Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic erosion of a workpiece for shape or surface... – Gap maintenance or defined tool-workpiece gap
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-23
2001-03-20
Valentine, Donald R. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic erosion of a workpiece for shape or surface...
Gap maintenance or defined tool-workpiece gap
C205S672000, C205S686000, C204S22400M, C204SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203689
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electropolishing apparatus and method, more particularly, the electropolishing apparatus and method for precisely and smoothly polishing an inner face of a deep hole in an article with any operation mark left.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, polishing a surface of an article is conducted by a mechanical polishing method in which the surface is abraded by a mechanical force or a physical force, by an electropolishing method in which the surface is electrochemically eroded.
In a representative mechanical polishing, a surface of an article is abraded by an abrasive stone. Such a method can not be applied to polishing an inner face of a hole having a small diameter so that an abrasive stone can not get into the hole. Moreover, there may be left scratches by crystalline particles in the abrasive stone, thermal strain due to high temperature during abrasion, and debris on the face after finishing to polish.
Although the electropolishing method does not involve problems related to scratches and thermal strain, bubbles generated during electrochemical reaction may become attached to the face to be polished to hinder electrolysis, whereby pits are left on the face after finishing to a polish. This problem is serious in an inner face of a deep hole. Moreover, in the case that the face to be polished is coated with the resultant from electrolysis, reaction rate is lowered, whereby the time taken to polish lengthens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, this invention is to propose an electropolishing apparatus to polish an inner face of a deep hole by electropolishing with no pit left.
Furthermore, this invention is intended to promote electrochemical reaction in electrolysis by removing the resultant coated on the face to be polished.
According to an aspect of this invention, an electropolishing apparatus for polishing an inner face of a deep hole of an article is provided. The apparatus comprises a support for holding the article with the hole opened upward, an electrode adapted for insertion into the hole, and flow guiding means for flowing electrolyte up along the inner face of the hole.
The flow guiding means may be formed with a through hole drilled in the electrode longitudinally, and a gap adapted to be between an outer face of the electrode and the inner face of the hole.
The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of removers fixed on a outer face of the electrode to remove an electrolysis coat on the inner face of the hole, said electrode adapted for moving up and down in the hole, and said support adapted for rotating the article held thereon.
The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of magnets arranged around the article to form a magnetic field in a zone including the article.
The magnet may move up and down throughout the length of the article.
According to another aspect of this invention, an electropolishing method for polishing an inner face of a deep hole of an article is provided. The method comprises steps for holding the article with the hole opened upward in an electrolytic bath, supplying electric energy through an electrode adapted for insertion into the hole, and flowing electrolyte up along the inner face of the hole.
In the flowing step, the electrolyte flows through a through hole drilled in the electrode longitudinally, and a gap adapted to be between an outer face of the electrode and the inner face of the hole.
The method may further comprise a step for removing an electrolysis coat on the inner face of the hole.
The method may further comprise a step for forming a magnetic field in a zone including the article using a plurality of magnets arranged around the article.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, including the drawings and claims.
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Choi Min Seog
Kim Jeong Du
Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP
Korea Advanced Institute Science and Technology
Valentine Donald R.
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