Improvements relating to the Aralgamation and Coating of Metals or Alloys of Metals, with Metals or Alloys of Metals, by the Aid of Electricity, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Aralgamation and Coating of Metals or
Alloys of Metals, with Metals or Alloys of Metals, by the Aid of
Electricity, and to Apparatus therefor.
"
I, FREDERICK HALL SNYDER, of 282, Baldwin Avenue, Jersey City, State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the amalgamation and coating of metals or alloys
of metals, with metals or alloys of metals, by the aid of electricity and to
apparatus therefor, and my said invention is designed to provide for a rapid and
more economical amalgamation or coalescence of metals and for producing
an instantaneous coating of one metal with another, though the metals may
be of different characters or alloys. By this method, both flat and curved metal
surfaces may be covered on one or both sides, as desired, for example, the
exterior or interior of metal tubing or pipes, and the surfaces of wire, metal-
tape; rods, bars and other articles, this being effected in a more uniform, rapid
and economical manner than has heretofore been practicable.
In the specification of former Letters l'atent granted to me and dated 11th
November 1896, No. 25360, I have described an improved process of coating
metals by electricity by means of a brush or the like, which is supplied with a
metallic solution and is connected with the positive pole of an electric generator,
the other pole thereof being connected with the object to be coated, either
the anode or the cathode being kept moving while amalgamation is being
effected, so that a high potential can be employed.
The main feature of my present invention is the provision I make for causing
a more rapid movement of the brush or the like, relatively to the surface to be
coated, or of the said surface relatively to the brush or the like. This increased
rapidity of motion I produce by mechanical apparatus which enables me to
employ a much greater difference of potential and higher ampereage. For this
purpose I use, according to one method, what I term a rotary brush provided
with means for supplying it with the electrolyte and with means whereby
it can be rapidly rotated about its axis while being caused to travel over the
surface to be coated. Or I provide means for rotating a cylindrical or other
suitably-shaped article about its axis while a brush or the like of a similar
radius is held in contact therewith or is caused to travel along or around
the same.
I sometimes provide a rotary brush comprising a cylindrical receptacle or
roller made with trunnions whereby it is supported in a suitable frame and one
or both of which is connected with one pole of an electric generator, one of
the said trunnions being made hollow for the supply of the electrolyte through
it, this trunnion being connected with a suitable supply-pipe by a stuffing-
box or the like. The cylindrical wall of this hollow roller is perforated
and is covered with felt or other suitable absorbent material, the ends of the

page_text: said receptacle being covered with ebonite or other suitable insulating material,
which extends beyond the periphery of the roller but not so far as the outer
surface of the felt or the like.
This brush or coating device is provided with means whereby, while it is
caused to travel over the surface to be coated, in contact therewith, it can be
rotated about its axis at a high speed by hand or by electricity or other suitable
power. The operative surface of the brush can thus be moved with great velocity
relatively to the surface to be coated, and consequently a much higher voltage
and ampereage than heretofore can be employed without risk of injury to the
brush or of obtaining pulverulent metallic deposits.
:
In other instances I make my rotary brush with a circular or annular piece
of felt or other absorbent material on one end of a hollow metal cylinder
mounted in a suitable frame and provided with means for rotating it about
its axis and for supplying it with the electrolyte, the end of the said cylinder.
or the portion thereof covered by the felt or the like being perforated.
When the object to be coated is of cylindrical form I sometimes employ a
brush adapted to fit over the said cylinder or upon a segment thereof and I provide
suitable means for rotating the object about its axis while the brush is held in
contact with it or is caused to move around the said object while in contact
therewith. Objects of other shapes can also be coated in this manner.
I also provide improved apparatus whereby wire, metal rods, tape, etc., can
be coated in continuous lengths by my improved process. This apparatus com-
prises a suitable tank or vessel for receiving the electrolyte, in which vessel
is arranged an anode of tubular or like form through which the wire is fed
continuously, suitable means being provided for preventing contact between
the said wire and the anode. The said anode can advantageously consist of a
tube of the metal of which it is desired to form the coating, or of carbon or other
suitable material, this tube being provided with a series of perforations so as to
permit free access of the electrolyte to the article to be coated. Or, if desired,
the said anode may consist of a series of bars of metal, carbon or other suitable
material arranged in a circular or other series or group, a small space being left
between adjacent bars to permit the passage of the electrolyte between them.
I arrange in the said tank a series of grooved guide-pulleys for guiding the wire
into and out of the said anode; and I provide suitable reels capable of being
rotated in any convenient manner so as to enable the said wire to be drawn
down into the electrolyte and through the said anode, an electric current being
meanwhile caused to pass between the anode and the said wire which forms the
cathode. In some cases, moreover, instead of causing the wire to pass into and
out of the anode around guide-rollers as above mentioned, I cause the said wire
to pass through a stuffing-box or stuffing-boxes at one or both ends of the tank
The wire, after being passed through the apparatus, is preferably wound
onto a reel which is made with a collapsable core, thus enabling the coil of
wire etc., to be easily removed, and permitting the wire to be unwound, if
desired, from the interior of the coil. By making the said core of metal, it
may be adapted to serve as a current-conductor from the wire.
I sometimes mount a die or dies in any suitable position on the tank, through
which the wire, tube or the like, before it enters the electrolyte, will be
drawn or forced for the purpose of smoothing and polishing it and preparing it
for the coating. I can thus dispense with the pickling of the wire, tube or
the like.
For the treatment of tubes, I sometimes make the apparatus so that a tube,
when of considerable length, can enter and leave the tank through stuffing-
boxes at opposite ends thereof, and will pass through tubular or other elec-
trodes such as those above mentioned.
An alternative, method by which I obviate the necessity for passing the article
to be coated through the tank, consists in causing it to pass through a hollow
brush of the same metal as the electrolyte, this brush having a continuous.

page_text: flow of solution passing through it. When large tubes are to be coated, I
preferably place them on suitable insulating pieces or rollers in troughs; and
I provide suitable. means for rotating the said tube about their axes so as to
ensure their being uniformly coated, using just enough electrolyte to touch
or partly cover the lower part only of the tube while rotating. The trough
itself may form the anode and be fed with electrolyte as required.
In cases where the exterior of tubes only is to be coated, the ends are plugged.
I also provide for uniformly coating the interior of tubes or the like. For
this purpose I provide frames adapted to fit into the said tubes and carrying
a circular series of rods or a perforated tube forming the anode. These frames
have guide-rollers mounted in radially movable spring bearings in such a
position as to maintain the anode or anodes concentric with the tube to be coated.
The electrolyte can be pumped or forced into the said tube or circulated through
the same in any suitable manner.
Instead of employing the anodes above mentioned, I sometimes use anodes in
the form of brushes or the like which bear against the tube or other object as
it is fed through the tank or vat. In some instances I provide a reservoir for
supplying the electrolyte to the said brushes or the like as required.
In some cases where I employ a brush, the anode and cathode are kept moving
in opposite directions to each other thus enabling a much heavier current to
be used.
41 15.
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to the Amalgamation and Coating of Metals or
Alloys of Metals, with Metals or Alloys of Metals, by the Aid of
Electricity, and to Apparatus therefor.
I, FREDERICK Foss, of 5, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Solicitor,
Executor of the late Frederick Hall Snyder, of 282 Baldwin Avenue, Jersey
City, State of New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: :―
This invention relates to the amalgamation and coating of metals or alloys
of metals, with metals or alloys of metals, by the aid of electricity, and to
apparatus therefor: and the said invention is designed to provide for a rapid
and economical amalgamation or coalescence of metals and for producing an
instantaneous coating of one metal with another, though the metals may be of
different characters or alloys. By the said invention, both flat and curved
metal surfaces may be covered on one or both sides, as desired, for example, the
exterior or interior of metal tubing or pipes, and the surfaces of wire, metal-tape,
rods, bars and other articles, this being effected in a more uniform, rapid and
economical manner than has heretofore been practicable.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 11th November 1896,
No. 25360, there is described an improved process of coating metals by electricity
by means of a brush or the like, which is supplied with a metallic solution and
is connected with the positive pole of an clectric generator, the other pole thereof

page_text: being connected with the object to be coated, either the anode or the cathode
being kept moving while amalgamation is being effected, so that a high potential
can be employed.
