Patent ID: 6702895
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
A rotatable electroplating barrel for plating parts having a pair of separate end plates, at least one access panel with a means for inserting and removing objects from the interior of said barrel and a plurality of perforated, separate side panels which permit passage of a bath solution into said barrel, wherein there is means for rotating said barrel, comprising:at least one of said side panels having sections that are defined by a reinforcing rib structure; said rib structure further is formed with an angular rib structure which is parallel in both directions such that each open section within said side panel is formed in a parallelogram configuration with outer boundaries defined by said intersecting rib structure which supports and strengthens the barrel and enables optimum flow of the electroplating solution; said rib structure being made of longitudinal and cross ribs which intersect to form separate and perforated parallelogram sections such that intersecting rib segments intersect at a point between four adjacent parallelogram shaped sections; wherein said parallelogram shaped sections further comprise: elongated and cross support segments; said elongated segments spanning the distance between said longitudinal ribs and running parallel with said cross ribs; said cross support segments spanning the distance between and connecting said elongated segments; said cross support segments and said elongated segments defining an elongated opening through which fluid can pass through said side panel.