DE1036600B - Continuous method and apparatus for the electrodeposition of a metal layer - Google Patents

Description

GERMAN

The invention relates to a continuous method and an apparatus by means of which a metal layer with an extremely uniform thickness on the assemblable to form a surface of revolution Inner surfaces of components, in particular on the bearing surfaces of bearing shells, can be deposited.

The method according to the invention consists in that the pairs belonging together, a cylinder forming objects in the axial direction, adjacent to the adjacent pairs of objects, as Cathode acts evenly through an electrolytic bath with one placed inside the items Anode are passed through.

An advantageous device for performing the method in application to bearing shells comprises a vertical cylindrical anode and guides parallel to it. These tours work with the outer surfaces of the bearing shells arranged in pairs to form those at the upper end Bearing shells supplied in pairs and removed in pairs at the lower end on their way to run along the anode. Drive means can be provided for advancing the bearing shells, the feed takes place at a constant speed. As guides can be in several rows arranged roles serve.

The device can be arranged in a vessel which contains the electrolyte. Preferably is, however, below the anode, within the cylinder formed by the bearing shells with the inner surface this cylinder is arranged essentially liquid-tight cooperating bottom with the cylinder together forms a vessel for receiving the electrolyte, with a pumping device is provided, which keeps the level of the electrolyte in the vessel constant.

The length of the distance over which the bearing shells are exposed to the action of the electrolyte., can depending on the desired thickness of the metal layer to be deposited and the rate of deposition to be changed.

Because the components always cover the same distance in contact with the electrolyte and themselves at a constant speed and at a constant distance from the anode surface Moving this distance will produce a rainfall of uniform quality and strength over the entire surface of the bearing shells, even if the current density varies locally in the device.

The quality of the deposited layer and the rate of deposition can still be significant be increased in that an agitator is provided within the cylindrical space, which the Keeps electrolytes in constant motion. Particularly continuous process

and device for electrolytic

Deposition of a metal layer

Applicant:

The Glacier Metal Company Limited,
Wembley, Middlesex (Great Britain)

Representative: Dr.-Ing. F. Wuesthoff, Dipl.-Ing. G. Pulse

and Dipl.-Chem. Dr. rer. nat. E. Frhr. v. Bad luck man,

Patent Attorneys, Munich 9, Schweigerstr. 2

Claimed priority:
Great Britain September 2, 1954

William Henry Tait,

Alperton, Middlesex (Great Britain),

has been named as the inventor

It is advantageous to have a stirring device made of non-conductive material, the stirring blades of which are in the immediate vicinity stroke the entire surface of both electrodes. The number of agitator blades and the drive speed with which the agitator in the ring-shaped The space between the cathode and the anode is chosen so that the boundary layers of the electrolyte renewed in the immediate vicinity of the electrode surfaces at such a speed that the composition of the boundary layers is uniform over the entire electrode surface the selected current density is practically the same as the average composition of the electrolyte. The special one However, design of this stirring device is not the subject of the present application.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings.

E-39 597 / 4S2

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus for applying a metal layer to the Surfaces of segment-shaped components assembled to form a cylindrical surface;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 shows a cross section of assembled segments for use as a cathode stack in the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through a stack of segment pairs shown in FIG. 3.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is used to deposit a metal layer on a inner cylindrical surface of a stack 21, which is made up of semi-cylindrical segments 22; in the In the present case, the segments 22 are bearing shells. The device according to FIG. 1 and 2 has the task of a lining layer of a on the inner surfaces of these bearing shells soft metal, e.g. B. lead, galvanically aufzubrin gene. To the bearing shells 22 in the form of cylindrical To hold bodies together, split holding devices 23 made of insulating material are used, and each of these retaining devices includes a liner 24 of soft rubber and a self by the flexible conductor 25 extending through the liner which contacts the bearing shells 22 and as a cathode connection serves. The devices 23 are stacked to form the stack 21, the is held in a vertical position between the rollers 26; the rollers 26 are not shown by Drive means rotated so that the stack moves slowly and at a uniform speed moved vertically downwards. While the bearing shells treated by means of the device shown can be removed together with the holding devices at the bottom of the stack constantly new bearing shells held together by holding devices at the upper end of the Stack added.

During the gradual downward movement of the stack, the bearing shells pass a stationary barrier or partition 27 which is in sealing contact at its periphery with the inner wall of the stack. The interior of the stack above the partition wall or base plate 27 contains the electrolyte, the surface of which is constantly kept level with the level line 28; For this purpose, a serving overflow device 29 and a device for continuously feeding an excess amount of electrolyte that will _go pumped from a reservoir 31 through a duct 30 upwardly into the interior of the stack. The electrolyte liquid escaping at the lower end of the stack through leaks on the base plate 27 is collected by a tray 32 and from there returned to the storage container 31; the electrolyte discharged through the overflow 29 also flows back into the container 31. The collecting tray 32 forms part of the device and supports the base plate 27 with the aid of a rod 33. Furthermore, the collecting tray forms a bearing for the lower end of a rotating anode and stirrer shaft 34 which extends upwards along the central axis of the device. The anode and stirrer shaft 34 carries a cylindrical anode 35 which is concentric with the shaft and which is immersed in the electrolyte. The anode is surrounded by a stirrer 36, the blades 37 of which are arranged radially. The current is supplied to the upper end of the anode via a slip ring and brush unit 38 and via the shaft 34; in order to set the shaft in rotation, a drive pulley 39 is placed on its upper end.

In the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the anode 35 is rotated together with the stirrer 36. the However, the arrangement can also be made in such a way that the anode is fixed and only the stirrer is on the shaft is driven.

Details of a suitable embodiment of a holding device for bearing shells according to FIG Apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in FIGS. Each such holding device includes two semi-cylindrical components 40 made of a suitable non-conductive plastic material, which by the The electrolyte used is not attacked. Each half of the holding device is at 41 with Lined with sponge rubber, and several bearing shells 22 can be placed on this lining. Slightly flexible bent metal strips are used to supply the current to the bearing shells 22 42, which rest on the inner surface of the sponge rubber lining and are flexible on the outside Ladders 43 are connected. Each holding device has an axially extending extension 44 from smaller Durohmesser and at the other end a corresponding opening 45 of the same diameter like the extension, so that the holding devices can easily be put together in a stack. the Halves of the holding devices are held together by projections 46 provided on the circumference.

Claims (6)

Patent claims: 1. Continuous process for the electrolytic deposition of a metal layer the inner surfaces of components that can be assembled to form a surface of revolution, in particular on the Storage areas of storage halls, characterized in that the paired, objects forming a cylinder in the axial direction, the adjacent pairs of objects adjacent, acting as a cathode evenly through an electrolytic bath with an im Inside the objects arranged cylindrical anode are passed. 2. Device for performing the method according to claim 1 in application to bearing shells, characterized by a vertically arranged cylindrical anode (35) and to this parallel guides which cooperate with the outer surfaces of the bearing shells (22) arranged in pairs and at the upper end supplied in pairs and removed in pairs at the lower end Guide the bearing shells on their way along the anode. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that below the anode (35) within of the cylinder formed by the bearing shells with the inner surface of this cylinder in the substantially liquid-tight cooperating bottom (27) is arranged, which with the cylinder together form a vessel that holds the electrolyte, with a pumping device (29, 30) is provided, which keeps the level of the electrolyte in the vessel constant. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the parallel guides of rolls (26) arranged in rows are formed. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that four rows of rollers are arranged are, the roles of two rows are connected to each other in pairs. 6. Apparatus according to claim 2 to 5, characterized in that within the of the bearing shells (22) formed cylinder a stirrer (36) is arranged on a uniformly driven shaft serving as an anode, its Agitator blades (37) extend in the radial direction through the annular space up to the immediate area Close to the inner surface of the bearing shells and extend approximately over the entire length of the electrolyte space. 1 sheet of drawings