Cathode rinsing station and method
AssigneeTherma Corporation, Inc.
InventorThomas A. Lorincz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cathode station (10) for a pipe electrochemical polishing system (12) has a valve (20) for preventing a cleaning fluid (56) from entering into a pipe (28). A cathode (14) is pulled into the cathode station (10) by a cathode puller cable (16) after a polishing operation (62) is completed. In a rinse cathode operation (66) the cleaning fluid (56) is introduced into the cathode station (10) through a fluid inlet (52) and removed from a fluid outlet (54). In a finish operation (68) the cathode (14) and cathode station (10) are removed from the pipe electrochemical polishing system (12).
Claims15
In an apparatus for polishing a pipe, a station for receiving an electrode, comprising:
- a station body adapted for accepting the electrode;
- a fluid inlet on the station body adapted for admitting a fluid into the station body;
- a fluid outlet on the station body adapted for removing the fluid from the station body;
- and
- a valve for separating the station body from the pipe such that the electrode can be drawn into the station body from the pipe through the valve.
A cathode station for cleaning a cathode in a pipe, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted for receiving a cathode;
- a fluid inlet affixed to said receptacle and adapted for admitting a fluid into said receptacle;
- a fluid outlet affixed to said receptacle and adapted for removing the fluid from said receptacle;
- and
- a valve for separating the receptacle from the pipe such that the cathode can be drawn from the pipe into the receptacle, and further such that the fluid can be prevented from flowing between the pipe and the receptacle.
A method for handling an electropolishing cathode in a pipe, comprising:
- moving the cathode from the pipe into a receptacle;
- and
- flowing a fluid through the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.