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US 4,761,214 AGranted
ECM machine with mechanisms for venting and clamping a workpart shroud
AssigneeAirfoil Textron Inc.
InventorEdmund R. Hinman
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAirfoil Textron Inc.
InventorEdmund R. Hinman
Estimating the term…
An electrochemical machine of the type having a workpart shroud around the workpart except for the portion thereof to be received in an electrolyte chamber with the shroud and electrolyte chamber substantially enclosing the workpart during machining is provided with opposing clamps on an electrolyte chamber member to cammingly engage opposite lateral sides of the shroud to hold it against the electrolyte chamber member to reduce high pressure electrolyte leakage. A venting conduit system is provided from the shroud through mated engaged surfaces of the shroud and electrolyte chamber member to an electrolyte drain in the electrolyte chamber to vent gases from the shroud during machining. Flow of high pressure electrolyte through the electrolyte chamber and drain creates a suction on the shroud interior to cause venting of gases, such as hydrogen, therefrom.
In an apparatus for electrochemically machining a workpart, the combination of means for forming an electrolyte chamber for receiving a portion of the workpart, cathode tool means in the electrolyte chamber, shroud means around the workpart and exposing said portion of the workpart to be received in the electrolyte chamber, said shroud means having a lateral surface located on a respective opposite side thereof and external of said electrolyte chamber, means for relatively moving the workpart with the shroud means therearound and the electrolyte chamber forming means to position said portion of the workpart in the electrolyte chamber with the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means engaged, means for making said portion an anode relative to said cathode tool means, and opposing clamping means on the electrolyte chamber forming means external of the electrolyte chamber with each clamping means adjacent a respective opposite side of the shroud means for engaging a respective lateral surface on the shroud means external of the electrolyte chamber when the shroud means is engaged with the electrolyte chamber forming means to hold the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means in engagement.
In an apparatus for electrochemically machining a workpart, the combination of means for forming an electrolyte chamber for receiving a portion of the workpart, cathode tool means in the electrolyte chamber, shroud means extending around the workpart and exposing the portion of the workpart to be received in the electrolyte chamber, slide means carrying the shroud means and workpart toward the electrolyte chamber to position said portion of the workpart in the electrolyte chamber with the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means engaged, motor means for moving the slide means toward the electrolyte chamber, sealing means between the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means for providing electrolyte sealing when the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means are engaged, clamping means on the electrolyte chamber forming means for engaging the shroud means to bias same toward the electrolyte chamber forming means with the sealing means therebetween after the slide means and motor means position the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means in engagement whereby electrolyte leaks between the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means are reduced, and means for actuating the clamping means.
In an apparatus for electrochemically machining a workpart, the combination of means for forming an electrolyte chamber for receiving a portion of the workpart, cathode tool means in the electrolyte chamber, shroud means around the workpart and exposing the portion to be received in the electrolyte chamber, means for relatively moving the electrolyte chamber forming means and shroud means to place them in substantial engagement to substantially enclose the workpart, exhaust means in fluid communication with the electrolyte chamber for exhausting electrolyte flow, conduit means between the shroud means and exhaust means for venting the shroud means by suction action created in the conduit means by electrolyte flow through the exhaust means and means for introducing electrolyte flow into the chamber.
In an apparatus for electrochemically machining a workpart, the combination of means for forming an electrolyte chamber for receiving a portion of the workpart, cathode tool means in the electrolyte chamber, shroud means around the workpart and exposing the portion to be received in the electrolyte chamber and having conduit means for venting gases inside the shroud means when said shroud means is engaged with the electrolyte chamber forming means, said electrolyte chamber forming means including conduit means located for fluid flow communication with the conduit means of the shroud means when the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means are engaged, exhaust means in fluid flow communication with the conduit means of the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means for removing said gases, means for relatively moving the electrolyte chamber forming means and shroud means to position said portion in the electrolyte chamber with the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means engaged and with the conduit means of the shroud means and electrolyte chamber forming means in fluid flow communication to vent gases from the shroud means to the exhaust means, and means for introducing electrolyte into the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.