Abstract An electroplating system for cathodically plating an epitrochoidally shaped internal surface of a rotary engine housing. An anode assembly is provided which is comprised of a perforate walled container of titanium metal or other anodically inert metal to which a voltage potential can be applied; the basket contains anode pieces such as nickel which are shaped to be in intimate contact with each other during the plating operation. The perforate walls of the anode container is shaped from flexible expanded titanium sheet metal interfitted within semi-epitrochoidally aligned grooves respectively machined into titanium plates forming the ends of the anode assembly. The anode walls are thus shaped substantially complimentary to the epitrochoid configuration of the cathode but have a predetermined deviation adjacent the nodes of the trochoid for insuring a uniform but heavy coating thickness under high speed electroplating conditions.
A METHOD FOR FABRICATING AN ANODE ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTROPLATING PROCESS, COMPRISING: A. PREPARING A PAIR OF FLAT IMPERVIOUS TITANIUM END PLATES WITH A CONTINUOUS GROOVE IN EACH DEFINING AN EPITROCHOID CONFIGURATION EXCEPT ADJACENT THE MINOR AXIS OF SAID CONFIGURATION WHEREAT SAID GROOVE IS PROGRESSIVELY DISPLACED TOWARD THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE CONFIGURATION TO DEFINE A PAIR OF INWARDLY DIRECTED APICES, B. PROVIDE A FLAT FLEXIBLE PERFORATE WALL OF TITANIUM SHEET METAL AND ASSEMBLE SAID FLEXIBLE WALL WITH THE EDGES THEREOF IN THE GROOVES OF SAID END PLATES, THE SEAM OF SAID WALL BEING SECURED BY TITANIUM STITCHING, AND C. LOCATING A PAIR OF SPACED POSTS BETWEEN SAID END WALLS TO MAINTAIN A PREDETERMINED SPACING THEREBETWEEN INDEPENDENT OF SAID FLEXIBLE WALL AND FOR SECURING SAID FLEXIBLE
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A METHOD FOR FABRICATING AN ANODE ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTROPLATING PROCESS, COMPRISING: A. PREPARING A PAIR OF FLAT IMPERVIOUS TITANIUM END PLATES WITH A CONTINUOUS GROOVE IN EACH DEFINING AN EPITROCHOID CONFIGURATION EXCEPT ADJACENT THE MINOR AXIS OF SAID CONFIGURATION WHEREAT SAID GROOVE IS PROGRESSIVELY DISPLACED TOWARD THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE CONFIGURATION TO DEFINE A PAIR OF INWARDLY DIRECTED APICES, B. PROVIDE A FLAT FLEXIBLE PERFORATE WALL OF TITANIUM SHEET METAL AND ASSEMBLE SAID FLEXIBLE WALL WITH THE EDGES THEREOF IN THE GROOVES OF SAID END PLATES, THE SEAM OF SAID WALL BEING SECURED BY TITANIUM STITCHING, AND C. LOCATING A PAIR OF SPACED POSTS BETWEEN SAID END WALLS TO MAINTAIN A PREDETERMINED SPACING THEREBETWEEN INDEPENDENT OF SAID FLEXIBLE WALL AND FOR SECURING SAID FLEXIBLE
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as in claim 1, in which the flexible perforate wall is assembled from a wire mesh fabric having a mesh size no greater than 150.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method as in claim 1, in which pieces of nickel are deposited in said enclosure defined by said plates and perforate wall, said nickel pieces being in contact with each other, with said perforate wall, and with at least one of said plates, said nickel pieces providing an active anode portion and the configuration defined by said plates and perforate wall providing a passive anode portion, said anode portions being complete upon application of current thereto, whereby a thin dense anodic inert oxide film is formed on the surfaces of said plates and perforate end wall thereby affording electrical insulation and assisting in the control of current density.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein continuous elastic bands of inert material are mounted snugly around the exterior of said flexible wall stationed between said end plates and in said grooves, said bands being located along a predetermined elevation to further assist in controlling current density.