Improvements in the Means of and Apparatus for the Coating of Pieces of Metal, Applicable also for Cleaning Articles of Metal.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
Improvements in the Means of and Apparatus for the Coating of
Pieces of Metal, Applicable also for Cleaning Articles of Metal.
I, FRANK (FRANCIS EDWARD) ELMORE of 359 Clapham Road in the County of
Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to obtain rapid, smooth and uniform deposits or
coats of metal simultaneously upon a number of small pieces of metal such as steel
pens, pins, needles, nails, shoe tips and such like. This invention consists in applying
means whereby the pieces of metal whilst being rapidly coated shall each receive an
equal amount of deposit and whereby the metal being so deposited shall be burnished
or otherwise rendered smooth and bright during the operation of deposition and
means whereby any gas generated by decomposition of the Electrolyte shall be dissi-
pated and means also to prevent or obviate such generation of gas. According to this
invention the metal pieces to be coated are rendered fit to receive their coating of
metal by being put into a revolving cylinder or rumble in which is contained a
solution of caustic potash (where the metal pieces being treated are not acted upon by
such solution) and which also contains a quantity of oxide of iron or some like
material and after this cylinder has been revolved long enough to remove all adhering
dirt and the like the metal pieces are to be removed. After being rinsed in water to
remove any oxide of iron or caustic potash which has not drained off, the metal pieces
are passed through a solution to remove any remaining oxide of the metal pieces
which the oxide of iron has failed to remove. Where the metal pieces are of iron or
steel this solution may be dilute sulphuric or hydro-chloric acid or a dilute mixture
of both, or if of brass, copper or like metal this solution may be a solution of cyanide
of potassium. The pieces are then to be removed to the electro-depositing vessel,
which depositing vessel it is preferable to construct as a horizontal cylinder with an
internal flange at both ends to retain the electrolyte thus leaving a central opening
sufficiently large to admit of the anode or anodes being introduced and allow of the
metal pieces being introduced and withdrawn casily such cylinder is to rest upon
rollers or wheels which are provided with suitable means to impart to them a rotary

page_text: motion which they impart to the superposed cylinder. The metal anode is to be
suspended by a rod supported outside and passing through both openings of the ends
of the cylinder. The anode dips below the surface of the electrolyte and comes near
to the metal pieces which rest in the bottom of the cylinder; such anode should
preferably be encased in flannel or other textile material to retain any impurities and
prevent their falling upon the metal pieces forming the cathode beneath it. Connec-
tion is made from the metal pieces or cathode to the source of electricity as follows:-
The cylinder has fixed on its inner surface a number of strips or rods of metal fixed
equi-distant from one another and running parallel with the axis of such cylinder from
flange to flange they are turned up at one end at right angles such turned up end
being laid so as to converge towards the centre but not touching one another. These
ends of each rod or strip terminate in a contact piece or block, such contact pieces
or blocks forming a circle or crown. These contact pieces or blocks are insulated one
from another by small air spaces or otherwise by insulating material. On this crown
or commutator connecting brushes rest in such manner as only to supply current to
those rods or strips which at that part of a revolution of the cylinder lay under-
neath the metal pieces or upon which the metal pieces touch or rest. The cylinder
when being charged with metal pieces (cathode) to receive such coating shall have
added at the same time a number of pieces of glass or similar or analogus hard polished
substance preferably without sharp edges which owing to the continuous movement
caused by the rotation of the cylinder will rub against the surface of the metal pieces
being coated and will thereby burnish or brighten the surface whilst deposition is
taking place and will also assist in dissipating any gas consequent upon the decom-
position of the Electrolyte which is further assisted by the following means which also
lessen the possibility of gas being evolved. A perforated pipe running parallel with
the axis of the cylinder and between the metal pieces lying therein and the metal
anode suspended above the metal pieces, is connected by means of india rubber
tubing with a tank at an elevation and containing a supply of strong electrolyte, or to
a force pump leading from a tank or reservoir, and whilst deposition is taking place
the supply of electrolyte is allowed to force itself out through the perforations of the
pipe so as to impinge upon the metal pieces laying in the bottom of the cylinder.
