GB1179334A - Process and Apparatus for the Electrolytic Production of Elongate Metal Articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,179,334. Electrolytic production of wire. KENNECOTT COPPER CORP. March 2, 1967 [March 7, 1966], No.9941/67. Heading C7B. An elongate metal article, for instance wire, e.g. copper wire, is produced by maintaining a length of a metallic base member in an electrolyte in which metal is deposited on said base member to enlarge its cross-section and subjecting the base member to reduction in cross-sectional area, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction whilst continuing to deposite metal thereon, thereby producing incremental additional lengths which form the product. In the embodiment shown the wire is attached at one end to a fixed support 56 and passes through dies 21 and 27, between which is an electrolyte bath 31, and hence to a take up reel 54. The dies 21, 27 are mounted within a cylinder 18 having its ends closed by resilient sealings discs 19, 20 provided with apertures for passage of the wire W therethrough, thus forming chambers 30, 31 and 32, each provided respectively with a pair of ports 34, 35 and 36 which may act as inlet and outlet thereto. The central chamber contains the electrolyte bath, being provided with electrode 41 in the form of a helical wire. The cylinder 18 is mounted upon a carriage 12, movable in the direction of the wire upon rails 11. In operation reciprocatory relative movement between the wire W and the dies and electrolytic bath 31 is produced by means of drive rod 45 and crank arm 48 secured to drive shaft 50 of electric motor 51, the wire continuously having its cross-section increased by electrolytic deposition and decreased by passage through the dies, the increase in length of the wire thus produced being continuously collected onto the take up spool 54. The compartments 30, 32 may contain rinsing baths. Alternatively the wire may be wound about a pair of driven rollers within the electrolyte bath, Fig. 3 (not shown) to maintain a greater length of wire within the bath. The wire produced may be collected from both ends.