← Back to Patent Explorer
US3596406A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sonic polishing apparatus

Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1968-10-15
•
Granted: 1971-08-03
•
Expires: 1988-10-15
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for improving the rate of surface treatment of industrial parts being treated in a continuous flow sonic finishing apparatus by adjusting the pressure exerted by the treating medium on articles being treated as they pass through the treating chamber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Howard E Mckinney

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:01
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B31/00; B24B31/06; B24B31/062

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A sonic finishing apparatus, said apparatus comprising: an elastic vessel forming a finishing chamber for containing a combined continuous flow comprising an article to be finished in intimate contact with a finishing medium; an oscillator operatively coupled to said chamber to transmit vibrations thereto to elastically vibrate said chamber, and; means to adjust the pressure of said polishing medium on said article to be finished as said article and medium moves through said chamber in a continuous flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A sonic finishing apparatus, said apparatus comprising: an elastic vessel forming a finishing chamber for containing a combined continuous flow comprising an article to be finished in intimate contact with a finishing medium; an oscillator operatively coupled to said chamber to transmit vibrations thereto to elastically vibrate said chamber, and; means to adjust the pressure of said polishing medium on said article to be finished as said article and medium moves through said chamber in a continuous flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising mounting means rotatably mounting said finishing chamber; and said pressure-adjusting means comprises driving means operatively connected to said chamber for rotating said chamber to apply centrifugal force to said polishing medium to thereby adjust the pressure of said medium on said article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said pressure-adjusting means comprises flow-restricting means to restrict the flow of said article and medium through said chamber to thereby create a column of said medium establishing a head of pressure in said chamber.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of finishing industrial parts or articles, said method comprising the steps of: continuously moving a combined flow comprising at least an article along a path in intimate contact with finishing medium; applying to said combined flow of finishing medium and parts sonic energy in at least a portion of said path; adjusting the contact pressure of said finishing medium on the surface of said article to a value to yield the optimum finishing rate of said article by said medium as said articles and medium flow therethrough.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of finishing industrial parts or articles, said method comprising the steps of: continuously moving a combined flow comprising at least an article along a path in intimate contact with finishing medium; applying to said combined flow of finishing medium and parts sonic energy in at least a portion of said path; adjusting the contact pressure of said finishing medium on the surface of said article to a value to yield the optimum finishing rate of said article by said medium as said articles and medium flow therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of adjusting said contact pressure comprises the step of: subjecting at least a portion of said combined flow to centrifugal force to thereby increase the contact pressure between said finishing medium and said article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of adjusting said contact pressure comprises the step of adjusting the height of said flow of medium and article to an optimum height above the region of application of sonic energy thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2757544A Cited
US2994165A Cited
GB937954A Cited
US3248826A Cited
US3337997A Cited
US3496677A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-08-02 1975-02-01 1975-08-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-08-02 1979-02-01 1979-08-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-08-02 1983-02-01 1983-08-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag