Language selection

Search

Patent 2417852 Summary

Third-party information liability

Some of the information on this Web page has been provided by external sources. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of the information supplied by external sources. Users wishing to rely upon this information should consult directly with the source of the information. Content provided by external sources is not subject to official languages, privacy and accessibility requirements.

Claims and Abstract availability

Any discrepancies in the text and image of the Claims and Abstract are due to differing posting times. Text of the Claims and Abstract are posted:

  • At the time the application is open to public inspection;
  • At the time of issue of the patent (grant).
(12) Patent: (11) CA 2417852
(54) English Title: A PLATING METHOD AND APPARATUS
(54) French Title: ELECTRODEPOSITION ET DISPOSITIF
Status: Deemed expired
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • C25D 5/00 (2006.01)
  • C25D 3/04 (2006.01)
  • C25D 7/04 (2006.01)
  • C25D 17/06 (2006.01)
  • C25F 7/00 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • LAUKKANEN, PEKKA (Finland)
  • LEINONEN, HEIKKI (Finland)
(73) Owners :
  • STRATUM OY (Finland)
(71) Applicants :
  • STRATUM OY (Finland)
(74) Agent: MACRAE & CO.
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 2012-01-10
(22) Filed Date: 2003-01-30
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 2003-08-08
Examination requested: 2007-12-19
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
20020261 Finland 2002-02-08

Abstracts

English Abstract



The present invention relates to a plating method and apparatus in which an
object
to be coated is immersed in a bath in a basin and a plating tool which is kept
permanently in the basin in the vicinity of a pipe or duct passing through the
basin,
where the object to be coated is not placed in conjunction with the tool until
inside
the bath. In the plating method of the present invention, a current is
supplied to
anodes by means of a conductor rail, which is located in the pipe in the basin
which
the electrolytic liquid surrounds and which extends above the liquid surface
where
the object to be coated is immersed in the basin by means of a suspender
supported
on the upper end of the pipe.


French Abstract

La présente invention se rapporte à une méthode et à un appareillage d'électrodéposition dans lequel un objet à plaquer est immergé dans un bain de bassin et où un outil d'électrodéposition, est laissé en permanence dans le bassin, à proximité d'une canalisation traversant le bassin. L'objet à plaquer n'est pas placé conjointement avec l'outil, tant qu'il n'est pas dans le bain. Dans la méthode d'électrodéposition de la présente invention, un courant est appliqué aux anodes au moyen d'un rail conducteur. Ce rail se trouve dans la canalisation du bassin entouré par l'électrolyte liquide, et qui occupe le dessus de la surface du liquide où l'objet à plaquer est immergé dans le bassin par un moyen de suspension supporté par l'extrémité supérieure de la canalisation.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.





WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A plating method, in which an object (7) to be coated is immersed in a
liquid bath
(2) in a basin (1), a plating tool (5) is kept permanently immersed in the
bath (2) in
the basin (1) and the object (7) to be coated is placed in its plating
position relative
to the plating tool (5) not until inside the bath (2), the plating tool (5) is
kept outside
a pipe or duct (3) passed through the basin, the pipe or duct (3) being empty
of but
surrounded by the liquid bath, the object (7), to be internally coated is
immersed in
the basin (1) outside the pipe or duct (3), around the plating tool (5) and
electric
current or chemicals are supplied to the plating tool (5) through the said
pipe or
duct (3).


2. A method as claimed in claim 1 for electrolytic plating, wherein the
plating tool,
which comprises anodes (5), is kept permanently in the basin around the pipe
or
duct (3), that the current is conveyed to the anodes (5) by means of a
conductor rail
(4) located in the pipe (3) in the basin, the pipe (3) being surrounded by
electrolytic
liquid (2) and extends above the liquid surface.


3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the object (7) to be coated is

immersed in the basin (1) by means of a suspender (8) supported on the upper
end
of the pipe (3).


4. A plating apparatus, which comprises a plating basin (1) containing a
liquid bath
(2) and a plating tool (5) immersed in the liquid bath (2), the said tool
being
permanently in the basin, characterised in that in the basin is a pipe (3)
passing
through the bottom of the basin (1) and surrounded by the liquid bath (2), the
pipe
being empty of the liquid bath, and that the plating tool (5) is arranged in
its plating
position relative to the pipe outside the pipe and that the pipe comprises
means (4)
for supplying electricity or chemicals to the plating tool (5).



6

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 for electrolytic plating, characterized
in that
the plating tool comprises anodes (5) to which a current is supplied by means
of a
conductor rail (4) located in the pipe (3) in the basin (1), which the
electrolytic liquid
(2) surrounds and which extends above the liquid surface.


6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that one or more
vertical
pipes (3) pass through the bottom of the basin (1).


7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that
an
object (7) to be coated is immersed in the basin (1) by means of a suspender
(8)
supported on the upper end of the pipe (3).


8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that
the
anode plates (5) comprised in the plating tools are arranged in a circle
surrounding
the pipe (3) and the arrangement is used for the internal plating of tubular
objects
of the processing industry.


9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that
one or
more pipes (3) surrounded by the liquid bath (2) are located symmetrically in
the
basin (1).


10. The use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or of the
apparatus
according to any one of the claims 4 to 8 for plating objects with an internal

chromium coating.


Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



CA 02417852 2008-04-15
1

A Plating Method and Apparatus
Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plating method, in which the object to be plated is
immersed in a bath in a basin, a plating tool is kept permanently in the
basin, and the object to be plated is not placed in conjunction with the tool
until inside the bath. The invention also relates to a plating apparatus,
which
comprises a plating basin containing the liquid bath and the plating tool
immersed permanently in the liquid bath.
A special application of the invention is internal plating of objects with
chromium coating.

Background of the Invention
When objects are plated electrolytically with chromium, the plating period is
long, which is often due to the thick plating layer required, and the fact
that
in electrolysis, chromium is reduced poorly and requires much electricity.
This necessitates strong electric fields, and it must be possible to direct
them
to a desired point at the desired intensity.
In the methods currently applied the plating tool, such as anode plates,
electric field screens, etc., is fixed to the object to be coated outside the
bath
and then immersed in the bath together with the object to be coated. The
anodes are often contaminated and difficult to handle.
From the inventor's certificate SU 509664 is known a method and apparatus
of the type mentioned above. In this known solution, the anode acting as the
plating tool is fixed around a mounting bar in the basin. The electric current
for this anode must be provided by a particular contactor arrangement
located on a cover which can be opened and closed.


CA 02417852 2010-07-28
2
Summary of the Invention
The aim of the invention is to improve known methods and apparatuses in such a
way that the handling of plating tools will be substantially facilitated and
production
will thus be increased.

Since in the solution according to the invention the tool is permanently in
the basin
and the object to be coated is placed in conjunction with the tool inside the
bath,
only the object to be coated needs to be changed. The attachments of the tool
or
the supply of electricity or chemicals to the tool do not have to be
disassembled and
reassembled when objects are changed.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plating
method,
in which an object to be coated is immersed in a liquid bath in a basin, a
plating tool
is kept permanently immersed in the bath in the basin and the object to be
coated is
placed in its plating position relative to the plating tool not until inside
the bath, the
plating tool is kept outside a pipe or duct passed through the basin, the pipe
or duct
being empty of but surrounded by the liquid bath, the object, to be internally
coated
is immersed in the basin outside the pipe or duct, around the plating tool and
electric current or chemicals are supplied to the plating tool through the
pipe or
duct.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
plating
apparatus, which comprises a plating basin containing a liquid bath and a
plating
tool immersed in the liquid bath, the tool being permanently in the basin,
characterised in that in the basin is a pipe passing through the bottom of the
basin
and surrounded by the liquid bath, the pipe being empty of the liquid bath,
and that
the plating tool is arranged in its plating position relative to the pipe
outside the pipe
and that the pipe comprises means for supplying electricity or chemicals to
the
plating tool.


CA 02417852 2008-04-15
2a

Brief Description of the Drawings
One embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail in the
following, with
reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a section of the plating
basin
with its plating apparatus, by means of which the method according to the
invention
can be implemented.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
In the following, the invention is described when applied to electrolytic
plating, but it
may be applied more widely in hydrometallurgy, in which case a pipe or duct 3
arranged in the basin 1 will serve the supply of chemicals or when, for
example,
technical nickel plating is carried out without electricity by means of
reduction on
desired surfaces. Reducing chemicals or electrolytes in general can be
supplied
through the pipe 3 to the tool.

Most preferably the invention is, however, applicable to electrolytic plating
with
chromium (hard chromium plating).


CA 02417852 2003-01-30

3
In the embodiment described, the plating basin 1 is, for example, a plastic-
coated steel basin containing electrolytic liquid 2. The basin 1 comprises one
or more vertical pipes 3 passing through the bottom of the basin, the upper
ends of which extend above the liquid surface. In the pipe 3 is located a
conductor rail which is fixed to a plate 6 resting on the upper end of the
pipe
3, the plate being of electrically extremely conductive material, for example,
copper. On the plate 6 are suspended the anode plates 5, which settle
around the pipe 3 in a circle. Through the pipe 3 can also be arranged
current supply to the cathode. This type of an arrangement may
advantageously be used in the processing industry for the internal plating of
tubular objects.

