Improvements in Apparatus for use in Electro-plating.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
[Communicated from abroad by Hermann Robert Boissier, of the City of New
York, State of New York, United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Electro-plating.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows: —
The object of my invention is to provide a suitable apparatus, more especially
adapted for plating articles of small size.
My object is further to enable the plating of the articles to be done more quickly
than has heretofore been customary and at the same time prevent what is tech-
nically known as burning.
In carrying out my invention I provide the plating bath with suitable anodes,
between which the work is placed and reciprocated vertically. The anodes cou-
nect with the positive terminal; and the cathode, comprehending the work and
its support, is adapted to be reciprocated by a suitable power device so as to be
moved between the two anodes, thereby permitting a larger current to be employed
without burning the work. The reciprocating support for the cathode is operated
by a crank and connecting rod, or in any other suitable manner
Where the work is large the reciprocating frame may simply be provided with
depending hangers or frames upon which the work may be hung; but where very
small work is to be plated, I then arrange the cathode in the form of a wheel
or cage, journaled upon the lower end of the hanger in which the work to be
treated is placed. I then rotate the said cage automatically during its recipro-
cation vertically between the anodes. It is evident that a single anode or set
of anodes may be employed, but I prefer to employ double sets of such anodes,
so that the work is placed intermediate of them and adapted to be acted upon from
both sides.
In the construction employed the work will be constantly shifting its position
within the cage and thereby presenting new surfaces toward the anodes for
plating and furthermore, the work will be continually changing its position
vertically relative to the anodes, and will thereby cause a constant circulation of
the electrolyte, thus preventing burning, notwithstanding the employment of a
very strong current for quick plating.
In my preferred construction I employ a suitable tank provided at its center
with an upright tube in which fits a second tube or rod which may be reciprocated
vertically. Secured near the upper end of this reciprocating rod or tube is a
metal holder provided on opposite sides with sockets, which support depending
work holders. Large work may be suspended directly on these hangers. For
small work a cage is employed journalled upon the hanger and held in place by
insulating nuts. The periphery of the cage is provided with a series of hard rubber
sections or teeth, and a pawl is arranged to catch between these teeth on the
rising movement of the cage and thus impart a partial revolution to it. The

page_text: cage may be formed of a hub connected with an outer peripheral band by radial
insulated arms or rods and a circular screen of copper, brass or aluminum may he
attached to these rods or arms, the insulation being removed to make electrical
contact. The front of the cage may be closed, by a suitable outer screen secured
by clamping nuts of insulating material.
Four anodes may be employed-with each cage or drum, two being arranged on
one side of the axis and two on the other, as it is desirable that the anodes shall
be directly in front of the work and not in front of the axis or hub of the hanger.
The electric circuit may be formed through the hanger and its axis with the cage,
or with the hanger and work. I prefer, however, to employ an insulated con-
ductor from the binding post to the insulated journal of the cage to avoid the
plating of the hangers.
Dated this 28th day of Feluuary 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
+45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
--I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a suitable apparatus, more.especially
adapted for plating articles of small size.
My object is further to enable the plating of the articles to be done more quickly
than has heretofore been customary and at the same time prevent what is tech-
nically known as burning.
In carrying out my invention I provide the plating bath with suitable anodes,
between which the work is placed and reciprocated vertically. The anodes con-
nect with the positive terminal; and the cathode, comprehending the work and
its support, is adapted to be reciprocated by a suitable power device so as to be
moved between the two anodes, thereby permitting a larger current to be employed
without burning the work. The reciprocating support for the cathode is operated
by a crank and connecting rod, or in any other suitable manner
Where the work is large the reciprocating frame may simply be provided with
depending hangers or frames upon which the work may be hung; but where very
small work is to be plated, I then arrange the cathode in the form of a wheel
or cage, journalled upon the lower end of the hanger in which the work to be
treated is placed. I then rotate the said cage automatically during its recipro-
cation vertically between the anodes. It is evident that a single anode or set
of anodes may be employed, but I prefer to employ double sets of such anodes,
so that the work is placed intermediate of them and adapted to be acted upon from
both sides.
In the construction employed the work will be constantly shifting its position
within the cage and thereby presenting new surfaces toward the anodes for
plating; and furthermore, the work will be continually changing its position
vertically relative to the anodes, and will thereby cause a constant circulation of
the electrolyte, thus preventing burning, notwithstanding the employment of a
very strong current for quick plating.

