Electroerosive machining method and apparatus with discrete metallic electrode bodies

Claim 1

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein in such a manner that they are arranged in a mutually contacting relationship at least in a longitudinal direction of said casing, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies in said casing to discharge them successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies discharged into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece three-dimensionally while maintaining said open-ended portion in the proximity of said region of the workpiece so as to cause said open-ended portion to effectively sweep in a scanning manner over a predetermined zone of said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 2

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein in such a manner that they are arranged in a mutually contacting relationship at least in a longitudinal direction of said casing, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies in said casing to discharge them successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies discharged into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece three-dimensionally while maintaining said open-ended portion in the proximity of said region of the workpiece so as to cause said open-ended portion to effectively sweep in a scanning manner over a predetermined zone of said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 8

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing being composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and graphite and having discrete metallic bodies packed therein each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 9

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing being composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and graphite and having discrete metallic bodies packed therein each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 10

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of granular particles packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 11

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of granular particles packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 13

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of broken wires packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 14

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of broken wires packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 15

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of fine powder particles packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 16

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of fine powder particles packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 17

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, said discrete metallic bodies being composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of copper, brass, iron, nickel, molybdenum and manganese and being each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 18

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, said discrete metallic bodies being composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of copper, brass, iron, nickel, molybdenum and manganese and being each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 19

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; axially reciprocating one of said casing and said workpiece towards and away from the other with a predetermined amplitude; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 20

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; axially reciprocating one of said casing and said workpiece towards and away from the other with a predetermined amplitude; and relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein.

Claim 22

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein; and applying a magnetic field in the region of said machining site.

Claim 23

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising the steps of: axially juxtaposing an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of the workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said casing, said casing having discrete metallic bodies packed therein, each individually capable of constituting an electroerosion electrode; feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; passing an electroerosion machining current through said site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into the machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; relatively displacing said heat-resistant casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to form said cavity therein; and applying a magnetic field in the region of said machining site.

Claim 28

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a desired cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material for retaining therein discrete metallic bodies in a packed state in which they are arranged in a mutually contacting relationship at least in a longitudinal direction of said casing; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for discharging said discrete metallic bodies successively from said casing into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies discharged into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant, tubular casing and said workpiece three-dimensionally while maintaining said open-ended portion in the proximity of said region of the workpiece so as to cause said open-ended portion to sweep in a scanning manner over a predetermined zone of said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 29

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a desired cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing of a heat-resistant material for retaining therein discrete metallic bodies in a packed state in which they are arranged in a mutually contacting relationship at least in a longitudinal direction of said casing; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for discharging said discrete metallic bodies successively from said casing into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies discharged into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant, tubular casing and said workpiece three-dimensionally while maintaining said open-ended portion in the proximity of said region of the workpiece so as to cause said open-ended portion to sweep in a scanning manner over a predetermined zone of said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 35

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and graphite for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 36

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and graphite for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 37

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in the form of granular particles in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 38

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in the form of granular particles in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 39

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of fine powder particles; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 40

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of fine powder particles; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 41

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of broken wires; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 42

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of a mass of broken wires; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 43

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of metallic flakes; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 44

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies in the form of metallic flakes; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 45

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein; and means for axially reciprocating said casing relative to said workpiece.

Claim 46

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein; and means for axially reciprocating said casing relative to said workpiece.

Claim 47

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of copper, brass, iron, nickel, molybdenum and manganese; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the oepn-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as a counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 48

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining in a packed state therein discrete metallic bodies composed of a substance selected from the group which consists of copper, brass, iron, nickel, molybdenum and manganese; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the oepn-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as a counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; and means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein.

Claim 49

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein; and electromagnetic coil means wound around said casing and energizable by a power supply for applying a magnetic field in the region of said machining site.

Claim 50

An apparatus for electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece to form a cavity therein, comprising: an elongate, open-ended tubular casing composed of a heat-resistant material for retaining discrete metallic bodies in a packed state therein; means for supporting said casing in an axial juxtaposition with said workpiece to define an electroerosion machining site in the region of said workpiece proximal to the open-ended portion of said tubular casing; means for feeding a machining fluid into said machining site; means for feeding said discrete metallic bodies from said casing successively into said machining region; means for passing an electroerosion machining current through said machining site between said workpiece and said discrete metallic bodies fed into said machining site to electroerosively remove material from said region of the workpiece against said bodies functioning as counterelectrodes in said machining fluid; means for relatively displacing said heat-resistant tubular casing and said workpiece to cause said open-ended portion to sweep over a predetermined area on said workpiece to electroerosively form said cavity therein; and electromagnetic coil means wound around said casing and energizable by a power supply for applying a magnetic field in the region of said machining site.