High energy plating process for static seals

Abstract

There is disclosed a plating process that involves the application of a soft metallic coating, composed of substantially pure metal or alloy, to resilient metal seals utilizing a high-volume, high-energy electro-deposition plating process. The process basically includes supporting a predetermined quantity of metallic seals at non-sealing surface locations with the metallic seals disposed in series on a conveyor having a predetermined processing path, and continuously moving the seals in series through an electro-plating stage of the processing path to electro-deposit a metallic coating on the seals using a high current density and a high chemical flow rate. The seals of this process are applicable to any application or industry where a large quantity of high vacuum/high purity seals are required and where traditional electro-deposition processes would not yield a sufficient quantity of finished parts or would not produce them at an acceptable cost.

1 . A high energy plating process for static seals comprising: 
 supporting a predetermined quantity of metallic seals at non-sealing surface locations with the metallic seals disposed in series on a conveyor having a predetermined processing path; and    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path to electro-deposit a metallic coating on the metallic seals using a high current density and a high chemical flow rate.    
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an initial cleaning stage of the predetermined processing path prior to moving the metallic seals through the electro-plating stage.    
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , further comprising 
 continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an initial rinsing stage of the predetermined processing path after moving the metallic seals through the cleaning stage and prior to moving the metallic seals through the electro-plating stage.    
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , further comprising 
 continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through a final rinsing stage of the predetermined processing path after moving the metallic seals through the electro-plating stage.    
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an under plating stage of the predetermined processing path, and    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through a top plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electroplating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an intermediate rinsing stage of the predetermined processing path after moving the metallic seals through the under plating stage and prior to moving the metallic seals through the top-plating stage.    
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electroplating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an under plating stage of the predetermined processing path, and    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through a top plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electroplating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an intermediate rinsing stage of the predetermined processing path after moving the metallic seals through the under plating stage and prior to moving the metallic seals through the top-plating stage.    
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electroplating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an under plating stage of the predetermined processing path, and    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through a top plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through an intermediate rinsing stage of the predetermined processing path after moving the metallic seals through the under plating stage and prior to moving the metallic seals through the top-plating stage.    
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 the under plating stage includes at least one striking stage that is substantially shorter than said top plating stage.    
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said top plating stage is at least about ten times longer than said at least one striking stage.    
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path includes    continuously moving the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through at least two different plating stages of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the metallic seals are oriented vertically during the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the process is a continuous high volume process electro-depositing the metallic coating on the metallic seals at a rate of at least about 5 seals per minute.    
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the metallic coating is a soft metallic coating.    
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the metallic coating includes at least one of tin, tin alloy, lead, gold, silver, silver alloy, nickel, copper and indium.    
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein 
 the metallic seals are constructed of one of Stainless Steel, Inconel and Waspaloy prior to electro-depositing the metallic coating during the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the metallic seals are constructed of one of Stainless Steel, Inconel and Waspaloy prior to electro-depositing the metallic coating during the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path.    
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the high current density used during the continuously moving of the metallic seals on the conveyor in series through the electro-plating stage of the predetermined processing path is between about 200 ASF and about 1000 ASF during at least a portion of the electro-plating stage.