US3604884A — Electrode feed control for edm machine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable valve element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable valve element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element, and manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means having a member movable to a position to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, and yieldable means coupling the member with the electrically operated means whereby the electrically operated means can operate independently of the manually operated means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable valve element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable valve element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element, and manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means having a member movable to a position to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, and yieldable means coupling the member with the electrically operated means whereby the electrically operated means can operate independently of the manually operated means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1 wherein: the valve element is a member having fluid restricting passages to selectively permit restricted flow of fluid from the ends of the cylinder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 187 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable valve element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable valve element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element, and manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means having a member movable to a position to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, said member of the manually operated means comprising a lever movable to control the position of the valve element independently of the electrically operated means and yieldable means coupling the lever with the electrically operated means whereby the electrically operated means can operate independently of the manually operated means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 187 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable valve element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable valve element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element, and manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means having a member movable to a position to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, said member of the manually operated means comprising a lever movable to control the position of the valve element independently of the electrically operated means and yieldable means coupling the lever with the electrically operated means whereby the electrically operated means can operate independently of the manually operated means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 73 words

The device of claim 3 wherein: the electric control means includes light means connected to the power supply circuit for the electrode, a control circuit having a light-sensing means producing a signal in response to the intensity of the light means, and adjustable means to vary said signal, said signal operable to control the electrically operated means whereby the adjustable means is used to adjust the cutting gap between the electrode and workpiece.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 3 including: switch means to connect the electrode to a power supply, said lever movable to a position to actuate said switch means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 193 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between the electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element thereby controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder, manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means being movable to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, and lock means to block the flow of fluid to said cylinder when the electrode is in contact with the workpiece, said lock means being electrically actuated when the electrode is in contact with the workpiece, said manually operated means including a lever movable to one position to disengage said lock means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 193 words

An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, a double acting hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, a valve having a movable element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinder, an electrically operated means connected to said movable element, electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between the electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element thereby controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder, manually operated means operably connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means being movable to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means, and lock means to block the flow of fluid to said cylinder when the electrode is in contact with the workpiece, said lock means being electrically actuated when the electrode is in contact with the workpiece, said manually operated means including a lever movable to one position to disengage said lock means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 6 including: switch means to connect the electrode to a power supply, said lever when moved to said one position actuating said switch means to connect the power supply to the electrode.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The device of claim 6 including: a control circuit for the lock means having a first switch to release the lock means when the lever is in an up position and a second switch to release the lock means when the lever is in said one position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 6 including: manual switch means to block the flow of fluid at any position of said cylinder independent of electrode to workpiece space relation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 148 words

The device of claim 6 including: depth control means operable to terminate the supply of power to the electrode after a predetermined depth has been cut into the workpiece. 11. An electrical discharge machining device for machining a workpiece comprising: an electrode, hydraulic operated means for selectively moving the electrode toward and away from the workpiece, line means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic operated means, lock valve means movable to a first position to block the flow of fluid in said line means and to a second position to permit the flow of fluid in said line means, and control means connected to the lock valve means, said control means including an electric circuit coupled to the electrode and workpiece and electrically operated means operable to move the lock valve means to its first position when the electrode is in contact with the workpiece.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The device of claim 11 including: means to open the electric circuit of the control means and thereby allowing the lock valve means to move to its second position whereby the electrode can move into the workpiece.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 12 wherein: the electrically operated means is a solenoid electrically connected to the electrode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 60 words

The device of claim 13 wherein: the means to open the electric circuit of the control means includes a first switch operable to open the circuit to the solenoid to permit movement of the electrode into the workpiece, and a second switch operable to open The circuit to the solenoid to permit movement of the electrode away from the workpiece.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 11 wherein: the control means is a solenoid electrically connected to the electrode.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 11 including: a manually operated switch to energize the electrically operated means to move the valve means to its first position to lock the electrode in any position relative to the workpiece.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 11 including: a valve having a movable valve element for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic operated means, said valve being connected to said line means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 17 wherein: the valve element is a member having fluid restricting passages to selectively permit restricted flow of fluid from the hydraulic operated means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 56 words

The device of claim 17 including: electrically operated means connected to said movable valve element and electric control means operable in response to cutting voltage between the electrode and workpiece to actuate the electrically operated means to vary the position of the valve element and thereby control the flow of fluid to the hydraulic operated means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 52 words

The device of claim 19 including: a manually operated means connected to the electrically operated means, said manually operated means being operable to override the electrically operated means to move the movable valve element and thus selectively move the electrode toward and away from the workpiece independently of the electric control means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device of claim 20 including: yieldable means coupling the manually operated means with the electrically operated means whereby the electrically operated means can operate independently of the manually operated means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 57 words

The device of claim 19 wherein: the control means is a solenoid electrically connected to the electrode and a switch to energize the solenoid to move the valve means to its first position to lock the electrode in any position relative to the workpiece, said switch being operated in response to movement of the manually operated means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 76 words

The device of claim 11 including: a control valve for regulating the supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic operated means, switch means operable to open the electric circuit of the control means thereby allowing the lock valve means to move to its second position, and lever means movable to actuate the switch means, said lever means being connected to the control valve whereby the lever means operates both the switch means and the control valve.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-09-13	1975-03-15	1975-09-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-09-13	1979-03-15	1979-09-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-09-13	1983-03-15	1983-09-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrode feed control for edm machine

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