Patent US4454418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4641007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and device for treatment of metal-bonded nonconductive materials
Assignee: LACH DIAMOND Inc
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Filing: 1982-10-04
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2002-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A rotating electrode tool made of polycrystalline synthetic diamonds in a metal foundation is used in the electro-erosive machining and mechanical grinding of a metal bonded, electrically non-conductive hard material such as synthetic diamonds or boron nitrides in an electrically conductive metal matrix. The tool is first used to electro-erosively machine the workpiece. When a signal is obtained from the machining current or voltage indicating that no further electroerosive removal is possible, the tool automatically mechanically grinds the workpiece to remove nonconductive particles not removed by spark erosion.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst Lach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:09
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23H; B23H5/00; B23H5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for combined electro-erosive machining/mechanical grinding of a workpiece of metal-bonded electrically non-conductive hard materials in an electrically conductive metal matrix comprising the steps of: (a) providing a combined spark erosion-mechanical grinding tool consisting of electrically nonconductive abrasive material in an electrically conductive metal matrix; (b) rotating said tool in close non-contact relationship to said workpiece; (c) applying an electrical potential between said tool and said workpiece thus establishing a circuit effecting spark erosion between juxtaposed metal matrix portions of said tool and said workpiece; (d) moving said tool relative to said workpiece for forming a predetermined profile on said workpiece; (e) adjusting the non-contact distance between said tool and said workpiece in dependence upon the difference in an electrical signal derived from said circuit when metal matrix materials are in juxtaposition of said tool and workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the metal matrix portion of said workpiece; and (f) moving said tool into grinding contact with said workpiece when said tool is juxtaposed said electrically nonconductive hard materials of said workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the electrically nonconductive hard materials of the workpiece in response to an electrical signal derived from said circuit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for combined electro-erosive machining/mechanical grinding of a workpiece of metal-bonded electrically non-conductive hard materials in an electrically conductive metal matrix comprising the steps of: (a) providing a combined spark erosion-mechanical grinding tool consisting of electrically nonconductive abrasive material in an electrically conductive metal matrix; (b) rotating said tool in close non-contact relationship to said workpiece; (c) applying an electrical potential between said tool and said workpiece thus establishing a circuit effecting spark erosion between juxtaposed metal matrix portions of said tool and said workpiece; (d) moving said tool relative to said workpiece for forming a predetermined profile on said workpiece; (e) adjusting the non-contact distance between said tool and said workpiece in dependence upon the difference in an electrical signal derived from said circuit when metal matrix materials are in juxtaposition of said tool and workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the metal matrix portion of said workpiece; and (f) moving said tool into grinding contact with said workpiece when said tool is juxtaposed said electrically nonconductive hard materials of said workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the electrically nonconductive hard materials of the workpiece in response to an electrical signal derived from said circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step: (g) controlling the speed of said tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step: (g) adjusting said tool in accordance with a stored program for profile machining.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step: (g) supplying a fluid medium to a position of spark erosion and grinding between said workiece and said tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises applying a square wave voltage having a 30 percent duty cycle between said tool and said workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step: (g) linearly advancing said tool relative to said workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step: (h) controlling the speed of advancing said tool relative to said workpiece in accordance with said machining speed of said tool.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for combined electro-erosive maching/mechanical grinding of a workpiece comprising a metal matrix electrically conductive hard material in an electrically conductive metal matrix comprising: (a) an electro-erosive maching/mechanical grinding tool comprising a conductive material having distributed electrically nonconductive abrading particles bonded therein; (b) drive means for imparting to said tool a working movement imparting at least a rotary movement to said tool; (c) a support means for supporting said workpiece; (d) displacement means for placing said tool in non-contact electro-erosive machining position relative to said workpiece; (e) a voltage source for applying a voltage between said tool and said workpiece in order to cause spark erosion between metal matrix materials and said conductive material in juxtaposition of said tool and said workpiece for forming a predetermined profile of said metal matrix of said workpiece; (f) means for controlling the distance between said tool and said workpiece in dependence upon the difference between electrical signals derived when electrically conductive Portions of the tool and the workpiece are in juxtapositon; and (g) means for moving said tool in grinding contact with said workpiece when-said tool is juxtaposed said electrically nonconductive hard materials of said workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the electrically nonconductive hard material of the workpiece, said means for moving said tool into grinding contact being responsive to means for deriving electrical signals when said tool is juxtaposed said electrically non-conductive hard material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for combined electro-erosive maching/mechanical grinding of a workpiece comprising a metal matrix electrically conductive hard material in an electrically conductive metal matrix comprising: (a) an electro-erosive maching/mechanical grinding tool comprising a conductive material having distributed electrically nonconductive abrading particles bonded therein; (b) drive means for imparting to said tool a working movement imparting at least a rotary movement to said tool; (c) a support means for supporting said workpiece; (d) displacement means for placing said tool in non-contact electro-erosive machining position relative to said workpiece; (e) a voltage source for applying a voltage between said tool and said workpiece in order to cause spark erosion between metal matrix materials and said conductive material in juxtaposition of said tool and said workpiece for forming a predetermined profile of said metal matrix of said workpiece; (f) means for controlling the distance between said tool and said workpiece in dependence upon the difference between electrical signals derived when electrically conductive Portions of the tool and the workpiece are in juxtapositon; and (g) means for moving said tool in grinding contact with said workpiece when-said tool is juxtaposed said electrically nonconductive hard materials of said workpiece for forming the predetermined profile of the electrically nonconductive hard material of the workpiece, said means for moving said tool into grinding contact being responsive to means for deriving electrical signals when said tool is juxtaposed said electrically non-conductive hard material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 8 further comprising control means for controlling the speed of said working movement of said tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said voltage source is adjustable to different voltage wave forms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the duty cycle of said wave forms is adjustable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said voltage wave form is square wave form having a duty cycle of about one third.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said means for controlling comprises a program memory for storing data to be used for profile machining of said workpiece by said tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said displacement means comprise means for causing a relative movement between said tool and said workpiece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 14 wherein said relative movement is in the same direction as said working movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 14 wherein said relative movement is in opposite direction to said working movement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 8 further comprising means for supplying a fluid medium to the spark erosion and grinding position between said tool and said workpiece.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said fluid medium is a protective gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said gas is argon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said tool is moved relative to said workpiece along a guide member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 8 further comprising lateral displacement means operating in dependence on said electrical signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 8 further comprising: means for moving said rotating tool along a surface of said workpiece in direction of the longitudinal extension of said workpiece; A tub means closed at all sides and filled with fluid covering said surface of said workpiece.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said rotating tool is a metal-bonded grinding disc.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 23 wherein said grinding disc contains diamonds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 24 wherein said diamonds are polycrystalline synthetic diamonds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 25 further comprising a spark voltage generator, the changing electrical values of the spark voltage generators supply circuit being a measure for controlling the path guidance of said rotating tool in respect of said surface of said workpiece.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 22 further comprising a control arm having suspended thereon a unit consisting of said rotating tool and said drive means; and a control circuit for controlling the movement of said rotating tool towards and away from said surface by means of said control arm and for movement along a predetermined path parallel to the profile of said surface of said workpiece.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 27 wherein said control arm projects into said tub means through a flexible port in a cover of said tub means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 27 further comprising a spark voltage generator connected to said control circuit of said drive means, the changing electrical values of the spark voltage supply circuit being a measure for adjusting the distance between said rotating tool and said surface of said workpiece.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 27 further comprising a spark voltage generator connected to said control circuit, said changing electrical values in the spark voltage generator supply circuit being a measure for controlling the rotational speed of said drive means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 30 wherein the changing electrical values in the spark voltage generator supply circuit are a measure for adjusting the distance of the said rotating tool from said surface of said workpiece.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said fluid is an electrolzte.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said fluid is water.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 32 or 33 wherein said fluid has added thereto a rust-preventing agent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |