Vibratory finishing apparatus

Claim 2

In a vibratory workpiece finishing apparatus, a container adapted to receive workpieces to be processed, means for supporting said container and for causing movement of said workpieces disposed therein, a liner disposed interiorly of said container and comprising a bottom wall section and upstanding side wall sections covering substantially the entire inner surface of said container and defining a finishing chamber therewith, an elongated fluid passageway formed interiorly of one of said wall sections and communicable with fluid conduit means located exteriorly of said container, and a plurality of spaced apart flow ports formed in said one wall section and each extending between said passageway and the interior of said chamber for communicating fluid between said chamber and said passageway.

Claim 3

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid passage means comprises a longitudinal extending passage formed in said side wall section of said liner, and wherein said plurality of ports are generally horizontally aligned and spaced longitudinally along said liner.

Claim 4

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passage is formed in said bottom section of said liner and wherein said plurality of ports comprise a drain header for said container.

Claim 5

The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said passage and said plurality of ports comprise a spray header for said container.

Claim 6

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises a longitudinally extending fluid passage formed in said bottom wall section of sail liner and wherein said plurality of ports communicate the inner surface of said bottom section with said longitudinally extending fluid passage.

Claim 7

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner comprises a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side wall sections and wherein each of said side wall sections is formed with a longitudinally extending fluid passage and a plurality of discharge ports communicating said passages with the interior of said chamber.

Claim 8

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner is of a molded one-piece construction.

Claim 9

The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fluid passage means extends longitudinally of said liner between the opposite ends thereof, and which includes closure plug means closing at least one end of fLuid passage means.

Claim 10

The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said liner is of a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a continuous U-shaped side wall section and longitudinally spaced end wall sections, which includes first fluid passage means for communicating fluid into said container and second fluid passage means for communicating fluid out of said container.

Claim 11

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second fluid passage means is disposed in said continuous side wall section adjacent the lowermost portion thereof and comprises a drain header.

Claim 12

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fluid passage means comprises a pair of longitudinally extending fluid passages formed adjacent the upper opposite ends of said continuous side wall section.

Claim 13

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second fluid passage means is disposed in said continuous side wall section adjacent the lowermost portion thereof and comprises a drain header, and wherein said first fluid passage means comprise a pair of longitudinally extending fluid passages formed adjacent the upper opposite ends of said continuous side wall section, and which further includes a plurality of ports communicating said first and second passages with the interior of said container.

Claim 14

The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fluid passage comprising said drain header is of a generally arch configuration in transverse section.

Claim 15

The invention as set forth in claim 15 which includes a plurality of generally tapered drain ports communicating the interior of said container with said arch-shaped fluid passage.

Claim 16

The invention as set forth in claim 14 which includes removable closure means on at least one longitudinal end of one of said fluid passages to permit insertion of a cleaning element from said one end thereof.

Claim 17

A one-piece molded liner adapted to be operatively mounted within a finishing vessel of a vibratory finishing machine, said liner comprising upstanding side wall sections terminating at their lower ends in a bottom wall section, a first longitudinally extending flow passage formed directly in said bottom wall section of said liner and communicable with a drain outlet located exteriorly of said vessel, a first plurality of longitudinally spaced flow ports communicable at their lower ends with said passage and at their upper ends with the interior of said liner, second and third longitudinally extending passages formed in opposed side wall sections adjacent the upper end of said liner, and a second plurality of flow ports extending between said second and third passages and the interior of said liner for providing a spray header for directing fluid onto workpieces being finished in said vessel.

Claim 18

A one-piece molded liner adapted to be operatively mounted within a finishing vessel of a vibratory finishing machine, said liner comprising upstanding side wall sections terminating at their lower ends in a bottom wall section, a first longitudinally extending flow passage formed directly in said bottom wall section of said liner and communicable with a drain outlet located exteriorly of said vessel, a first plurality of longitudinally spaced flow ports communicable at their lower ends with said passage and at their upper ends with the interior of said liner, second and third longitudinally extending passages formed in opposed side wall sections adjacent the upper end of said liner, and a second plurality of flow ports extending between said second and third passages and the interior of said liner for providing a spray header for directing fluid onto workpieces being finished in said vessel.