Abstract
In any overhead job, operators will feel more relaxed and safer. In any systems, the operators won't have to spend days for masking and sealing. Simple protection will be enough. With this unit operators can use toxic solutions like cadmium and silver without any health concern, because the anode returns the toxic vapors back to the chamber and filtered suction line in front of the exhaust valve will take the toxic vapor away. Pit filling anode save the workers time and effort drastically by filling the pits bottom up in one shot.
Claims
1- This unit works two systems in balance to stop and reduce corrosive solutions from leaking and reaching unwanted surfaces during electroplating and the operator do not have to spend days for masking and sealing and in any overhead job, operators will feel more relaxed and safer and simple protection will be enough and with this unit operators can use toxic solutions like cadmium and silver without health concern, because the anode returns the toxic vapors back to the chamber and filtered suction line in front of the exhaust valve will take toxic vapors away.
2- The Flat surface anode and Shaft anode are uniquely designed to deliver the solution to the work piece and return it back safely to the canister and they can only be produced by an additive manufacturing because the delivery and suction channels in the anode can not be built in with another manufacturing type.
3- Pit filling anode brings the revolution to repair the pits and voids by jetting the electrically charged electrolyte at the bottom of the pits and starts to build from the bottom up in one shot to save time and effort.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1—Traditional brush electroplating anode.
[0012] FIG. 2—Leak Free Electroplating unit and a surface anode connected.
[0013] FIG. 3—Leak Free Electroplating unit.
[0014] FIG. 4—Leak Free Electroplating system exposed from carrying case.
[0015] FIG. 5—Actual picture of three Leak Free system anodes.
[0016] FIG. 6—Surface anode's exposed parts.
[0017] FIG. 7—Surface anode's assembly perspective drawing.
[0018] FIG. 8—Surface anode's assembly perspective drawing.
[0019] FIG. 9—Surface and Pit filling anode handle's draft drawing.
[0020] FIG. 10—Surface anode distributor's draft drawing.
[0021] FIG. 11—Surface anode cover ring's draft drawing.
[0022] FIG. 12—Shaft anode's assembly perspective drawing.
[0023] FIG. 13—Shaft anode's exposed parts.
[0024] FIG. 14—Transparent perspective of Shaft anode to show the channels in it.
[0025] FIG. 15—Shaft anode distributor's draft drawing.
[0026] FIG. 16—Sketch of how Pit filling anode works.
[0027] FIG. 17—Sketch of how traditional brush anode and pit filling anodes repair a pit.
[0028] FIG. 18—Pit filling anode's perspective drawing of exposed parts.
[0029] FIG. 19—Pit filling anode's perspective assembly drawing.
[0030] FIG. 20—Traditional and Leak Free anodes actual pictures.
[0031] FIG. 21—Double electrolyte unit's finished product picture.
[0032] FIG. 22—Single electrolyte unit's finished product and anodes picture.
[0033] FIG. 23—Main Parts of Single electrolyte unit. [0034] 6—Vacuum pump ejector 7—Muffler 8—Exhaust valve 11—Suction line [0035] 12—Delivery line 14—Solution chamber 15—Peristaltic pump
[0036] FIG. 24—Main Parts of Single electrolyte unit. [0037] 6—Vacuum pump ejector 7—Muffler 8—Exhaust valve 11—Suction line [0038] 12—Delivery line 14—Solution chamber 15—Peristaltic pump FIG. 25—Some Parts of Single electrolyte unit. [0039] 6—Vacuum pump ejector 14—Solution chamber 15—Peristaltic pump
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The unit has 2 different systems; first is the delivery system that contains a peristaltic pump (FIGS. 2 & 3-15), second is the suction system that contains a vacuum pump ejector (FIGS. 2 & 3-6). The adjustable two ways peristaltic pump deliveries the solution to the anode handle (FIGS. 2 & 6-1) from the chamber canister (FIGS. 2 & 3-14). The vacuum pump ejector works by the compressed pressure air (FIGS. 2 & 3-9) which creates suction to return the solution to the chamber. The air valve (FIGS. 2 & 3-10) adjusts the pressure of the air. This way we can adjust the vacuum to keep the anode perfectly wet without any dripping.
