GB724799A - Method and apparatus for continuously plating irregularly shaped objects - Google Patents

Abstract

724,799. Coating with metals. COMMONWEALTH ENGINEERING CO. OF OHIO. Feb. 20, 1953, No. 4832/53. Class 82 (2). Objects (e.g. golf-club heads) are plated by contact with thermally decomposable metal bearing gases at the decomposition temperature of the said gases, by a method in which the objects are conveyed along the length of a conduit that is divided into a plurality of compartments by resilient partitions that will yield to pass the objects being plated, but which will prevent any substantial passage of gas between the compartments of the conduit, with one compartment being supplied with a hot inert gas to bring the articles up to decomposition temperature of the plating gas, the next compartment being supplied with the decomposable plating gas, and the next following compartment being supplied with an inert cooling gas. The apparatus is shown diagramatically in Fig. 2 where the objects are mounted on an endless belt 12 and move successively through compartments 36 to 30 collectively denoted 16 being degreased, washed, pickled, washed, then dried in compartment 18. They are then heated in compartment 41, plated in 42, which is double-walled to prevent egress of poisonous gases, and cooled in compartment 43, all in non- oxidizing atmosphere and collectively denoted 17, Fig. 1. The top of compartments 41 and 42 may be made of glass to allow heating by infra-red lamps 47, 56 or induction heating may be used. The entrances and exits to compartments 41, 42 and 43 are protected by mechanical locks (Fig. 9) composed of resilient members 72 to 75 each divided vertically into two (72a, 72b, for example). The atmosphere of each compartment is therefore prevented from escaping, as the objects 10 pass through. Provision is made for supplying, and withdrawing, gases from each compartment. Coating metals specified are Ni, Fe, Cr, Mo, Co, Cu, Sb, Sn, Zn, Os, Ru.