US2011284385A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and Apparatus For Anodizing Objects

33
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 21, 2010Filed: May 21, 2010Published: Nov 24, 2011
Est. expiryMay 21, 2030(~3.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Scott S. TurnerKarsten Nielsen
C25D 11/005C25D 5/08C25D 17/02C25D 11/02
33
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for electrolytically treating a surface of a component includes a reaction chamber, a transport chamber and a fluid return path. The reaction chamber is adapted for placing at least a portion of the component therein, and holds a reaction fluid. Fluid enters the reaction chamber through a plurality of inlets. Each inlet directs the fluid toward the component at one or more non-zero vertical angles, and at one or more non-zero horizontal angles. The reaction chamber is a fixture having a cover with an underside shaped to direct the fluid to the surface of the component, such as by having a plurality of slopes. The inlets are through a material that is electrically non-conductive, such as ceramic, plastic, PVC, and fiber reinforced plastic, and/or the fixture further includes a titanium cathode ring that can be vertically adjacent the non-conductive material.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus for electrolytically treating a surface of a component comprising:
 a reaction chamber, adapted for placing at least a portion of the component therein, and for holding a reaction fluid;   a transport chamber in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, wherein the fluid enters the reaction chamber from the transport chamber through a plurality of inlets directed toward the component, wherein each of the plurality of inlets is disposed to direct the fluid toward the component at least one non-zero vertical angle; and   a fluid return path, wherein the fluid returns from the reaction chamber to the transport chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-zero vertical angles is at least two non-zero vertical angles. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least a first of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is greater than zero and at least a second of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is less than zero. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inlets is further disposed to direct the fluid toward the component at least one non-zero horizontal angle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one non-zero horizontal angle is at least two non-zero horizontal angles. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inlets is further disposed to direct the fluid toward the component at least one non-zero horizontal angle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction chamber is a fixture having a cover over the reaction chamber, and the cover has an underside shaped to direct the fluid entering the reaction chamber through the plurality of inlets to the surface of the component. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cover underside has a plurality of slopes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of inlets and the cover underside cooperate to refresh the fluid at the surface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of inlets and the cover underside cooperate to cause the fluid to remove heat from the surface of the component. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of inlets are through a first material that is electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first material is comprised of at least one of ceramic, plastic, PVC, and fiber reinforced plastic 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of inlets are in the fixture, and the fixture further includes a titanium cathode ring. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the titanium cathode ring is vertically adjacent the first material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inlets are through a first material that is electrically non-conductive and wherein the reaction chamber is a fixture and the plurality of inlets are through the fixture, and the fixture further includes a titanium cathode ring. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the titanium cathode ring is vertically adjacent the first material. 
     
     
         17 . A fixture for anodizing a component, comprising, a reaction chamber with a plurality of inlets, wherein each of the plurality of inlets is disposed to direct an electrolyte toward the component at least one non-zero vertical angle. 
     
     
         18 . The fixture  claim 17 , wherein the at least one non-zero vertical angles is at least two non-zero vertical angles. 
     
     
         19 . The fixture of  claim 18 , wherein at least a first of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is greater than zero and at least a second of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is less than zero. 
     
     
         20 . The fixture of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of inlets is further disposed to direct the fluid toward the component at least one non-zero horizontal angle. 
     
     
         21 . The fixture of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one non-zero horizontal angle is at least two non-zero horizontal angles. 
     
     
         22 . The fixture of  claim 20 , wherein the fixture includes a cover over the reaction chamber, and the cover has an underside disposed to direct the electrolyte to a reaction surface of the component. 
     
     
         23 . The fixture of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of inlets and the cover underside cooperate to refresh the electrolyte at the reaction surface. 
     
     
         24 . The fixture of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of inlets and the cover underside cooperate to cause the electrolyte to remove heat from the reaction surface. 
     
     
         25 . The fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the cover underside has a plurality of slopes. 
     
     
         26 . The fixture of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of inlets are through a first material that is electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         27 . The fixture of  claim 26 , wherein the first material is comprised of at least one of ceramic, plastic, PVC, and fiber reinforced plastic, and wherein the fixture further includes a titanium cathode ring. 
     
     
         28 . The fixture of  claim 25 , wherein the titanium cathode ring is vertically adjacent the first material. 
     
     
         29 . A method for electrolytically treating a component comprising, directing a reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths, wherein each of the plurality of paths is at one of at least one non-zero vertical angle. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein directing a reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths at one of at least one non-zero vertical angle, includes directing a reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths, wherein each of the plurality of paths is at one of at least two non-zero vertical angles. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least a first of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is greater than zero and at least a second of the at least two non-zero vertical angles is less than zero. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein each of the plurality of paths is at at least one non-zero horizontal angle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one non-zero horizontal angle is at least two non-zero horizontal angles. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising refreshing the fluid at the surface. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising, remove heat from the surface of the component. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein directing the reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths includes directing the reaction fluid through a first material that is electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein directing the reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths includes directing the reaction fluid through a first material that is electrically non-conductive and vertically adjacent a cathode ring. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein directing the reaction fluid toward the component along a plurality of paths includes directing the reaction fluid through a first material that is electrically non-conductive and vertically adjacent a titanium cathode ring.

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