Patent ID: 6936142
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: B01J,C02F,C25C,C25D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for contacting a plurality of at least partially electrically conductive objects with an electrolytic fluid to coat the objects with a metal in the fluid, said apparatus comprising: a vessel having at least one bottom wall inclined downwardly from at least one sidewall toward a fluid inlet arranged to provide an upwardly directed stream of said fluid for causing said objects to flow upward from a feed position adjacent to said inlet to a disengaging position at which said objects are disengaged from said stream; a distribution shield mounted in said vessel and having an upper surface inclined downwardly and extending away from the vicinity of said disengaging position to a return position such that said disengaged objects fall on the upper surface of said distribution shield and move downwardly thereon away from said disengaging position to said return position, said return position being arranged above ail upper portion of said inclined bottom wall to deposit said disengaged objects onto the upper portion of said inclined bottom wall, and said inclined bottom wall being arranged to cause a bed of said deposited objects to move downward along said inclined bottom wall from the upper portion toward said feed position; and a conduit mounted in said vessel and arranged above said fluid inlet for receiving said upward flow of objects, said conduit extending upwardly to confine the flow of said objects from the vicinity of said feed position to the vicinity of said disengaging position; and an electrode positioned to contact said moving bed and a counterelectrode positioned in spaced relation to said moving bed and arranged to contact said fluid, said vessel being partially immersed in said fluid, said counterelectrode being located outside of and in proximity to an immersed portion of said vessel, and said vessel sidewall or bottom wall having at least one opening immersed in said fluid to allow a current flow between said objects and said counterelectrode.