This revolving cylindrical tank may also be employed for removing scale or other
impurity from iron pieces or other metal pieces by so arranging the electrical con-
nection that the metal pieces to be cleaned or scaled shall be the positive electrode in
the bath.

page_text: Pieces of Metal, Applicable also for Cleaning Articles of Metal.
I FRANK (FRANCIS EDWARD) ELMORE, of Cockermouth, in the County of Cumber-
land, Electrical 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:—
This invention has for its object to obtain rapid, smooth and uniform deposits or
coats of metal simultaneously upon a number of small pieces of metal such as steel
pens, pins, needles, nails, shoe tips and such like.
The invention consists in applying means whereby the pieces of metal whilst being
rapidly coated shall each receive an equal amount of deposit and whereby the metal
being so deposited shall be burnished or otherwise rendered smooth and bright during
the operation of deposition and means whereby any gas generated by decomposition of
the electrolyte shall be dissipated, and means also to prevent or obviate such genera-
tion of gas.
According to this invention the metal pieces to be coated are rendered fit to receive
their coating of metal by being put into a revolving cylinder or rumble, in which is
contained a solution of caustic potash (where the metal pieces being treated are not
acted upon by such solution) and which also contains a quantity of oxide of iron or
some like material, and after this cylinder has been revolved long enough to remove
all adhering dirt and the like, the metal pieces are to be removed. After being rinsed
in water to remove any oxide of iron or caustic potash which has not drained off, the
metal pieces are passed through a solution to remove any remaining oxide of the
Where the metal pieces
metal pieces which the oxide of iron has failed to remove.
are of iron or steel, this solution may be dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, or a
dilute mixture of both; or if of brass, copper, or like metal, this solution may be a
solution of cyanide of potassium. The pieces are then to be removed to the electro-
depositing vessel, which depositing vessel it is preferable to construct as a horizontal
cylinder, with an internal flange at both ends to retain the electrolyte, thus leaving a
central opening sufficiently large to admit of the anode or anodes being introduced
and allow of the metal pieces being introduced and withdrawn easily, such cylinder is
to rest upon rollers or wheels which are provided with suitable means to impart to
them a rotary motion which they impart to the superposed cylinder.
The metal anode is to be suspended by a rod supported outside and passing through
both openings of the ends of the cylinder.
The anode dips below the surface of the electrolyte and comes near to the metal
pieces which rest in the bottom of the cylinder; such anode should preferably be
encased in Hannel or other textile material to retain any impurities and prevent their
falling upon the metal pieces forming the cathode beneath it.
Connection is made from the metal pieces or cathode, to the source of electricity as
follows: The cylinder has fixed on its inner surface a number of strips or rods of

page_text: metal fixed equi-distant from one another and ruuning parallel with the axis of such
cylinder from flange to flange; they are turned up at one end at right angles, such
turned up end being laid so as to converge towards the centre but not touching one
another. These ends of each rod or strip, terminate in a contact piece or block, such
contact pieces or blocks forming a circle or crown, These contact pieces or blocks are
insulated one from another by small air spaces, or otherwise by insulating material.
On this crown or commutator connecting brushes rest, in such manner as only to
supply current to those rods or strips which at that part of a revolution of the cylinder
lay underneath the metal pieces or upon which the metal pieces touch or rest.
The cylinder when being charged with metal pieces (cathode) to receive such
coating, shall have added at the same time a number of pieces of glass or similar or
analogus hard polished substance preferably without sharp edges, which owing to
the continuous movement caused by the rotation of the cylinder, will rub against the
surface of the metal pieces being coated and will thereby burnish or brighten the
surface whilst deposition is taking place and will also assist in dissipating any gas
consequent upon the decomposition of the electrolyte which is further assisted by the
following means which also lessen the possibility of gas being evolved. A perforated
pipe running parallel with the axis of the cylinder and between the metal pieces
lying therein and the anode suspended above the metal pieces, is connected by means
of india-rubber tubing with a tank at an elevation containing a supply of strong
electrolyte, or to a force pump leading from a tank or reservoir and whilst deposition
is taking place this supply of electrolyte is allowed to force itself out through
the perforations of the pipe so as to impinge upon the metal pieces lying in the bottom
of the cylinder.
