Improvements in or relating to electrolytic or chemical treatment of workpieces

摘要

Apparatus for carrying out electrolytic or non-electrolytic chemical processes, such as electrolytic plating, anodic oxidation, degreasing, pickling, polishing and brightening, comprises a helicoidal coil spring 5 within which an object 6 to be treated can be suspended in a bath 7. The coil is continuously rotated about its axis so that the points of suspension of the object are not always the same and the object can be uniformly treated. The coil is supported and rotated at adjustable speed by a rod 4 rotated by a motor 10. Collars 16, 17 maintain the spring in place during rotation. The exterior of the coil may be insulated by polyvinyl chloride 14, Fig. 3, with the interior left bare at 15 so that it is in electrical contact with both the object 6 and the rod 4. In electroplating, the rod 4 is connected to the negative side of a current supply by a brush 11 and nickel anodes 12 are provided on either side of the spring. Abutments may be provided to prevent a workpiece from leaving the ends of the spring during rotation, e.g. the end coils of the spring may be smaller than those in the central portion. In an example, uranium bars for atomic piles are nickel plated.