Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
In a wire-electrode holder and guidance assembly for electrical machining wherein a continuous wire electrode is axially advanced and transported from a supply side to a collection side through the region of a workpiece and an electric current is passed between the advancing electrode and the workpiece through a fluid-filled machining gap to electrically remove material from the workpiece, an improvement comprising: a first wheel rotatable about a first axis and formed along its periphery with an annular recess of a uniform depth and adapted to receive and retain the wire electrode therein; a second wheel rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis and formed with a flange of a profile substantially complementary to that of said recess; and means for urging said first and second axes relatively towards each other to drive said flange of second wheel into a mating engagement with said recess of first wheel so that said wire electrode when passed through said recess is squeezed between surfaces of the recess and said flange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a wire-electrode holder and guidance assembly for electrical machining wherein a continuous wire electrode is axially advanced and transported from a supply side to a collection side through the region of a workpiece and an electric current is passed between the advancing electrode and the workpiece through a fluid-filled machining gap to electrically remove material from the workpiece, an improvement comprising: a first wheel rotatable about a first axis and formed along its periphery with an annular recess of a uniform depth and adapted to receive and retain the wire electrode therein; a second wheel rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis and formed with a flange of a profile substantially complementary to that of said recess; and means for urging said first and second axes relatively towards each other to drive said flange of second wheel into a mating engagement with said recess of first wheel so that said wire electrode when passed through said recess is squeezed between surfaces of the recess and said flange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an electrical machining apparatus, in combination: a source of an elongated wire electrode adapted to be withdrawn from said source; a pair of electrode guides flanking a location at which a workpiece can be positioned for electrical machining by said electrode in the presence of a machining liquid, each of said electrode guides comprising a pair of coplanar wheels, a first of the wheels of each pair being formed with a peripheral recess receiving said wire electrode, the second wheel of each pair penetrating into said recess; means for urging the wheels of each pair toward one another to press said wire electrode into the respective recesses; takeup means receiving the wire electrode after the wire electrode has traversed said guides; and means for connecting at least one of said guides to an electrical-machining current source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an electrical machining apparatus, in combination: a source of an elongated wire electrode adapted to be withdrawn from said source; a pair of electrode guides flanking a location at which a workpiece can be positioned for electrical machining by said electrode in the presence of a machining liquid, each of said electrode guides comprising a pair of coplanar wheels, a first of the wheels of each pair being formed with a peripheral recess receiving said wire electrode, the second wheel of each pair penetrating into said recess; means for urging the wheels of each pair toward one another to press said wire electrode into the respective recesses; takeup means receiving the wire electrode after the wire electrode has traversed said guides; and means for connecting at least one of said guides to an electrical-machining current source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the first wheel of each pair is formed adjacent the periphery with a relatively wide portion of the respective recess and inwardly of said wide portion, a relatively narrow portion of the respective recess, the second wheel of each pair being formed with a narrow flange, complementary to and projecting into the narrow portion of the respective recess to press the wire electrode against surfaces of the narrow portion at the bottom therof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the means for urging the wheel of each pair toward one another includes a pair of springs flanking each pair of wheels and acting upon respective shafts coupled with said wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination defined in claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the means for connecting at least one of said guides to an electrical machining source includes at least one brush contacting a shaft for at least one of the wheels of at least one of said pairs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the means for connecting at least one of said guides to said electrical machining current source includes a pair of brushes flanking each wheel and bearing upon a shaft connected to the respective wheel, all of said brushes being connected in parallel to said source.