US 4,177,608 AGranted

Finishing apparatus embodying improved seal and method

AssigneeRoto-Finish Company, Inc.

InventorGunther W. Balz

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for surface finishing of parts or workpieces by attrition, in the presence of a liquid vehicle, with loose, comminuted, granular, or particulate solid finishing material or media, comprising relatively large finishing particles, i.e., chips, is described. The apparatus comprises a finishing chamber having a containing surface comprising an upstanding wall and a bottom symmetrically arranged about a common axis, being relatively rotatable about said axis, and having apposed closely-spaced surfaces, with a resilient seal having correspondingly apposed elements therebetween, the apposed elements of said seal being in closely-spaced apart or touching relationship and the surface of at least one of said apposed seal elements being irregular. The bottom, e.g., is adapted to rotate about the common axis and thus to impart motion to the contents of the chamber and impell them radially outwardly by centrifugal force, thereby also building up a liquid pressure head along the outer edge areas of the finishing chamber bottom. The spacing and irregularities in the apposed seal elements provide communication between the chamber and the exterior, and said spacing and irregularities are of a size sufficient to permit outflow of liquid vehicle under the said head of liquid pressure, including fine abrasive, metal, or like material ("fines") which may be entrained therein, but insufficient to permit passage of workpieces and finishing chips.

Claims26

Dependent claims

Apparatus for finishing parts or workpieces by attrition with loose, comminuted, granular, or particulate solid finishing material comprising relatively large finishing chips in the presence of a liquid vehicle, which includes:

a finishing chamber having a containing surface comprising
an outer upstanding wall and a bottom, said upstanding wall and said bottom being symmetrically arranged about a common axis and being relatively rotatable about said axis in order to impart motion to the contents of said chamber for finishing of said parts, and means for causing such relative motion,
characterized in that
said wall and said bottom have closely-spaced apposed surfaces and a resilient seal having corresponding apposed elements therebetween,
the apposed elements of said seal being in closely-spaced or touching relationship and
the surface of at least one of said apposed seal elements being irregular, thereby providing communication between said chamber and the exterior,
said irregular surface being adapted to impart a swirling or turbulent motion to the liquid vehicle passing through the seal by means of said surface irregularities, thereby retarding the rate of outflow of liquid vehicle from the finishing chamber so as to enable better cooling and cleansing of the finishing reaction mass during retention of the liquid vehicle within said finishing chamber, and better cooling and lubrication of the said sealing surfaces during travel of the liquid vehicle to the exterior upon being subjected to a sufficient liquid pressure head;
and
said spacing and irregularities being of a size sufficient to permit flow from the interior to the exterior of said finishing chamber of liquid vehicle therein, including "fines" which may be entrained therein, when placed under a head of liquid pressure developed by means of said relative rotation of said upstanding wall and said bottom with respect to each other, but insufficient to permit passage to the exterior of said workpieces and finishing chips.

6 more elements

An improved method for finishing parts or workpieces by a process which comprises

subjecting said parts or workpieces to attrition by relative motion with loose, comminuted, granular, or particulate solid finishing material comprising relatively large finishing chips in the presence of a liquid vehicle in a finishing chamber, having a containing surface comprising an outer upstanding wall portion and a bottom portion, with a seal between,
characterized by
providing said seal with resilient apposed surfaces, having irregularities on at least one surface and spacing of a size sufficient to permit passage therethrough of liquid vehicle under pressure,
causing relative motion between said portions of said containing surface and between said workpieces and said finishing chips,
causing said vehicle, said workpieces, and said finishing chips to flow over said containing surface and across said seal to cause finishing of said workpieces and to develop a resulting liquid pressure head in the area of said seal, and
imparting a swirling or turbulent motion to the liquid vehicle passing through the seal by means of said surface irregularities, thereby retarding the rate of outflow of liquid vehicle from the finishing chamber so as to enable better cooling and cleansing of the finishing reaction mass during retention of the liquid vehicle within said finishing chamber, and better cooling and lubrication of the said sealing surfaces during travel of the liquid vehicle to the exterior upon being subjected to a sufficient liquid pressure head;
and
causing flow of said liquid vehicle to the exterior of said containing surface through said seal under the influence of said liquid pressure head, while preventing flow to the exterior of said workpieces and said finishing chips through said seal,
thereby simultaneously lubricating and cooling said seal and removing fines entrained in said liquid from said finishing chamber.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.