Electrolysis jig assembly for workpieces having holes, electrolysis apparatus equipped with same, and electrolysis method using same

Abstract

Provided is an electrolysis jig assembly for workpieces. With respect to a variety of electrolytic processes that can be used for metal-plating components having holes, the present invention can raise the quality of electrolysis in the inner surface of the holes, ensuring uniform metal-plating over the entirety of the component being metal-plated, and is suitable as the electrolytic process included in continuous or automated metal-plating processes. In addition, damage to the apparatus during electrolysis can be prevented or minimized, preventing the process being suspended and allowing maintenance costs to be reduced.

Description

A jig assembly for an electrolytic process for a workpiece having a hole, an electrolytic process device having the same, and an electrolytic process method using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a jig assembly for an electrolytic process, and more specifically, to a jig assembly for an electrolytic process for a workpiece having a hole, an electrolytic process device having the same, and an electrolytic process method using the same.

[0002] A typical plating process involves acid treatment, rinsing, plating, rinsing, dehydration, and drying. Depending on the material of the desired plating layer and the material of the plated material, plating can be broadly categorized into hot dip galvanizing, electroplating, and electroless plating.

[0003] The above hot dip plating, also called immersion plating, is a plating method that melts a metal or alloy with a lower melting point than the plated material and deposits it on the plated material to form a thin layer. In addition, the electroplating is a plating method that uses the principle of metal ions being precipitated by discharge from the cathode by accommodating the plated material together with an electrode in a solution containing metal ions and passing an electric current, thereby creating a thin metal film on the surface of the plated material accommodated together with the cathode. In addition, electroless plating is similar to electroplating, but rather than applying an electric current from the outside, it is a method that reduces metal ions using a reducing agent in the plating solution to precipitate metal on the surface of the plated material, thereby forming a metal layer.

[0004] Among these, electroplating (or electroplating) is divided into barrel method and rack method. The barrel method is a method in which small parts such as washers, nuts, bolts, and screws are filled into a rotating barrel and plated while rotating the barrel in a plating tank. The rack method is a method in which somewhat larger parts are hung on a rack and stored inside a plating tank for electrodeposition.

[0005] Typically, in both the barrel method and the rack method, the plated material is connected to the cathode and the plating tank is connected to the anode. However, depending on the location of the anode, the shape of the part, and the location of the surface to be plated, the electric field is formed unevenly at each location on the surface of the plated material. As a result, the plating layer may not be formed on some areas of the surface, or even if it is formed, it may cause uneven thickness compared to other areas, which may result in very poor plating quality.

[0006] These concerns about plating quality are significantly increased in pipes or manifolds where holes are provided in the plated material, and plating may not be applied smoothly within the holes.

[0007] Meanwhile, the process of applying current during the plating process includes not only electroplating (or electroplating), but also electrolytic degreasing and electrolytic polishing, which are performed as pretreatment processes for the plated object. However, electrolytic degreasing and electrolytic polishing, like the electroplating described above, have the problem that degreasing or polishing may not be properly performed inside the holes of the plated object having holes.

[0008] Accordingly, there is an urgent need for research on electrolytic process technology that can improve the quality of electrolytic processes for performing various electrolytic processes on components with holes and that is easy to apply to continuous plating processes.

[0009] The present invention has been devised in consideration of the above points, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a jig assembly for an electrolytic process for a workpiece having a hole, which can improve the quality of the electrolytic process for the inner surface of a hole when performing various electrolytic processes that can be included in a plating process for a part having a hole, and which is suitable for application as an electrolytic process included in a continuous plating process or an automated plating process, an electrolytic process device having the same, and an electrolytic process method using the same.

[0010] In addition, the present invention has another purpose of providing a jig assembly for an electrolytic process for a workpiece having a hole that can prevent or minimize damage to the device occurring during an electrolytic process, thereby preventing interruption of the process and reducing maintenance costs, an electrolytic process device having the same, and an electrolytic process method using the same.

[0011] In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an electrolytic process jig assembly that performs an electrolytic process by being hung on a carrier bar that extends across the upper portion of an electrolytic process bath and is electrically connected to a cathode of a power source for a subject matter having at least one hole open on both sides or one side, the electrolytic process jig assembly including: a first racking portion that supports the subject matter and is hung on the carrier bar; and an auxiliary electrode portion that is arranged to be positioned within the hole of the subject matter, and a second racking portion that is hung on the carrier bar for hanging the auxiliary electrode.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second racking portion includes a second hooking portion that is hooked to a carrier bar and a first extension portion that connects the second hooking portion and the auxiliary electrode, and the second hooking portion may include a second extension portion that extends from the second hooking portion toward the anode portion to electrically connect the anode portion and the auxiliary electrode, which are disposed above the electrolytic process solution.

[0013] In addition, in order to prevent damage to either the second extension or the anode due to continued lowering of the carrier bar after one side of the second extension comes into contact with the anode, the opposite side of the one side of the second extension may be fixed to the second catch through a rotating member which is a hinge member.

[0014] Additionally, the carrier bar is electrically connected to the cathode, and an insulating material may be further provided on the inner surface of the second racking portion that comes into contact with the carrier bar.

[0015] Additionally, the electrolytic process may include at least one of electrolytic degreasing, electrolytic polishing, and electrolytic plating.

[0016]

[0017] In addition, the present invention provides an electrolytic process device for a workpiece having at least one hole, comprising: an electrolytic process bath filled with an electrolytic process solution to a predetermined height; a carrier bar extending across the upper portion of the electrolytic process bath and electrically connected to a negative electrode of a power source; a jig assembly according to the present invention hung on the carrier bar; and

[0018] It includes an anode portion which is placed above the electrolytic process solution and is connected to the anode of the power source;

[0019] A device for an electrolytic process for a workpiece is provided, wherein a second racking part provided in a jig assembly is in contact with the anode part and an auxiliary electrode connected to the second racking part is provided with a hole electrically connected to the anode of a power source.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the anode portion may include an anode bar extending in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the carrier bar, and a third racking portion hooked to the anode bar, and the third racking portion may include a third hooking portion hooked to the anode bar; and a third extension portion that is coupled to the third hooking portion and extends toward the carrier bar so as to contact one side of a second extension portion provided on a second racking portion of the jig assembly.

[0021] In addition, convex terminals formed to face each other may be provided on the areas of the second extension portion and the third extension portion that come into contact with each other.

[0022]

[0023] In addition, the present invention provides an electrolytic process method for an object to be treated having at least one hole, using an electrolytic process device according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: fixing the object to be treated to a first racking unit and positioning an auxiliary electrode of an auxiliary electrode unit inside the hole of the object to be treated; fixing the first racking unit and the second racking unit of the auxiliary electrode unit by hanging them on a carrier bar; lowering the carrier bar so that a basket is immersed in an electrolytic process solution in an electrolytic process bath and a second extension unit provided in the second racking unit is in a state in which it can be electrically conductive with an anode unit; and applying power to the anode and the cathode to perform an electrolytic process on a surface including an inner surface of the hole of the object to be treated.

[0024] The jig for electrolytic process of the present invention and the electrolytic process device using the same can improve the electrolytic process quality of the inner surface of a hole when performing various electrolytic processes that can be included in a plating process for a part having a hole, thereby ensuring plating uniformity over the entire area of ​​the part to be plated, and is suitable for application as an electrolytic process included in a continuous plating process or an automated plating process. In addition, it can prevent or minimize damage to the device occurring during the electrolytic process, thereby preventing process interruption and reducing maintenance costs.

[0025] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a jig assembly for an electrolytic process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrolytic process device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second fixing member provided in a jig assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 is a side view of an extension included in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an electrolytic process device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. The present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0031]

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a jig assembly (100) for an electrolytic process according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to perform an electrolytic process by being hung on a carrier bar (210) that extends across the upper portion of an electrolytic process bath (300) for a treatment object (10) having at least one hole and is electrically connected to a cathode of a power source.

[0033] In addition, the jig assembly (100) includes a first racking part (120) and an auxiliary electrode part (160), and the first racking part (120) which is electrically connected to the negative pole of the power source and functions as a cathode, and the auxiliary electrode part (160) which is electrically connected to the positive pole of the power source and functions as an anode are configured to be hung on one carrier bar (210), and through this, when the carrier bar (210) is configured to move across the bath required for a plurality of overall processes required for plating including an electrolytic process, the entire process can be configured to be performed as a continuous process, and can be configured as an automated facility. In other words, in the electrolytic process, the carrier bar (210) is connected to the negative pole of the power source and functions as one electrode for performing the electrolytic process, but in the non-electrolytic process, it can function as a support for supporting and moving the jig assembly (100).

[0034]

[0035] The first racking part (120) is configured such that one end is fixed to the object to be treated (10) and supports the object to be treated (10) so that it can remain at a predetermined position in the electrolytic process bath (300), and the other end is hung on the carrier bar (210).

[0036] The workpiece (10) supported by the first racking unit (120) may be a component having at least one hole that is most vulnerable to the problem of uneven electric field strength depending on the position that occurs in a typical electrolytic process, i.e., an electrolytic process in which an anode is connected to an electrolytic process bath (300) or an anode is placed within an electrolytic process bath (300). For example, the component may be a pipe or a manifold. Here, the hole may be open on both sides or may have a form in which one side is open and the other side is closed (for example, a groove). In addition, the workpiece (10) may be a known material that can be subjected to an electrolytic process, and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the component may be a pipe employed in a solid oxide fuel cell, and the electrolytic process may include at least one of electrolytic polishing, electrolytic degreasing, metal strike plating, and electrolytic plating. In particular, among these, the metal strike process may be an electrolytic process that is very suitable for employing the jig assembly (100) according to the present invention, since the metal strike plating layer may be hardly formed or may be formed unevenly on the inner surface of the hole depending on the unevenness of the electric field.

[0037]

[0038] In addition, the first racking unit (120) has a first fixing member (121) for supporting and hanging the workpiece (10) on a carrier bar (210), and a first connecting member (122) for connecting the workpiece (10) and the first fixing member (121). The specific shape or size of the first fixing member (121) and the first connecting member (122) is not particularly limited in the present invention. In other words, the first fixing member (121) and the first connecting member (122) may be different parts, but are not limited thereto, and one side of one part may be implemented to have a shape that can be hung on the carrier bar (210), and the opposite side may be a shape that is connected to the workpiece (10). Accordingly, the first racking unit (120) may be changed by appropriately adopting a material or shape of a racking jig known in the plating field, and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

[0039]

[0040] In addition, the auxiliary electrode part (160) includes an auxiliary electrode (140) positioned within a hole of a material to be treated (10), and a second racking part (150) for hanging the auxiliary electrode (140) on the carrier bar (210) and electrically contacting the positive electrode of the power source.

[0041] The above auxiliary electrode (140) can function as an anode when the anode portion (220) is electrically connected to the second extension portion (154) described below, thereby forming a uniform electric field inside the hole of the object to be treated (10), thereby enabling an improved and uniform electrolytic process to be performed. The present invention does not specifically limit the auxiliary electrode (140) to a size and shape that can be inserted and positioned in the hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole.

[0042]

[0043] In addition, the second racking part (150) may include a second hooking part (151) that is hooked to the carrier bar (210) and a first extension part (152) that connects the auxiliary electrode (140) and the second hooking part (151). In addition, the second hooking part (151) may include a second fixing member (152) that is hooked to the carrier bar (210) and a second extension part (154) that is connected to the second fixing member (152) and makes electrical contact with the anode part (220) that is arranged above the electrolytic process solution (310) in the electrolytic process bath (300). Meanwhile, the second catch (151) and the first extension (152) are illustrated and described as being different parts, but are not limited thereto, and one part may be implemented to have a shape in which one side can be caught on the carrier bar (210), and the opposite side may have a shape in which it is connected to the auxiliary electrode (140), and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

[0044] In addition, when the carrier bar (210) is electrically connected to the negative pole of the power source, the second racking part (150) that is hooked onto the carrier bar (210) is also supplied with the negative pole of the power source. To prevent this, an insulating material (not shown) may be further provided on the inner surface of the second racking part (150) that is in contact with the carrier bar (210), specifically, on the inner surface of the second hooking part (151). In particular, as described below, the second extension part (154), which is the opposite end of the second hooking part (151) that is hooked onto the carrier bar (210), is electrically connected to the positive pole (220), so that a short circuit between the carrier bar (210) and the second hooking part (151) can be prevented through the insulating material.

[0045]

[0046] Meanwhile, after completing a predetermined process of the front stage, the carrier bar (210) transferred to the electrolytic process bath through a carrier device (not shown) can be lowered to immerse the object to be treated (10) contained in the basket (110) into the electrolytic process solution (310). At this time, the lowering of the carrier bar (210) can cause the auxiliary electrode part (160), specifically the second extension part (154) of the second racking part (150), to come into contact with the anode part (220) to achieve an electrically conductive state. However, even after the second extension part (154) and the anode part (220) come into contact, the second extension part (154) may continue to press the anode part (220) downward due to the continued lowering of the carrier bar (210). However, if the second extension part (154) and the second fixing member (152) form a single body, or if the second extension part (154) is fixed to the second fixing member (152) so that it cannot move, damage or breakage may occur in at least one of the second extension part (154) and the anode part (220).

[0047] Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to prevent damage due to strong physical impact or contact between the second extension (154) and the anode (220) during the lowering process of the carrier bar (210), a rotation member (155), which is a hinge member, may be further provided between the second extension (154) and the second fixing member (152) so that the one side of the second extension (154) can rotate upward in response to the subsequent lowering of the carrier bar (210) after one side of the second extension (154) touches the anode (220).

[0048] In addition, the rotation member (155), which is a hinge member, may have a rotation angle that prevents the second extension (154) from sagging downwards below a certain angle, and for example, the rotation angle may be 90°.

[0049]

[0050] The above-described electrolytic process jig assembly (100) can be included as a component of an electrolytic process device for a workpiece (10) having at least one hole as described above. Specifically, an electrolytic process device (1000) for a treatment object (10) having a hole includes an electrolytic process bath (300) filled with an electrolytic process solution (310) to a predetermined height, a carrier bar (210) extending across the upper portion of the electrolytic process bath (300) and electrically connected to a negative pole of a power source, a jig assembly (100) hooked onto the carrier bar (210), and an anode portion (220) disposed above the electrolytic process solution (310) and connected to the positive pole of the power source, and in the process of lowering the carrier bar (210) so that a basket (110) provided in the jig assembly (100) is immersed in the electrolytic process solution (310), a second extension portion (154) of a second racking portion (150) provided in the jig assembly (100) can come into contact with the anode portion (220) to become electrically conductive.

[0051] At this time, the anode part (220) may include an anode bar (221) extending in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the carrier bar (210), and a third racking part (227) that is hung on the anode bar (221).

[0052] In addition, the third racking portion (227) may include a third fixing member (222) that is hooked onto the anode bar (221), and a third extension portion (224) that is fixed to the third fixing member (222) and extends toward the carrier bar (210) so as to contact one side of the second extension portion (154). At this time, the third extension portion (224) may further include a fourth extension portion (223) to increase the area fixed to the third fixing member (222), and for example, the third extension portion (224) and the fourth extension portion (223) may be formed integrally in a bracket shape. Meanwhile, if the third extension (224) and the fourth extension (223) have an L-shaped bracket shape, even if the second extension (154) suddenly descends from above and collides strongly, it can be suitable for maintaining a stable connection state with the third fixing member (222) and withstanding an external force applied from the second extension (154).

[0053]

[0054] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the second extension portion (154) and the third extension portion (224) may further include convex terminals (154a, 224a) formed so that the curved surfaces face each other on the areas where they come into contact with each other, thereby eliminating a situation in which the second extension portion (154) and the third extension portion (224) may not be in contact with each other due to tolerances in the installation positions between the carrier bar (210), the jig assembly (100), and the anode portion (220), and even when the second extension portion (154) is bent upward due to the connecting portion (155), which is the hinge member described above, the contact state can be maintained.

[0055]

[0056] In addition, the present invention includes an electrolytic process method performed on a workpiece (10) having at least one hole using the above-described electrolytic process device (1000), comprising the steps of: fixing the workpiece (10) to the first racking part (120) provided in the jig assembly (100) in the electrolytic process device (1000), and positioning the auxiliary electrode (140) of the auxiliary electrode part (160) inside the hole of the workpiece (10); fixing the second racking part (150) of the first racking part (120) and the auxiliary electrode part (160) by hanging them on the carrier bar (210); and fixing the basket (110) to the electrolytic process solution (310) in the electrolytic process bath (300), and the carrier bar (210) so that the second extension part (154) provided in the second racking part (150) is in a state where it can be electrically conductive with the anode part (220). It may include a step of lowering, and a step of applying power to the anode and cathode to perform an electrolytic process on the surface including the inner surface of the hole of the object to be treated (10).

[0057] At this time, the object to be treated (10) may be positioned so that the extension direction of the hole of the object to be treated (10) is in the direction of gravity, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the object to be treated (10) may be positioned so that the extension direction of the hole of the object to be treated (10) is perpendicular to the direction of gravity, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and there is no limitation on the arrangement direction of the object to be treated (10) within the basket (110).

[0058]

[0059] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment presented in this specification, and a person skilled in the art who understands the spirit of the present invention will be able to easily propose other embodiments by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components within the scope of the same spirit, but this will also be considered to fall within the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A jig assembly for an electrolytic process, which is extended across the upper part of an electrolytic process bath for a treatment object having at least one open hole on one or both sides, and is hung on a carrier bar that is electrically connected to the negative pole of a power source to perform an electrolytic process, A first racking section for supporting the processed material and for hanging on the carrier bar; and A jig assembly for an electrolytic process, comprising: an auxiliary electrode portion having an auxiliary electrode positioned within a hole of a processing object; and a second racking portion for hanging the auxiliary electrode on the carrier bar.

2. In paragraph 1, The second racking portion includes a second hooking portion that is hung on a carrier bar and a first extension portion that connects the second hooking portion and the auxiliary electrode, An electrolytic process jig assembly having a second extension portion extending toward the anode portion to electrically connect the anode portion and the auxiliary electrode, which are disposed above the electrolytic process solution.

3. In paragraph 1, The above carrier bar is electrically connected to the cathode, A jig assembly for an electrolytic process, wherein an insulating material is further provided on the inner surface of the second racking portion that comes into contact with the carrier bar.

4. In paragraph 2, An electrolytic process jig assembly in which the opposite side of the second extension part is fixed to the second hanging part through a rotating member which is a hinge member to prevent damage to one or more of the second extension part and the anode part caused by the continued lowering of the carrier bar after one side of the second extension part comes into contact with the anode part.

5. In paragraph 1, The above electrolytic process is a jig assembly for an electrolytic process including at least one of electrolytic degreasing, electrolytic polishing, and electrolytic plating.

6. An electrolytic process device for a treatment object having at least one hole, An electrolytic bath filled with an electrolytic solution to a predetermined height; A carrier bar extending across the top of the electrolytic process bath and electrically connected to the negative pole of the power source; A jig assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is hung on the carrier bar; and It includes an anode portion which is placed above the electrolytic process solution and is connected to the anode of the power source; An electrolytic process device for a workpiece, wherein a second racking part provided in a jig assembly is provided in contact with the anode part and has a hole electrically connected to the anode of a power source in an auxiliary electrode connected to the second racking part.

7. In paragraph 6, The above anode portion includes an anode bar extending in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the carrier bar, and a third racking portion that is hung on the anode bar, and the third racking portion A third catch that hangs on the pole; and An electrolytic process device for a workpiece, comprising a hole having a third extension portion that extends toward the carrier bar side so as to be in contact with one side of a second extension portion provided in a second racking portion of a jig assembly and is coupled to the third hanging portion.

8. In paragraph 7, An electrolytic process device for a workpiece, wherein the second extension portion and the third extension portion each have a hole with a convex terminal formed to face each other on the area where they come into contact with each other.

9. An electrolytic process method performed on a treatment object having at least one hole using an electrolytic process device according to Article 6, A step of fixing a processing object to a first racking section and positioning an auxiliary electrode of an auxiliary electrode section inside a hole of the processing object; A step of fixing the first racking part and the second racking part of the auxiliary electrode part by hanging them on the carrier bar; A step of lowering the carrier bar so that the basket is immersed in the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic bath and the second extension provided in the second racking section is in a state of being electrically conductive with the anode section; and An electrolytic process method for a treatment object having a hole, comprising the step of performing an electrolytic process on a surface including an inner surface of a hole of the treatment object by applying power to an anode and a cathode.

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