Abstract: Electrode for an electro-erosion process, includes a shaft, a body coupled to the shaft, a plurality of machining-inserts, an insulated layer, and a flushing cover disposed on the body and coupled to the shaft. The shaft includes a channel, a plurality of first openings and second openings, each opening connected to the channel. The body includes a plurality of main-flushing channels, where each channel is connected to a corresponding first opening. The plurality of machining-inserts is spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction and detachably coupled to a peripheral end portion of the body. Each machining-insert includes at least one third opening connected to a corresponding main-flushing channel. The insulated layer is disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the body. The flushing cover includes a plurality of side-flushing channels and a plurality of fourth openings, where each channel is connected to a corresponding second opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment for the surface treatment of parts (4), that comprises a plurality of treatment vats arranged in series and comprising rotating drums (2) provided with means for temporarily attaching the parts to be processed and having their axes (XX?) rotatingly mounted horizontally so that the major portion of each drum (2) is submerged in the processing liquid contained in the corresponding vat, and a conveyor line (14) for supplying each drum (2) with parts to be processed and for removing from said drum the parts already processed, characterized in that the conveying process is carried out along a general axis (ZZ?), and in that the axes (XX?) of the drums are parallel relative to each other and parallel to the general axis (ZZ?) of the conveyor line.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electroplating embossed features on substrates are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include positioning a device in close proximity to an anode. The device may have embossed trenches. The method may also include delivering pressurized electrolyte to the anode. The method may also include activating electrical power between the anode and the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide electrical contacts to a workpiece to facilitate electrotreating processes, including electroplating and electroetching processes are presented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a substrate to deposit, clean or etch material on a substrate using a first horizontal chuck to which a plurality of substrates is attached and electrically charged. Spaced closely to the first horizontal chuck is a coextensive horizontal second chuck which receives and showers reaction solution over all portions of each substrate. During the reaction process, both chucks are substantially submerged in reaction solution within a tank. At least one of the chucks is attached and controllable from a control arm. At least one of the chucks is rotated about a vertical axis at a slow speed during the reaction process. The axes of rotation of the two chucks may be coincident, or the axes may be offset from each other, and/or one or both axes may be offset from the chuck centerpoint(s). One of the chucks may also be periodically moved in a vertical direction relative to the other chuck.

Abstract: A contact-discharge truing/dressing method and a device therefor, capable of very simply conducting truing/dressing of a superabrasive grindstone, especially a superabrasive grindstone having a metal binder. The contact-discharge truing/dressing method brings a rotated conductive grindstone into contact with a pair of electrodes to which a DC voltage or pulse voltage is applied, and subjecting the conductive grindstone to an intermittent truing/dressing by contact discharge produced when opening/closing a circuit of a positive electrode, electrode chips, a grindstone binder, electrode chips, a negative electrode, and parts of the side surfaces of dual-ring rotary electrodes insulated by an insulation layer being used as a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: To avoid the formation of undesirable plating on electric supply rollers, there is provided a continuous plating apparatus in which a planar article to be plated is vertically clamped on both sides by electric supply rollers and the article to be plated is moved horizontally in a plating bath by the rotation of the electric supply rollers to plate both surfaces of the article to be plated. The apparatus is characterized in that the electric supply rollers are divided into conductive segments and non-conductive segments in the circumferential direction, with only the conductive segment which is in contact with the article to be plated being negatively charged, and other conductive segments which are at a distance from the article being positively charged.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electroplating barrel whose barrel shell consists of a plurality of plastic shell elements (11) which are firmly interlinked across the circumference of the shell by gluing or welding without preheating. The shell elements (11) facilitate the production of polygonal barrel shells (10) of different cross-sections. To this end, the shell elements (11) have respective integrally formed rib-shaped projections (16 and 18), whose outer surfaces (21, 22) form between them an angle &agr;. The sides of said angle intersect in the barrel axis a-a and the degree of angle is determined, for example, for a maximum number of shell elements (11) that are to be firmly interlinked. The profile of the rib-shaped projections (16, 18) is chosen in such a manner that in the present case the angle &agr; can be increased to produce an electroplating barrel from a smaller quantity of shell elements (11) by machining the rib outer surfaces (21, 22).

Abstract: An e-coating line for small parts includes a series of load carriers, each having a rotatable shaft supporting an apertured metal barrel with parts to be treated. Electrically conductive drive chains and sprockets connect the rotatable shaft to barrel shafts to suspended the barrel from the carrier for submersion of the barrel into treating tanks including an e-coating tank. The chain/sprocket units are self cleaning and establish a reliable grounding of the barrels through the load carrier and slide rail conveyor conducting the load carriers to ground. A rack is mounted on a support secured to move with the load carriers. The rack engages a drive sprocket on the rotatable shaft. A push cylinder secured to the rack, moves the rack with the slide rail held stationary to rotate the shaft and coupled barrel. The system provides a low cost and effective grounding of the barrels and minimizes maintenance requirements and costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for electroplating metallic ions onto a conductive substrate. In one embodiment, the method comprises at least partially covering a selected surface of the conductive substrate with an electrode wrap that includes a pad having an abrasive surface.The metallic ions are electrically depositing onto the selected surface through the electrode wrap while the conductive substrate is moved (e.g., rotated) relative to the electrode wrap. A substantially constant frictional force is controllably applied from the abrasive surface onto the selected surface while the metallic ions are being deposited. In this manner, a substantially constant abrasive force is applied to the selected surface as the thickness of the deposited metallic coating increases to create a relatively smooth, uniform, thick deposition that is substantially free of defects.

