US3922207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for plating articles with particles in a metal matrix
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-31
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-05-31
Abstract
Abstract The surface of a workpiece which is to be plated is immersed in a plating solution of particles dispersed in a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution. The plating solution flows between the surface and an abrasive tool which rubs against the surface. An electric current is passed from the tool through the plating solution into the workpiece thereby causing metal ions to plate out as metal onto the surface of the workpiece. The particles within the plating solution become entrapped in the plated out matrix material. The pressure of the abrasive tool against the surface is enough to remove surface roughness but not enough to remove all the metal that is being plated out so that the coating builds up on the surface with the particles entrapped therein. The particle size, the pressure of the tool against the workpiece and the dispersal of the particles in the plating solution are several of the parameters which are controlled to achieve a uniform, high volume percent of particles within the plated matrix material. In a preferred embodiment the abrasive tool is a honing tool which rotates and reciprocates relative to the surface of the workpiece being plated.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Orvey Preston Lowrey
- 👤 Frank Walter Hammond
- 👤 Raymond Bender Slack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:54
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D5/00; C25D5/22; B; B24; B24D; B24D18/00; B24D18/0018; C25D15/00; C25D15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A METHOD FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE SURFACE OF A WORKPIECE USING A TOOL HAVING AN ANODE PORTION AND A NONCONDUCTIVE ABRASIVE PORTION, THE COATING INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF PARTICLES IN A METAL MATRIX MATERIAL INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: MOVING SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION RELATIVE TO SAID WORK PIECE SURFACE; MAINTAINING SAID ANODE PORTION IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE; FLOWING A PLATING SOLUTION OF A METAL SALT DISSOLVED IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE AND SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION AND BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE AND SAID ANODE PORTION, SAID PLATING SOLUTION INCLUDING SAID PARTICLES; PASSING A DIRECT ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM SAID ANODE PORTION THROUGH SAID PLATING SOLUTION TO SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE SO THAT SAIT WORKPIECE SURFACE IS AT NEGATIVE POTENTIAL; MAINTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISPERSAL OF SAID PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THAT PORTION OF THE PLATING SOLUTION FLOW BETWEEN SAID ABRASSIVE SURFACE PORTION AND ANODE PORTION AND SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE; AND PRESSING SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION AGAINST SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE FOR AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE TIME THAT THE MOVE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WITH SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO CAUSE SOME OF SAID PARTICLES WHICH ARE SUSPENDED IN SAID SOLUTION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE MATRIX MATERIAL AS IT IS PLATED OUT, AND OT CUASE REMOVAL OF ROUGHNESS OF ANY ALREADY PLATED MATRIX MATERIAL WITHOUT CAUSING EXCESSIVE DISLODGEMENT OF PARTICLES EMBEDDED IN THE PLATED MATRIX MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
A METHOD FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE SURFACE OF A WORKPIECE USING A TOOL HAVING AN ANODE PORTION AND A NONCONDUCTIVE ABRASIVE PORTION, THE COATING INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF PARTICLES IN A METAL MATRIX MATERIAL INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: MOVING SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION RELATIVE TO SAID WORK PIECE SURFACE; MAINTAINING SAID ANODE PORTION IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE; FLOWING A PLATING SOLUTION OF A METAL SALT DISSOLVED IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE AND SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION AND BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE AND SAID ANODE PORTION, SAID PLATING SOLUTION INCLUDING SAID PARTICLES; PASSING A DIRECT ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM SAID ANODE PORTION THROUGH SAID PLATING SOLUTION TO SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE SO THAT SAIT WORKPIECE SURFACE IS AT NEGATIVE POTENTIAL; MAINTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISPERSAL OF SAID PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THAT PORTION OF THE PLATING SOLUTION FLOW BETWEEN SAID ABRASSIVE SURFACE PORTION AND ANODE PORTION AND SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE; AND PRESSING SAID ABRASIVE SURFACE PORTION AGAINST SAID WORKPIECE SURFACE FOR AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE TIME THAT THE MOVE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WITH SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO CAUSE SOME OF SAID PARTICLES WHICH ARE SUSPENDED IN SAID SOLUTION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE MATRIX MATERIAL AS IT IS PLATED OUT, AND OT CUASE REMOVAL OF ROUGHNESS OF ANY ALREADY PLATED MATRIX MATERIAL WITHOUT CAUSING EXCESSIVE DISLODGEMENT OF PARTICLES EMBEDDED IN THE PLATED MATRIX MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 1 wherein said particles in said plating solution are 10 microns in diameter or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 1 wherein said step of pressing includes applying a pressure of 2.0 psi or less and maintaining said pressure constant to within + or - 0.25 psi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 3 wherein said step of maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of said particles includes maintaining the volume percent of said particles in that portion of the plating solution flowing between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and said anode portion and said workpiece surface substantially the same as the overall volume percent of said particles elsewhere in the plating solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 1 wherein said particles in said plating solution are 3 microns in diameter or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
The method for applying a coating according to cLaim 4 wherein said particles are no greater than 10 microns in diameter and the step of maintaining the volume percent of said particles in that portion of the plating solution flowing between said anode portion and said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface substantially the same as the overall volume percent of said particles elsewhere in the plating solution includes controlling the flow rate of the plating solution between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and said anode portion and said workpiece surface to cause sufficient agitation of the particles within the plating solution to keep them suspended therein and distributed uniformly, said flow rate being slow enough to minimize washing away of the particles before they become securely embedded in the plated out matrix material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 6 wherein the step of maintaining said anode portion in closely spaced relationship to said workpiece surface includes maintaining the distance therebetween substantially constant at 0.003 inch or less.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
255 words
A method for applying a coating to the surface of a workpiece using a honing tool having an anode portion and a nonconductive abrasive surface portion, said abrasive surface portion being radially outwardly adjustable, the coating including a substantially uniform distribution of particles in a metal matrix material including the steps of: rotating and reciprocating said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion relative to each other; maintaining said anode portion in closely spaced relationship to said workpiece surface; flowing a plating solution of a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution between said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion and between said workpiece surface and said anode portion, said plating solution including said particles, said particles being no greater than 10 microns in diameter; passing a direct electric current from said anode portion through said plating solution to said workpiece surface so that said workpiece surface is at a negative potential; maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of particles throughout that portion of the plating solution flowing between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface, and between said anode portion and said workpiece surface; and pressing said abrasive surface portion against said workpiece surface during at least a portion of a reciprocating cycle with a pressure no greater than 2.0 psi to cause removal of roughness of any already plated matrix material without causing excessive dislodgement of particles embedded in the plated matrix material, and maintaining said pressure constant during said portion of said reciprocating cycle to within + or - 0.25 psi.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
255 words
A method for applying a coating to the surface of a workpiece using a honing tool having an anode portion and a nonconductive abrasive surface portion, said abrasive surface portion being radially outwardly adjustable, the coating including a substantially uniform distribution of particles in a metal matrix material including the steps of: rotating and reciprocating said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion relative to each other; maintaining said anode portion in closely spaced relationship to said workpiece surface; flowing a plating solution of a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution between said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion and between said workpiece surface and said anode portion, said plating solution including said particles, said particles being no greater than 10 microns in diameter; passing a direct electric current from said anode portion through said plating solution to said workpiece surface so that said workpiece surface is at a negative potential; maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of particles throughout that portion of the plating solution flowing between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface, and between said anode portion and said workpiece surface; and pressing said abrasive surface portion against said workpiece surface during at least a portion of a reciprocating cycle with a pressure no greater than 2.0 psi to cause removal of roughness of any already plated matrix material without causing excessive dislodgement of particles embedded in the plated matrix material, and maintaining said pressure constant during said portion of said reciprocating cycle to within + or - 0.25 psi.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 8 wherein the step of maintaining said anode portion in closely spaced relationship to said workpiece surface includes maintaining the distance substantially constant therebetween at no more than 0.003 inch to maximize plating rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 8 wherein said step of maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of said particles includes alternating said pressing step with a flushing step wherein said abrasive surface portion is moved away from said workpiece surface for a short time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 8 wherein said step of maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of said particles includes controlling the flow rate of the plating solution between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and between said anode portion and said workpiece surface said step of controlling including maintaining the flow rate of the plating solution between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and said anode portion and said workpiece surface fast enough to cause agitation Of the particles within the plating solution to keep them suspended therein and distributed uniformly, and slow enough to minimize washing away of the particles before they become securely embedded in the plated out matrix material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
315 words
A method for applying a coating to the surface of a workpiece using a honing tool having an anode portion and a nonconductive abrasive surface portion, said abrasive surface portion and anode portion being radially outwardly adjustable, the coating including a substantially uniform distribution of particles in a metal matrix material including the steps of: rotating and reciprocating said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion relative to each other; maintaining said anode portion at a substantially constant distance of no more than 0.003 inch from said workpiece surface to maximize plating rate by radial adjustment of said honing tool; flowing a plating solution of a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution between said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion and between said workpiece surface and said anode portion, said plating solution including said particles, said particles being no greater than 10 microns in diameter, said step of flowing including maintaining the flow rate of the plating solution between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and between said anode portion and said workpiece surface fast enough to cause agitation of said particles within the plating solution to keep them suspended therein and distributed uniformly, and slow enough to minimize washing away of the particles before they become securely embedded in the plated out matrix material; passing a direct electric current from said anode portion through said plating solution to said workpiece surface so that said workpiece surface is at a negative potential; and pressing said abrasive surface portion against said workpiece surface during at least a portion of a reciprocating cycle with a pressure no greater than 2.0 psi to cause removal of roughness of any already plated matrix material without causing excessive dislodgement of particles embedded in the plated matrix material, and maintaining said pressure constant during said portion of said reciprocating cycle to within + or - 0.25 psi.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
315 words
A method for applying a coating to the surface of a workpiece using a honing tool having an anode portion and a nonconductive abrasive surface portion, said abrasive surface portion and anode portion being radially outwardly adjustable, the coating including a substantially uniform distribution of particles in a metal matrix material including the steps of: rotating and reciprocating said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion relative to each other; maintaining said anode portion at a substantially constant distance of no more than 0.003 inch from said workpiece surface to maximize plating rate by radial adjustment of said honing tool; flowing a plating solution of a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution between said workpiece surface and said abrasive surface portion and between said workpiece surface and said anode portion, said plating solution including said particles, said particles being no greater than 10 microns in diameter, said step of flowing including maintaining the flow rate of the plating solution between said abrasive surface portion and said workpiece surface and between said anode portion and said workpiece surface fast enough to cause agitation of said particles within the plating solution to keep them suspended therein and distributed uniformly, and slow enough to minimize washing away of the particles before they become securely embedded in the plated out matrix material; passing a direct electric current from said anode portion through said plating solution to said workpiece surface so that said workpiece surface is at a negative potential; and pressing said abrasive surface portion against said workpiece surface during at least a portion of a reciprocating cycle with a pressure no greater than 2.0 psi to cause removal of roughness of any already plated matrix material without causing excessive dislodgement of particles embedded in the plated matrix material, and maintaining said pressure constant during said portion of said reciprocating cycle to within + or - 0.25 psi.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method for applying a coating according to claim 3 wherein said step of maintaining a substantially uniform dispersal of said particles includes agitating said plating solution.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |