IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRO-PLATING WIRE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRO-PLATING WIRE." A communication from
abroad by William Wallace, of Ansonia, in the County of New Haven, and
State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.
aled the 8th September 1877, and dated the 14th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1877.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRO-
PLATING WIRE" A communication from abroad by William Wallace, of Ansonia,
in the County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for facilitating and
improving the electro-plating of wire.
The usual method of electro-plating wire has been to immerse coils or bundles of
the same in a bath, subjecting them to an occasional change of position while therein,
the object of such change being to facilitate the distribution or deposition of the
coating on the wire. In such method the convolutions of the coils or bundles will
be in so close contact with each other while in the bath as to cause many imperfect
and defective spots in the coil, perfect deposition depending upon the freedom and
equality with which all parts of the wire surface may be exposed in the solution of
the bath. To overcome these difficulties is the object of this Invention, and it
consists,―-
First. In combining with the bath a slowly revolving shaft or device, upon which
the coil of wire may be placed and spread upon the shaft so as to separate the several
convolutions from each other, and the rotation of the shaft impart to the wire so
arranged a slow rotary movement within the bath, and which movement, more or
less, changes the relative position of the convolutions to each other, and so that all
ID 1

page_text: parts or the entire surface of the wire will be evenly exposed to the action of the
bath.
And, Secondly. In a frame for supporting and conveniently arranging the wire on
the said rotating device.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame; and a
Fig. 2, a section of the bath showing the arrangement of the frame in the bath.
A represents the bath, across which the shaft B is arranged in suitable bearings,
and so as to allow its free revolution. To this shaft a slow revolution is imparted,
preferably by means of a revolving worm working in a corresponding pinion on the
shaft, as shown. On to this shaft the coil of wire is hung and spread upon the shaft
so that the convolutions rest thereon, and practically separate from each other, as
seen in Fig. 1, therefore the rotation of the shaft imparts to the coil of wire a very
slow rotation, and in such rotation the wire passes through the bath, and is there
acted upon in the usual manner of electro-plating baths.
Preferably the shaft is arranged above the level of the bath, so that the wire is
not entirely immersed therein, but it may be below the level of the bath, and thus
be always immersed. This rotation of the coil and the contact of the convolutions
with the shaft constantly changes the relative position of the several convolutions
to each other, so that contact of one convolution with another cannot hold for any
considerable length of time, hence the surface of the wire throughout is regularly
and evenly exposed to the action of the bath, and the most perfect result attained.
For conveniently arranging the wire upon the shaft a frame is provided, shown
in Fig. 2, in which the two ends a, a, are made circular in form, preferably as a
ring, and in diameter substantially that of the coil of wire. Those heads or rings
are distant from each other according to the length of the frame required, and they
are connected by two or more pairs of rods b, c, one end of each pair connected to
one ring, and the other to the other ring, so as to support the rings at the required
distance from each other, and in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of
the frame.
The one bar c of each pair is arranged radially inside the other or outer bar b,
and so as to leave a narrow space between the two. The inner rods c of these
pairs form the supporting frame or ribs of what may be termed the reel. The coil
of wire is placed upon the inner bars, the outer being removed for the purpose, and
spread or distributed along the surface, so that the wire lies in substantially single
convolutions. The outer bar is secured over these convolutions of wire, and pre-
ferably connections are made between the two bars of each pair at intervals along
their length to hold the wire or prevent the convolutions working together and to
secure their even distribution along the inner rods. In this condition the fraine
and wire are hung on the shaft B, the two rings a, a, resting thereon, and so that
the revolution of the shaft will impart a corresponding rotary movement to the
frame, the friction between the shaft and the ends being sufficient for this purpose.
This rotation of the frame has the same effect upon the wire as if hung upon the
shaft independently as first described, but with this advantage, that the connections
which are made between the bars prevent the possibility of the convolutions
working together, which they might possibly do in the first' instance unless special
attention was given to prevent it.
While it is preferred to suspend the frame on the shaft as described, and the shaft
to be above or near the top of the bath, it will be evident that the shaft may be
below, and the frame or reel to rest on the shaft. In this case suitable side
supports would be necessary, I therefore do not wish to be understood as confining
this Invention to the particular method described for imparting the rotary move-
ment. In any case it will be desirable that the shaft or revolving mechanism in
contact with the frane shall be a part of the electric circuit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
September 1877.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRO-PLATING
WIRE." A communication from abroad by William Wallace, of Ansonia, in the
County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
•
This Invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for facilitating and
improving the electro-plating of wire.
The usual method of electro-plating wire has been to immerse coils or bundles of
the same in a bath, subjecting them to an occasional change of position while
therein, the object of such change being to facilitate the distribution or deposition
of the coating of the wire. In such method the convolutions of the coils or bundles
will lie in so close contact with each other while in the bath as to cause many
imperfect and defective spots in the coil, perfect deposition depending upon the
freedom and equality with which all parts of the wire surface may be exposed in
the solution of the bath. To overcome these difficulties is the object of this Inven-
tion; and it consists,―
First. In combining with the bath a slowly revolving shaft or device, upon which
the coil of wire may be placed and spread upon the shaft so as to separate the
several convolutions from each other, and the rotation of the shaft impart to the
wire so arranged a slow rotary movement within the bath, and which movement,
more or less, changes the relative position of the convoulations to each other, and so
that all parts or the entire surface of the wire will be evenly exposed to the action
of the bath.
And, Secondly. In a frame for supporting and conveniently arranging the wiro
on the said rotary device.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood I shall now proceed
to particularly describe the same, reference being made to the several Figures on
the accompanying Drawing, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the Figures.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame, and
Fig. 2, section of the bath, shewing the arrangement of the frame in the bath.
A represents the bath, across which the shaft B is arranged in suitable bearings
and so as to allow its free revolution. To this shaft a slow revolution is imparted,
preferably by means of a revolving worm working on a corresponding opinion on the
shaft, as shewn. On to this shaft the coil of wire is hung and spread upon the
shaft, so that the convolutions rest thereon and practically separate from each other,
as seen in Fig. 1, therefore the rotation of the shaft imparts to the coil of wire a
very slow rotation, and in such rotation the wire passes through the bath, and is
there acted upon in the usual manner of electro-plating baths.
Preferably, the shaft is arranged above the level of the bath, so that the wire is
not entirely immersed therein, but it may be below the level of the bath, and thus
be always immersed. This rotation of the coil and the contact of the convolutions
with the shaft constantly changes the relative position of the several convolutions
to each other, so that contact of one convolution with another cannot hold for any
considerable length of time, hence the surface of the wire throughout is regularly
and evenly exposed to the action of the bath, and the most perfect result attained.
For conveniently arranging the wire upon the shaft a frame is provided, shewn
in Fig. 2, in which the two ends a, a, are made circular in form, preferably as a
ring, and in diameter substantially that of the coil of wire. These heads or rings
are distant from each other according to the length of the frame required, and they
are connected by two or more pairs of rods b, c, one end of each pair connected to
one ring and the other to the other ring, so as to support the rings at the required
:

page_text: distance from each other, and in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of
the frame.
F
The one bar c of each pair'is arranged radially inside the other or outer
bar b, and so as to leave a narrow space between the two. The inner rods c of
these pairs form the supporting frame or ribs of what may be termed the reel.
The coil of wire is placed upon the inner bars, the outer being removed for the
purpose and spread or distributed along the surface so that the wire lies in sub-
stantially single convolutions. The outer bar is secured over these convolutions of
wire, and preferably, connections are made between the two bars of each pair at
intervals along their length to hold the wire or prevent the convolutions working
together and secure their even distribution along the inner rods. In this condition
the frame and wire are hung on the shaft B, the two rings a, a, resting thereon,
and so that the revolution of the shaft will impart a corresponding rotary movement
to the frame, the friction between the shaft and the ends being sufficient for this
purpose. This rotation of the frame has the same effect upon the wire as if hung
upon the shaft independantly as first described, but with this advantage, that the
connections which are made between the bars prevent the possibility of the convolu-
tions working together, which they might possibly do in the first instance unless
special attention was given to prevent it.
While it is preferred to suspend the frame on the shaft as described, and the shaft
to be above or near the top of the bath, it will be evident that the shaft may be
below, and the frame or reel to rest on the shaft. In this case suitable side supports
would be necessary; I therefore do not wish to be understood as confining this
Invention to the particular method described for imparting the rotary movement.
In any case it will be desirable that the shaft or revolving mechanism in contact
with the frame shall be a part of the electric circuit.
I claim,―
First. The method herein described for electro-plating coils of wire consisting in
separating or distributing the convolutions forming the coil in substantially an axial
line with each other, and imparting thereto a rotary movement within the bath,
substantially as described.
Second. The herein described reel or frame consisting of the two rings or heads
connected together by one or more pairs of longitudinal rods, between which the
wire to be plated is secured before placing in the bath, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Third. In combination with one electro-plating bath and a frame for holding the
coils of wire to be plated, mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting
a rotary motion to the said frame, the combination being substantially as and for
the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)