This revolving cylindrical tank may also be employed for removing scale or other
impurity from iron pieces or other metal pieces by so arranging the electrical con-
nection that the metal pieces to be cleaned or scaled shall be the positive electrode in
the bath.
In the annexed sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is an
end view, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of the Apparatus constructed according to
this invention.
Figs. 4. 5 and 6 are details.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a vertical section and a plan view of one of the
anodes.
a,
being
The apparatus consists of a coopered barrel or cylindrical vessel of wood
of said barrel having central openings b, c, formed therein, the opening
the ends
sufficiently large to admit of the anodes being introduced and to allow of the
introduction and withdrawal of the metal pieces.
To the inner surface of the sides of the barrel a, a number of strips or rods of
copper, d, (one such strip being shown in detail in Fig. 5), are fixed equi-distant one
from the other and running parallel with the axis of the cylinder from end to end ;
said strips d, being at one end bent up at a right angle and laid so as to converge
towards the smaller central opening, b, in the barrel end, through which opening
they are brought by a further bend to project outwardly with a free space between
each strip when secured in position within the opening b, in the end of the barrel.
The projecting end of each such rod or strip d, terininates in a segmental block or
contact piece, d, such contact pieces forming a crown or commutator (as is more
clearly shown upon enlarged scale in fig. 4. These contact pieces or blocks d', are
insulated one from another by small air spaces d², or otherwise by insulating material.
Copper brushes, e, mounted in a brush holder f, are in connection with such crown or
commutator (formed by the series of projecting ends of the copper strips, d and their
segmental blocks, d¹) in such manner as only to supply current to those rods or strips
which at that part of a revolution of the cylinder, lay underneath the metal pieces or
upon which the metal pieces touch or rest."
9,
The barrel or cylinder a, is supported and rotated by four or more friction wheels
mounted upon shafts h, h³, said shafts being carried by pedestals i, secured to the

page_text: timber framing j, and fast and loose driving pulleys, 1, 14, are fitted to one of the
shafts h.
Rings of angle iron, k, are fitted externally to the barrel a, at the points where same
bears upon and is rotated by the friction wheels g, the barrel being further strengthened
by hoops of wrought iron as required.
The anodes m, are suspended by hooks n, or otherwise as convenient, from the anode
rod or bar o, said bar passing through the barrel and being carried by vertical supports
provided at each end of the timber framing j.
The circular openings, b, c, in the ends of the barrel a, are fitted with a lining of
sheet lead c covering the copper strips d, where they pass through the one end of
the barrel, such lead lining extending inwardly at either end beyond the thickness
of wood forming the ends of the barrel a, such inwardly projecting portion of the
lead lining being curved over within the barrel, so as to form internally around said
openings b, c, an annular channel or gutter s, to prevent escape of the solutions
contained in the barrel.
The ends of the barrel a, are further provided with corresponding grooves or slides,
formed by securing thereto wood strips t, with a space between such strips for the
reception of a removeable board or screen t¹, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 6.-
Such board or screen being inserted through the opening c, when by revolving the
barrel, the grooves t, are near the horizontal position A. (see Fig. 3), so that by
the further revolution of the cylinder in the direction shown by the arrow, the board
or screen t¹ encounters the metal pieces in the electrolyte, carrying them with it,
upwards out of the solution, till again in the horizontal position as at B. at which
point the board or screen, with the metal piecos upon it, is withdrawn from its place
in the barrel through the opening c.
To prevent any formation of gas, as before mentioned, a perforated spray pipe (not
shown in the drawings) is led in through the opening e, and passing down below the
anode rod o, is carried parallel with the axis of the barrel a, and between the metal
pieces lying therein and the anode, or anodes m, to the other end of the cylinder,
where the end of such spray pipe is suspended by hooks or otherwise from the
anode rod o. This spray pipe being further connected up to a tank or reservoir
containing a supply of strong electrolyte, or to a force pump as before 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 :-
Firstly. The improved means of and apparatus herein described for coating pieces
of metal by electro deposition, in a cylindrical tank constructed and operated as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
Secondly. The use of such cylindrical tank for the purpose of cleaning or scaling
the surface of metal pieces by making said metal pieces the anode or positive electrode
within such cylindrical tank.