US4055751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process control system for the automatic analysis and regeneration of galvanic baths
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1976-05-12
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A process control system for metal depositing baths for monitoring the chemical composition of a bath liquid provides that, in the event of a deviation of a component of the bath liquid from a reference value, the bath liquid is regenerated by supplying correcting liquid to the bath. The system includes an automatically operating analyzer which is connected to a measured value adjusting device which, in dependence upon the difference established between a reference value and an actual value of the bath liquid component subject to analysis, controls the supply of the correcting liquid to the bath. A common process control system for a plurality of galvanic baths includes a main programmer, a bath selection programmer and analysis programmers which can be selectively connected by the selection programmer, and which in accordance with the individual components of the bath liquid which is to be analyzed, actuate specific analyzer sections of the analyzer where each measured value adjusting device which is connected to an analyzer section will, in the case of a difference in measured value, control the supply of the correct quantity of the specific correcting liquid to the particular bath which is subject to analysis.
Inventors
- 👤 Egon Bussmann
- 👤 Bruno Flamme
- 👤 Jacky Vanhumbeeck
- 👤 Johannes Helder
- 👤 Hubert De Steur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:54
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D21/00; G05D21/02; C; C25; C25D; C25D21/00; C25D21/12; C25D21/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A process control system for monitoring the chemical composition of bath liquid for a plurality of baths, in particular metal depositing baths, said process control system comprising: a main programmer for operating the control system through a sequence of program steps; a bath selection programmer connected to said main programmer and to the baths for selecting baths for analysis; a chemical component analyzer including a plurality of constituent analyzing sections for anayzing respective quantities of respective bath constituents; a plurality of analysis programmers connected to said analyzer and connected to and operated by said bath selection programmer to connect selected baths to appropriate analyzer sections; a supply of bath correcting fluids; comparison means connected to said analyzer to compare the analyzed actual quantities with respective reference quantities; and adjusting means connected to said comparison means and connected between said supply and the plurality of baths for supplying correcting fluids to the respective baths in accordance with the differences between the actual and reference quantities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A process control system for monitoring the chemical composition of bath liquid for a plurality of baths, in particular metal depositing baths, said process control system comprising: a main programmer for operating the control system through a sequence of program steps; a bath selection programmer connected to said main programmer and to the baths for selecting baths for analysis; a chemical component analyzer including a plurality of constituent analyzing sections for anayzing respective quantities of respective bath constituents; a plurality of analysis programmers connected to said analyzer and connected to and operated by said bath selection programmer to connect selected baths to appropriate analyzer sections; a supply of bath correcting fluids; comparison means connected to said analyzer to compare the analyzed actual quantities with respective reference quantities; and adjusting means connected to said comparison means and connected between said supply and the plurality of baths for supplying correcting fluids to the respective baths in accordance with the differences between the actual and reference quantities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein said bath selection programmer has a number of said analysis programmers operated thereby corresponding to the number of dissimilar baths which are to be monitored, said analysis programmers operable to connect the individual analyzing sections to the baths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein each of the baths comprises a respective circulating pipe line and a respective blocking valve in the circulating pipe line connected to and operated by a respective analysis programmer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein said chemical component analyzer includes common input and output pipe lines, and further comprising: a supply of flushing liquid; a flushing programmer connected to and operated by said bath selection programmer after each analysis to provide a flushing program; and flushing means operated by said flushing programmer to provide flushing liquid to said chemical component analyzer and the common input and output pipe lines thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process control system of claim 1, comprising: reference value generators connected to said adjusting means and connected to and directly operated by said bath selection programmer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process control system of claim 1, comprising: actual value translators selectively connected by said bath selection programmer to said adjusting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process control system of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of actual value registers each assigned to a respective bath, each of said registers selectively connected in response to the operation of said bath selection programmer to a respective adjusting means to record the measured value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process control system of claim 1, comprising: a central control unit which includes said main programmer, a data input distributor connected to said comparison means, said bath selection programmer connected to said main programmer and to said analysis programmers, a control logic including said comparison means, and a consumption and correcting computer which monitors the consumption of the various bath liquids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein said comparison means of said control logic comprises, for each measured value, a comparator for comparing the measured value to a permissible limit value and is responsive to block said bath selection programmer when the measured value exceeds the permissible limit value at the completion of an analysis program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process control system of claim 9, comprising: an alarm connected to said control logic and operated in response to a measured value exceeding its permissible limit value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein said main programmer includes a program indicator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of baths comprises work-piece treatment baths followed by noble metal baths in the path of work-piece travel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process control system of claim 1, comprising: means operable to block correcting liquid flow and simultaneously actuate said main programmer to run through the entire main program as an idle function check of system operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process control system of claim 1, wherein each of said baths has a pump for circulating the liquid thereof and said analyzer comprises an internal control unit operating in a prescribed sequence, and said bath selection programmer initiates operation of said analyzer upon a predetermined time delay of about three minutes after switching on the relevant pumps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |