Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming a relatively thin, flexible, electrically conductive endless belt on a support mandrel wherein the mandrel and belt exhibit different temperature coefficients of expansion. The method comprises the steps of preheating the support mandrel to a temperature of a plating solution, positioning the preheated mandrel in an electrolytic cell containing the plating solution, rotating the mandrel in the solution for an interval of time sufficient for depositing a film of predetermined thickness on a surface of the mandrel, and withdrawing the mandrel and an endless belt formed thereon from the solution and cooling the mandrel and belts in a cooling bath for facilitating the removal of the bath from the mandrel.
Inventors
👤 Edwin M Wallin
👤 Chester H Ling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-26 21:54
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
THE METHOD OF FORMING A RELATIVELY THIN, FLEXIBLE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ENDLESS NICKEL BELT ON A SUPPORT MANDREL WHEREIN A MANDREL CONTAINING AN OUTER CHROMIUM LAYER AND THE NICKEL BELT FORMED THEREON EXHIBIT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE COEFFCIENTS OF EXPANSION, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PREHEATING THE SUPPORT MANDREL AT A PREHEATING STATION TP THE TEMPERATURE OF A PLATING SOLUTION OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL; TRANSPORTING THE MANDREL FROM THE PREHEATING STATION TO AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL CONTAINING A PLATING SOLUTION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION NICKEL SULFAMATE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 100* TO 160*F; ESTABLISHING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FLOW PATH WITHIN THE CELL FOR THE PLATING SOLUTION; POSITIONING AND ROTATING THE MANDREL IN THE PLATING SOLUTION FOR AN INTERVAL OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO DESPOSIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE MANDREL A LAYER OF NICKEL ABOUT 0.003-0.010 INCHES THICK FROM WHICH THE BELT IS FORMED; AND WITHDRAWING THE MANDREL AND THE ENDLESS NICKEL BELT FORMED THEREON FROM THE PLATING SOLUTION AND TRANSPORTING AND
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
THE METHOD OF FORMING A RELATIVELY THIN, FLEXIBLE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ENDLESS NICKEL BELT ON A SUPPORT MANDREL WHEREIN A MANDREL CONTAINING AN OUTER CHROMIUM LAYER AND THE NICKEL BELT FORMED THEREON EXHIBIT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE COEFFCIENTS OF EXPANSION, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PREHEATING THE SUPPORT MANDREL AT A PREHEATING STATION TP THE TEMPERATURE OF A PLATING SOLUTION OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL; TRANSPORTING THE MANDREL FROM THE PREHEATING STATION TO AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL CONTAINING A PLATING SOLUTION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION NICKEL SULFAMATE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 100* TO 160*F; ESTABLISHING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FLOW PATH WITHIN THE CELL FOR THE PLATING SOLUTION; POSITIONING AND ROTATING THE MANDREL IN THE PLATING SOLUTION FOR AN INTERVAL OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO DESPOSIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE MANDREL A LAYER OF NICKEL ABOUT 0.003-0.010 INCHES THICK FROM WHICH THE BELT IS FORMED; AND WITHDRAWING THE MANDREL AND THE ENDLESS NICKEL BELT FORMED THEREON FROM THE PLATING SOLUTION AND TRANSPORTING AND
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the mandrel is preheated in a liquid bath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said mandrel and belt are transported to and positioned with a solution recovery bath at a solution recovery station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of recirculating said solution in said electrolytic cell in order to remove impurities and to maintain said bath at predetermined temperatures and wherein a liquid bath from said plating solution recovery station is combined with said recirculated solution.