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US 10,052,738 B2Granted
Internal surface finishing apparatus and method
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsWendell V. Twelves, Jr., John P. Rizzo, Jr., Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn, Joseph Ott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of an apparatus includes a centrifugal drive unit, an arm assembly, an optional dynamic balancing ring, and a workpiece fixture. The arm assembly is operatively connected to the centrifugal drive unit and configured to revolve about a primary axis perpendicular to the arm. The workpiece fixture is mounted to the arm assembly, and is configured to rotate at least one workpiece about at least one secondary axis outboard of the primary axis.
Claims42
An apparatus comprising:
- a centrifugal drive unit;
- an arm assembly operatively connected to the centrifugal drive unit and configured to revolve about a primary axis perpendicular to the arm;
- and
- a workpiece fixture mounted to the arm assembly, the workpiece fixture includes at least one receptacle for receiving and retaining a workpiece and processing media, and is configured to rotate at least one workpiece about at least one secondary axis outboard of the primary axis;
- wherein the arm assembly has an adjustable length such that the arm assembly is configured to revolve the workpiece fixture along a noncircular path about the primary axis;
- and
- wherein the workpiece fixture comprises an open gimbaled fixture or a gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure.
4 more elements
A method for processing a workpiece having at least one internal passage, the method comprising:
- providing an open gimbaled fixture or a gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure;
- providing loose processing media within the internal passage of the workpiece;
- revolving the workpiece around an external axis so as to accelerate the processing media against one or more targeted internal surfaces defining the internal passage;
- oscillating the workpiece during the revolving step;
- orienting the workpiece to manipulate the loose processing media relative to the one or more targeted surfaces;
- and
- controlling the revolving step and the orienting step to uniformly process the one or more targeted surfaces;
- wherein the orienting step comprises:
- rotating the workpiece about at least one internal axis outboard of the external axis via the open gimbaled fixture, or the gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a centrifugal drive unit;
- an arm assembly operatively connected to the centrifugal drive unit and configured to revolve about a primary axis perpendicular to the arm;
- a workpiece fixture mounted to the arm assembly, the workpiece fixture includes at least one receptacle for receiving and retaining a workpiece and processing media, and is configured to rotate at least one workpiece about at least one secondary axis outboard of the primary axis;
- and
- at least one actuator connected to the arm assembly and configured to enable out-of-plane rotation of the arm assembly and the workpiece fixture.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a centrifugal drive unit;
- an arm assembly operatively connected to the centrifugal drive unit and configured to revolve about a primary axis perpendicular to the arm;
- and
- a workpiece fixture mounted to the arm assembly, the workpiece fixture includes at least one receptacle for receiving and retaining a workpiece and processing media, and is configured to rotate at least one workpiece about at least one secondary axis outboard of the primary axis;
- wherein the arm assembly includes at least one telescoping portion disposed between the workpiece fixture and the primary axis;
- and
- wherein the workpiece fixture comprises an open gimbaled fixture or a gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure.
4 more elements
A method for processing a workpiece having at least one internal passage, the method comprising:
- providing an open gimbaled fixture or a gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure;
- providing loose processing media within the internal passage of the workpiece;
- revolving the workpiece around an external axis so as to accelerate the processing media against one or more targeted internal surfaces defining the internal passage;
- orienting the workpiece to manipulate the loose processing media relative to the one or more targeted surfaces, wherein the orienting step comprises:
- rotating the workpiece about at least one internal axis outboard of the external axis via the open gimbaled fixture, or the gimbaled housing with at least one enclosure;
- controlling the revolving step and the orienting step to uniformly process the one or more targeted surfaces;
- and
- modifying a path of the workpiece around the external axis during the revolving step, wherein the modifying step comprises:
- changing a distance of the workpiece relative to the external axis.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.