Electroplating systems and methods for wear-resistant coatings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11834752-B2
Application number	US-202217571952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2022
Priority date	Apr 28, 2021
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

An electroplating system includes a tank functioning as an anode, wherein the tank is configured in a horizontal orientation having a length greater than its height, a component part disposed within the tank and functioning as a cathode, an electrical connection, coupled to the anode and cathode, for providing an electric current, and a supply line for delivering an electrolytic fluid to within the tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electroplating system comprising:
a tank comprising an anode, wherein the tank is configured in a horizontal orientation having a length greater than its height;
a component part disposed within the tank and functioning as a cathode;
an electrical connection, coupled to the anode and cathode, for providing an electric current;
a current shield around the component part;
rollers positioned on top of the current shield to deflect the current shield downward to match any deflection of the component part; and
a supply line for delivering an electrolytic fluid to within the tank.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component part is a mud rotor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mud rotor has a length of about 8 feet to about 30 feet, and wherein the horizontal orientation of the tank is configured to house the mud rotor within its bounds.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic fluid includes ions of cobalt and ions of phosphorous.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor and shaft coupled to the component part for rotating the component part during an electroplating process.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current shield comprises titanium or a plastic.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current shield is spaced about ½ inch from the rotor.

8. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of tanks, each configured in the horizontal orientation, and oriented in parallel with one another.

9. An electroplating system comprising:
a tank comprising an anode, wherein the tank is configured in a horizontal orientation having a length greater than its height;
a component part disposed within the tank and functioning as a cathode, the component part disposed within the tank in the horizontal orientation;
a current shield disposed around the component part;
an electrical connection, coupled to the anode and cathode, for providing an electric current;
a supply line for delivering an electrolytic fluid to within the tank; and
rollers positioned on top of the current shield to selectively deflect the current shield downward to match any deflection of the component part.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the component part is a mud rotor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mud rotor has a length of about 8 feet to about 30 feet, and wherein the horizontal orientation of the tank is configured to house the mud rotor within its bounds.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrolytic fluid includes ions of cobalt and ions of phosphorous.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a motor and shaft coupled to the component part for rotating the component part during an electroplating process.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the current shield comprises titanium or a plastic.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the current shield is spaced about ½ inch from the rotor.

16. The system of claim 9 , comprising a plurality of tanks oriented in parallel with one another.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Sklar Glenn
• Piascik James
• Mintzer Joseph

Classifications

• C25D17/008 Primary

  Current shielding devices · CPC title

• C25D17/02

  Tanks; Installations therefor · CPC title

• C25D17/12

  Shape or form (C25D17/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C25D17/16 Primary

  Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk · CPC title

• C25D5/00

  Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces · CPC title