Improvements in the Method of Electrically Coating Wire, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Electrically Coating Wire, and
Apparatus therefor.
WILLIAM STEPNEY RAWSON of 21 Greycoat Gardens London S:W. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a method of electrically coating wire and is intended to
considerably increase the amount of wire which can be coated in a given time and
space. In order to secure a given thickness of coating it is necessary that the wire
shall be immersed in the electrolyte for a given length of time depending upon the
current 'density it is advisable to employ. It is therefore necessary for economical
and rapid working.that a large quantity of wire should be immersed. To secure this
within a reasonable space I make an insulated framework provided with longitudinal
rods on which are disposed insulated grooved rollers on which the wire is coiled so
that it assumes the form of a cylinder.
I arrange an internal & external anodes so that deposit may take place on both
sides of the wire simultaneously. The wire and framework are immersed in the
electrolyte with the exception of a small portion which stands above the liquid.
At this point I arrange a suitably grooved metallic rod and join this rod to the
negative pole of a source of electricity. Each convolution of the wire lies in one
of these metallic grooves and is pressed down on to the grooves by corresponding
rollers of 'rubber or other yielding material. so as to make metallic contact on to
the wire. By suitably revolving the grooved rod & rubber rollers the wire may
be fed forward continuously at any desired rate.
The anodes may be of conducting material of any suitable form & material.
The interior anode for instance may be of cylindrical 'shape and may be a metallic
basket containing fragments of the metal being deposited, it may be made to
revolve and in so doing cause an agitation of the liquid. The external anodes
should be of such shape & material & so disposed that the deposits on the two
sides of the wire may be approximately equal, or separate circuits may be arranged
to the external & internal anodes & the currents tequalized by adjustable resistances.
March 18th-1806.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Electrically Coating Wire, and
Apparatus therefor:
I, WILLIAM STEPNEY RAWSON, of 21 Greycoat Gardens, Victoria Street, in the
County of London, 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:-
My invention relates to a method of electrically coating wire with metal in a
continuous and rapid manner, and to apparatus for this purpose which I shall describe
referring to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 is a transverse section and Figure 2 a part longitudinal section of the
apparatus.
In a tank A containing electrolyte liquid I fix on insulating supports a pair of end
frames B having centres for a number of longitudinal spindles C on each of which
are mounted side by side a number of grooved pulleys D made of non conducting.
material such as porcelain.
In the upper parts of the frames B are formed insulated bearings for the journals
of two grooved rollers, the upper one E having caoutchouc rings in its grooves and
the lower one F having on its journal a metal disc G revolving in a mercury cup
which is connected to the terminal of a dynamo or other source of electricity.
The rollers E and F are preferably geared together..
:
Outside the pulleys D is fixed a frame covered with perforated metal or network H
connected by rods H to the + terminal of the source of electricity.
Within the pulleys D is concentrically mounted a wheel having a number of curved
blades K of perforated metal or network, and one or both of the bearings for the
axle of this wheel is connected by a rod L covered with insulating material to the
+terminal of the source of electricity.
The networks H and K are of such metal as is not attacked by the electrolyte at
the pole, for instance when the electrolyte is a solution of zinc oxide in caustic.
alkali, H and K may be of iron, the zinc deposited being supplied from fragments of
zinc contained in pervious iron baskets hung in the electrolyte outside of but not
electrically connected with H. Instead, of the wheel with blades K, a perforated.
cylinder may be employed, containing fragments of the deposited metal.
The continuous wire W is coiled in successive convolutions in the grooves of the
roller F and of the pulleys D, being pressed into the grooves of F by the caoutchouc
rings of the roller E, and being thus put in electrical connection with the terminal
of the source of electricity constitutes a cathode on which is electrolytically deposited
metal in solution in the electrolyte.
The roller F being caused to revolve by a belt on a pulley M driven by any
convenient motor, and the central wheel carrying the blades K being caused.to
revolve by a belt connecting a pulley N on its axle with a pulley P on the axle
of F, the wire W is drawn many times, according to the number of its convolutions
through the electrolyte which is kept in agitation by the blades K, and the wire
issues from the last of the grooves of the roller F coated with, the metal of the
electrolyte.
In order to condense and smooth the metal deposited on the wire, burnishers may
be arranged to press on the surface of the wire at several points of its progress.
Obviously metallic tape as well as wire may be coated as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of coating wire with metal by causing it to
travel in a number of convolutions as a cathode through an electrolyte between
anodes..
2. Apparatus for electrolytically coating wire comprising a pair of grooved
rollers connected to the terminal of a source of electricity and a number of
circularly arranged grooved pulleys all mounted, in an insulated frame partly
immersed in a tank containing electrolyte liquid, a stationary anode outside the
pulleys, and a revolving anode inside the pulleys, both anodes being connected to
the terminal of a source of electricity, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.