Method and electrode for forming passages in workpieces
AssigneeLucas Industries public limited company
InventorDavid J. Gaskell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A deformable electrode for electrochemical machining (ECM) of passages, in particular curved passages or passage sections in workpieces, is constructed from a deformable, electrically insulating tube having electrically conductive electrode tip means arranged around the end of the tube to form the working tip of the electrode. Electrical conductor means are connected to the electrode tip means and extend along the tube. During ECM of a passage an electrolyte solution is supplied along the center of the tube, and a voltage is applied between the workpiece the electrode tip means, via the conductor means, so that dissolution of the workpiece occurs near the electrode tip means at the working face of the passage being machined.
Claims14
An electrode for electrochemical machining of passages in workpieces, comprising:
- a deformable, electrically insulating tube means having a first end, an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a passage within said tube means, said passage being adapted to carry a flow of an electrolyte during electrochemical machining;
- a plurality of substantially parallel, electrically conductive, deformable strips, said deformable strips being located longitudinally along and spaced circumferentially around said tube means, ends of said strips forming electrically conductive electrode tip means disposed at said first end of said tube means;
- and
- said deformable strips extending from said tip means along said tube means.
An electrode for electrochemical machining of passages in workpieces, comprising:
- a thermoplastic, electrically insulating tube means having a first end, an outer surface, and an inner surface means defining a passage within said tube means for carrying a flow of an electrolyte in direct contact with said inner surface means during electrochemical machining;
- electrically conductive electrode tip means disposed at said first end of said tube means;
- electrical conductor means extending from said tip means along said tube means;
- and
- said electrode being plastically deformable at elevated temperatures to take a set, and elastically deformable at an operating temperature of said electrode.
A method of using electrochemical machining to form in a workpiece a curved passage section which extends from the end of a pre-existing blind passage section of a different curvature, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an electrode which comprises:
- a thermoplastic, electrically insulating tube means having a first end, an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a passage within said tube means, said passage being adapted to carry a flow of electrolyte during electrochemical machining,
- electrically conductive electrode tip means disposed at said first end of said tube means, and
- electrical conductor means extending from said tip means along said tube means;
- (b) providing said workpiece in which said blind passage section has been formed;
- (c) heating said electrode to an elevated temperature at which it is plastically deformable, plastically deforming said electrode at said elevated temperature to take a set of the desired curvature of said curved passage section, and cooling said electrode to a temperature at which it is elastically deformable and not readily plastically deformable;
- and
- (d) inserting said electrode into said blind passage section, said inserting step including the step of deforming said electrode elastically to match said curvature of said blind passage section, and electrochemically machining said curved passage section extending from said blind passage section while simultaneously permitting said electrode to elastically regain its set curvature inside said workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.