Year: 1895

page_text: The polishing or burnishing devices consist of rollers, or the like, mounted in
carriers capable of turning on centres, or of moving in guides, so as to bear on, or
embrace, the wire as it passes between the said rollers, or the like, which are
pressed onto the wire by means of a spring, or of springs, which may take the form
of a rubber band encircling the carriers of the rollers or the like. Motion of rotation
is given to the supports for the rollers, or the like, so that the said rollers, or the like,
revolve around the wire as it passes between them and by their bearing thereon
effect the requisite polishing, or burnishing. A similar arrangement can be used to
clean or otherwise act on the wires before, after, or at any stage of the process of
electro deposition.
a
It is preferred to use two rollers, one concave to bear on a considerable
surface of the wire and the other convex to give point of bearing on the wire.
The winding pulleys, or drums, are made so that one side or flange can be
removed to take off the coil of wire. To facilitate this the removeable part
may be slipped on the end of the shaft and be held by a hinged piece provided
with a part to bear on the boss of the said removeable part and having a projection
with which engages a spring or equivalent catch which may be connected to the
said removeable part. By removing this catch and turning aside the hinged
piece the removeable part of the pulley or drum can be unslipped and the coil
removed. The fixed and removeable parts can be secured together by means of a
projection, or projections on the one entering a recess, or hole, or recesses, or holes,
in the other.
The brushes by which electric contact is made with the wires may be formed
with a groove to fit against the wire and their upper ends may be between cars on
a cross rail. A sleeve and weight can be moved on the brush to vary the pressure
on the wire, or springs may be used to give the requisite pressure. The brushes
can be made of any suitable conductive material, they may for instance be of the
metal to be deposited and it is preferred to cover the parts which are not in contact
with the wire with rubber, or other insulating material.
Dated this 12th dox of June 1805
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Coating Strips,
Wire, and like Metal Articles by Electro Deposition.
We, THE COWPER-COLES GALVANIZING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of 39 Victoria
Street, in the City of Westminster, and SHERARD OSBORN COWPER-COLES of
16 Adam Street Manchester Square, in the County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM
POLE ROUTH of Sutton Court, Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Civil 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 principal object to provide means whereby strips,
wire, or like metal articles in considerable lengths, can be efficiently coated with
metal by electro-deposition with. great facility and economy. According to this
invention the electrolyte through which the articles (we will refer to them as wires)
to be coated are passed is contained in vessels or vats connected together by tubes
or equivalent passages which constitute communications between the vessels or vats
for the passage of the electrolyte and also as anodes for the wires to be coated the
said wires passing through the said vessels or vats and tubes or passages so that
they are in close proximity with the inner sides of the anodes, as they pass there-
through. The contact of the wires with the anodes may be prevented by means

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Coating Strips,
Wire, and like Metal Articles by Electro Deposition.
We, THE COWPER-COLES GALVANIZING SYNDICATE LIMITED of 39 Victoria
Street in the City of Westminster and SHERARD OSBORN COWPER-COLES. of
16 Adam Street Manchester Square in the County of Middlesex Engineer and
WILLIAM POLE ROUTH of Sutton Court, Sutton, in the County of Surrey Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its principal object to provide means whereby strips, wire,
or like metal articles in considerable lengths, can be efficiently coated with metal
by electro-deposition with great facility and economy. According to this invention
the electrolyte through which the articles (we will refer to them as wires) to be
coated are passed is contained in vessels or vats connected together by tubes or
equivalent passages which constitute communications between the vessels or vats for
the passage of the electrolyte and also as anodes for the wires to be coated the said
wires passing through the said vessels or vats and tubes or passages so that they are
in close proximity with the inner sides of the anodes as they pass therethrough. The
contact of the wires with the anodes may be prevented by means of perforated
supports situated in the said tubes or passages. The tubes or passages may be
connected to the vats or vessels by any suitable means for example by bolts or by
expanding the tubes into holes in the sides of the vats or vessels. There may be
any desired number of vats or vessels with any desired number of tubes or passages
extending between them. The electric connections may be made with the anodes
by contact with their exteriors between the vessels or vats and the electric
connection with the cathodes (the wires) may be made by means of brushes for
instance, in contact with the said wires as they pass through the vessels or vats.
The tubes or passages constituting the anodes may be of any metal suitable for the
purpose and the electrolyte will be of a nature in accordance with the kind of work
to be done.
The wires will be led from suitable holders or swifts and be guided into through
and from the vessels or vats and intervening tubes or passages by suitable rollers
and guides and be burnished or polished after they leave the electrolyte or whilst
on their way through it, or both, and the invention includes improved constructions
of burnishing and polishing devices and swifts and also winding pulleys for receiving
and winding the wires. The swifts employed in cases where two or more wires are
passed one above the other through the electrolyte may consist of drums mounted
so as to turn upon a spindle the lower drum having a flange for supporting the lower
coil of wire and there being, between the drums and secured to the spindle, a piece
carrying pins or supports for supporting the upper coil or coils. The said pins
or supports are made so that they can be removed, or turned out of the way when
desired. When the lower coil or coils becomes or become exhausted, by removing
these pins or supports a coil from the upper or an upper drum if unexhausted will
descend onto the lower drum and a fresh coil or fresh coils can be placed on the
drum, or drums, above, after the pins or supports are put in place or turned
into their supporting position. There may be ball bearings between the drums
and the parts on which they rest and also on any other revolving part of the
apparatus generally.
1:

page_text: through the wires. From the tank B the wires pass through the tubes D into the
tank or vessel A. The tubes D like the tubes D³, are provided with perforated
supports d to keep the wires out of contact with the surfaces of the tubes. The
coated wires are conducted from the tank A. by guide pulleys a and after they leave
the said tank are wound on suitable winding drums. The swifts which we prefer
to employ for carrying the coils of wire to be coated (especially in cases where two
or more wires are passed one above the other through the electrolyte) are shewn in
Figures 4, 5 and 6 each swift consisting of two drums I 12 mounted so as to turn
upon a spindle K the lower drum I having a flange i for supporting the lower coil
of wire and there being between the drums I, 12, and secured to the spindle K, a
piece L carrying pins or supports M for carrying the upper coil or coils. The said
pins or supports M are made so that they can be easily removed, or turned out of
the way, when desired. For instance, the said pins or supports may have their
inner ends tapered as shewn at m Figures 4, 5 and 6, the said tapered ends entering
corresponding tapered holes in the piece L. Or as shewn in Figures 7 and 8 the
iuner end of each pin or support may have thereon a "bit" or projection m³,
holes n of corresponding shape being made in the piece L for their reception and
so that when the pin is inserted in the hole it may be secured therein by giving to
the pin a movement of partial rotation so as to cause the "bit" or projection to
engage the piece L as shewn in Figure 7. When the coil or coils on the lower
drum I becomes or become exhausted, by removing the pins or supports M, a coil
from the upper drum I, if unexhausted, can be allowed to descend onto the lower
drum, after which the pins or supports can be again inserted in the piece L and a
fresh coil or fresh coils can be placed on the upper drum 12.
We prefer to provide ball bearings between the piece L and the drums I and I'
as shewn at land also on the other revolving part of the apparatus generally.
As the coated wires leave the tank or vessel A and before reaching the winding
drums they can be caused to pass through polishing or burnishing devices which
may consist of rollers N and O, (Figures 9, 10 and 11) or the like, mounted in
carriers P capable of turning on centres p as shewu for example at the right hand
side of Figure 9, or of moving in guides p2 as shewn on the left hand side of the
said Figure 9, so as to bear on, or embrace, the wire as it passes between the said
rollers, or the like, which are pressed onto the wire by means of a spring, or of
springs, which, as shewn in the drawing, consist of a rubber band Q encircling
the carriers P of the rollers or the like. Motion of rotation is given to the
supports R for the rollers, or the like, so that the said rollers, or the like, revolve
around the wire Has it passes between them and by their bearing thereon, effect
the requisite polishing, or burnishing. A similar arrangement can be used to clean
or otherwise act on the wires before, after, or at any stage of the process of electro-
deposition.
It is preferred to use two rollers as shewn, one, N, being concave to bear on a
considerable surface of the wire, and the other, O, being convex to give a point of
bearing on the wire.
The winding pulleys, or drums, constructed according to this invention are made
in parts as shewn in Figures 12 and 13 so that one side or flange S can be removed
to take off the coil of wire. To facilitate this the removable part S may be slipped
onto the end of the shaft T and be held by a hinged piece U provided with a
part u to bear on the boss s of the said removable part S and having a projection s²
with which engages a spring or equivalent catch t which may be connected to the
said removable part. By releasing the catch t and turning aside the hinged piece U
the removable part S of the pulley or drum can be unshipped or removed from the
shaft T and the coil removed. The fixed part V of the drum or pulley and the
removable part S can be secured together by means of a projection, or projections v,
on the one, entering a recess, or hole, or recesses or holes w in the other part
as shewn.
The brushes G by which electric contact is made with the wires, are preferably
made as shewn in Figure 14, a groove being provided in the contact end of each

page_text: of perforated supports situated in the said tubes or passages. The tubes or
passages may be connected to the vats or vessels by any suitable means for
example by bolts or by expanding the tubes into holes in the sides of the vats or
vessels. There may be any desired number of vats or vessels with any desired
number of tubes or passages or sets of tubes or passages extending between them.
The electric connections may be made with the anodes by contact with their
exteriors between the vessels or vats and the electric connection with the cathodes
(the wires) may be made by means of brushes for instance, in contact with the said
wires as they pass through the vessels or vats. The tubes or passages constituting
the anodes may be of any metal suitable for the purpose and the electrolyte will
be of a nature in accordance with the kind of work to be done; the wires will be
led from suitable holders or swifts and be guided into through and from the vessels
or vats and intervening tubes or passages by suitable rollers and guides and be
burnished or polished after they leave the electrolyte or whilst on their way
through it, or both, and the invention includes improved construction of burnishing
and polishing devices and swifts and also winding pulleys for receiving and winding
the wires as hereinafter described.
In order that this invention may be clearly understood we will further describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 of which represents in longitudinal section, Figure 2 in plan and
Figure 3 in transverse section an electro-deposition apparatus for coating wires
according to this invention.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical section and a horizontal section of a
swift or drum for carrying the coils of wire to be coated.
Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section shewing a slightly modified form of
the contact surfaces on which the drums turn and
Figures 7 and 8 are views of one of the pins or supports for wire coils.
Figure 9 shews in front view two arrangements for burnishing and polishing the
wires after they have been coated,
Figure 10 is a section on the line 1-2 Figure 9, and Figure 11 is a section on
the line 3-4 Figure 9.
Figures 12 and 13 are respectively a side elevation and a vertical section of an
improved winding drum constructed according to this invention.
Figure 14 is a side elevation (drawn to a larger scale) of one of the contact
brushes.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A, B and C, are three tanks or vessels connected
together by tubes or tubular passages D, D². Into the tank or vessel A electrolyte
is fed from a main supply pipe E through branch pipes e which enter the lower part
of the tank A and are each provided with a stop cock 2 by which the admission of
electrolyte can be regulated as required. The electrolyte flows from the tank or
vessel A through the tubes D, into the tank or vessel B and thence through the
tubes D2 into the tank C, the level of the electrolyte being preferably such that the
tubes D, D2, are all full. The tubes D, D2 constitute anodes they being connected
together with the tanks A, B and C to one pole of the source of electricity by
copper conductors F whilst the other pole of the source of electricity is connected
to contacts, or brushes G situated in the tank B, and caused to make contact with
the cathode or wires to be coated while passing through the said tank. The coils
of wires to be coated are carried on reels or swifts arranged in proximity to the
tank or vessel C, into which the wires are conducted by suitable guide pulleys.
The said wires H, are caused to descend below the surface of the electrolyte in the
tank or vessel C, by pulleys c which also conduct the wires into the tubes D², in the
interior of which are perforated supports on which the wires travel and which
maintain them from contact with the interior surfaces of the tubes. Passing from
the tubes D2, the wires H enter the tank or vessel B, in which the wires are
supported on vulcanite or like pulleys 6 having grooved peripheries with which the
wires are in contact. While passing through the tank or vessel B the wires are in
contact with the spring contacts or brushes G so as to maintain the electric circuit

page_text: brush to fit against the wire H and the upper end of the said brush is hinged
between ears y on a cross rail z carried on the trough B. The upper end of the.
hinged brush is connected to a spring 9 and a sleeve or weight W can be adjustably
fitted on the brush to vary the pressure thereof on the wire as desired, or instead
of the weight W springs may be used to give the requisite pressure. The brushes
can be made of any suitable conductive material, they may for instance be of the
metal to be deposited and it is preferred to cover the parts which are not in contact
with the wire with rubber, or other insulating material as shewn at X.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we déclare that what.
we claim is :-
1st. In apparatus for coating strips, wires, and like metal articles by electro--
deposition, tanks or vessels for containing the electrolyte through which the articles
to be coated are passed the said tanks or vessels being connected together by tubes
or equivalent passages which constitute communications between the tanks or vessels.
for the passage of the electrolyte and also constitute anodes for the articles to be
coated substantially as herein before described.
2nd. In apparatus for coating strips, wires, and like metal articles by electro-
deposition the combination of tanks or vessels for containing the electrolyte through
which the strips, wires or the like to be coated are passed; tubes connecting the
tanks or vessels together and constituting communicating passages between the
tanks or vessels for the electrolyte and also constituting anodes for the articles to be
coated, and perforated supports in the communicating tubes for supporting the
strips, wires, or the like as they pass through the said tubes to keep them in close
proximity to but out of contact with the interior surfaces of the tubular anodes,.
and contact makers bearing on the said wires or the like all substantially as herein-.
before described.
3rd. For use with apparatus for coating by electro-deposition metal strips, wires-
or the like, a reel or swift for containing coils of the strips, wires or the like, to be
coated, the said swift being constructed substantially as herein before described with.
reference to Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. For use with apparatus for coating by electro-deposition, metal strips,.
wires, and the like, a device for burnishing or polishing the strips, or wires, the said
device consisting of rollers between which the strip or wire to be burnished or-
polished is caused to pass the said rollers being mounted on a carrier to which.
rotation is given and the said rollers being fitted to the carrier so as to be capable
of moving towards and from each other and caused to press on the wire or the like
as it passes between them substantially as herein before described with reference to.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
5th. For use with apparatus for coating, by electro-deposition, metal strips, wires,
and the like, a drum or pulley onto which the coated wire or the like is wound the
said drum or pulley being made in parts capable of being readily separated.
to facilitate the removal of the coil of wire or the like therefrom substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying
drawings.
6th. In apparatus for coating wires or the like by electro-deposition the com--
bination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved brush or contact for
completing the circuit through the cathode (wire or the like) substantially as.
herein before described with reference to Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Dad his 19th
Al 1906
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C_