Electrolytic demetallizing apparatus having electrolyte-pressure-responsive load-compensating means

Claim 2

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween; means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure, the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece, drive means connected to said mounting means for producing relative movement of the cathode toward the workpiece in the presence of the electrolyte pressure; and load compensating means cooperating with said drive means and separate and spaced from said mounting means for at least partially opposing said tendency to relative retraction and responsive to said electrolyte pressure, to be rendered inactive upon loss of said electrolyte pressure.

Claim 3

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween, means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure; the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for causing relative movement of the cathode toward the workpiece along a path that determines the shaping of the workpiece and in the presence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means for providing opposing force to counteract at least a portion of the force tending to cause relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; said load compensating means being separate and spaced from said mounting means; and means connected in load controlling relation to said compensating means directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece for actuating said low compensating means in response to elevated electrolyte pressure and for relieving the load compensating means upon a decrease in said electrolyte pressure.

Claim 4

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween, means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure; the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for causing relative movement of the cathode toward the workpiece along a path that determines the shaping of the workpiece and in the presence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means for providing opposing force to counteract at least a portion of the force tending to cause relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; said load compensating means being separate and spaced from said mounting means; and means connected in load controlling relation to said compensating means directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece for actuating said low compensating means in response to elevated electrolyte pressure and for relieving the load compensating means upon a decrease in said electrolyte pressure.

Claim 5

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween; means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure, the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for moving the cathode toward the workpiece in the pResence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means for at least partially opposing said tendency to relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece, and means connected in load-controlling relation to said compensating means and directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece for rapidly relieving the load-compensating means upon a sudden decrease in said electrolyte pressure.

Claim 6

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween; means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure, the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for moving the cathode toward the workpiece in the pResence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means for at least partially opposing said tendency to relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece, and means connected in load-controlling relation to said compensating means and directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece for rapidly relieving the load-compensating means upon a sudden decrease in said electrolyte pressure.

Claim 7

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween; means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure, the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for producing relative movement between the cathode and the workpiece in the presence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means responsive to said tendency to relative retraction to at least partially oppose the same; said load-compensating means comprising at least one piston and cylinder mechanism interposed between relatively movable elements of said drive means and means for directing pressured fluid to said cylinder.

Claim 8

In electrolytic machining apparatus, mounting means for locating a shaping cathode in predetermined position with respect to a conductive metal workpiece to define a gap therebetween; means for flowing electrolyte between the cathode and the workpiece and through said gap under positive pressure, the electrolyte pressure tending to produce relative retraction between the cathode and the workpiece; drive means for producing relative movement between the cathode and the workpiece in the presence of the electrolyte pressure; load-compensating means responsive to said tendency to relative retraction to at least partially oppose the same; said load-compensating means comprising at least one piston and cylinder mechanism interposed between relatively movable elements of said drive means and means for directing pressured fluid to said cylinder.

Claim 9

In electrolytic cavity-sinking apparatus, a hollow, electrically conductive electrode adapted to be advanced toward and into an electrically conductive and electrochemically erodable workpiece to establish a work gap for flow of high-pressure electrolyte to support electrolytic current flow between said workpiece and said electrode; means for establishing an electrolyte flow path passing through said electrode and having said gap located intermediately therein; means for flowing electrolyte under positive pressure through said path, the electrolyte pressure between the cathode and workpiece tending to produce relative retraction movement between the cathode and the workpiece; means for passing low voltage, high-density direct current between the cathode and the workpiece in a sense to make the workpiece anodic, and drive means for producing relative movement between the cathode and the workpiece in the presence of the electrolyte pressure, the improvement of load-compensating means for opposing reacting against said drive means due to electrolyte pressure along said path, said load-compensating means being spaced from said electrode and connected to said drive means, said load-compensating means being directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece and rendering the load-compensating means inactive upon sudden escape of electrolyte from said path at the region of said gap.

Claim 10

In electrolytic cavity-sinking apparatus, a hollow, electrically conductive electrode adapted to be advanced toward and into an electrically conductive and electrochemically erodable workpiece to establish a work gap for flow of high-pressure electrolyte to support electrolytic current flow between said workpiece and said electrode; means for establishing an electrolyte flow path passing through said electrode and having said gap located intermediately therein; means for flowing electrolyte under positive pressure through said path, the electrolyte pressure between the cathode and workpiece tending to produce relative retraction movement between the cathode and the workpiece; means for passing low voltage, high-density direct current between the cathode and the workpiece in a sense to make the workpiece anodic, and drive means for producing relative movement between the cathode and the workpiece in the presence of the electrolyte pressure, the improvement of load-compensating means for opposing reacting against said drive means due to electrolyte pressure along said path, said load-compensating means being spaced from said electrode and connected to said drive means, said load-compensating means being directly responsive to electrolyte pressure between the cathode and the workpiece and rendering the load-compensating means inactive upon sudden escape of electrolyte from said path at the region of said gap.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said load-compensating means is hydraulic and includes piston means operable in cylinder means to define a pressure chamber communicating with said path to be actuated by electrolyte under positive pressure from said path.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said load-compensating means is hydraulic and includes piston means operable in cylinder means to define a pressure chamber communicating with said path upstream of said gap to be actuated by electrolyte under positive pressure from said path.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said load-compensating means includes a separate hydraulic fluid-pressure system having pressure-control means responsive to load reaction at said drive means to maintain predetermined balance during gradual variations in electrolyte pressure in said path.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said load-compensating means further includes load control means comprising a pressure-sensitive transducer exposed to electrolyte pressure at a region upstream of said gap to sense sudden variations in electrolyte pressure in said path.