page_text: ―
My invention also comprehends details of construction all of which will be
better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved plating apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of same;
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation through the work supporting cage;
and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of one of the spokes of the work supporting cage.
A is the tank or vat, and may be made of any suitable construction, but pre-
ferably of wood, rectangular in shape and lined with lead. B is an upright tube
fitted to the center of the tank on the inside. Fitting within this tube B is a
second tube or rod C which is guided upon the interior of the stationary tube B.
A cross bar A is secured to the tank A, and has a hub C through which the
tube or rod C is also guided to assist the upright tubular guide B. This tube C
is reciprocated vertically by means of a crank E and a connecting rod e, or it may
be reciprocated in any other suitable manner.
The vertically reciprocating rod or tube C has secured to it, near its upper
end a brass holder D, which has on opposite sides, sockets d, preferably tapering.
This holder is prevented from turning by guides e carried by the tube or rod
working in tubular guides et on the cross bar A' as shown in Fig. 1.
I are hangers of brass or other metal and have hook portions at the top which
fit into the sockets and make a good electrical connection with the holder. The
hangers I extend downward into the tank on opposite sides of the central tubular
post B, and may be provided with journal pins N, upon which the work sup-
porting drums or cages H are pivoted when employed. Where large work alone
is to be plated the hanger is made as indicated in Fig. 1 to the rear in which the
depending frame I is made with hook shaped projections as at n, upon which
the work may be hung, directly or indirectly as desired. It is immaterial what
the particular shape of this hanger may be so long as it provides means for
supporting the work within the electrolyte.
Fis the positive conductor arranged above the tank and formed with the cross
bars to which are hung the plates G which constitute the anodes. These
anodes are arranged one upon each side of the hangers, and also the cage where
it is employed. The electrolyte and composition of the anode depends upon the
character or kind of plating desired, whether it be for nickel, copper or other
metal.
The cage H for supporting the small work is journaled upon a horizontal pin N
of the hanger, and is held in place by a hard rubber or other insulating nut O
which will not be plated fast upon the screw threads. The periphery or cylin
drical part J of the cage is fitted with a series of hard rubber sections or teeth h,
the space between two sections forming a notch into which a depending pawl R
may catch, and by the upward movement of the cage cause it to turn a portion
of a revolution. I prefer to employ about thirty of these hard rubber teeth,
but I do not confine myself to any particular number of projections or teeth,
nor to any particular speed of reciprocation. If desired a catch may be employed
to hold the pawl R out of action. A pawl R¹ on the hanger I prevents the cage
working backward under the weight of its contents.
The cage may be made in any suitable manner, but I prefer to connect its
hub K with the outer or peripheral band J by means of brass rods L insulated
by a coating of hard rubber. The insulation on their outer surface is removed
on one side as shown in Fig. 4, and a circular screen M. of copper, brass or
aluminium is attached to the rods. The hub K and the outer band J may be formed
of cast aluminium or brass and aluminium. The front portion of the cage is
closed by a suitable frame of any desirable construction having attached thereto
the screen p, and this plate or cover is clamped in place by suitable clamping
auts Q of hard rubber or other insulating material. By employing hard rubber
auts and Q plating deposits will not unite the nut to the screw which would
make it impossible to readily separate the parts. All parts of the cage except

page_text: the screens are preferably insulated. I prefer to employ four anodes G to each
cage or drum, two being arranged upon one side of the axis and two upon the
other, it being desirable to so place the anodes that they will be directly in front
of the work and not in front of the axis or hub and the hanger.
The electric circuit may be formed through the hanger I and its pin N with
the hub of the cage or drum or frame 1 and work, or more preferably I provide
an insulated conductor S from the binding post T to the insulated journal pin N
to avoid plating the hangers. The binding posts T are insulated from the frame 1)
and hangers and are electrically connected with the negative binding post W by
flexible conductors P'. This permits the vertical reciprocation of the work while
maintaining the electrical circuits.
While I prefer the construction shown as being excellently adapted for the
purpose, I do not confine myself to the minor details as they may be modified
without departing from the principles of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The plating machine constructed and operating substantially as described
and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. A reciprocating hanger having the work carried thereby electrically con-
ected_with_one_pole_of_the_source_of_current.
3. The means for supporting and reciprocating the work carrying hanger.
4. A rotary work carrying cage carried by the reciprocating hanger and rotated
during the reciprocations thereof.
5.The rotary-work-carrying-cage-when-constructed-and-operating-substantially
as described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE &-Co.,--
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.