The main feature of the present invention is the provision which is made for
causing a more rapid movement of the brush or the like, relatively to the surface
to be coated, or of the said surface relatively to the brush or the like. . This
increased rapidity of motion is produced by mechanical apparatus which enables
a much greater initial difference of potential to be employed for causing the
metal applied to enter the pores of and intimately unite or amalgamate itself
with the metal to be coated. By this means, it is possible to use a much higher
current density after the surface has once been covered, thus permitting a
thick coating to be very rapidly applied. For this purpose there is used, accord-
ing to one method, what may be termed a rotary brush provided with means
for supplying it with the electrolyte and with means whereby it can be rapidly
rotated about its axis while being caused to travel over the surface to be coated.
Or means are provided for rotating a cylindrical or other suitably-shaped article
about its axis while a brush or the like of a similar radius is held in contact
therewith or is caused to travel along or around the same.
The said invention also comprises improved means for continuously coating
wire, metal rod, tape, tubes, and the like, and other improvements hereinafter
set forth.
The accompanying drawing shows how the said invention
veniently and advantageously carried into practice:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, and
can be con-
Figure 2 an end view, partly in transverse section on the line A-B, Figure 1,
showing one form of the improved rotary electrode.
Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal central section showing a modification.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal central section showing another form of rotary
electrode.
Figure 5. is a vertical transverse section of a brush electrode for use in cases
where the article to be coated is rotated.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure a vertical transverse section showing an apparatus for coating wire,
rod, tubes, and the like.
Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section of an arrangement for use in coating
the interior of tubes.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a is a cylinder of a suitable
metal or alloy which will form an insoluble anode or an anode which will be
only slowly dissolved in the electrolyte. This cylinder is provided, on its
external face, with tufts of bristles b suitably secured therein and, between the
said tufts, holes c are formed in the cylinder through which liquid can be supplied
to the said bristles from the interior as hereinafter described. The cylinder a
is supported at one end on an end piece or disc d which is preferably made of
ebonite or other suitable insulating material and bears a trunnion e. This
trunnion turns in a bearing f supported in a frame or handle g. The other end
of the said cylinder is supported on a flange mounted on a hollow shaft or
trunnion which turns in a bearing f supported in an insulating liner h in
the frame or handle y, the two end pieces d, j, being connected together by bars 7
which are protected from the action of the electrolyte by means of sheaths m of
insulating material. Rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder by means
of a band or the like passing around a pulley n, whilst the electrolyte is supplied
to its interior through a pipe p connected to the end of the hollow shaft & through
a stuffing-box q. The positive pole of the generator is connected to an insulated
terminal which is itself connected to a brush whereby a sliding contact
is obtained with the exterior of the flange j. The frame or handle g is shown
divided at g and the parts united by bolts so as to enable the cylindrical anode

page_text: to be readily removed and replaced when required. t is a sheet metal guard to
catch any of the electrolyte that may be thrown or dropped from the brush.
This guard can, if desired; be' provided with a collecting channel or chamber
having a discharge pipe for carrying off this liquid.
In operation, the negative pole of the generator is connected to the article
to be coated and the brush revolved at a suitable speed and supplied with the
electrolyte through the pipe pat a sufficiently high rate to keep the bristles wet
whilst being moved uniformly over the surface to be coated. In practice, it.is
preferred to begin with a high potential, for example, 75 to 100 volts, so as to
cause the coating metal to penetrate the metal to be covered and intimately
unite itself therewith, and when the surface has been covered to lower the
potential to about 30 volts and at the same time increase the current in any
suitable manner, so as to rapidly bring the coating up to the desired thickness.
By thus moving the operative surface of the brush with great velocity relatively
to the surface to be coated, a much higher voltage and current density than here-
tofore can be employed without risk of injury to the brush or of obtaining
pulverulent metallic deposits.
If desired, instead of providing the cylinder or roller with bristles, as above
described, it can be covered with felt or other absorbent material; the ends being
covered with ebonite or other suitable insulating material, which extends beyond:
the periphery of the cylinder or roller but not so far as the outer surface of the
felt or the like.
The brush can be driven by means of flexible shafting, by hand, or in any
other suitable manner.
