforate door. Conventional promoter chemicals may also be added at this'time. Afterwards the smaller imperforate door is secured in position across the access opening of the larger imperforate door. i

The barrel is then rotated about the generally horiama a isj na imepsnqssymcism ai way plat the parts through the interaction of the impacting medium, the plating material and the parts. During this period, water which has been added to the barrel serves as a carrier for the plating material and as a mass lubricant whereby damage to the parts through abrasion and tangling'of the parts is minimized.

Following removal of the larger imperforate door from the tumbling barrel, the barrel contents are emptied onto the screen adjacent the top of the bin. The screen serves to separate the plated parts from the remaining barrel contents which pass into the bin through the screen. The parts may be hosed down at this time. Since the bin is generally sized to accommodate the volume of a single impacting medium charge utilized, virtually all of the rinsing effluent previously accumulated in the bin is displaced out of the bin.

After accumulation of the charge of impacting medium in the bin, water is pumped from the storage tank through the venturi eductor to hydraulically transfer the bin contents to the overhead hopper. During this time sufficient turbulence is generated so as to tend to cleanse the impacting medium of spent plating material, and promoter chemical if utilized. Overflow water is drained from the overhead hopper, with the spent material, to the water storage tank through the overflow strainer. The strainer retains the impacting medium in the hopper and the impacting medium then settles to the hopper bottom.

The spent material which is carried with the overflow water into the storage tank settles out, by reason of the turbulent free condition in that tank, and may be manually cleaned from the storage tank periodically.

In practice, a single storage tank may support a plurality of tumbling barrel systems, with the water level in the storage tank being maintained constant through a float valve. Make-up water supplied through the float valve to the storage tank may be thermostatically controlled to control the temperature of water in the system.

Throughout the operation the need for frequent impacting medium rectification is further minimized through the use of two impacting medium charges. One charge is present in the overhead hopper while the other remains in either the tumbling barrel or the bin. Prior to transfer of the one charge from the bin to the overhead hopper, the tumbling barrel is recharged with the impacting medium maintained in the hopper.

Other objects. and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

THE DRAWINGS sembly shown in FIG. 4, together with a pump utilized 1 to draw water from the tank assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Detailed Structure;

With reference now to FIG. 1, an overall system for. wet impact plating of metal parts accordingtto the. present invention may be understood.

The system includes a tumbling barrel '10 which is utilized for independent parts cleansing, rinsing-and impacting phases of the system operation. A conduit.

means 12 provides, through a valve means.l4(which2= for convenience is hereinaftertermed a rinsing valve) selective communication between .a source. of water and the barrel 10.

The water source may be providedinany convenient manner and for purposes of example is illustrated "as being provided by a water storage tank'l6; As hereinafter more fully described, this water storage tank'- 161-also serves to provide a source of water forconveyingan. impacting medium for reuse, and to provide a. portion of a water recovery system.

Positioned beneath the tumbling barrel 10. is a .sta-

tionary bin assembly 18; and an overhead hopper :20 is mounted above the tumbling barreLFora purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, the bin assembly 18 is in selectively operable communicationwith a venturi eductor 22, the eductor being incommunication with the hopper 20 through a suitable conduit means 24.

A pump 26 is provided for selectively pumping water from the water storage tank 16 through the venturi eductor 22 and to the overhead hopper-20. Suitable conduit means, such as thoseindicated at 28 and '30- provide for water flow respectivelyfrom :the. storage. tank 16to the pump 26 and fromthe pump-26'toward the. venturi eductor 22. A suitable valve means 32, for

.example a simple gate valve, is located in theqconduit':

means 30 for the purpose of selectively controllingthe supplyof water through the venturi eductor.

It will be appreciated thatthe overhead hopper 20 is also in fluid communication withthe water storage tank.

16, through gravity flow, by afurther. conduit means-- 34.v Thus, the supply of water to the hopper 20 'by means of the pump 26 need not, be controlled toagreat degree, since overflow into the storage tankul6'is per-.

'sions coextensive with the access opening 56 in the 0f thebarrel by gravity (see FIG. 1).

the storage tank 16. A suitable source of water schematically indicated at 38, supplies make-up water to the storage tank 16 through a conduit means 37 communicating with the float valve means 36 in order to maintain the water level in the storage tank substantially constant. The water at the make-up source 38 may be thermostatically controlled by suitable means 39 so as to ultimately, control the temperature of the water in the storage tank, and therefore in. the system.

Asindicated .at 40, an overflow conduit means may be provided to place the water storage tank 16in gravity feed relationship with a water disposal area (not shown)., It will beappreciated that the outlet from the storagetanklli into. the overflow conduit means 40 is located at ;a level adjacent the level of the float valve Withparticular-reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the particular, structure of the tumbling barrel l0, stationary binassembly l8 and overhead hopper 20 may be seen.

The tumbling barrel 10 is provided'with axle and.

bearing

assemblies

42 and 44 on opposite ends, thereof. Theseassemblies 42 and 44 mount the tumbling barrel 10.,for rotation about a generally horizontal axis indi- I cated at 45 andare supported on suitable frame members 46and 48 stationarily positioned on opposite sides of thegbarrel. Adjacent oneaxle and bearing assembly 44 'a suitable motormeans 50 may be provided for revolvingthe barrel 10 at selected times and at a desired adjustable rate. The axle of the other barrel axle and bearing assembly 42 is hollow and provides communication. between the barrel interior (through means defining .abarrel end opening at 51 located on the axis 45') and. the previously identified conduit means 12 in whichv the rinsing-valve 14 is located. It will be appreciated that when water issupplied to the barrel through that conduit means 12.-from the water storage tank 16' the level of connection of the conduit means to the water storage tank is elevated above the end opening of the barrel so as to permit water to flow to the interior Aside opening, indicated at 52, extends longitudinally-of thebarrel between opposite ends, and except for that opening and the barrel end-opening, the barrel 10 is otherwise imperforate. The side opening 52 is sufficiently large to permit easy access to the barrel interiorduring loading of the metal parts to be plated. A.

trated in FIG. 2 while theperforate door 62 is shown.

inthe schematic diagram of the overall system in FIG. 1. Each of these doors and 62 have overall-dimenlarge door 54. Again, suitable means 64 may be provided for releasably securingthe smaller doors 60 and 62 in position. When the small imperforate door 60 is securedin position, the barrel is substantially water tight. The small perforate door, however, is sized with a mesh sufficient to retain the metal parts and. the impacting-mediumutilized in the process while permitting aqueous solutions to pass through the perforations in the door.

It will be appreciated that the door arrangements thus far described function to selectively maintain a peripheral side portion of the barrel or container in a perforate or imperforate condition. Other arrangements that function to do the same may be employed if desired.

The previously identified stationary bin assembly 18 is positioned beneath the barrel between the

frame members

46 and 48 supporting the barrel. Adjacent the top of the bin assembly 18, a stationary screen 66 is mounted, with the screen extending entirely across the bin assembly 18. It will become apparent that the overall extent of the bin assembly should be at least commensurate with the longitudinal extent of the side opening 52 in the barrel 10 so that the barrel contents may be unloaded into the bin assembly merely by removing the large door 54 and rotating the barrel to a position wherein the side opening 52 overlies the screen 66.

The screen 66 is sized with a mesh sufficient to retain the plated parts while permitting the impacting medium and aqueous solutions to pass through. Since the bottom of the bin is sloped, as indicated at when the impacting medium is to be conveyed to the overhead hopper 20 through the utilization of the venturi eductor 22, the impacting medium readily passes down the sloped bottom. Communication between the lower portion of the bin assembly 18 and the venturi eductor 22 is provided in any suitable manner as shown at 70. Water supplied through the venturi eductor 22 creates a pressure differential which tends to draw the contents of the bin along with the water to the overhead hopper 20. For a purpose hereinafter described, the bin assem bly 18 is generally sized so as to be capable of holding substantially the exact volume of one charge of the impacting medium utilized in the system.

During hydraulic transfer of this charge of the impacting medium to the overhead hopper, sufficient turbulence is generated so as to tend to cleanse the impacting medium by removing spent plating material or promoter chemicals used in the process and which may have adhered to the particles of the impacting medium. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that such turbulence may be created by proper sizing of the conduit means 24 to which the impacting medium is transferred with the sizing taking into account such factors as the hydrostatic head available for transfer, the transfer time, etc.

When the impacting medium is transferred to the overhead hopper 20, excess water supplied overflows and passes from the overhead hopper back to the storage tank 16 through the previously identified return conduit means 34. The portion of the return conduit means 34 in communication with the hopper interior is located within a strainer 71. This strainer 71 is sized so as to have a mesh sufficient to retain the impacting medium in the hopper while permitting overflow water to hydraulically transfer suspended particles to the water storage tank 16. The retained impacting medium, of course, settles to the bottom of the hopper 20. At the hopper bottom, a selectively operable valve 72, or pet cock, is provided.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hopper 20 is supported by suitable strut assemblies 74 mounted on the

frame members

46 and 48 so that the pet cock 72 generally centrally located over the tumbling barrel 10. During the portion of the system cycle when the tumbling barrel 10 is to be supplied with a charge of the impacting medium, the tumbling barrel 10 is rotated to a position wherein its access opening 52 is directly beneath the pet cock 72.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, details of a suitable water storage and supply system may be seen. The previously identified water storage tank 16 is stationarily supported by suitable legs 76. Communicating with the top of the tank is the previously identified conduit means 34 which provide gravity return of overflow fluid'from the hopper 20. Two such conduit means 34 are illustrated since, in practice, a single water storage tank 16 may support several impacting medium handling units (i.e. barrel l0, overhead hopper 20 and bin assembly 18), and thus may communicate with the hoppers of each of these assemblies.

The previously identified pump 26 may be a high capacity, open impeller, centrifugal pump which at appropriate times, draws water from the storage tank 16 through the conduit means 28. Leading from the pump is the conduit means 30 for supplying water to the venturi eductor 22. Again two such conduit means 30 are illustrated insofar as water may be pumped to the eductors of the several impacting medium handling units supported by the single water storage tank 16. The supply of water by means of the centrifugal pump 26 may be controlled in any suitable manner with a conventional line pressure valve (not shown) being preferred so that upon manual opening of the gate valve 32 in the conduit means 30 the necessary water will be supplied to the eductor 22.

The condition of the water in the storage tank 16 is generally turbulent free so that the microscopic particles separated from the impacting medium and carried into the tank from the overhead hopper 20 tend to settle out. Periodically, these materials may be manually cleaned from the tank. It is readily apparent that access to the water storage tank 16 for this purpose may be had through the provision of any suitable door or the like.

It will thus be seen that by means of the return conduit means 34 and the pump 26 both being in communication with the water storage tank, the system of the present invention provides for water recovery and reuse, thereby minimizing water expenditure. That water which is supplied to the tumbling barrel through the conduit means 12 and which is lost as subsequently described, is minimal and is replenished through the make-up water conduit means 37 extending from the make-up water source 38.

OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM:

hopper 20 to drop into the barrel 10. At the same time water from the overhead hopper enters into the barrel. The amount of water usually utilized in this portion of the cycle is that sufi'icient to cover the charge within 9 hqba tlt th e t a m rewatathaajs a ai able from the hopper is needed, this water maybe supplied through manual operation of the rinsingvalve 14..

cured in position coextensively with theside opening- 52 of the barrel. This door 54 remainsin that position until the end of the process cycle.

The smaller imperforate door 60 which had been se-,

cured to the larger door during aprevious portionof the cycle, is then removed. Cleansing chemicals, which together with waterin the barrel form a cleansing solu: tion, are then added to the barrel .10 through the access opening 56 in the large door 54. These. cleansing chemicals are conventionally employedinimpact platingsystems and need not be described in detail. The small imperforate .door 60 is then secured again in position and the barrel is rotated about its generallyhorizontal.

may be removed during the processis, however; still present in the barrel. I I 7 Therefore, after the cleansing phase of the cycle, the imperforate door is replaced by the perforate door 62;

While supplying rinse water to the barrel through the end opening 51 upon opening of the rinsing valve 14, the tumbling barrel 10 is again rotated. Duringthis rotation the parts and the impacting medium are retained in the barrel 10 by the perforate door .62 while the rinsing effluent passes through that door; It will bevapparw ent that this rinsing cycle, by reason of the rolling rinse,

pump, 26 serves to hydraulically transfer the bin-contents'tothe: overhead hopper 20. During this time is accomplished with a minimum of water expenditure. y

The rinsing effluent is thus efficiently separated from the parts to be plated and falls into the stationary bin assembly 18 through the screen66 at the top of the bin.

