Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Operations.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb.,
1898
L
1060
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Operations.
I, HERBERT EDWARD BEACH, of the Firm of H. and J. Beach, of Hampton
Works, Great Hampton Row, in the City of Birmingham, Metal Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to anodes for use in electrolytic operations, and has for its
object, to provide more efficient and economical anodes, which are so constructed
that they allow the free circulation of the electrolyte or depositing solution through
them, they present a much greater surface to the action of the electrolyte than do
the flat plate anodes now in common use, whilst no part of them is liable to fall
to the bottom of the vat after the metal has been corroded away after use, which is
a wasteful and inconvenient defect to which all plate anodes, whether solid or
pierced, are particularly liable.
My improved anode consists primarily of a series of tapering bars or rods of
suitable metal depending downwards, or proceeding (either directly or at similar or
varying angles) from a horizontal carrier bar, preferably cast or formed integral
with the said bars and separated from one another by spaces through which the
electrolyte may freely circulate.
Thus, in carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a nickel
anode, I form, preferably by casting in a mould, a horizontal bar of suitable length
and substance, having upon its top edge, one, two or more loops or eyes by which
the anode is suspended, whilst depending downwardly from the underside of this
carrier bar are a series (say six in number) of separated bars or long teeth, equi-
distantly disposed, and of any suitable cross section, either round, square, oval,
triangular or otherwise, but tapering gradually away throughout their whole
length, from their upper ends downwards, the said upper ends thus being of
considerably greater diameter and substance than the lower ends. When this
skeleton, fork-like or frame anode is suspended in a plating vat in which the
solution is agitated or in movement, as is now the common practice, the said
electrolyte can freely circulate around and between the bar members thereof and
has a large surface of anode exposed to its action whilst as the lower parts of the
depending bars, where the least metal is, are those most subjected to the influence
of the solution, they are eaten or corroded away before the upper and more sub-
stantial parts, so that there is no liability of any portion becoming corroded through
and falling to the bottom of the vat.
The depending bars may be straight or curved and set at any angle or rake
relative to the carrier cross piece or instead of depending they may radiate in any
direction therefrom, and the cross piece may itself be curved in either a horizontal
or vertical plane, with the bars radiating therefrom in the latter case, like the
fingers of a hand.
As a further improvement as applied to ordinary plate anodes, I may make these
of a wedge section vertically, with the part of greatest thickness coming at the

page_text: top edge, thus preventing the lower part from falling by corrosion through the
metal above them.
My invention is applicable to anodes for hickelling, silvering, bronzing, brassing
and all other electrolytic operations in which anode elements are employed.
Dated this 10th day of February 1898.
Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Operations.
I, HERBERT EDWARD BEACH, of the Firm of H. and J. Beach, of Great Hampton
Row, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 anodes for use in electrolytic operations, and
has for its object, to render such anodes more efficient and economical
in use, which is attained by so constructing them that they allow
the free circulation of the electrolyte or depositing solution through
them, and present a much greater surface to the action of the electrolyte
than do the flat plate anodes now in common use, whilst at the same time, they
are so constructed that no part of them is liable to fall to the bottom of the vat
after the metal has been corroded away by use, which is a wasteful and incon-
venient defect to which all plate anodes, whether solid or pierced are particularly
liable.
My improved anode consists primarily of a series of tapering bars or rods of
suitable metal depending downwards, or proceeding (either vertically downwards
or at similar or varying angles) from a horizontal carrier bar or top member,
preferably cast, or formed integral with the said depending bars, which are
separated from one another by spaces through which the electrolyte may freely
circulate.
Thus, in carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a nickel
anode, I form, preferably by casting in a mould, a horizontal bar of suitable length
and substance, having upon its top edge, one, two or more loops or eyes by which
the anode is suspended, whilst depending downwardly from the underside of this
carrier bar are a series (say six in number) of separated bars or long teeth equi-
distantly disposed, and of any suitable cross section, either round, square, oval,
triangular or otherwise, but tapering gradually away throughout their whole
length, from their upper ends downwards, the said upper ends thus being of
considerably greater diameter and substance than the lower ends. When this
skeleton, fork-like or frame anode is suspended in a plating vat in which the
solution is agitated or in movement, as is now the common practice in electro-
plating works, the said electrolyte can freely circulate around and between the
bar members thereof and has a large surface of anode exposed to the electrolytic
action, whilst as the lower parts of the depending bars, where the least metal is,
are those most subjected to the influence of the solution, they are eaten or corroded
away before the upper and more substantial parts, so that there is no liability of
any portion becoming corroded through and falling to the bottom of the vat.
The depending bars may be straight or curved and set at any angle or rake
relative to the carrier cross piece or instead of depending they may radiate in any
direction therefrom, and the cross piece may itself be curved in either a horizontal
or vertical plane, with the bars radiating therefrom in the latter case, like the
fingers of a hand.

page_text: My invention is applicable to anodes for nickelling, silvering, bronzing, brassing
and all other electrolytic operations in which anode elements are employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First: An anode for use in the electro-deposition of metals and other electro-
lytic operations, consisting of a carrier bar or horizontal member, straight or curved
adapted to be suspended, and having depending or radiating from it, a series of
other and preferably tapering bars or members of any cross section, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described.
Secondly: An anode for use in the electro-deposition of metals and other electro-
lytic operations, consisting of a fork-like frame comprising a horizontal carrier
bar with a series of depending and integral tapering bars proceeding therefrom,
the whole being cast in one solid piece, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1898.
HERBERT EDWARD BEACH.