Improvements in the Electro-depositing of Metals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 8th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN OLIVER SURtees Elmore, of Kapurthala,
Punjaub, India, Electrical Engineer.]
Improvements in the Electro-depositing of Metals.
1, ALEXANDER STANLEY ELMORE, of Knostrop Old Hall, Leeds, in the County
of York, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
J
This invention has for its object the use of much higher current densities in the
electro depositing of metals than it has heretofore been found possible to employ in
practice with satisfactory results, thus necessarily reducing the time required to
produce any given amount of chemical action in one cell or series of cells. The
invention is not confined to the electro deposit of copper only as it may be used in
the electro deposit of metals generally, but the following is a description of a
convenient form of apparatus illustrating, by way of example, the application of
the invention to the electro-depositing of copper in the form of cylinders which may
be subsequently used as tubes or cut up and used in the form of sheets, tapes and
the like.
A suitable tank is provided in which is mounted a rotating mandrel.
The tank is provided with gearing and burnishers by which the metal as it is
deposited upon the mandrel can be burnished as in the process known as the
"Elmore process."
"
The mandrel is as much and as closely as possible surrounded by dissolving
plates or anodes.
In the tank, most conveniently at the bottom is arranged a large pipe or chamber
having on its upper side facing the surface of the mandrel a slot or row of holes
along its whole length. This pipe or chamber communicates with a centrifugal
pump or other means of constantly supplying a large volume of suitable electrolyte,
and the anodes being so arranged below the mandrel that a free space is left between
the slot and the lower surface of the mandrel.
The mandrel being connected to the negative and the dissolving plates to the
positive pole of a source of electricity, on passing a very large volume of the
electrolyte through the slot or perforations of the pipe or chamber and thus
rapidly and continuously displacing and replacing the whole of the electrolyte
contained in the restricted space between the mandrel and the dissolving plates, a
rate of deposit very much higher than has heretofore been possible is maintained,
without in any way interfering with the excellent mechanical properties of the
copper which is deposited under normal current density conditions by the "Elmore
process."
The restriction of the space between anode and mandrel is of advantage in
economising as much as possible the power required to maintain the large flow of
electrolyte required to produce the desired result, it is also of advantage inasmuch
as the close approximation of the surfaces reduces the electrical resistance.
For the slotted or perforated pipe or chamber extending the whole length of the
mandrel may be substituted suitable means of injecting a large volume of the
electrolyte into the space between the anode and cathode at the end or ends of
the mandrel.
Several mandrels may be arranged one above another in the same tank, sufficient

page_text: space being left between the several mandrels and between the mandrels and the
anodes. Thus the electrolyte may be caused to flow through the spaces between
the several mandrels and their anodes in succession.
By applying the current of electrolyte as above described a much larger
proportion of free sulphuric acid (in the case of a sulphate of copper and sulphuric
acid solution) can be used with satisfactory results, than has been the case
heretofore, and hence a great saving is obtained in effecting the deposit of a given
weight of copper upon a given area in a given time.
Dated this 9th day of November 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Electro-depositing of Metals.
I, ALEXANDER STANLEY ELMORE, of Knostrop Old Hall, Leeds, in the County
of York Electrometallurgist, 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 has for its object the use of much higher current densities in the
electro depositing of metals than it has heretofore been found possible to employ in
practice with satisfactory results, thus necessarily reducing the time required to
produce any given amount of chemical action in one cell or series of cells.
The invention is not confined to the electro deposit of copper only as it may be
used in the electro deposit of metals generally, but the following is a description of
a convenient form of apparatus illustrating, by way of example, the application of
the invention to the electro-depositing of copper in the form of cylinders which may
be subsequently used as tubes or cut up and used in the form of sheets, tapes, and
the like.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood I shall refer to the
'accompanying drawings illustrating two forms in which it may be carried out.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively transverse and partly. longitudinal sections shewing
the one form, and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar sections shewing the modified form of
apparatus according to my invention.
A suitable tank A is provided in which is mounted a rotating mandrel B. The
tank is provided with gearing and burnishers by which the metal as it is deposited
upon the mandrel can be burnished, as in the process known as the "Elmore
process," but, as these accessories form no' part of the present invention they are not
shewn.
The mandrel B is as much and as closely as possible surrounded by dissolving
plates or anodes C.
Through the bottom of the tank pass several large pipes D. These communicate
with the discharge of a centrifugal or other pump constantly supplying a large
volume of suitable electrolyte liquid, which flowing rapidly up between the
mandrel B and the anodes C, issues from the upper part of the tank by pipes E
leading it back to the suction of the pump.
The mandrel being connected to the negative and the dissolving plates to the
positive pole of a source of electricity, on causing a very large volume of the
electrolyte to pass through the tank and thus rapidly and continuously displacing
"and replacing the whole of the electrolyte contained in the restricted space between
the mandrel B and dissolving plates C, a rate of deposit very much higher than
-has hitherto been possible is maintained, without in any way interfering with the
excellent mechanical properties of the copper which is deposited under normal
current density conditions by the " Elmore process."

page_text: The restriction of the space between anode and mandrel is of advantage in
economising as much as possible the power required to maintain the large flow of
electrolyte necessary to produce the desired result, it is also of advantage inasmuch.
as the close approximation of the surfaces reduces the electrical resistance.
According to the modification shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 the electrolyte liquid
enters the tank by the pipe D near one end, and issues by the pipe E at the other
end, being compelled by cross partitions P to pass entirely along the space between
the mandrel B and the anode C which in this case quite surrounds the lower part
of the mandrel.
Several tanks, arranged in either of the ways described may be connected by-
pipes of insulating material so that the same large volume of electrolyte liquid may
flow through them in succession. In this case it is of advantage to arrange the
tanks at such relative levels that the liquid shall flow freely and rapidly from cach
to the next in order.
When a large volume of electrolyte is applied as described a much higher
current density can be used with satisfactory results, than has been hitherto.
possible, and hence results a great saving of time and cost in effecting deposit of
a certain weight of copper upon a given area of cathode.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven❤.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
For effecting rapid electro deposit of metals, causing a very large volume of the.
electrolyte liquid to flow through narrow spaces between the anodes and the:
cathodes substantially as described.
LORA
Dated this 8th day of August
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.