[0041] First we fill the chamber (FIGS. 2 & 3-14) with solution to the mark and close the lid and lock it down for security. We connect the suction (FIGS. 2 & 3-11) and the delivery (FIGS. 2 & 3-12) hoses from the anode handle (FIGS. 2 & 6-1) to the unit. Then we open the chamber's exhaust valve (FIGS. 2 & 3-8) that releases the air coming in with suction. After replace the anode in a tray we then open the air valve (FIGS. 2 & 3-10) to start suction and start the pump (FIGS. 2 & 3-15) to deliver solution to the anode. When solution arrives to the anode we adjust the volume of solution by the pump and adjust the suction in balance by the air valve. The batting (FIGS. 2 & 6-5) on the anode should be completely wet but should not drip. We start electroplating by connecting the positive lead (FIGS. 2 & 6-13) to the anode.
[0042] This unit simply works two systems in balance. The delivery system supplies the solution to the anode and the distributor spreads it at multiple points to completely wet the batting. In the suction system, during the pressure air passing thru the vacuum pump ejector, it creates a vacuum in front of the nozzle to suck the solution from the anode and then sends the air-solution mixture back to the chamber. The multiple suction points on the distributor help the solution travel in the bathing evenly. When air solution mixture hits the muffler in the chamber, the solution then flows down in the chamber and the air leaves from the exhaust valve. Placing a filtered suction line in front of the exhaust valve is environmentally recommended because of the possibility of the solution vapor.
[0043] I designed three different anodes for their purposes; flat surface anode (FIG. 5-1), cylindrical surface anode (FIG. 5-2) like a shaft surface with different diameters and small pit filing anode (FIG. 5-3). All anodes can be used with the same units.
[0044] The flat surface anode (FIG. 5-1)(FIG. 6 thru 11) have 3 main pieces; the Anode handle (FIGS. 2, 6 & 8-1)(FIG. 9) delivers the solution and returns it back, the Distributor (FIGS. 2, 6 & 8-2)(FIG. 10) spreads the solution and collects it back from multiple points and the Cover ring (FIGS. 2, 6 & 8-3)(FIG. 11) holds the cotton batting (FIGS. 2 & 6-5) and Platinum clad niobium mesh (FIGS. 2 & 6-4) down.
[0045] Shaft anode (FIG. 5-2)(FIG. 12 thru 15) have 3 main pieces; the Anode handle (FIGS. 12 & 13-3) delivers the solution and returns it back, the Distributor (FIGS. 12 & 13-1)(FIG. 15) spreads the solution and collects it back from multiple points and the Cover ring (FIGS. 12 & 13-2) holds the cotton batting and platinum clad niobium mesh.
[0046] Pit filling anode (FIG. 16 thru 19) has a similar handle (FIGS. 16 & 18-1) as flat surface anode but distributor (FIGS. 16 & 18-2) has only one small delivery channel (FIGS. 16 & 18-3) in the middle with platinum clad niobium wire (FIGS. 16 & 18-5) in it and has four suction channels (FIGS. 16 & 18-4). When solution directly jetting (FIG. 16-6) in the pit or void platinum clad niobium wire charges the ions in the solution without touching the cathode. This anode holds the surface with vacuum and the same vacuum returns the excess solution back to the chamber. On FIG. 17 you can see how the Pit Filling Anode works vs traditional anode. Electrical current wants to travel the shortest distance. That's why when we use a regular traditional anode, (FIG. 17-1 thru 4) plating builds on the edge of the pit and at the end it leaves a void in the plating. Operator constantly stops plating and grinds the build ups on the edge to allow more plating to go to bottom of the pit. It is time consuming and a frustrating operation. Pit Filling Anode (FIG. 17-5 thru 8) jets the electrically charged electrolyte at the bottom of the pits and starts to build from the bottom up in one shot.
[0047] After we finished electroplating, by switching the pump in reverse direction it then returns the solution to the chamber in both ways. When we are sure the lines are empty, shut down the air and the pump. Disconnect delivery and suction lines from the unit. By connecting a short tygon tube to the delivery connection on the unit, we can then empty the solution to a safer container from the chamber. Before carrying the unit away, disconnect the compressed air, unplug the pump, shut the exhaust valve and plug the delivery and the suction connections on the unit.