At the end of the rinsing phase of the cycle, the perforate door 62 is removed. At this time, a metalplating powder such as zinc, cadmium, tin orother metal :or

for the plating material and as a mass lubricant so as to- I minimize the possiblity of damage to the parts through.

abrasion and tangling of the parts.

In'this respect it may be mentioned that agitation of the barrel other than by pure rotation about a horizontal axis may be employed. However, this means is preferred insofar as through horizontalrotation the criti- I cality of the time of rotation duringa plating cycle' as well as the criticality of differences in barrel contents during different cycles, is minimized, thereby decreasingthe-possiblity of deplating by abrasion in the event of variations inthesefaetors.

Atthe end of the plating phase of the cyle, the parts and remaining barrel content which now need to be separated are dumped out of the plating barrel l0'and into the stationary bin aseembly 18. The screen'66 at the top of the bin separates theplated parts from the mass of impacting medium and spent plating material and'promoter chemicals'which pass therethrough. At

this time the parts may be hosed down to hydraulically assist in separation.

Since the bin is generally sized to accommodate the volume of a single charge of impacting medium normally utilized, the rinsing effluentpreviously accumulated in-thebin is displaced through overflow and is disposed .ofi'Thus the material removed during the cleansing operation are separated from the impacting medium. If. desired, the rinsing effluent may be earlier drained out of the bin through suitable means (not shown).-

Upon opening of the gate valve 32 water from the cleansing of spent plating materials and promoter chemicals is accomplished through the turbulence generated as previously discussed.

Overflow water drained out of the overhead hopper 20. through the conduit means 34 carries with it the suspended spent platingmaterial and promoter chemicals to the water storage tank 16. The overflow strainer permits this material to pass through while retaining the impacting medium which settles to the hopper bottom.

In this manner, during each cycle the impacting medium is maintained relatively pure so as to lessen the frequency with which impacting medium rectification is required by reason of attrition.

This time interval is further lengthed through the utilization of two impacting medium charges in each tumbling'barrel assembly. Prior to transfer of the impacting medium charge to-the overhead hopper 20, the previously transferred charge is placed into the barrel 10. Thus, one impactingmedium charge is present in the overhead hopper while the other remains in either the tumbling barrel 10 or at a later time in the bin assembly 7 SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES It may thusbe seen that in following the present invention several advantages are realized. Particularly significant is the lessening of the frequency with which rectification of the impacting medium is required through separating the spent plating materials and promoterchemicals from the system and through the use of two impacting medium charges.

Also of importance is the use of a water recoveryand reuse system which minimizes water expenditure.

Of independent significance is the provision in the system 'for rinsing while minimizing the amount of water expenditure required and insuring separation of therinse water effluent from the parts prior to plating.

Although-the invention has been described with reference toa particular preferred system, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions and deletions other than those mentioned may be made without departing from the spirit'or scope of the invention as defined in" the ap-- pended claims.

' Whatis claimed is:-

' inaatatsae mrr 1. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the

a tumbling barrel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;

a rinsing valve communicating with an end opening of said barrel located on said axis;

means defining a side opening extending longitudinally of said barrel between opposite ends thereof;

a larger door having a single opening therein and securable to the barrel coextensively with the side opening thereof and having an access opening therein;

a smaller perforate door and a smaller imperforate door, each selectively securable to said larger door at said single opening coextensively with said access opening thereof;

said perforate door being sized to retain metal parts and the impacting medium utilized in the system and to permit aqueous solutions to pass out of said barrel;

said smaller imperforate door when secured to said larger door, together with said larger door when secured to the barrel, entirely blocking the side opening of said barrel;

a stationary bin positioned beneath said barrel;

a screen mounted adjacent the top of said bin and sized to retain the parts to be plated and to pass a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material;

an overhead hopper positioned above the barrel, the

bottom of the hopper being provided with a selectively operable valve;

a venturi educator communicating with the bottom of said bin in selectively operable relationship;

conduit means providing communication between said venturi eductor and said overhead hopper;

a water storage tank;

an overflow strainer in gravity feed communication between the top of said overhead hopper and said water storage tank, said strainer being sized to pass aqueous solutions and to block passage of impacting medium;

make-up water supply means communicating with said water storage tank for maintaining the level of water in said water storage tank substantially constant; and,

means for pumping water from said storage tank through said venturi eductor and to said overhead hopper.

2. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis;

closure means for selectively maintaining a peripheral side portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition;

means for supplying liquid to said container during rotation of said container;

said peripheral portion in its perforate condition being sized to retain the parts to be plated and the impacting medium while permitting rinsing effluent to pass through;

bin means positioned beneath said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material;

a first remote station; a second station including a source of water; means for hydraulically transferring, utilizing said water from said second station, the contents of said bin means through a conduit to said first remote station while generating sufficient turbulence so as to tend to cleanse the transferring medium;

means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said first remote station to said second station while retaining said impacting medium at saidrfirst station; and a means for segregating the suspended particles of spent plating material transferred to said second station from the water at the second station so as to enable reuse of the water from said second station for hydraulically tranferring the contents of said bin means to said first remote station.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

said container is mounted for at least rotating movement about a generally horizontal axis.

4. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis, said closure means for selectively maintaining a portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition; means for supplying liquid to said container during rotation of said container;

said portion in its perforate condition being sized to retain the parts to be plated and the impacting medium while permitting rinsing effluent to pass through;

means adjacent said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material;

a first remote station;

a second station including a source of water;

means, utilizing said water from said second station, for hydraulically transferring said collected mass of material to said first remote station while generating sufi'rcient turbulence so as to tend to cleanse the impacting medium;

means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said first remote station to said second station while retaining said impacting medium at said first station; and 7 means for segregating the suspended particles of spent plating material transferred to said second station from the water at the second station so as to enable reuse of the water from said second station for hydraulically transferring the collected mass of material to said first remote station.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein:

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein:

said means for collecting comprises bin means positioned beneath said container and wherein said first mentioned means for hydraulically transferring includes conduit means communicating with said bin means and said first remote station.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including:

a screen positioned adjacent the top of said bin means and sized to retain the metal parts and to pass the mass of impacting medium and spent plating material into said bin means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:

said first mentioned means for hydraulically transferring included venturi eductor means communicating with the bottom of said bin means in selectively operable relationship.

9. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis, said container defining an end opening on said axis;

interchangeable closure means for selectively maintaining a peripheral side portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition;

means for supplying liquid to said container, through said end opening, during rotation of said container;

stationary bin means positioned beneath said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material;

conduit means communicating with said bin means and a first remote station; and

mans fQL IXQEE lEQllY t9 l th qntsms pr said bin means through said conduit means to said first remote station while generating sufficient turbulence to tend to cleanse the impacting medium of spent plating material;

means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said remote station to a second station while retaining said impacting medium at said first station.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein:

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 including:

a supply of fluid at said second station to provide a fluid to said means for hydraulically transferring the contents of said bin.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 including:

a screen positioned adjacent the top of said bin and sized to retain the metal parts and to pass the mass of impacting medium and sepnt plating material into said bin.

