Certain Improvements in Apparatus for the Electro Deposition of Metals.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Apparatus for the Electro Deposition
of Metals.
We, WILLIAM EVANS, of Summit Works, Walsall, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturer, and JOHN WALTER SMITH, of 394, Witton Road, Aston, in the
County of Warwick, Electro Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of the hereindescribed improvements in apparatus for
the electro deposition of metals and particularly on small articles such as buckle
frames pins pens screws nuts and bolts and many others.
In carrying out this invention the clectrolyte and the metal articles to be plated
are contained in a revolving air tight barrel which also contains the anode metals
and cathode metals connected outside the electric generator, the anodes are in-
sulated and so arranged that the articles to be plated do not come in contact with
them. As the barrel revolves the articles revolving in the electrolyte come in
contact with the cathode and with each other and are plated with the metal from
the anodes and by rolling one upon the other are thus plated and polished at the.
same time so that after they have been dried no separate polishing of the articles
is required.
In one arrangement of carrying out this invention we provide a barrel by pre-
ference of polygonal shape and made of wood, having the anodes in the form of
flat plates fixed to the inside of the barrel sides by means of perforated boards
corresponding with the barrel sides so that the electrolyte will have access to the
anodes through the perforations. The anodes are continued through the barrel
at one end and fixed to them are nickel or other metal strips turned down at the
end of the barrel towards the centre and connected to a central copper or other
metal plate fixed to the outside of the barrel end to which is fixed an axis forming
the positive pole, which by a metal brush or other well known means is suitably
connected to the positive wire from the generator. The cathode consists of a
central brass or other suitable metal rod projecting along the centre of the barrel
and fixed in the other end of the same by means of an external copper or other
metal bush through which this brass rod projects to connect by a brush or other
suitable means to the negative wire from the generator. Threaded on to the said
brass rod inside the barrel there are alternate brass or other metal discs at short
intervals apart made of convenient diameter so that when the barrel is revolving
the electrolyte and the articles contained therein will come in contact with these
discs thus completing the circuit.
Instead of making the cathode as above described we may fix inside the barrel
and at certain intervals apart a number of brass or other suitable metal rings
projecting within the barrel and having their outside shape made to conform
with the interior of the barrel. These metal rings are connected to small brass
or other metal rods which are let into said perforated lining boards and running
along the same and through the ends of the barrel where they are brought towards

page_text: the centre and connected to the said metal plate or bush outside of the barrel to
which the axle forming the negative pole is fixed. One side of the barrel is made
removable and fixed by suitable connections so as to give access to the interior.
Dated this 29th day of April 1897.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
Certain Improvements in Apparatus for the Electro Deposition
of Metals.
We, WILLIAM EVANS, of Summit Works, Walsall, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturer, and JOHN WALTER SMITH, of 394, Witton Road, Aston, in the
County of Warwick, Electro Metallurgist, 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 consists of the herein described improvements in apparatus for
the electro deposition of metals and particularly on small articles such as buckle
frames nuts and bolts and many others.
Our said apparatus is of that kind in which the electrolyte and the metal articles
to be plated are contained in a revolving air tight barrel which also contains the
anode metals and cathode metals connected outside to the electric generator the
anodes being insulated and so arranged that the articles to be plated do not come
in contact with them. As the barrel revolves the articles revolving in the elec-
trolyte come in contact with the cathode and with each other and are plated with
the metal from the anodes and by rolling one upon the other are thus plated and
polished at the same time so that after they have been dried no separate polishing
of the articles is required.
In carrying out this invention we construct our said apparatus as we will
describe by referring to the accompanying drawings on which Fig. 1 is a sectional
side elevation of an electro plating apparatus constructed according to this inven-
tion; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same and Fig 3 is a cross sectional elevation of
the same; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a modification of our
invention; Fig. 5 is an end view and Fig. 6 is a cross section of the said modi-
fication.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures of the drawings.
In the arrangement of carrying out this invention shewn by Figs. 1, 2 and 3
we provide a barrel A by preference of polygonal shape and made of wood, and
having one side a removable for giving access to the interior. This barrel con-
tains the anodes made in the form of flat plates B fixed to the inside of the barrel
sides by means of the perforated boards C corresponding with the barrel sides so
that the electrolyte will have access to the anodes through the perforations and
also flow round the anodes. The anodes B are continued through the barrel A
at one end as narrow nickel or other metal strips D which are turned down at the
end of the barrel A towards the centre and connected to a central copper or other
metal plate E which is fixed to the outside of the barrel end and to which, by
the flanged brass or other metal boss F. is fixed an axis G forming the positive
pole which by a metal brush H or other well known means acting on the flanged
part of the boss F is in electrical contact with the positive wire from the
electric generator. The cathodes consist of a central brass or other suitable metal

page_text: rod I projecting along the centre of the barrel A and fixed in the other end a³ of
the same by means of the external copper or other metal bush J through which
the brass rod I projects, the bush J being provided with a flange j¹ which by the
brush K or other suitable means is in electrical contact with the negative wire k
from the generator. Fixed concentrically to the metal bush J is the axle end N
on which with the axle end G the barrel A is revolved in the bearings S¹ S², as
by a band on the pulley T. Threaded on to the brass rod I inside the barrel there
are alternate brass or other metal discs and wooden blocks M at short intervals
apart the discs being made of convenient diameter so that when the barrel A
is revolving the electrolyte and the articles contained therein will come in con-
tact with these discs and thus complete the circuit.
Instead of making the cathode as above described we may fix inside the barrel A
the two brass or other suitable metal rings 01 02 (see Figs. 4 and 6) which project
within the barrel A and have their outside shape made to conform with the
interior of the barrel A. These metal rings 01 02 are electrically connected
together by the insulated brass or other metal rods P which run along the lining
boards C and are continued through the end of the barrel A where they are
bent towards the centre and connected to the metal plate or bush J outside the
barrel which is in electrical contact with the negative wire k¹. As the barrel
revolves some of the articles which are being plated come in contact with the
rings (102 and being in contact with others the circuit is completed through
them.
The side a of the barrel A which is made removable to give access to the
interior can readily be fixed in place by the wedges QQ which are driven in
between the metal bands R¹ R³ (which are fixed to the ends of the barrel) and the
removable side a¹. When the wedges Q1 Q2 are knocked out the side a¹ of the
barrel can be removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In an electro plating apparatus of the kind herein referred to in which the
anodes, cathodes, electrolyte and the articles to be plated are enclosed and revolved
in a watertight barrel, the employment of the anode plates B arranged and fixed
round the inner walls of the barrel by the perforated boards C and made with the
end strips D projecting through and turned down outside and against the barrel
end, in combination with the plate E fixed to the outside of the barrel end in con-
tact with said strips and the bush F carrying the axle end G and forming the
positive pole of the apparatus, substantially as described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In an electro plating apparatus of the kind herein referred to in which the
anodes, cathodes, electrolyte and the articles to be plated are enclosed and
revolved in a watertight barrel, the employment of the end bush J carrying one
of the axle ends and fixed to the barrel end and forming the negative pole of the
apparatus in combination with the central cathode rod I and the metal discs 7
and distance blocks M threaded on said rod for the purpose and substantially as
hereinbe ore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In an electro plating apparatus of the kind herein referred to in which the
anodes cathodes, electrolyte and the articles to be plated are enclosed and revolved
in a watertight barrel, the employment of the end bush J carrying one of the axle
ends and fixed to the barrel end and forming the negative pole of the apparatus
in combination with the metal rings 01 02 fixed inside the barrel and insulated
wires P connecting said rings together and with the end bush J for the purpose
and substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 4, 5 and 6
of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved electro

page_text: plating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved electro
plating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 4, and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of January 1898.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.