US4740666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical discharge machining electrode
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1986-08-28
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Granted: 1988-04-26
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Expires: 2006-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved electrical discharge machining electrode permitting improved cutting action to be achieved at the same level of electrical power being applied to the wire electrode. Such improvement is attributable to a particular configuration and the material being employed in the wire electrode which has an iron alloy core coated with an intermediate layer including a copper and zinc heat reaction product on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating. The improved method and apparatus for employment of this electrode is also described along with one method to form the multilayer coating on the electrode wire core.
Inventors
- 👤 Dandridge S. Tomalin
- 👤 John Capp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:17
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23H; B23H7/00; B23H7/02; B23H7/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/125; Y10T428/12514; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/12917; Y10T428/12924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
An electrical discharge machining electrode wire having an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical discharge machining electrode wire having an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrode wire as in claim 1 wherein said surface carbon coating is graphite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrode wire as in claim 2 wherein said surface carbon coating is an electrically conductive form of graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrode wire as in claim 1 wherein said iron alloy core is a low carbon steel alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wire of claim 1 wherein said copper and zinc alloy comprises a copper and zinc heat reaction product.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The wire of claim 5 wherein said carbon coating is graphite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire of claim 6 wherein said carbon coating is an electrically conductive form of graphite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The wire of claim 6 wherein said core is a steel alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical discharge machining process which comprise; (a) continuously moving an electrically charged wire electrode member in close proximity to a metal workpiece so as to cause a spark discharge therebetween, said wire electrode member comprising an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating; (b) contacting the gap space between said workpiece surface and the moving wire electrode member with a moving dielectric liquid, and (c) cutting metal from the workpiece and removing carbon from the wire electrode with said spark discharge and displacing the removed metal and carbon from the gap space in the moving dielectric liquid, wherein improved cutting action is achieved in said process at the same level of electrical power being applied to said wire electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical discharge machining process which comprise; (a) continuously moving an electrically charged wire electrode member in close proximity to a metal workpiece so as to cause a spark discharge therebetween, said wire electrode member comprising an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating; (b) contacting the gap space between said workpiece surface and the moving wire electrode member with a moving dielectric liquid, and (c) cutting metal from the workpiece and removing carbon from the wire electrode with said spark discharge and displacing the removed metal and carbon from the gap space in the moving dielectric liquid, wherein improved cutting action is achieved in said process at the same level of electrical power being applied to said wire electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process in claim 9 wherein said improved cutting action is a smoother surface finish.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the surface carbon coating of said wire electrode is graphite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the iron alloy core of said wire electrode is a low carbon steel alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the intermediate layer of said wire electrode is a brass alloy supported on a residual copper layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein said improved cutting action is increased cutting speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said copper and zinc alloy comprises a copper and zinc reaction product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
In combination with an electrical discharge machining apparatus which includes a wire electrode member caused to move continuously in close proximity to the workpiece and produce a spark discharge in the gap space by which said workpiece is machined by cutting action, the improvement wherein said wire electrode member comprises an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
In combination with an electrical discharge machining apparatus which includes a wire electrode member caused to move continuously in close proximity to the workpiece and produce a spark discharge in the gap space by which said workpiece is machined by cutting action, the improvement wherein said wire electrode member comprises an iron alloy core coated with intermediate layers of copper supporting a copper and zinc alloy layer on which is deposited an adherent carbon surface coating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the intermediate layer of said wire electrode is a brass alloy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 which includes means to adjust the level of electrical power being applied to said wire electrode for improved cutting action.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said improved cutting action is increased cutting speed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said improved cutting action is a smoother surface finish.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the surface carbon coating of said wire electrode is graphite.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the iron alloy core of said wire electrode is a low carbon steel alloy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said copper and zinc alloy comprises a copper and zinc reaction product.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process to produce an electrical discharge machining electrode wire which comprises: (a) forming an iron alloy wire having a copper cladding, (b) depositing a zinc coating on the copper clad iron alloy wire, (c) depositing a carbon coating on the surface of the copper and zinc coated iron alloy wire, (d) heating said copper and zinc coated iron alloy wire under conditions which produce alloying action in said coating between the copper and zinc components, and (e) reducing the diameter of carbon coated iron alloy wire by mechanical drawing action.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process to produce an electrical discharge machining electrode wire which comprises: (a) forming an iron alloy wire having a copper cladding, (b) depositing a zinc coating on the copper clad iron alloy wire, (c) depositing a carbon coating on the surface of the copper and zinc coated iron alloy wire, (d) heating said copper and zinc coated iron alloy wire under conditions which produce alloying action in said coating between the copper and zinc components, and (e) reducing the diameter of carbon coated iron alloy wire by mechanical drawing action.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 24 wherein the zinc and copper coated iron alloy wire is heated to approximately 750° C. under conditions producing a brass alloy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 24 wherein the zinc coating is deposited by electrodeposition.
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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) | 1991-04-26 | 1991-10-26 | 1992-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-26 | 1995-10-26 | 1996-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-26 | 1999-10-26 | 2000-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |