An Improved Apparatus for Producing Sheets of Metal by Electro-deposition.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Producing Sheets of Metal by
Electro-deposition.
I MOSES GERRISH FARMER, of Eliot, in the County of York and State of Maine
United States of America, 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 consists in an apparatus for producing sheets of zinc, copper or
other metals by means of electro-deposition. In a patent of the United States granted
to me No. 381,004, dated April 10, 1888, I have shown and described an apparatus
for this purpose, which may be described in a general manner as follows: A curved
anode-plate is secured in a tank or vat and a metallic cathode ring or hoop is
supported by rollers above the anode and partially immersed in the electrolytic
solution.
One of the supporting rollers is rotated, whereby a rotary movement is imparted
to the cathode, which receives a deposit of metal. My present invention is an
improvement on this device.
Specifically stated, the invention is as follows: I form a metallic cylinder open
at the ends in the manner hereinafter set forth, and support or hang it on a
non-conducting roller, to which a slow rotary movement is imparted from any
suitable source of power. Beneath the cylinder, which is partially immersed in the
electrolytic solution in a tank or vat, I arrange two anode-plates curved to conform
to the shape of the cylinder. When a square vat is used, I place in its bottom
wooden or other blocks to fill up the space, so that less solution will be required.
I make the cylinder of an alloy of lead and antimony and true and polish its
surface, so that the deposited metal may be readily stripped off from it, and I mold
or cast it with an internal flange or rib around its middle and both internal and
external flanges at the ends.
The details of construction and manner of using the device will be understood by
reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of
a portion of the external surfaco of the cylinder.
A is a tank or vat, preferably of wood, lined with sheet-lead.
A convenient size for the tank is about fifty-four inches long, forty inches wide,
and thirty inches deep. The forms or blocks, which are curved to conform to the
cylinder, are designated by the letters B B. The curved anode-plates C C are
supported in any convenient manner over these forms. There should be a space or
recess D between the forms B and the anode-plates, in which any impurities from
the solution will settle.
E. is the cathode cylinder or hoop. The thickness of the sides of this cylinder
should be about one-half inch, except at the ends, where internal and external
flanges F F are formed, the thickness at the ends being about an inch and a half
or more. Inside the cylinder, at about its middle, is a Bange G, making the thick-
ness of metal at that point about one inch. The edges of the end flanges or ribs
are chambered or beveled off, as shown. It will be found convenient to cast or
mold the cylinder of an even thickness of about an inch, except at the middle and
ends, where the internal flanges or ribs are formed, and to then turn down the out-
side to the required extent. The dimensions of the cylinder which I use with the
tank above described are about fifty-two inches in length by thirty-two inches
outside diameter, except at the ends, where it is thirty-three inches. The ends of
the cylinder are faced or turned true and smooth. The entire surface of the cylinder,
except the faced end and the outside surface between the end flanges, is coated

page_text: with a non-conducting varnish or coating to prevent the deposit thereon of any
metal.
An insulating cylinder or roller His mounted in suitable bearings above the
surface of the electrolytic solution, and the cylinder E is hung thereon, as shown.
The roller H has a shaft carrying a pulley-wheel K, to which rotary motion is
imparted. The roller H in turning canses the cylinder E to rotate. The circum-
ferential speed of cylinder should be about one or two inches per second.
The
weight of the hoop or cylinder thus made will be about twelve hundred pounds.
My object in making it heavy is that 1 may use a single supporting-rollor. The
weight of the hoop suffices to maintain it in proper position between the anodo
plates.
Several thin strips of copper arranged, for example, as a brush I should be
caused to bear upon one or both ends of the cylinder E. The curront is conveyed
from the battery M to each of the anode-plates, and is conducted back to the battery
by means of the brush L in contact with the cathode-cylinder.
In order to remove the metal sheet which is deposited upon the cylinder E when
the apparatus is in operation, I form across the cylindrical surface of the cathode
a broken line of insulation N, Fig. 3. This I may do by varnishing the surface or
in any other well understood way. The result is that the deposited metal between
the spots of insulation is easily cut when the sheet is to be stripped off, while there
is sufficient continuity of the metal sheet to prevent its edges from peeling and
turning back, as it is apt to do when a complete line of insulation is formed across
the cylinder.
The construction of the cylindrical cathode herein described is advantageous, for
the reason that its weight is reduced without impairing its strength, while the internal
ribs or flanges afford a good bearing for the roller H.
In using this apparatus the usual solutions may be employed for electro-depositing
for example, sulphate of zinc for making zinc plates or sulphate of copper for
making copper plates, or any suitable electrolyte.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In an apparatus for forming sheet metal the combination, with an electrolytic
vat or tank, the forms or blocks partially filling the same, and curved anode-plates
supported thereon, of a cylindrical cathode mounted in the tank and capable of
rotation therein, as set forth.
2. The combination, with an electrolytic tank, the forms or blocks partially filling
the same, and curved anode-plates supported thereon, of an insulating-roller mounted
over the tank, a hollow cylindrical cathode hung thereon, and brushes or collectors
bearing upon the ends of the cylinder, as herein set forth.
8. The combination in electrolytic apparatus, with curved anode-plates supported
in the solution, of a cylindrical cathode mounted to rotate in the solution, and having
a broken line of insulating patches or spaces across its outer surface, as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination, with a vat or tank adapted to contain an electrolytic solution,
of a cylindrical cathode, the curved forms or block B, and anode-plates C, disposed on
opposite sides of the cylinder and forming a recess between them, in which impurities
from the solution may settle.
5. In an electrolytic apparatus, the combination, with an anode or anode-plates, of
a hollow cylindrical cathode having internal flanges or ribs at its onds and middle
and a rotating roller upon which the cathode hangs, the roller bearing on the ribs or
Hanges, as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of July 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Producing Sheets of Metal by
Electro-deposition.
I MOSES GERRISH FARMER, of Eliot, in the County of York and State of Maine
United States of America, 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 consists in an apparatus for producing sheets of zinc, copper or
other metals by means of electro-deposition. In a patent of the United States granted
to me No. 381,004, datod April 10, 1888, I have shown and described an apparatus
for this purpose, which may be described in a general manner as follows: A curvil
anode-plate is secured in a tank or vat and a metallic cathode ring or hoop is
supported by rollers above the anode and partially immersed in the electrolytic
solution.
One of the supporting rollers is rotated, whereby a rotary movement is imparted
to the cathode, which receives a deposit of metal. My present invention is an
improvement on this device.
Specifically stated, the invention is as follows: I form a metallic cylinder open
at the ends in the manner hereinafter set forth, and support or hang it on a
non-conducting roller, to which a slow rotary movement is imparted from any
suitable source of power. Beneath the cylinder, which is partially immersed in the
electrolytic solution in a tank or vat, 1 arrange two anode-plates curved to conform
to the shape of the cylinder. Whon a square vat is used, I place in its bottom
wooden or other blocks to fill up the space, so that less solution will be required.
I make the cylinder of an alloy of lead and antimony and true and polish its
surface, so that the deposited metal may be readily stripped off from it, and I mold
or cast it with an internal flange or rib around its middle and both internal and
external flanges at the ends.
The details of construction and manner of using the device will be understood by
reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of
a portion of the external surface of the cylinder.
A is a tank or vat, preferably of wood, lined with sheet-lead.
A convenient size for the tank is about fifty-four inches long, forty inchos wide,
and thirty inches deep. The forms or blocks, which are curved to conform to the
cylinder, are designated by the letters B B. The curved anode-plates C C are
supported in any convenient manner over these forms. There should be a space or
recess D between the forms B and the anode-plates, in which any impurities from
the solution will settle.
E. is the cathode cylinder or hoop. The thickness of the sides of this cylinder
should be about one-half inch, except at the ends, where internal and external
flanges F F are formed, the thickness at the ends being about an inch and a half
or more. Inside the cylinder, at about its middle, is a flange G, making the thick-
ness of metal at that point about one inch. The edges of the end flanges or ribs
are chambered or beveled off, as shown. It will be found convenient to cast or
mold the cylinder of an even thickness of about an inch, except at the middle and
5 onds, where the internal flanges or ribs are formed, and to then turn down the out-
side to the required extent. The dimensions of the cylinder which I use with the
tank above described are about fifty-two inches in length by thirty-two inches
outside diameter, except at the ends, where it is thirty-three inches. The ends of
the cylinder are faced or turned true and smooth. The entire surface of the cylinder,
O except the faced end and the outside surface between the end flanges, is coated

page_text: with a non-conducting varnish or coating to prevent the deposit thereon of any
metal.
The
An insulating cylinder or roller H is mounted in suitable bearings above the
surface of the electrolytic solution, and the cylinder E is hung thereon, as shown.
The roller H has a shaft carrying a pulley-wheel K, to which rotary motion is
imparted. The roller H in turning causes the cylinder E to rotate. The circum-
ferential speed of cylinder should be about one or two inches per second.
weight of the hoop or cylinder thus made will be about twelve hundred pounds.
My object in making it heavy is that I may use a single supporting-roller. The
weight of the hoop suffices to maintain it in proper position between the anode
plates.
Several thin strips of copper arranged, for example, as a brush L should be
caused to bear upon one or both ends of the cylinder E. The current is conveyed
from the battery M to each of the anode-plates, and is conducted back to the battory
by means of the brush L in contact with the cathode-cylinder.
In order to remove the metal sheet which is deposited upon the cylinder E when
the apparatus is in operation, I form across the cylindrical surface of the cathode
a broken line of insulation N, Fig. 3. This I may do by varnishing the surface or
in any other well understood way. The result is that the deposited metal between
the spots of insulation is easily cut when the sheet is to be stripped off, while there
is sufficient continuity of the metal sheet to prevent its edges from peeling and
turning back, as it is apt to do when a complete line of insulation is formed across
the cylinder.
The construction of the cylindrical cathode herein described is advantageous, for
the reason that its weight is reduced without impairing its strength, while the internal
ribs or flanges afford a good bearing for the roller H.
In using this apparatus the usual solutions may be employed for electro-depositing-
for example, sulphato of zinc for making zinc plates or sulphate of copper for
making copper plates, or any suitable electrolyte.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In an apparatus for forming sheet metal the combination, with an electrolytic
vat or tank, the forms or blocks partially filling the same, and curved anode-platos
supported thereon, of a cylindrical cathode mounted in the tank and capable of
rotation therein, as set forth.
2. The combination, with an electrolytic tank, the forms or blocks partially filling
the same, and curved anode-plates supported thereon, of an insulating-roller mounted
over the tank, a hollow cylindrical cathode hung thereou, and brushes or collectors
bearing upon the ends of the cylinder, as herein set forth.
8. The combination in electrolytic apparatus, with curved anode-plates supported
in the solution, of a cylindrical cathode mounted to rotate in the solution, and having
a broken line of insulating patches or spaces across its outer surface, as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination, with a vat or tank adapted to contain an electrolytic solution,
of a cylindrical cathode, the curved forms or block B, and anode-plates C, disposed on
opposite sides of the cylinder and forming a recess between them, in which impurities
from the solution may settle.
5. In an electrolytic apparatus, the combination, with an anode or anode-plates, of
a hollow cylindrical cathode having internal flanges or ribs at its ends and middle
and a rotating roller upon which the cathode bangs, the roller bearing on the ribs or
flanges, as set forth.
Dated this Oksh J
1000
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.