The object 7 to be coated is immersed in the basin 1 by means of a
suspender 8 supported on the upper end of the pipe 3 which comprises a
lifting lug 8a. Reference numeral 9 denotes the plating precipitated on the
inner surface of the object 7.

In addition to the anodes 5, the plating tool often comprises current screens
located, for example, in the vicinity of the ends of the object 7. This type
of
current screens or other components of the apparatus associated with the
plating tool may also be supported or suspended on the pipe 3 in such a way
that they will be permanently in the basin for as long as identical objects
are
being coated. When the object to be coated changes, the plating tools are
changed or replaced in accordance with the object to be coated.

Through the pipe 3 may also be conducted cooling water or compressed air
or the hydraulics required, for example, for expanding or contracting the
anodes.

The number, location and shape of the pipes 3 passing through the
electrolytic liquid may vary in many ways. However, the pipes 3 are typically


CA 02417852 2003-01-30

4
located symmetrically in the basin 1, are vertical and pass through the
bottom of the basin.

In the following is in addition a short list of essential features relating to
the
invention:

1. The plating tools are fixedly in the basin (conventional method: the tool
is
lifted into the basin together with the object to be coated)
2. The objects to be coated are placed in tools already present in the basin
(conventional method: the object to be coated is fixed on the plating tool
outside the basin)
3. The new basin makes possible efficient serial working, which saves time
and work substantially
4. Makes possible automated operation
5. Applicable for use in both chemical and electrical precipitation
6. The apparatus is particularly well suited for internal plating
7. The supply of electrical current or chemicals used in the plating takes
place mainly through ducts passed through the bottom of the basin
8. The apparatus is also suitable for electrolytic polishing
9. The basin system also comprises all other auxiliary equipment required
for managing the bath (e.g. heating, cooling, filtration, chemicals' supply,
etc.) located either in the plating basin itself, an auxiliary basin or in the
vicinity of the basin.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 2012-01-10
(22) Filed 2003-01-30
(41) Open to Public Inspection 2003-08-08
Examination Requested 2007-12-19
(45) Issued 2012-01-10
Deemed Expired 2015-01-30

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $300.00 2003-01-30
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2003-05-26
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2005-01-31 $100.00 2004-11-19
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2006-01-30 $100.00 2005-11-28
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 4 2007-01-30 $100.00 2006-11-20
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 5 2008-01-30 $200.00 2007-12-10
Request for Examination $800.00 2007-12-19
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 6 2009-01-30 $200.00 2008-12-24
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 7 2010-02-01 $200.00 2009-12-07
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 8 2011-01-31 $200.00 2010-12-01
Final Fee $300.00 2011-10-19
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 9 2012-01-30 $200.00 2011-12-02
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 10 2013-01-30 $250.00 2013-01-14
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
STRATUM OY
Past Owners on Record
LAUKKANEN, PEKKA
LEINONEN, HEIKKI
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

To view selected files, please enter reCAPTCHA code :



To view images, click a link in the Document Description column. To download the documents, select one or more checkboxes in the first column and then click the "Download Selected in PDF format (Zip Archive)" or the "Download Selected as Single PDF" button.

List of published and non-published patent-specific documents on the CPD .

If you have any difficulty accessing content, you can call the Client Service Centre at 1-866-997-1936 or send them an e-mail at CIPO Client Service Centre.


Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2003-01-30 1 20
Description 2003-01-30 4 167
Claims 2003-01-30 2 73
Drawings 2003-01-30 1 11
Representative Drawing 2003-05-14 1 10
Cover Page 2003-07-18 1 37
Description 2010-02-24 5 192
Claims 2010-02-24 2 74
Description 2008-04-15 5 193
Claims 2008-04-15 2 77
Abstract 2010-07-28 1 19
Description 2010-07-28 5 193
Claims 2010-07-28 2 78
Drawings 2010-07-28 1 10
Representative Drawing 2011-12-06 1 9
Cover Page 2011-12-06 2 41
Correspondence 2003-03-03 1 23
Assignment 2003-01-30 2 88
Assignment 2003-05-26 2 84
Prosecution-Amendment 2007-12-19 1 28
Prosecution-Amendment 2008-04-15 8 315
Prosecution-Amendment 2010-03-16 3 93
Prosecution-Amendment 2009-09-21 3 100
Prosecution-Amendment 2010-02-24 6 265
Prosecution-Amendment 2010-07-28 9 286
Prosecution-Amendment 2010-10-08 2 51
Prosecution-Amendment 2011-03-07 4 155
Correspondence 2011-10-19 1 28