Metal laminate structures with systems and methods for treating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407796-B2
Application number	US-201615185434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Oct 24, 2013
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a sealed metal laminate structure comprising: a metal layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface; a first enamel layer laminated on the first surface of the metal layer, except at an exposed metal protrusion at a perimeter edge of the sealed metal laminate structure; a second enamel layer laminated on the second surface of the metal layer, except at the exposed metal protrusion at the perimeter edge of the sealed laminate structure; and a phosphate sealer deposited on the exposed metal protrusion of the sealed metal laminate structure. The present disclosure also relates to a metal laminate structure without a phosphate sealer. In addition, systems and methods for treating workpieces, including metal laminate structures, are discussed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for treating a workpiece, the system comprising:
a first electrolyte bath having a first electrode thereon, the first electrode being a negatively charged cathode, wherein the first electrolyte bath being negatively charged induces a deburring reaction with a first portion of the workpiece therein;
a second electrolyte bath having a second electrode thereon, the second electrode being a positively charged anode, wherein the second electrolyte bath being positively charged induces a cleaning reaction with a second portion of the workpiece therein, wherein the cleaning reaction includes causing the second portion of the workpiece to react with the composition of the second electrolyte bath to form hydrogen bubbles, wherein the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath have an identical electrolyte, and wherein the identical electrolyte is configured to form a zinc phosphate coat on positively charged and negatively charged edges of the workpiece;
a power supply coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a barrier seal dividing the first electrolyte bath from the second electrolyte bath, wherein the barrier seal comprises a passage configured to:
allow the workpiece to move from one of the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath to the other electrolyte bath, while preventing electrical shorting between each one of the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage further comprises one of an air gap, a spring loaded tip, an elastic curtain, an elastic contact seal, and a passive pinch roller.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath includes one of sodium chloride and nitrate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath each include a same aqueous electrolyte.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second electrode comprises one of tantalum oxide and iridium oxide.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate coupled to the barrier seal and located above one of the first electrolyte bath and the second electrolyte bath.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first magnetic roller positioned above the first electrolyte bath and a second magnetic roller positioned above the second electrolyte bath, wherein each of the first and second magnetic rollers magnetically contact the workpiece and substantially align the workpiece with the passage.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a belt coupled to the barrier seal and located above the first and second electrolyte baths; and
a plurality of magnets in physical contact with the belt, wherein the plurality of magnets magnetically attract the workpiece to the belt and substantially align the workpiece with the passage.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first roller coupled to the barrier seal and positioned adjacent to a first side of the passage; and
a second roller coupled to the barrier seal and positioned adjacent to a second side of the passage;
wherein the first roller and the second roller are configured to receive the workpiece and move the workpiece through the passage.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first roller is larger than the second roller.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising an elastic seal coupled to at least one of the first roller and the second roller.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrolyte transmission aperture extending through one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

13. A system for treating a workpiece, the system comprising:
a plurality of first electrolyte baths each having a first electrode thereon, the first electrode being a negatively charged cathode, wherein each of the plurality of first electrolyte baths being negatively charged induces a deburring reaction with a respective portion of the workpiece therein;
a plurality of second electrolyte baths each positioned alternatingly between a respective pair of the plurality of first electrolyte baths, and having a second electrode thereon, the second electrode being a positively charged anode, wherein each of the plurality of second electrolyte baths being positively charged induces a cleaning reaction with a respective portion of the workpiece therein, wherein the cleaning reaction includes causing the second portion of the workpiece to react with the composition of the second electrolyte bath to form hydrogen bubbles,
wherein each of the plurality of first electrolyte bath and each of the plurality of second electrolyte bath includes an identical electrolyte, and wherein the identical electrolyte is configured to form a zinc phosphate coat on positively charged and negatively charged edges of the workpiece therein;
a power supply coupled to each of the plurality of first electrode and each of the plurality of second electrode; and
a plurality of barrier seals dividing each of the plurality of first electrolyte bath from an adjacent second electrolyte bath of the plurality of second electrolyte baths, wherein each barrier seal comprises a passage configured to:
allow the workpiece to move from one of the plurality of first electrolyte baths to one of the plurality of second electrolyte baths, while preventing electrical shorting between the adjacent first electrolyte bath and second electrolyte bath.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each passage further comprises one a spring loaded tip or a passive pinch roller.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the identical electrode comprises phosphoric acid.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second electrode comprises tantalum oxide.

17. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a cover plate coupled to one of the plurality of barrier seals, and located above a respective one of the plurality of first electrolyte baths or one of the plurality of second electrolyte baths.

18. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of magnetic rollers each positioned above one of the plurality of first electrolyte baths or one of the plurality of second electrolyte baths, each magnetic roller being configured to magnetically contact the workpiece and substantially align the workpiece with the passage.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the workpiece comprises a freestanding iron lamination.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Luo Yuefeng
• Adis William Edward
• Jones Michael Lewis

Classifications

• B32B15/04

  comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042)} · CPC title

• B32B15/00

  Layered products comprising {a layer of} metal · CPC title

• B32B2307/7265

  Non-permeable · CPC title

• C25D9/06

  by anodic processes · CPC title

• C25D9/10

  on iron or steel · CPC title