Patent US4647345A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4647345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Metallurgical structure control of electrodeposits using ultrasonic agitation
Assignee: Gould Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-05
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2006-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A system for producing continuous lengths of electroformed metal foil or strip having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure is described. The system includes an anode and a cathode having a moving plating surface at least partially immersed within an electrolytic solution. To obtain the aforementioned improvements in foil or strip properties, the electrolytic solution is sonically agitated in the vicinity of the moving plating surface. Preferably, one or more ultrasonic generators are used to agitate the electrolyte. The generators may be mounted in a variety of locations including within the electrolyte flow path, within one of the anode and the cathode, or in contact with a surface of either the anode or the cathode.
Inventors
- 👤 Ned W. Polan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:54
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/04; C25D5/00; C25D5/20; C25D5/60; C25D5/605; C25D5/615; C25D5/617
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for producing electroformed metal having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure, said apparatus comprising: a tank for holding an electrolytic solution containing a concentration of metal ions to be deposited; an anode and a cathode having a moving plating surface; said anode and said plating surface of said cathode both being at least partially immersed in said solution; means for applying a current to said anode and said cathode and for promoting deposition of said metal ions onto said immersed plating surface; and means for sonically agitating said electrolyte in contact with said moving plating surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for producing electroformed metal having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure, said apparatus comprising: a tank for holding an electrolytic solution containing a concentration of metal ions to be deposited; an anode and a cathode having a moving plating surface; said anode and said plating surface of said cathode both being at least partially immersed in said solution; means for applying a current to said anode and said cathode and for promoting deposition of said metal ions onto said immersed plating surface; and means for sonically agitating said electrolyte in contact with said moving plating surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cathode comprises a rotating drum cathode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said anode comprises two arcuately shaped, spaced-apart anode sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: said rotating drum cathode rotating about a first axis; said anode sections being mounted within said tank so as to be substantially concentric with said cathode; and said anode and cathode defining a substantially constant interelectrode gap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sonic agitating means comprises at least one ultrasonic generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: each said ultrasonic generator being mounted to and in contact with a surface of said anode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: each said ultrasonic generator being incorporated within said anode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: said anode and cathode defining an interelectrode gap; means for establishing electrolyte flow within said gap; and said at least one ultrasonic generator being positioned within said electrolyte flow in said gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: at least one ultrasonic generator positioned within said gap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: said cathode comprising a rotating drum cathode; and said at least one ultrasonic generator being positioned within said drum cathode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: each said ultrasonic generator contacting an interior surface of said drum cathode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: said drum cathode having a plurality of spokes; and said at least one ultrasonic generator applying energy to a surface of said cathode through said spokes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: said drum cathode being filled with a fluid; and said fluid transmitting ultrasonic energy from said at least one ultrasonic generator to a surface of said cathode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process for electroforming continuous lengths of metal having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure, said process comprising: providing a tank containing an electrolytic solution having a concentration of metal values; providing an anode and a cathode having a moving plating surface within said tank, said anode, cathode and plating surface all being at least partially immersed within said electrolytic solution; applying an electrical current to said anode and said cathode for promoting the deposition of said metal values onto said at least partially immersed plating surface; and sonically agitating said electrolyte in the vicinity of said moving plating surface to promote formation of said metal lengths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process for electroforming continuous lengths of metal having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure, said process comprising: providing a tank containing an electrolytic solution having a concentration of metal values; providing an anode and a cathode having a moving plating surface within said tank, said anode, cathode and plating surface all being at least partially immersed within said electrolytic solution; applying an electrical current to said anode and said cathode for promoting the deposition of said metal values onto said at least partially immersed plating surface; and sonically agitating said electrolyte in the vicinity of said moving plating surface to promote formation of said metal lengths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said agitating step comprises applying ultrasonic energy to said electrolyte.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said current applying step comprises applying a current having a current density in the range of from about 0.1 A/cm 2 to about 3.0 A/cm 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said current applying step comprises applying a current having a current density in the range of from about 0.6 A/cm 2 to about 2.0 A/cm 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 14 further comprising: mounting said anode substantially concentric with said cathode so as to form a substantially constant interelectrode gap between said anode and said cathode; and flowing electrolyte into said gap at a rate in the range of about 0.1 m/sec to about 3.0 m/sec.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said electrolyte flowing step comprises flowing said electrolyte into said gap at a rate in the range of about 0.3 m/sec to about 2.0 m/sec.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electroformed metal foil having enhanced ductility and a moderately refined grain structure, said foil being formed by the process of claim 14.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The foil of claim 20 further comprising: a relatively coarse surface roughness; and said grain structure being characterized by substantially equalized grain size.
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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) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |