US4408113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical machining apparatus
Assignee: Japan Kinoko Research Center Foundation
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Filing: 1980-10-30
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Granted: 1983-10-04
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Expires: 2000-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrical machining (e.g. EDM) apparatus having a worktank for containing a machining liquid and having a workpiece immersed therein; and a tool electrode positionable to be juxtaposed with the workpiece in the worktank to define an electrical machining gap therebetween filled with the machining liquid. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic assembly disposed in the worktank and comprises a head member and a support member. The head member is constituted by a housing having an ultrasonic transducer element supported therein and an opening for permitting only one of the two opposite surfaces of the transducer element to be held in contact with the machining liquid and to communicate with the region of the machining gap via the machining liquid. The head member is supported in the worktank by the support member, which may include a flexible multi-joint pipe or linkage, so that the opening is directed selectively towards the region of the machining gap. The transducer is energized by a power supply to provide ultrasonic vibrations, preferably in excess of 50 kHz and up to 10 MHz, which are transmitted by the machining liquid preferentially to the machining gap region.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:54
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23H; B23H1/00; B23H1/10; B23H7/00; B23H7/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An electrical machining apparatus having a worktank for containing a machining liquid and having a workpiece immersed therein, and a tool electrode positionable to be juxtaposed with the workpiece in the worktank to define an electrical machining gap therebetween filled with the machining liquid, said apparatus including: an ultrasonic assembly disposed in said worktank and comprising a head member and a support member, said head member being constituted by a housing means having an ultrasonic transducer element supported therein and an opening for permiting only one of the two opposite side surfaces of said transducer element to be held in contact with the machining liquid and to communicate with the region of said electrical machining gap via the machining liquid, the head member being supported in the machining liquid by said support member to direct said opening selectively towards the region of said machining gap; and a power supply for energizing said transducer element to produce ultrasonic vibrations therein and to impart the vibrations to the machining liquid in contact with said one side surface thereof, thereby transmitting the imparted ultrasonic vibration at least preferentially to the region of said machining gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An electrical machining apparatus having a worktank for containing a machining liquid and having a workpiece immersed therein, and a tool electrode positionable to be juxtaposed with the workpiece in the worktank to define an electrical machining gap therebetween filled with the machining liquid, said apparatus including: an ultrasonic assembly disposed in said worktank and comprising a head member and a support member, said head member being constituted by a housing means having an ultrasonic transducer element supported therein and an opening for permiting only one of the two opposite side surfaces of said transducer element to be held in contact with the machining liquid and to communicate with the region of said electrical machining gap via the machining liquid, the head member being supported in the machining liquid by said support member to direct said opening selectively towards the region of said machining gap; and a power supply for energizing said transducer element to produce ultrasonic vibrations therein and to impart the vibrations to the machining liquid in contact with said one side surface thereof, thereby transmitting the imparted ultrasonic vibration at least preferentially to the region of said machining gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer element is supported in said housing means so as to divide the inner volume thereof into an open space defined at least partly by said opening and a closed space filled with air and separated from said machining liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said support member includes an elongate member which is flexible and capable of self-sustaining said head member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said elongate member comprises a flexible multi-joint pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said elongate member comprises a multi-joint linkage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said support member includes an electromagnetic retainer for mounting said elongate member thereon, said retainer being mounted upon a magnetically permeable base member in said worktank and comprising a magnetically permeable body member and an electromagnet energizable to magnetically attract said body member to said base member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said housing means includes a fluid passage connected to a source of said machining liquid and to the region of said machining gap via at least one nozzle means, further including pumping means for producing a forced flow of the machining liquid through said passage into said machining gap region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising means for sensing the surface of said machining liquid in said worktank with respect to the position of said transducer element therein and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said power supply.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said control means is adapted to electrically disconnect said transducer element from said power supply when the region of said transducer element becomes at least partly exposed to air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said sensing means includes a thermistor attached to said housing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said sensing means includes an additional transducer element having the same operating characteristic as said first first-mentioned transducer element and attached to said housing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said sensing means is constituted by said transducer element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of ultrasonic head members each of which is constructed and adapted to function in the manner defined, said head members being disposed to surround the region of said machining gap to apply ultrasonic vibrations created individually therein to said machining region from different directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13, further including means for displacing said plurality of head members relative to said machining region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said displacing members is adapted to oscillate said plural head means in unison.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer element is energized by said power supply to produce ultrasonic vibrations of a frequency between 50 kHz and 10 MHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said frequency is in excess of 100 kHz.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of operating an electrical machining apparatus having a tank containing a machining liquid and receiving a workpiece immersed in said liquid, and a tool electrode juxtaposed with the workpiece in said tank to define an electrical machining gap therebetween filled with said liquid, said method comprising: disposing in said tank an ultrasonic assembly comprising a head member and a support member, said head member being constituted by a housing means having an ultrasonic transducer element supported therein and an opening for permitting only one of two opposite side surfaces of said transducer element to be held in contact with the machining liquid and to communicate with the region of said electrical machining gap via the machining liquid, the head member being supported in the machining liquid by said support member to direct said opening selectively towards the region of said machining gap; vibratingly energizing said transducer element so that said one of said side surfaces directs said vibration preferentially to the region of said gap; and intercepting vibrations from at least the other of said opposite side surfaces to prevent interference with the vibration directed toward said gap.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of operating an electrical machining apparatus having a tank containing a machining liquid and receiving a workpiece immersed in said liquid, and a tool electrode juxtaposed with the workpiece in said tank to define an electrical machining gap therebetween filled with said liquid, said method comprising: disposing in said tank an ultrasonic assembly comprising a head member and a support member, said head member being constituted by a housing means having an ultrasonic transducer element supported therein and an opening for permitting only one of two opposite side surfaces of said transducer element to be held in contact with the machining liquid and to communicate with the region of said electrical machining gap via the machining liquid, the head member being supported in the machining liquid by said support member to direct said opening selectively towards the region of said machining gap; vibratingly energizing said transducer element so that said one of said side surfaces directs said vibration preferentially to the region of said gap; and intercepting vibrations from at least the other of said opposite side surfaces to prevent interference with the vibration directed toward said gap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3378473A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-03 | 1987-04-04 | 1987-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-03 | 1991-04-04 | 1991-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | 1995-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |