Fluid system for honing and plating apparatus

Claim 2

In plating and honing apparatus for plating metal on and removing metal from the surface defining a bore in an electrically conductive workpiece, the combination comprising first means adapted to hold a workpiece in a stationary position, a plating and honing tool including a tool support and a sleeve surrounding said tool support, said tool support and said sleeve being adapted to be inserted in the bore defined by said surface, sealing means between said tool support and said sleeve means mounting said plating and honing tool for reciprocation and rotation relative to said surface, a reservoir for electrolytic fluid, fluid pressure generating means, and fluid conduit means for moving electrolytic fluid under pressure from said reservoir through said bore and to and from said first means and said sealing means and back to said reservoir through a closed passage defined by said surface and said tool.

Claim 3

In a honing and plating apparatus for removing and plating metal on a surface defining a bore in an electRically conducting workpiece, the combination comprising fixture means adapted to engage and hold a workpiece, plating and honing tool means including a tool support and a sleeve surrounding said tool support, said tool support and said sleeve being adapted to be inserted in said bore, sealing means between said tool support and said sleeve, means holding said plating and honing tool means for reciprocation and rotation relative to said workpiece, fluid passage means in said fixture means and in said holding means, a reservoir for electrolytic fluid, liquid pressure generating means, and fluid conduit means for delivering liquid from said reservoir to one of said passages and to said bore and from said bore to the other end of said passage and back to said reservoir whereby such liquid is maintained in a closed fluid circuit under pressure.

Claim 4

In a honing and plating apparatus for removing and plating metal on a surface defining a bore in an electRically conducting workpiece, the combination comprising fixture means adapted to engage and hold a workpiece, plating and honing tool means including a tool support and a sleeve surrounding said tool support, said tool support and said sleeve being adapted to be inserted in said bore, sealing means between said tool support and said sleeve, means holding said plating and honing tool means for reciprocation and rotation relative to said workpiece, fluid passage means in said fixture means and in said holding means, a reservoir for electrolytic fluid, liquid pressure generating means, and fluid conduit means for delivering liquid from said reservoir to one of said passages and to said bore and from said bore to the other end of said passage and back to said reservoir whereby such liquid is maintained in a closed fluid circuit under pressure.

Claim 5

In a honing and plating apparatus for removing and plating metal on a surface defining a bore in an electrically conducting workpiece the combination comprising fixture means adapted to engage and hold a workpiece, said fixture means having a passage in communication with the bore defined by said workpiece, a combined plating and honing tool including a tool support and a sleeve surrounding said tool support, means for holding said plating and honing tool for selective reciprocation and rotation relative to said workpiece surface, said holding means having a passage in communication with the bore defined by said workpiece, a reservoir for electrolytic liquid, and means including a pump for delivering liquid from said reservoir to one of said passages and to said bore and from said bore to the other of said passages and back to said reservoir whereby such liquid is maintained in a closed fluid circuit under pressure.

Claim 6

In a honing and plating apparatus for removing and plating metal on a surface defining a bore in an electrically conducting workpiece the combination comprising fixture means adapted to engage and hold a workpiece, said fixture means having a passage in communication with the bore defined by said workpiece, a combined plating and honing tool including a tool support and a sleeve surrounding said tool support, means for holding said plating and honing tool for selective reciprocation and rotation relative to said workpiece surface, said holding means having a passage in communication with the bore defined by said workpiece, a reservoir for electrolytic liquid, and means including a pump for delivering liquid from said reservoir to one of said passages and to said bore and from said bore to the other of said passages and back to said reservoir whereby such liquid is maintained in a closed fluid circuit under pressure.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 3 including sealing means between said fixture means and said sleeve.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 3 including sealing means between said tool support sleeve.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 3 including first sealing means between said fixture means and said sleeve and second sealing means between said tool support and said sleeve.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 3 including first sealing means between said fixture means and said sleeve and second sealing means between said tool support and said sleeve, said second sealing means adapted to permit a controlled amount of liquid to flow between said tool support and said sleeve to provide a fluid bearing, and closed fluid circuit means for delivering liquid flowing past said second sealing means to said reservoir.