DESC:SYSTEM FOR CHROME PLATING AND METHOD THEREFOR

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to a system for chrome plating and more particularly, to the system which facilitates uniform coating on round surfaces such as circumference of rings, cylinders and the like.

Background of the invention:

Chrome plating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal or plastic object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness. Sometimes a less expensive imitator of chrome may be used for aesthetic purposes. The process of chrome plating differs depending on the type of substrate being plated.

One of the processes of chrome plating includes entering the component to be plated into a chrome plating vat which is electrically live. Some of this chrome plating process uses stationary bus bars for cathode and anode. Specifically, on the cathode arbor is placed concentric to the stationary anode with the help of copper cross plate. The current is passed through the system as per the process requirement.

However, the prior art processes of the chrome plating have following disadvantages:

1. Chrome thickness variation ranges from 60 to 120 microns.
2. Difficult to load the arbor concentric with the anode.
3. Separate bus bar for the cathode to load the arbor is required.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a system for chrome plating on round surfaces such as circumference of rings, cylinders and the like.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide uniform chrome coating on round surfaces components including circumference of rings, cylinders and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce variation in chrome deposition over the circumference of a piston ring to less than half of the existing value.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention provides system and method for chrome plating. The system provides uniform chrome coating on round surfaces components including pistons, circumference of rings, cylinders and the like. The system comprises an arbor, at least one cross plate, a disk, a plurality of brushes, a holding mechanism, bearings, a drive mechanism and a chrome tank.

The arbor holds a component to be chrome plated. The arbor acts as a cathode. The at least one cross plate is attached to the arbor for supporting the arbor. The disk is attached to the cross plate. The the disk rotates and transfers current to the arbor through the cross plate.

The plurality of brushes is attached in contact with an outer diameter of the disk. The plurality of brushes acts as a stationary anode to transfer the current to the arbor therefrom. The plurality of brushes includes a spring attached thereto for ensuring firm contact with the outer diameter of the disk. The holding mechanism is attached for holding the spring against the plurality of brushes and guiding the plurality of brushes.

The bearings are attached to the disk for supporting the disk during rotation while rotating along with the arbor. The drive mechanism is attached to the disk for giving motion to the disk.

The chrome tank is located below the disk and is connected with the arbor. The chrome tank is filled with chrome acid. The chrome tank includes at least ten lead electrodes placed concentric and equidistance from the arbor therein.

The arbor (10) rotates continuously 360º around own axis thereof to expose area of the component to be plated with the plurality of brushes (40) for specific time interval repeatedly. This rotation of the arbor (10) avoids inaccuracy due to variation in radial distance between the plurality of brushes (40) (stationary anode) and different points on circumference of the component (cathode) thereby achieving uniform chrome plating layer all over the circumference of the component.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of the system for chrome plating, in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 2 shows a top view of the system for chrome plating of figure 1.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a system for chrome plating. The system is capable of providing uniform chrome coating on round surfaces such as pistons, circumference of rings, cylinders and the like. Further, the system reduces variation in chrome deposition over circumference of a piston ring to less than half of the existing value.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in brackets in the following description.

Referring now to figure 1 and 2, a system (100) for chrome plating is described. The system (100) is specifically used for uniform chrome coating on round surfaces components such as pistons, circumference of rings, cylinders and the like. The system (100) comprises an arbor (10), at least one cross plate (20), a disk (60), a plurality of brushes (40), a holding mechanism (50), bearings (80), a drive mechanism (70) and a chrome tank (30).

The arbor (10) is a fixture that holds plurality of components to be chrome plated. The arbor (10) acts as a cathode. In preferred embodiment, the components to be coated/chrome plated includes but not limited to outer diameter of piston rings, round surfaces such as circumference of rings, cylinders and the like.

The at least one cross plate (20) is attached to the arbor (10). The at least one cross plate (20) supports the arbor (10). The disk (60) is attached to the at least one cross plate (20). The disk (60) is rotating disk. The disk (60) transfers current to the arbor (10) through the cross plate (20).

The plurality of brushes (40) is attached in contact with an outer diameter of the disk (60). The plurality of brushes (40) acts as a stationary anode to transfer the current to the arbor (10) through the disk (60) and the cross plate (20). The plurality of brushes (40) includes a spring (not shown) attached thereto. The spring ensures that the plurality of brushes (40) is always firmly in contact with outer diameter of disk (60).

Further, the plurality of brushes (40) is mounted within the holding mechanism (50). The holding mechanism (50) guides the plurality of brushes (40) and also holds the spring against the plurality of brushes (40). The holding mechanism also helps to connect power cable to the plurality of brushes (40).

The bearings (80) are attached to the disk (60). The bearing (80) supports the disk (60) during rotation. In an embodiment, the bearing (80) is Teflon bearing. The bearing (80) is specially designed to support the disk (60) while rotating along with the arbor (10). Specifically, the bearings (80) withstand the load as well as the acidic environment of chrome plating.

The drive mechanism (70) is attached to the disk (60). The disk (60) receives motion from the drive mechanism (70). Specifically, the drive mechanism (70) is a geared drive train for giving motion to the disk (60). In an embodiment, the drive mechanism (70) the made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWP) material. The drive mechanism (70) uses a special type of geared motor to withstand high corrosive atmosphere selected for the application.

In an embodiment, the cross plate (20), the plurality of brushes (40) and the disk (60) are made from copper. The plurality of brushes (40) and the disk (60) made from electrical copper material ensures firm contact required for the heavy current to flow through holder mechanism (50).

The chrome tank (30) is located below the disk (60) and connected with the arbor (10). The chrome tank (30) is filled with chrome acid. The chrome tank (30) includes at least ten lead electrodes (30a) placed concentric and equidistance from the arbor (10) therein. The remaining components of the system (100) are mounted on the top of the chrome tank (30).

The arbor (10) rotates continuously 360º around own axis thereof to expose area of the component to be plated with the plurality of brushes (40) for specific time interval repeatedly. This takes care of most of inaccuracies arising due to variation in radial distance between the plurality of brushes (40) (stationary anode) and different points on circumference of the component (cathode). This results in achieving uniform chrome plating layer all over the circumference of the component such as the piston ring.

The system (100) uses the plurality of the brushes (40) made of copper to pass the current while rotating the arbor (10). The holder mechanism (50) and plurality of the brushes (40) with flexible cable eliminates need of a bus bar used in chrome plating of the prior art.

Advantages of your invention:

1. The system (100) achieves uniform coating on the ring OD. (=<20 microns)
2. The system (100) handles heavy current of 2000 Amp in rotating mechanism of Cathode.
3. The system (100) withstands high temperatures continuously due to heavy electric current flow and also highly corrosive environment due to vapours of the chromic acid.
4. The system (100) is designed to facilitate easy maintenance and material handling.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A system (100) for chrome plating, the system (100) providing uniform chrome coating on round surfaces components including pistons, circumference of rings and cylinders, the system (100) comprising:
an arbor (10) holding a component to be chrome plated, wherein the arbor (10) acts as a cathode;
at least one cross plate (20) attached to the arbor (10) for supporting the arbor (10);
a disk (60) attached to the cross plate (20), wherein the disk (60) rotates and transfers current to the arbor (10) through the cross plate (20);
a plurality of brushes (40) attached in contact with an outer diameter of the disk (60), the plurality of brushes (40) acts as a stationary anode to transfer the current to the arbor (10) therefrom, the plurality of brushes (40) having a spring attached thereto ensuring firm contact with the outer diameter of the disk (60);
a holding mechanism (50) attached for holding the spring against the plurality of brushes (40) and guiding the plurality of brushes (40);
bearings (80) attached to the disk (60) for supporting the disk (60) during rotation while rotating along with the arbor (10);
a drive mechanism (70) attached to the disk (60) for giving motion to the disk (60); and
a chrome tank (30) located below the disk (60) and connected with the arbor (10), the chrome tank (30) having chrome acid filled therein and at least ten lead electrodes (30a) placed concentric and equidistance from the arbor (10) therein,
wherein, the arbor (10) rotates continuously 360º around own axis thereof to expose area of the component to be plated with the plurality of brushes (40) for specific time interval repeatedly thereby avoiding inaccuracy due to variation in radial distance between the plurality of brushes (40) (stationary anode) and different points on circumference of the component (cathode) and achieving uniform chrome plating layer all over the circumference of the component.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cross plate (20) is made of copper.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of brushes (40) and the disk (60) are made from electrical copper material thereby ensuring firm contact required for the heavy current to flow through the holding mechanism (50).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism (50) also connects power cable to the plurality of brushes (40).

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearings (80) are Teflon bearings that withstand load and acidic environment of the chrome plating.

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism (70) is a geared drive train.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism (70) is made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWP) material and includes a special type of geared motor to withstand high corrosive atmosphere selected for the application.

Dated this 21st day of December 2016

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for the applicant)
(IN/PA-2337)