Portable electrical discharge metalworking machine

In a portable electrical discharge metalworking tool the combination comprising a hollow electrode, a quill portion retaining said electrode for cooperative movement, means to supply electrical energy to said electrode through said quill, means to flow a coolant through said quill and said electrode to the work, means mounted in tandem with said quill and said electrode to vibrate said electrode with respect to the work, and means to automatically move said electrode toward the work, said tool comprising an electrode gun which includes said vibrating means in tandem arrangement with said hollow electrode and said means to move the same, said vibrating means comprising a hollow body member and a hammer member within said hollow body member free to reciprocate and to rotate in said body member, means to supply air under pressure at an inlet port in said hollow body member intermediate the ends of said body member and to the hammer member therein, a pair of exhaust ports formed in said body member one to each side of said inlet port and in spaced relation to said inlet port, said hammer member being formed with a pair of circumferential grooves in spaced relation to each other along the axial length of said hammer member and with a pair of separate internal passageways extending one from each of said grooves to the further end of said hammer member with respect to said each of said grooves.

In a portable electrical discharge metalworking tool, the combination comprising a hollow electrode, a quill portion retaining said electrode for cooperative movement, means to supply electrical energy to said electrode through said quill, means to flow a coolant through said quill and said electrode to the work, means mounted in tandem with said quill and said electrode to vibrate said electrode with respect to the work, and means to automatically move said electrode toward the work, said tool comprising a gun, a portable console, and a composite cable interconnecting said gun and said console;

• said gun including said electrode, said automatic electrode moving means, said coolant flow means, and said vibrating means;
• means to connect said console to an external supply of electrical energy, means to connect said console to an external supply of pressurized air, transformer means in said console having a primary coil connected to said external electrical supply and a secondary coil to produce said electrical energy supplied to said electrode, a main power cable extending from said transformer secondary coil to connector means on said console, a ground cable extending from the work to said transformer secondary coil, a liquid reservoir in said console, conduit means extending from said liquid reservoir to said connector means, means to drive the liquid in said reservoir through said conduit means from said reservoir to said connector means, said composite cable including a liquid conduit extending from said console connector means to said gun, said main power cable being sheathed in said liquid in said liquid conduit in its passage through said composite cable from said console connector means to said gun, and means to control the flow of said air through said console and said composite cable to said gun.

In an electrical discharge metalworking machine, the combination comprising,

• an electrode gun comprising;
• a tandem arrangement of a quill, including
• a hollow electrode, and
• means for automatically moving said electrode towards the work comprising,
• a cross shaft mounted in said center quill portion of said gun perpendicular to the axis of said electrode,
• a pair of flat coil springs mounted in side-by-side relation on a free end of said cross shaft and wound in opposite directions, and
• a housing mounted for rotation on said free end of said cross shaft and overlying said springs,
• each of said springs having one end secured to said cross shaft and its other end secured to said housing,
• a mixing manifold portion including means to flow coolant through said electrode to the work, and
• means to vibrate said electrode with respect to the work, and
• means to supply electrical energy to said electrode.

In an electrical discharge metalworking machine, the combination comprising:

• a gun, including a tandem arrangement of a center quill, further including
• a hollow electrode, and
• means to automatically move said electrode towards the work comprising
• a cross shaft mounted in said gun in said center quill portion perpendicular to the axis of said electrode,
• a pair of flat coil springs mounted in side-by-side relation on a free end of said cross shaft and wound in opposite directions, and
• a housing mounted for rotation on said free end of said cross shaft and overlying said springs,
• each of said springs having one end secured to said cross shaft and its other end secured to said housing,
• a mixing manifold portion including means to flow a coolant through said electrode to the work,
• means to vibrate said electrode with respect to the work, and
• a handle connected to said center quill portion;
• means to supply electrical energy to said electrode;
• a portable console;
• a composite cable interconnecting said gun and said console and including a liquid conduit extending from said console connector means to said gun;
• means to connect said console to an external supply of electrical energy;
• means to connect said console to an external supply of pressurized air;
• means to control the flow of said air through said console and said composite cable to said gun;
• transformer means in said console having a primary coil connected to said external electricity supply and a secondary coil to produce said electrical energy supplied to said electrode;
• a ground cable extending from the work to said transformer secondary coil;
• a liquid reservoir in said console;
• liquid conduit means extending from said liquid reservoir to said connector means;
• a main power cable extending from said transformer secondary coil to connector means on said console and being sheathed in liquid in said liquid conduit in its passage through said composite cable from said console connector means to said gun;
• and
• means to drive the liquid in said reservoir through said conduit means from said reservoir to said connector means.