Figure 3, illustrates a modification of the cylindrical brush shown in Figures 1
and 2, in which the brush cylinder a is made of ebonite or other suitable in-
sulating material, and a separate cylindrical anode is arranged inside the
cylinder a, a space being left between the two cylinders a and u, and perforations
being formed in the cylinder u in order to permit free access of the electrolyte
to the perforations c. In this case, the bristles can be of steel or other wire,
so as to clean the surface to be coated. By these means, rusty or dirty surfaces
can be coated without preliminary cleaning such as has been required when
employing the processes heretofore proposed, thus effecting a very considerable
economy.
By thus making the anode separate from the frame of the roller, and insulating
it therefrom, all corrosion of the metal is confined to the anode, which can be
easily renewed, thereby considerably increasing the life of the apparatus.
In Figure 4, another form of the improved rotary anode is shown in which
the bristles or wires are mounted in a flat plate or disc w of ebonite or other
suitable insulating material, mounted at one end of a cylindrical vessel a. This
cylindrical vessel is mounted on one end of a shaft which is provided with a
crank handle y whereby it can be rotated in a handle of suitable insulating
material; or it can be rotated by means of a flexible shaft. The handle is
provided with a chamber 1 in communication with a pipe p for the supply of the
electrolyte which passes into the vessel through a passage 2 in the shaft k.
The anode is made with holes and is supported at a short distance from the
disc w by means of pillars 3 of ebonite or the like and screws 4 so as to insulate
it from the vessel and shaft k. The connection at the anode to the positive
pole of the generator is effected through an insulated ring 5 on the vessel x, and
a brush s and terminal on the handle z. This arrangement is very convenient
for use in angles along the lines where two surfaces meet, and for other
positions.
When the object 6 to be coated is of cylindrical form, there is sometimes
employed a brush such as is shown in Figure 5, adapted to fit over the cylinder
6 or upon a segment thereof. This brush is of similar construction to that
shown in Figure and forms the bottom of a box 7 to which the electrolyte is
supplied through a pipe p. In this case the terminal r is connected directly to

page_text: the anode u as shown. When this arrangement is in position, the object 6
is rotated about its axis by any suitable means. Or the brush is caused to move.
around the said object while in contact therewith. Objects of other shapes
can also be coated in this manner.
'
Improved apparatus is also provided whereby wire, metal-rods, tape, etc., can
be coated in continuous lengths by the above improved process. This apparatus
is shown in Figures 6 and 7, and comprises a suitable box, tank or vessel 8 for
receiving the electrolyte, in which vessel are arranged anodes and brushes of
similar construction to those shown in Figures 4 and 5.
The wire 9 enters and leaves the box or vessel 8 through stuffing-boxes 10 and
is drawn through the said box or vessel by power applied to a reel 11 which is
made wholly or partly of metal so as to serve as a connection between the metal
wire. rod, tape, etc. to be coated and the negative pole of the generator. The
anode, in this case, can also advantageously consist of a tube of the metal of
which it is desired to form the coating, or of carbon or other suitable material,
thisutube being provided with a series of perforations so as to permit free access
of the electrolyte to the article to be coated. Or, if desired, the said anode
may consist of a series of bars of metal carbon or other suitable material
arranged in a circular or other series or group, a small space being left between
adjacent barsz to permit the passage of the electrolyte between them.
If desired, thoobristles above mentioned can be replaced by asbestos or
hornblende fibres, felt, or glass, slag or other mineral wool. The wire, tape or
the like can also be caused to pass between wire brushes before entering the
plating tank.
In other cases, moreover, instead of causing the wire or the like to pass
through a stuffing-box or stuffing-boxes at one or both ends of the tank, there
is arranged in the said tank a series of grooved guide-pulleys for guiding the
wine into and out of the said anode; and suitable reels are provided capable.
of being rotated in any convenient manner so as to enable the said wire to
be drawn down into the electrolyte and through the said anode, an electric
current being meanwhile caused to pass between the anode and the said wire
which forms the cathode.
The wire, after being passed through the apparatus, can, if desired, be wound
onto a reel which is made with a collapsable core, thus enabling the coil of a
wire etc., to be easily removed, and. permitting the wire to be unwound, if
desired, from the interior of the coil. By making the said core of metal, it may
be adapted to serve as a current-conductor from the wire.
Sometimes a die or dies is or are mounted in any suitable position on the
tank, through which the wire, tube or the like, before it enters the electrolyte,
will be drawn or forced for the purpose of smoothing and polishing it and
preparing it for the coating. The pickling of the wire, tube or the like can thus
be dispensed with.
