US3896012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrochemical metal-removal method
Assignee: Sächsisches Institut für die Druckindustrie
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Filing: 1972-06-27
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1992-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A method of electrochemical metal-removal. A metallic work tool having surface high-points and a metallic workpiece are each connected to a different terminal of a source of electrical energy, so that the workpiece and work tool can be used as the anode and cathode, respectively, of an electrolytic reaction. Relative movement is effected between the workpiece and the work tool in a first direction, associated with penetration of the work tool into the workpiece. Relative movement between the workpiece and the work tool is also effected in a second direction transverse to the first direction. An electrolyte is passed between and in contact with the work tool and the workpiece. A current flow is established between the work tool and workpiece and results in oxidation of the metal of the workpiece and the formation of high-points on the surface of the workpiece. At least intermittent contact is permitted between the work tool and the workpiece, in order to effect momentary shortcircuits between surface high-points on the work tool and surface high-points on the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin Buschbaum
- 👤 Siegfried Motschmann
- 👤 Gert Strenge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:23
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23H; B23H7/00; B23H7/26; B23H7/30; B23H5/00; B23H5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A METHOD OF ELECTROCHEMICALLY REMOVING METAL FROM A WORKPIECE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONNECTING A METALLIC WORKPIECE AND A METALLIC WORK TOOL HAVING SURFACE HIGH-POINTS EACH TO A DIFFERENT TERMINAL OF A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY SO THAT THE WORKPIECE AND WORK TOOL CAN BE USED AS THE ANODE AND CATHODE, RESPECTIVELY, OF AN ELECTROLYTIC REACTION: EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL IN A FIRST DIRECTION, ASSOCIATED WITH PENETRATION OF SAID WORK TOOL INTO SAID WORKPIECE, EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL IN A SECOND DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION, PASSING AN ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID WORK TOOL AND SAID WORKPIECE, ESTABLISHING A CURRENT FLOW BETWEEN SAID WORK TOOL AND SAID WORKPIECE TO EFFECT OXIDATION OF THE METAL OF SAID WORKPIECE AND THE GENERATION OF HYDROGEN GAS, AND ESTABLISHING CONTINUAL PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE WORK TOOL AND THE WORKPIECE TO AN EXTENT CAUSING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOMENTARY SHORT-CIRCUITS BETWEEN SURFACE HIGH-POINTS ON SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL TO IGNITE HYDROGEN GAS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SHORT-CIRCUTING SURFACE HIGHPOINTS AND TO EFFECT LOCALIZED HEATING AND SOFTENING OF THE METERIAL OF THE WORKPIECE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SHORT-CIRCUITING SURFACE HIGH-POINT.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
A METHOD OF ELECTROCHEMICALLY REMOVING METAL FROM A WORKPIECE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONNECTING A METALLIC WORKPIECE AND A METALLIC WORK TOOL HAVING SURFACE HIGH-POINTS EACH TO A DIFFERENT TERMINAL OF A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY SO THAT THE WORKPIECE AND WORK TOOL CAN BE USED AS THE ANODE AND CATHODE, RESPECTIVELY, OF AN ELECTROLYTIC REACTION: EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL IN A FIRST DIRECTION, ASSOCIATED WITH PENETRATION OF SAID WORK TOOL INTO SAID WORKPIECE, EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL IN A SECOND DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION, PASSING AN ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID WORK TOOL AND SAID WORKPIECE, ESTABLISHING A CURRENT FLOW BETWEEN SAID WORK TOOL AND SAID WORKPIECE TO EFFECT OXIDATION OF THE METAL OF SAID WORKPIECE AND THE GENERATION OF HYDROGEN GAS, AND ESTABLISHING CONTINUAL PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE WORK TOOL AND THE WORKPIECE TO AN EXTENT CAUSING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOMENTARY SHORT-CIRCUITS BETWEEN SURFACE HIGH-POINTS ON SAID WORKPIECE AND SAID WORK TOOL TO IGNITE HYDROGEN GAS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SHORT-CIRCUTING SURFACE HIGHPOINTS AND TO EFFECT LOCALIZED HEATING AND SOFTENING OF THE METERIAL OF THE WORKPIECE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SHORT-CIRCUITING SURFACE HIGH-POINT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a current flow comprises generating quantities of oxygen and hydrogen, and wherein said step of establishing contact comprises effecting combustion of substantial quantities of such oxygen and hydrogen in the vicinity of said workpiece so as to effect localized heating of said workpiece and softening thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said oxidation of the metal of said workpiece results in the formation of an undissolved oxidation product on the surface of the workpiece, and wherein said step of establishing physical and electrical contact comprises causing said work tool to mechanically remove said oxidation product from the surface of said workpiece by reason of said continual physical contact between said work tool and said workpiece and by reason of said relative movement between said workpiece and said work tool in said second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of effecting relative movement in a first direction comprises moving said workpiece relative to said work tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of effecting relative movement in a second direction comprises moving said work tool relative to said workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of effecting relative movement in a first direction comprises effecting relative movement between said work tool and said workpiece along a straight path, and wherein said step of effecting relative movement in a second direction comprises effecting relative rotational movement between said work tool and said workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of passing an electrolyte between said work tool and workpiece comprises injecting an electrolyte at low pressure between said work tool and said workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of passing an electrolyte between said work tool and said workpiece comprises injecting an electrolyge at substantially atmosphEric pressure between said work tool and said workpiece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of passing an electrolyte between said work tool and said workpiece comprises passing between said work tool and said workpiece an electrolyte which includes an oxygen-containing salt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
227 words
An arrangement for the electrochemical removal of metal from a workpiece, comprising, in combination, a metallic work tool having surface high-points; means for connecting a metallic workpiece having surface high-points and said work tool each to a different terminal of a source of electrical energy, so that the workpiece and work tool can be used as the anode and cathode, respectively, of an electrochemical reaction; means for effecting relative movement between said workpiece and said work tool in a first direction associated with penetration of said work tool into said workpiece and for simultaneously effecting relative movement between said workpiece and said work tool in a second direction transverse to said first direction; means for passing an electrolyte between and in contact with said work tool and said workpiece; means for establishing a current flow between said work tool and said workpiece to effect oxidation of the metal of said workpiece and the generation of hydrogen gas; and means for establishing continual physical and electrical contact between the work tool and the workpiece to an extent causing the development of momentary short-circuits between surface high-points on said workpiece and said work tool to ignite hydrogen gas in the immediate vicinity of the short-circuiting surface high-points and to effect localized heating and softening of the material of the workpiece in the immediate vicinity of the short-circuiting surface high-points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
227 words
An arrangement for the electrochemical removal of metal from a workpiece, comprising, in combination, a metallic work tool having surface high-points; means for connecting a metallic workpiece having surface high-points and said work tool each to a different terminal of a source of electrical energy, so that the workpiece and work tool can be used as the anode and cathode, respectively, of an electrochemical reaction; means for effecting relative movement between said workpiece and said work tool in a first direction associated with penetration of said work tool into said workpiece and for simultaneously effecting relative movement between said workpiece and said work tool in a second direction transverse to said first direction; means for passing an electrolyte between and in contact with said work tool and said workpiece; means for establishing a current flow between said work tool and said workpiece to effect oxidation of the metal of said workpiece and the generation of hydrogen gas; and means for establishing continual physical and electrical contact between the work tool and the workpiece to an extent causing the development of momentary short-circuits between surface high-points on said workpiece and said work tool to ignite hydrogen gas in the immediate vicinity of the short-circuiting surface high-points and to effect localized heating and softening of the material of the workpiece in the immediate vicinity of the short-circuiting surface high-points.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |