Anode assembly for selectively plating interior surfaces of electrical terminals.

摘要

An anode assembly (30) for selectively plating contact areas on the interior surface of cathodically charged socket terminals is disclosed, which comprises a conductive body member (32) having an anode means or member (54) extending forwardly from a body section, a dielectric body member (58) adapted to be secured to a forward portion of conductive body member (32) and having a passageway therethrough for receiving the anode means (54); sheath means (64) extending forwardly from the dielectric body member (58) and along the anode means (54) and means for securing the dielectric body member (58) to the forward portion of the conductive body member (32). Sheath means (64) extends angularly around at least one selected circumferential portion of the anode means (54), and lateral edge surfaces (68) of the sheath means (64) define at least one slot (70) extending axially along the anode means (54) such that at least one axially extending portion (55) of the anode means (54) is exposed along the slot (70). The sheath means (64) has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of a terminal to be plated. Upon moving the sheathed anode means (54) into the interior of an electrical terminal, supplying plating solution upon the exposed anode portion (55) of the anode means (54), and providing an electrical current flow from the anode means (54), through the plating solution and into the cathodically charged terminal, a layer of plating is selectively deposited on the internal surface portion of the terminal that is generally aligned with the at least one exposed anode portion (55), with sheath means (64) providing a barrier to prevent plating on the remaining internal terminal surface portions.