Universal electrode holder

A holder for selectively mounting a first type of electrode characterized as being of generally rectangular cross-section to depend from adjacent a side surface thereof and a second type of electrode characterized as having an upper surface to depend from adjacent a bottom face thereof, said holder comprising:

• a holder body having a top face, said bottom face, opposite side surfaces, including said side surface, and opposite end surfaces, said side surface being stepped to define a vertically extending upper surface portion, a vertically extending lower surface portion disposed relatively inwardly of said upper surface portion and a horizontally extending connecting surface portion extending between said upper and lower surface portions;
• reference means fixed to one of said end surfaces defining a reference surface disposed to extend transversely and outwardly of said lower and connecting surface portions;
• indexing means having rear side and upper edge surfaces arranged to slidably engage with said lower and connecting surface portions, respectively, and an indexing surface disposed parallel to said reference surface;
• means to releasably clamp said indexing means to said holder body in adjusted positions lengthwise of said lower and connecting surface portions to selectively position said indexing surface at a desired distance from said reference surface, as determined by a widthwise dimension of said first electrode, as measured between opposite edge surfaces thereof, when in a mounted position depending from adjacent said side surface with a rear side and upper end surface thereof disposed in abutting engagement with said lower and connecting surface portions, respectively, and said opposite edge surfaces disposed in abutting engagement with said reference and indexing surfaces;
• clamping means carried by said holder body for engagement with a front side surface of said first electrode for releasably retaining said first electrode in said mounted position thereof;
• registration means for positionally locating said second electrode in a mounted position with said upper surface thereof disposed in surface to surface engagement with said bottom face;
• and
• means for releasably retaining said second electrode in said mounted position thereof.

The combination of an electrode and a holder for use in mounting of said electrode on a mounting head of an electrical discharge machine device and for connecting said electrode with a source of dielectric fluid, comprising:

• said holder having a top face configured for attachment to said mounting head, a bottom face for mounting said electrode, fluid passageway means having an inlet end for attachment with said source and an outlet end opening through said bottom face, and electrode registration means depending from said bottom face;
• said electrode having a working face, an upper surface and fluid orifice means extending between said working face and said upper surface, said upper surface having recess means for receiving said registration means for positively locating said upper surface relative to said bottom face, and said upper surface, said bottom face, said registration means and said recess means cooperating to define fluid passageway means for placing said orifice means in flow communication with said outlet end;
• and
• means for removably attaching said electrode to said holder to place said upper surface in engagement with said bottom face.

A holder for use in selectively and removably mounting two types of electrodes on a mounting head of an electrical discharge machine device and for flow communication with a source of dielectric fluid having a supply outlet positionally fixed relative to said mounting head, a first of said types of said electrode having a side surface and distributing passageway means opening through said side surface, and a second of said types of said electrodes having an upper surface and distributing passageway means opening through said upper surface, comprising in combination:

• said holder includes a holder body having a top face configured for removable attachment to said mounting head, opposite side faces, opposite end faces, a bottom face and fluid passageway means having an inlet end disposed for flow communication with said supply outlet incident to attachment of said top face to said mounting head, an outlet end opening through one of said side faces and an other outlet end opening through said bottom face, said outlet and other outlet ends being threaded for removably receiving means for blocking flow of fluid therethrough;
• means for selectively and removably mounting said first of said types of electrodes to depend from said holder with said side surface arranged in engagement with said one of said side faces and with said distributing passageway means in flow communication with said outlet end;
• and
• means for selectively and removably mounting said second type of said electrodes to depend from said holder with said upper surface arranged in engagement with said bottom face and with said distributing orifice means in flow communication with said other outlet end.

The combination of an electrode, a holder for mounting said electrode on a mounting head of an electrical discharge machine device and a distributor block fixed to said mounting head for connecting said electrode with a source of dielectric fluid;

• said holder includes a holder body having a top face configured for attachment to said mounting head, a bottom face for mounting said electrode, a side surface, fluid passageway means having an inlet end opening through said side surface and an outlet end opening through said bottom face, and electrode registration means depending from said bottom face;
• said block has a through passageway formed with an inlet for receiving dielectric fluid and an outlet disposed for alignment with said inlet end when said top face is attached to said mounting head, and sealing means for sealing said side surface relative to said block peripherally of said outlet and inlet ends when disposed in alignment;
• said electrode has a working face, an upper surface and fluid orifice means extending between said working face and said upper surface, said upper surface having recess means for receiving said registration means for positively locating said electrode relative to said holder body, said upper surface and said bottom face cooperating to define fluid passageway means for placing said orifice means in flow communication with said outlet end;
• and
• means for removably attaching said electrode to said holder body.