Electrophoretic deposition system

Abstract

An electrophoretic disposition system for simultaneously coating the exterior and interior of metal parts having an exterior portion and an interior portion comprising an emersion tank having four side walls and a bottom, at least one vertical anode for conducting current through the paint positioned along one of the walls, and at least one retractable remote anode positioned adjacent the at least one vertical anode. Once a part to be coated is submerged into the emersion tank, the at least one remote anode is extended into the interior of the part. Once in place, a current is passed through both the anodes. The at least one vertical anode creates a current path on the exterior of the part and the at least one horizontal anode creates a current path on the interior of the part.

1 ) A system for the electrophoretic disposition of the exterior and interior of parts comprising: 
 An emersion tank having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, and a bottom;    At least one vertical anode positioned along the first wall of the emersion tank;    At least one retractable remote anode positioned adjacent the at least one vertical anode; and,    An electrical current supply for providing current to the anodes.    
   
   
       2 ) The system for the electrophoretic disposition of the exterior and interior of parts of  claim 1  wherein the at least one retractable remote anode further comprises an outer generally cylindrical sheath having a tank end and a distal end, a generally cylindrical anode of a diameter smaller than the sheath and having a current end and a piston end housed within the sheath at the tank end, a piston positioned at the piston end of the anode, an inlet valve for supplying piston extension force, and an outlet valve for supplying piston retraction force.  
   
   
       3 ) A system for system for simultaneously applying a coating to the exterior and interior of a metal surface comprising: 
 An emersion tank having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, and a bottom;    At least one vertical anode positioned along the first wall of the emersion tank;    At least one retractable remote anode positioned adjacent the at least one vertical anode, the at least one retractable remote anode further comprises an outer generally cylindrical sheath having a tank end and a distal end, a generally cylindrical anode of a diameter smaller than the sheath and having a current end and a piston end housed within the sheath at the tank end, a piston positioned at the piston end of the anode, an inlet valve for supplying piston extension force, and an outlet valve for supplying piston retraction force.    
   
   
       4 ) The system for simultaneously applying a coating to the exterior and interior of a metal surface of  claim 3  further comprising a hydraulic system for extending and retracting the remote anode.  
   
   
       5 ) A method for simultaneously applying a coating to the exterior and interior of a metal part through electrophoretic disposition comprising the steps of: 
 submerging a metal part into a solution found within an emersion tank, the emersion tank having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, and a bottom, at least one vertical anode positioned along the first wall of the emersion tank, and at least one retractable remote anode positioned adjacent the at least one vertical anode, the at least one retractable remote anode further comprises an outer generally cylindrical sheath having a tank end and a distal end, a generally cylindrical anode of a diameter smaller than the sheath and having a current end and a piston end housed within the sheath at the tank end, a piston positioned at the piston end of the anode, an inlet valve for supplying piston extension force, and an outlet valve for supplying piston retraction force;    applying force to the piston, thereby activating the piston which in turn extends the at least one remote anode into the tank and into the interior of the metal part;    applying a current to the solution through the at least one vertical anode and the at least one remote anode, thereby drawing the solution to the metal part.    
   
   
       6 ) The method of  claim 5  comprising the further step of applying retraction force to the piston, thereby withdrawing the at least one remote anode from the interior of the metal part and from the tank once the metal part is adequately coated.