Abstract: A cathode-anode arrangement for use in an electrolytic cell is adapted for electrochemically refining spent nuclear fuel from a nuclear reactor and recovering purified uranium for further treatment and possible recycling as a fresh blanket or core fuel in a nuclear reactor. The arrangement includes a plurality of inner anodic dissolution baskets that are each attached to a respective support rod, are submerged in a molten lithium halide salt, and are rotationally displaced. An inner hollow cylindrical-shaped cathode is concentrically disposed about the inner anodic dissolution baskets. Concentrically disposed about the inner cathode in a spaced manner are a plurality of outer anodic dissolution baskets, while an outer hollow cylindrical-shaped is disposed about the outer anodic dissolution baskets. Uranium is transported from the anode baskets and deposited in a uniform cylindrical shape on the inner and outer cathode cylinders by rotating the anode baskets within the molten lithium halide salt.

Abstract: There is provided a metal foil manufacturing method, in which a metal foil is manufactured by forming a thin metal layer by electrodepositing a metal on the surface of a cathode through an electrolytic reaction, and then separating the thin metal layer from the cathode surface. In doing this, an anodized film forming apparatus is mounted on an exposed surface of the cathode exposed after the separation of the metal layer, and is operated to subject the exposed surface of the cathode continuously or intermittently to electrolytic oxidation, thereby forming an anodized film on the exposed surface.

Abstract: Electrolytic cells for production of Mg or other metal lighter than the molten electrolyte comprise electrode assemblies of anode 28, cathode 26 and intermediate bipolar electrodes 30 with substantially vertical regions 39 between them. The intermediate bipolar electrodes have open-top channels 50 along their top edges. An electrolyte/metal mixture rising from the interelectrode regions by gas lift is transported along these channels, substantially undisturbed by rising gas, to a weir 20 and then to a metal collection chamber 18. The electrolyte surface is kept at a constant level, preferably by means of a vessel 22 submerged in electrolyte in the metal collection chamber, to or from which molten electrolyte can be transferred to alter the surface level.

Abstract: An electroforming apparatus for producing metal foil having a rotating drum cathode and an improved anode construction and a process for using the apparatus are described. The improved anode construction comprises an arcuate anode having a perforated zone. The perforated zone is placed over a manifold for distributing electrolyte into a gap between the cathode and anode for providing a more uniform current distribution and a more uniform foil deposition in the plating region over the manifold as well as other advantages.

Abstract: In the electrolytic production of aluminum, in a cell having a side wall including a layer of carbon electrically insulated from a jacket of metal, the improvement including interposing a layer of tile (27) between the carbon layer (23,24) and the metal jacket (28).

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention concerns an improved process for the electrolytic reduction of a metal from a metal compound and comprises the steps of providing a carbon cathode within a container, dissolving the metal compound in a molten salt electrolyte solvent bath which is disposed within the container, the molten electrolyte bath having a higher decomposition potential than the metal compound and having a lesser density than the reduced molten metal, and continuously providing a particulate, free-flowing, high purity, and highly conductive carbon material to the molten bath to serve as the anode, the particulate carbon material having a lesser density than the molten bath, placing an electrical connection in contact with the particulate carbon anode material and applying an electric current thereto, and collecting reduced metal at the cathode.

Abstract: An apparatus for plating workpieces by electrolytic treatment in several steps comprises means (2) to hold and rotate the workpiece (5), a plurality of electrodes, at least one of which being adapted, in each step, to be located at the workpiece by means of a holder (10), and means to supply, in each step, a certain electrolyte to the region of the rotating workpiece and the non-rotating electrode. A plurality of electrode holders (10) with associated electrodes are arranged on a common carrier (11), which is adjustably movable relative to the rotatable workpiece (5) to selectively locate an optional electrode holder with associated electrode(s) intended for the desired treatment step in an operative position relative to the rotatable workpiece. The carrier (11) is preferably rotatable.

Abstract: A method for plating only the outer circumferential surface of a hollow roller which includes the steps of mounting the roller in a cassette, conveying the cassette to and mounting the cassette on a plating tank such that at least a part of the roller is immersed in the plating solution in the plating tank, rotating the roller while applying a plating current to the roller, dismounting the cassette from the plating tank, conveying the cassette to a roller removal location, and removing the roller from the cassette.

Abstract: A method for electrolytically polishing the inside surface of hollow niobium bodies in which the niobium body acting as an anode is partially immersed in electrolyte and a voltage applied at a current causing oscillations to take place to cause polishing of the niobium body, after which the voltage is disconnected and the oxide layer generated during polishing dissolved. In accordance with the disclosed invention, during the application of the constant voltage, the hollow niobium body is slowly rotated about its axis of rotation at a speed so low that the development of the damped oscillations is not disturbed, with the rotation stopped during the subsequent dissolution of the oxide layer and then a further rotation carried to immerse parts which have not been previously polished after which the steps are repeated.