US3852170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for carrying out continuous thick chrome plating of bar, wire and tube, both externally and internally
Assignee: BES BREVETTI ELETTROGALVANICI
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Filing: 1973-02-02
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for bar electroplating including continuously supplying a plurality of bars successively; cleaning the surface of the bars to be plated; heating the bars up to a plating temperature and accomplishing the bar plating operation by feeding the bars along a straight path through an electrode immersed in an electroplating tank.
Inventors
- 👤 S Angelini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:18
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D7/00; C25D7/04; C25D7/06; C25D7/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY ELECTROPLATING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED BARS IN A PLATING COMPRISING: A. MECHANICALLY ATTACHING SAID BARS TOGETHER BY COUPLINGS OF THE SAME SECTION AS SAID BARS TO PROVIDE A GENERALLY CONTINUOUS ELECTROPLATABLE SURFACE; B. SERIALLY CLEANING SAID ATTACHED BARS PRIOR TO PLATING BY PASSING SAID BARS CONSECUTIVELY THROUGH A CLEANING MEDIUM; C. SERIALLY PASSING SAID BARS INTO CONTACT WITH AN ELECTRODE WHEREBY SAID BARS ARE CHARGED WITH AN ELECTROPLATING CURRENT; D. SERIALLY HEATING SAID BARS TO THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID BATH PRIOR TO PLATING; E. SERIALLY PASING SAID BARS THROUGH SAID ELECTROPLATING BATH AND IN THE PROXIMITY OF AN ELECTRODE WHEREBY SAID BARS ARE ELECTROPLATED; AND F. SERIALLY PASSING THE PLATED BARS OUT OF SAID BATH.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY ELECTROPLATING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED BARS IN A PLATING COMPRISING: A. MECHANICALLY ATTACHING SAID BARS TOGETHER BY COUPLINGS OF THE SAME SECTION AS SAID BARS TO PROVIDE A GENERALLY CONTINUOUS ELECTROPLATABLE SURFACE; B. SERIALLY CLEANING SAID ATTACHED BARS PRIOR TO PLATING BY PASSING SAID BARS CONSECUTIVELY THROUGH A CLEANING MEDIUM; C. SERIALLY PASSING SAID BARS INTO CONTACT WITH AN ELECTRODE WHEREBY SAID BARS ARE CHARGED WITH AN ELECTROPLATING CURRENT; D. SERIALLY HEATING SAID BARS TO THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID BATH PRIOR TO PLATING; E. SERIALLY PASING SAID BARS THROUGH SAID ELECTROPLATING BATH AND IN THE PROXIMITY OF AN ELECTRODE WHEREBY SAID BARS ARE ELECTROPLATED; AND F. SERIALLY PASSING THE PLATED BARS OUT OF SAID BATH.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said preheating is effected by first preheating said bars outside said bath and by secondly preheating said bars in said bath prior to the plating step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first preheating is effected by said electroplating current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said second preheating is effected by the contact of said bath with said bar prior to electroplating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said mechanical connection is additionally an electrical connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrode in said bath is a tubular electrode positioned co-axially with said bars.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bars are additionally cleaned after passage out of said bath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said cleaning after plating includes washing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for continuously electroplating a plurality of elongated bars comprising: a. means for serially mechanically attaching said bars together; b. aligning means positioning said attached bars along an axis; c. cleaning means prior to electroplating for cleaning said aligned bars; d. drive means causing said bars to traverse the line of said axis; e. a plating tank containing plating liquid and having seal means on two ends thereof positioned co-axially with the axis of said bars whereby said bars pass serially into said tank through first seal means, through said tank and out of said tank through said seal means; f. heating means for said bars for heating said bars prior to electroplating in said tank to the temperature of said plating liquid prior to electroplating; g. a first electrode positioned outside said tank and a second elongated electrode positioned inside said tank whereby said electrodes cooperate to provide an electroplating current to plate said bar with material in said plating liquid, said electrodes being positioned coaxially with said bar, and said first electrode being in electrical contact with said bar before said bar enters said tank while said second electrode is spaced from said bar.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for continuously electroplating a plurality of elongated bars comprising: a. means for serially mechanically attaching said bars together; b. aligning means positioning said attached bars along an axis; c. cleaning means prior to electroplating for cleaning said aligned bars; d. drive means causing said bars to traverse the line of said axis; e. a plating tank containing plating liquid and having seal means on two ends thereof positioned co-axially with the axis of said bars whereby said bars pass serially into said tank through first seal means, through said tank and out of said tank through said seal means; f. heating means for said bars for heating said bars prior to electroplating in said tank to the temperature of said plating liquid prior to electroplating; g. a first electrode positioned outside said tank and a second elongated electrode positioned inside said tank whereby said electrodes cooperate to provide an electroplating current to plate said bar with material in said plating liquid, said electrodes being positioned coaxially with said bar, and said first electrode being in electrical contact with said bar before said bar enters said tank while said second electrode is spaced from said bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said heating means includes the current passed along said bars by said electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including second cleaning means for cleaning said plated bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including recycle means for recycling lost plating liquid to said plating tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said drive means includes upper and lower rollers in contact with said bars, means for adjustably positioning said rollers, and means driving at least one of said rollers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said rollers have a resilient surface with a circumferential groove therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said recycle means further includes a reservoir pump means and plating liquid cooling means in said reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including a third electrode downstream of said second electrode and of opposite polarity than said second electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second electrode is spaced from first seal means in said tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said tank is closed at its top by a hood connected to a fume removing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said recycle means includes a second tank of greater capacity than said plating tank and pump means for effecting said recycling, said plating tanks being arranged in said second tank so thAt fluid lost from said plating tank is retained by said second tank.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first electrode comprises a copper electrode arranged around said bars and held in electrical contact therewith by clamping means peripherally of said bars.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first electrode includes a hollow cylindrical body arranged coaxially with said bars and having seal means at the ends thereof, said seal means and said body forming a chamber, said chamber containing mercury and having a charged electrical connection in contact therewith whereby said connection and said mercury cooperate to charge said bars.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |