# US 4,398,896 A · Method of de-burring and cleaning electrode systems

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- Number: US 4,398,896 A
- Document ID: US4398896A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/049,994
- Filed: 1979-06-18
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1978-06-27
- Assignees: U.S. Philips Corporation
- Inventors: Willem M. Van Alphen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398896A

## CPC

- H05K 3/08: the conductive material being removed by electric discharge, e.g. by spark erosion
- H01J 9/14: of non-emitting electrodes
- H01J 29/81: using shadow masks
- H05K 2203/0346: Deburring, rounding, bevelling or smoothing conductor edges
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

A method of de-burring and cleaning an electrode system, a printed circuit board, or the like comprising at least two conductors positioned at a predetermined distance from each other by means of insulation material. The electrode system is immersed in a dielectric liquid and an electric potential difference is then applied between the conductors which is sufficiently large to generate an electric flash-over between the conductors. As a result of the small free path length in the dielectric liquid metal sputtered from the conductors can not deposit on the insulating parts of the electrode system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a method of manufacturing an electrode system having at least two conductors positioned at a predetermined distance from each other by means of insulation material, wherein burrs on the facing parts of said conductors are removed by an arc out process and wherein an electric potential is applied between the conductors, said potential being sufficiently large to produce an electric flash-over between the conductors the improvement comprising immersing the electrode system in a dielectric liquid with the conductors to be arced out situated below the liquid level of the dielectric liquid and then applying said potential between said conductors for generating an electric flash-over between the conductors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dielectric liquid is a halogenated hydrocarbon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dielectric liquid is an inert gas which is in the liquid phase.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dielectric liquid is liquid nitrogen.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

A method as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the dielectric liquid is circulated by pumping via a filter.

### Claim 6

A method as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that at least one auxiliary electrode is placed in the dielectric liquid in the proximity of the electrode system, which auxiliary electrode is brought at an electric potential such that an electrostatic field extending beyond the electrode system is obtained.

### Claim 7

A method of manufacturing an electrode system having a plurality of spaced apart conductors, between which a high potential difference may exist in operation with a minimum occurrence of flash-over, wherein solid insulation is provided in a portion of the space between the conductors; said method comprising immersing the conductors of said system in a dielectric liquid, and applying a potential between said conductors to cause flash-over.