Claims

1. Aparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising: a tumbling barrel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis; a rinsing valve communicating with an end opening of said barrel located on said axis; means defining a side opening extending longitudinally of said barrel between opposite ends thereof; a larger door having a single opening therein and securable to the barrel coextensively with the side opening thereof and having an access opening therein; a smaller perforate door and a smaller imperforate door, each selectively securable to said larger door at said single opening coextensively with said access opening thereof; said perforate door being sized to retain metal parts and the impacting medium utilized in the system and to permit aqueous solutions to pass out of said barrel; said smaller imperforate door when secured to said larger door, together with said larger door when secured to the barrel, entirely blocking the side opening of said barrel; a stationary bin positioned beneath said barrel; a screen mounted adjacent the top of said bin and sized to retain the parts to be plated and to pass a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material; an overhead hopper positioned above the barrel, the bottom of the hopper being provided with a selectively operable valve; a venturi educator communicating with the bottom of said bin in selectively operable relationship; conduit means providing communication between said venturi eductor and said overhead hopper; a water storage tank; an overflow strainer in gravity feed communication between the top of said overhead hopper and said water storage tank, said strainer being sized to pass aqueous solutions and to block passage of impacting medium; make-up water supply means communicating with said water storage tank for maintaining the level of water in said water storage tank substantially constant; and, means for pumping water from said storage tank through said venturi eductor and to said overhead hopper.

2. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising: a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis; closure means for selectively maintaining a peripheral side portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition; means for supplying liquid to said container during rotation of said container; said peripheral portion in its perforate condition being sized to retain the parts to be plated and the impacting medium while permitting rinsing effluent to pass through; bin means positioned beneath said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material; a first remote station; a second station including a source of water; means for hydraulically transferring, utilizing said water from said second station, the contents of said bin means through a conduit to said first remote station while generating sufficient turbulence so as to tend to cleanse the transferring medium; means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said first remote station to said second station while retaining said impacting medium at said first station; and means for segregating the suspended particles of spent plating material transferred to said second station from the water at the second station so as to enable reuse of the water from said second station for hydraulically tranferring the contents of said bin means to said first remote station.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: said container is mounted for at least rotating movement about a generally horizontal axis.

4. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising: a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis, said closure means for selectively maintaining a portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition; means for supplying liquid to said container during rotation of said container; said portion in its perforate condition being sized to retain the parts to be plated and the impacting medium while permitting rinsing effluent to pass through; means adjacent said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material; a first remote station; a second station including a source of water; means, utilizing said water from said second station, for hydraulically transferring said collected mass of material to said first remote station while generating sufficient turbulence so as to tend to cleanse the impacting medium; means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said first remote station to said second station while retaining said impacting medium at said first station; and means for segregating the suspended particles of spent plating material transferred to said second station from the water at the second station so as to enable reuse of the water from said second station for hydraulically transferring the collected mass of material to said first remote station.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: said container is mounted for at least rotating movement about a generally horizontal axis.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: said means for collecting comprises bin means positioned beneath said container and wherein said first mentioned means for hydraulically transferring includes conduit means communicating with said bin means and said first remote station.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including: a screen positioned adjacent the top of said bin means and sized to retain the metal parts and to pass the mass of impacting medium and spent plating material into said bin means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: said first mentioned means for hydraulically transferring included venturi eductor means communicating with the bottom of said bin means in selectively operable relationship.

9. Apparatus for wet plating of metal parts utilizing an impacting medium and plating material, the apparatus comprising: a container mounted for at least rotating movement about an axis, said container defining an end opening on said axis; interchangeable closure means for selectively maintaining a peripheral side portion of said container in a perforate or imperforate condition; means for supplying liquid to said container, through said end opening, during rotation of said container; said peripheral portion in its perforate condition being sized to retain the parts to be plated and the impacting medium while permitting rinsing effluent to pass through; stationary bin means positioned beneath said container for collecting a mass of impacting medium and spent plating material; conduit means communicating with said bin means and a first remote station; and means for hydrulically transferring the contents of said bin means through said conduit means to said first remote station while generating sufficient turbulence to tend to cleanse the impacting medium of spent plating material; means for hydraulically transferring aqueous solutions, including suspended spent plating material, from said remote station to a second station while retaining said impacting medium at said first station.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: said container is mounted for at least rotating movement about a generally horizontal axis.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 including: a supply of fluid at said second station to provide a fluid to said means for hydraulically transferring the contents of said bin.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 including: a screen positioned adjacent the top of said bin and sized to retain the metal parts and to pass the mass of impacting medium and sepnt plating material into said bin.