Improvements in Apparatus for Electro-plating.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Electro-plating.
I, HERMANN BECKMANN, of 6, Karlstrasse, Magdeburg, in the German Empire,
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:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for electro-plating small articles
in large quantities, such for instance as nuts and bolts, and the like, and the
smaller parts and spokes of velocipedes and the like, its object being to provide
an apparatus that requires little attention when at work, and by means of which
any number of such articles may be electro-plated simultaneously without becom-
ing attached to each other during the process.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an end view of the working
part of the apparatus according to one method of construction while Fig. 2 is
partial view of the side of same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a like but compound apparatus within its con-
taining vessel or bath, while Fig. 4 is a section upon the line A B of Fig. 3.
For the purposes of my invention I provide of the usual materials a bath or
plating liquid containing vessel A of any desired capacity, in which I place a
shaft B, suspended by endless cords or ropes C C by engaging with pulleys D
and 1 upon the ends of same, and like pulleys upon an overhead shaft (not
shewn) receiving motion from any available source.
According to the arrangement shewn by Figs. 1 and 2, upon one end of the
shaft B is mounted and fixed a wheel E, consisting of any number of metallic
spokes or radiating members F, while upon the opposite end of B is mounted and
fixed a like wheel G, having the same number of like but shorter spokes or
radiating members, and between any pair or pairs of spokes or members F of
the wheel E, and the corresponding members of the wheel G, I place and fix a
perforated, or gauze like metallic box or chamber H, as shewn by outline in
Fig. 1, the cross sectional formation of the said chambers at each end being such
as to fit between the said members of the said wheels E and G.
In practice, the small articles to be plated would be placed and enclosed within
the said chambers H, the shaft B being (preferably by rubbing contact, not
shewn) in electrical connection with the negative pole of a suitable battery, the
positive pole of which said battery would be in electrical contact with the anode
suspended within the plating liquid in the tank A in the usual way, when if
motion be imparted to the shaft B, and consequently the chambers or boxes II,
the articles within the latter would be kept in a constant state of agitation, yet
always in touch with some part of their respective chambers H and consequently
always within the electric circuit, and by reason of the sloping formation of the
chambers H, and the sloping position of these consequent upon the difference
in the size of the wheels E and G, the said articles would be moved, not only in
the direction of rotation of the shaft B, but from end to end of the chambers H.
and by this means I am enabled to plate any number of small articles, simul-

page_text: taneously without fear of their becoming united by lengthy contact with each
other. In order to enhance the speed and quality of the plating process auxiliary
anodes (Fig. 1) may be arranged between the chambers H.
When long articles such as the spokes or handle bars of velocipedes, stair rods.
and other metallic articles of like shape and configuration are to be plated, I
arrange the apparatus as at Fig. 3, in which two or more skeleton wheels or
discs K are mounted upon the shaft B in such a way that they may be fixed in
any desired position thereon, and at any desired distance apart, so that the one
ends of the articles being plated may be suspended within one wheel or disc K
while their opposite ends are suspended within the next, an example of the most
favored general structural formation of the said wheels or discs K being particu-
larly shewn in Fig. 4, the several openings or spaces therein being for the recep-
tion of the ends of the said articles so that they may be suspended therein as
suggested by the dotted lines X in Fig. 3.
In this latter arrangement (when space will permit) the axle B may also carry
a device similar to Figs. 1 and 2 as suggested by Ein Fig. 3, for the reception
and plating of small articles as previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) The herein described rotary apparatus for electro-plating small articles
in large quantities substantially as described and shewn.
(2) Th herein described rotary electro-pating apparatus, consisting of a
rotating shaft B within a tank A and in electrical contact with the negative pola
of a battery, and arranged to carry a pair of wheels such as E G, the spokes or
members of which carry perforated chambers H, substantially as herein set forth
and shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(3) The herein described rotary electro-plating apparatus, consisting of a rotary
shaft B, within a tank A, and in electrical contact with the negative pole of a
battery, and carrying two or more adjustable dises or wheels K, substantially
as herein set forth and shown by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.