For the treatment of tubes, the apparatus is sometimes so made that a tube,"
when of considerable length, can enter and leave the tank through stuffing-
boxes at opposite ends thereof, and pass through tubular or other electrodes
such as those above mentioned, for example, by means of an apparatus such
as is shown in Figures 6 and 7.
An alternative method by which the necessity for passing the article to be
coated through the tank is obviated, consists in causing to pass through a
hollow brush of the same, metal as that of the electrolyte, this brush having a con-
tinuous flow of solution passing through it. When larger tubes are to be coated,
the same are preferably placed on suitable insulating pieces or rollers in troughs,
suitable means being provided for rotating the said tubes about their axes
so as to ensure their being uniformly coated, using just enough electrolyte to touch
or partly cover the lower part only of the tube while rotating. The trough itself.
may form the anode and be fed with electrolyte as required.

page_text: In cases where the exterior of tubes only is to be coated, the ends are plugged.
Provision is also made for uniformly coating the interior of tubes or the like
For this purpose the arrangement shown in Figure 8 is employed, comprising a
brush similar to those above described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 arranged
so as to fit into the interior of the tube 12 to be coated internatty, the said tube
being rotated about its axis by any suitable means. The electrolyte is supplied
to the interior of the tube in any suitable manner.
In other cases, frames are provided adapted to fit into the said tubes and
carrying a circular series of rods or a perforated tube forming the anode.
These frames have guide-rollers mounted in radially movable spring bearings
in such a position as to maintain the anode or anodes concentric with the tube to
be coated. The electrolyte can be pumped or forced into the said tube or cir-
culated through the same in any suitable manner.
In some instances, a reservoir is employed for supplying the electrolyte to the
said brushes or the like as required.
In order to coat flat surfaces, e.g., sheet metal, by this process, they are
sometimes mounted on the reciprocating table of a machine similar to a planing
machine, and in the tool-box is placed a flat brush-anode supplied with the
electrolyte similar to those above described, the travel of the table being such
that the surface to be coated moves out of engagement with the anode at each
end of its travel.
It is obvious that, if desired, the bristles herein before described with reference
to the several forms of the improved anode, can be replaced by a layer or layers
of felt or other suitable absorbent material and that the plates and separate
anodes u can be replaced by insoluble anodes bearing the bristles, felt or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claini is
1. An improved method of coating or amalgamating metallic surfaces with
metals, consisting in mechanically moving the brush anode and the cathode
relatively to each other and using a current of high voltage until the metallic
surface has received a preliminary coating, when the voltage is reduced and the
current density increased, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before
described.
2. In the amalgamation and coating of metallic surfaces by the aid of elec-
tricity, the employment of mechanical means for causing the brush anode and
the object to be coated to move relatively to each other.
3. A rotary anode having bristles, wire, felt or the like on its surface and pro-
vided with means whereby the electrolyte can be supplied to its interior, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes herein before described.
4. A rotary anode comprising a frame, a hollow perforated roller turning in
bearings in the said frame, bristles, wires, felt, or the like on the periphery of
the said roller, means for supplying the electrolyte to the interior of the said
roller and means for connecting the said roller to the electric generator, sub-
stantially as described.
5. The modification wherein the perforated periphery of the roller is made of
insulating material and an anode is arranged in the interior of the roller, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
6. The modification of the anode in which the bristles, wire, felt or the like
are arranged on the end of a rotary cylinder, substantially as described.
7. The improved brush anode constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figure 5 and adapted to engage with the relatively movable-surface
of a cylindrical object to be coated, for the purposes specified.
8. The improved apparatus for coating or plating metal wire, tube, tape or
the like, comprising a tank or vessel for the electrolyte, brushes arranged in
said tank or vessel, an anode, and means for feeding the said wire, tube, tape

page_text: or the like through the said tank between the said brushes, substantially as,
and for the purposes, herein before described.
9. The modification wherein the wire, before entering the tank or vessel con-
taining the electrolyte, is caused to pass through dies or between metallic
brushes, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described.
10. The improved apparatus for coating or plating metallic wire, tape, and the
like, constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
11. The improved anode for coating the interior of tubes and like articles,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 8.
Dated 13th day of June 1900.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.