Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
Electrode device,
particularly for a tinning bath and the like
Description
The present invention relates to an electrode device for a tinning bath and
the tike:
The invention will be described in the following using the example of a
tinning bath for
Copper wires and copper strands. However, it must be pointed out that this
exemplary
description is not to be regarded as restrictive to the application of the
invention and that,
on the contrary, the invention may also be applied in other areas of
electrochemical and
especially electrolytic treatment of materials and workpieces.
fn tinning contrivances, tin is electrochemically transferred from anode to
workpiece:
e.g., the wire which is to be tin-coated.
Tin plates suspended into the electrolytic bath are commonly used as anodes,
As the
material transfer progresses over time, the anode plates shrink and have to be
replaced
by new ones. What remains of the anode plates is melted down in recovery and
production of new anode plates.
This procedure is complicated and has the disadvantage, especially when only
one
anode plate is used, that the electrolytic process has to be interrupted when
changing the
anode.
Therefore, it has been proposed that instead of plates, baskets made of metal -
namely
titanium - be suspended into the electrolytic bath and that tlhese baskets be
filled with
individual tln beads, so-called pellets. This process also ha:i several
disadvantages.
Thus, it is the task of the present invention to provide an electrode device
for an
electrochemical procedure which avoids the disadvantages of the known anode
devices
and enables an inexpensive realization of the electrochemical procedure.
In accordance with the invention, this task is solved by means of the object
of claim 1 or 2.
The task is additionally solved by an electrochemical bath in accordance with
claim 20
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2
Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise the subject matter of the
subclaims.
The present invention particularly provides for an electrode device for
electrochemical
baths, especially electrolytic tinning contrivances, which comprise a
container, the walls
of which ace made at least partly of an electrically non-conductive material.
The electrode
device further comprises a metal body which is in electrically conductive
contact with an
electrochemically effective substance, respectively the metal body is
configured in such a
way that the electrochemically effective substance accammodated in the
container may
ba brought into contact with it.
The container can be designed in different configurations and in particular
has a
container bottom, likewise designated as a wall, as well as (ssteral side
walls. The
container is open to the top. The outer contour of the lateral walls may also
be of varying
configurations, such as rectangular, square, round, etc.
The container has at least one liquid-permeable wall. This wall is preferably
configured
as a grating or the like.
In the sense of the present invention, the term "wall" is to be principally
understood as
that of a restrictive element within the container with respect to a certain
direction or to
various different directions or as the vicinity of such a limitirug element.
The container walls are made of a material which remains unaffected by
specific
electrochemical fluids, meaning in particular those electrochemical fluids as
commonly
used in galvanizing or tinning systems.
The container is provided for use during an electrochemical process,
especially during
galvanization or tin-coating, etc., for the accommodating of the substance
necessary
for the electrochemical process.
This substance is particularly a material which can give off or absorb ions.
Preferably, the
substance is an anod~ material. The substance Can be of Various forms and
preferably
consists of a plurality of pellets of round, conical or pill-shaped
configuration.
It is particularly preferred that this substance is tin; whereby other
materials are also
preferred.
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
The substance or anode material is particularly formed in such a way that it
disintegrates
as the galvanization or tinning process progresses, and that the ions released
are
transported through the electrochcmical fluid to the body to be galvanized or
tinned,
producing a surface layer thereupon.
According to the present invention. the metal body can be of various
configurations.
Preferably, the metal body comprises a section which extends in planar or rod-
like farm.
It is particularly preferred that the container walls are formed at least
partially by the metal
body.
The metal body is supported against the container walls or at legst a part
thereof is
arranged within said container without coming into actual contact with the
container itself.
The metal body is formod as a single integral element or comprises several
contacting
segments such that either they are affixed to one $nother or not affixed. The
securing
means between different elements of the metal body provided as required can be
configured in such a way that these elements are releasablE: or non-
releasable.
It is particularly preferred to provide said metal body with at least one
first section as well
as at least one second section. Said first section or sections especially
serve for
accommodating the material substance. Said first section pireferably comprises
slab-
shaped or place-shaped or flat or otherwise configured elerr~ents which can
accommodate said substance. Said first section or sections is/are pr~ferably
aligned
horizontally. In accordance with the present invention, curvsad or otherwise
shaped first
sections are likewise preferred. At least one first section is formed as a
sieve.
At least one part of said second sections is preferably formed such that same
extends
toward the depth of the container. This is particularly to be understood ss
that th~ second
sections' upper end is situated farther from the container bottom than its
lower end.
It is particularly prefern:d for at least a part of said first sections to
extend laterally away from
said second section and be in electrically conductive connection with said
second section.
The second section is preferably connected with one or mere electrically
conductive
contact terminals which are made of or contain copper or the like. Said
contact terminals
enable the generating of an electrically conductive connection between a
conduction
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
4
arrangement situated external the container and the second section(s),
allowing an
electrical current to flow between the conduction arrangement and the second
section and,
if applicable, the first section as well. Said conduction arrangement is
preferably
configured such that it has copper bars or similar members in which the second
section is
hung, and particularly in such a manner that the contact terminals come into
contact with
slid copper bars or similar members.
The second section is provided with through op~nings as required,
The second section is preferably rod-shaped or plate-shaped or of other
configuration.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second
section
is arranged within the container such that it divides the container or a part
ther~oof into
different chambers. This subdivision into chambers is particularly designed in
such a way
that a plate-shaped second section extends between two facing walls of the
container yr
between taro facing corners of the container, particularly arranged diagonally
to one
another.
The second section is preferably arranged diagonally within the container,
meaning
relative the container transverse.
It is especially preferred for the first sections and the second sections to
be arranged
essentially at the container's cent~r, maaning relative the plane of the
container bottom
or relative the volume of the container.
Preferably, the first and/or the second section are arranged within the
container and with
respect to each other such that their form, confguration and arrangement
support an
electrolyte flow in the direction of the electron flow as issues during the
galvanization or
tinn9ng process.
Preferably, the metal body and particularly the second sectinn are formed like
a cowl
which extends to the wars of the container, and particularly the container
wall's inward
facing side.
The electrically non-conductive material of the container waNls is
particularly that of
plastic such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) or the like.
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
The inventive task is further solved by an electrode device in accordance with
claiim 2,
which provides far a container having at least ene metallic liquid-permeable
wall and
consisting of a material which remains electrochemically unaffected.
The electrode device further comprises a metal body which is particularly
configured and
arranged such as previously described, but which differs from the metallic
wall of the
container and which is not in el~ctrically conductive contact,Nith same.
Further, the
electrode device has an electrical contact terminal, which is in electrically
conductive
connection with the metal body and which can generate an electrically
conductive
connection to a conduction arrangement external the container. The contact
terminal is
arranged and configured in such a way that during the electrochemical process,
thus
specifically during the actual galvanization or tin-coating, the electrical
potential of the
container's metallic walls is less than the electrical potential of the
material substance
which is in at least partial electrically conductive connection with the metal
body.
Prefe~abty, the metal body extends into the container such tlhat ii Is
supported by the
container bottom surface or that it is suspended in the container with or
without coming
into contact with the container walls. Suspension arrangements for the metal
body may
be particularly provided on the container walls or on the outside of the
container.
Configuring the metal body as an insert which can be inserted into the
container,
provided it is removable, is ~specially preferred.
The metal body is at least partly releasable from or firmly connected to the
container or
may be removed completely from the container.
Preferably, the metal body has at least one component which is supported at
different
points on the walls of the container.
The container bottom is preferably a first section of said metal body.
Preferably, at least one first section is disposed with through openings which
enable the
electrochemical fluid to flow through said openings to the substance
accommodated at
or on th~ first section.
Preferably, the first sections as well as the material substance are formed in
such a way
that said first sections and, if applicable, said second sectioe~s are
essentially wholly
enveloped by said material substance, especially meaning covered, such that
the surface
of said first sections are not immersed and remain essentially free of
electrolyte wash. In
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6
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal body is
configured
sUCh that during the galvanisation process, the current flow from the metal
body is
fundamentally directed centrally outward.
It is especially preferred for the metallic walls of the container andlor the
metal body to be
at least partly made of titanium.
The contact terminal is preferably configured such that a copper element is
enveloped
within a titanium layer, which is interrupted at the area of contact with the
conduction
arrangement.
At least one support means is preferably provided for bearing the container.
Said support
means particularly enables the hanging of the container in a conduction
arrangement, etc.,
such as metal runners. Said support means are configured as hooks or other
similar
members and particularly preferably comprise the electrically conductive
contact temlinal~s).
At least one container wall segment or at least one first section is
preferably disposed
with reinforcing means such as a webbing or the like. Preferably, said first
sections are
arranged such within the container that the substance which it accommodates
comes
into at least partial contact with the walls of the eontainer.
The container preferably has at least one receiving means : uch as hooks or
eyelets, etc.,
which can be employed for the transporting of the container. A transporting
device like a
crane with a crane hook or other such similar apparatus can then interlock
with said
receiving means.
Preferably, the support means andlor the receiving means are arranged below
the
container's upper wall edge, so that it is easy to refill substrate material
into the container
during the galvanlaation process. Preferably, the inventive alevice is
utilised for the
galvanizing of items of continuous lengths.
The task of the present invention is further solved by an electrochemical bath
according
to claim 20.
The electrochemical bath comprises a reservoir with electrmlyts into which the
electrode
device according to the present invention, respectively the inventive
container having at
Igast one Liquid-permeable wall can be at least pbrtially inserted or
introduced.
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
Said container is in particular mounted or suspended by way of a support
rneans
Preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention as given are not
to be
considered as restrictions to the invention.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with
ref~rence to
exemplary embodiments, which are not to be considered as restricting of the
present
invention, and which therein show:
Fig. 1 a first exemplary ~mbodiment of the invention in schematic, partly
sectional
view; and
Fig. 2 a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in schematic, partly
sectional view.
Fig. 1 shows an electrode device 1 according to the present invention having a
contain~r
and a metal body 12.
Said container comprises walls, respectiv~ly wall segments 14, 16, 18.
Said walls or wall segments 14 ace arranged essentially parallel and facing
one another.
Wall segments 16 are likewise arranged essentially parallel and facing one
another.
Wall 18, which is the bottom of container 10, is a frst section a2.
Walls 16, 18 are each made of metal, particularly titanium, and configured to
be
fundamentally impermeable to liquids.
Walls 14 are liquid-permeable, as resulting from the fact that said walls 14
are configured
as gratings. Walls 14 are made of plastic such as polypropylene ar
polyethylene.
Metal body 12 comprises different sections, specifically second sections 20 as
well as
first sections 22.
Second sections 20 are each of plate-shaped configuration. Two of these plate-
shaped
second sections 20 together respectively form one lateral wall 16 of the
container. Two
further second, respectively plate-shaped sections 20 project at an angle into
the container
interior. configured here as 90°, from said lateral walls 16 formed by
Said SeCVnd Sections
CA 02342511 2001-03-30
20 and speclflcally in such a manner that they are distanced from grid-like
electrically non-
conducting walls 14. A further second section 20 which is substantially of
plate-shaped
configuration is arranged at an inclined angle to walls 14 of container 1 O
and Connects
facing walls 14 to one another.
Plates 24 extend over the upper edge 22 of the container from the second
sections z0
forming the container's lateral walls 16; said plates also being second
sections 20 of the
metal body.
Container bottom 18, which is also termed a "wall" and which is metallic, is a
second
section of said metal body and is in electrically conductive contact with said
s~cond
sections 20, which constitute the lateral walls 18 of container 10, with said
second
sections 20 which extend from lateral walls 16 into the container interior, as
well as with
second section 20 arranged diagonally between non-conduntive wa115 14 of
container 10.
The container may be filled with pellets, Such as tin pellets or the like, and
Specifically in
such a way that said pellets are accommodated at the container bottom 18 and
particularly come into contact with second section 20 which forms lateral
walls 16,
seoond sections 20 which extend into the container from lateral walls 16, as
well as
second section 20 arranged diagonally between lateral non--conducting walls
14.
Support means 26 are arranged at the upper ends of second sections 20
projecting over the
upper edge 22 of the container which enable hanging the container in a
conduction
arrangement such as copper bands or the like. Said support means are made of
titanium
and have electrically conductive contact terminals 28 at which the titanium
coating is
interrupted so that the copper can come into direct contact with said
conduction
arrangement.
The second section arranged diagonally between Walls 14 is a continuous plate
and
realizes the dividing of container 10 into different chambers 30, 32.
Fig. a shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invenitiOn Which essentially
corresponds to a rotated view of the embodiment represented in Fig. 1.
The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs from the embodliment in accordance
with
Fig. 1 essentially in that through openings 40 are provid~d in second section
20 as
arranged diagonally between walls 14 of container 10, said openings enabling
electrolyte,
respectively fluid to flow between chamber 30 and chamber 32 within container
10.
