GB1210697A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for use in the electrolytic machining of elongated stock material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,210,697. Electro-machining of elongated stock material. DANA CORP. Feb. 27, 1968 (Feb. 27, 1967], No.9520/68. Heading C7B. Apparatus for use in the electrolytic machining of elongated stock material, e.g. to produce turbine blades, comprises a machining chamber 12 for containing electrolyte; electrically non-conductive seals, 124, positioned within axially aligned openings in opposite walls 21, 23 of the chamber and through which seals the elongated stock material 24 is indexed in a longitudinal direction, the seals having openings therein complementary to the transverse cross-section of the elongated stock material; at least one cathode positioned within the machining chamber adjacent the elongated stock material and at least one contact electrode 46 positioned outside the machining chamber and which may be moved into contact with the elongated stock material to feed electric current. In the form shown the electrolytic machining chamber 12 has disposed on either side thereof a cooling chamber 14, 16; cathodes 20 and 22 are positioned adjacent the bar stock 24 which forms the workpiece, within the machining chamber 12, electrolyte being caused to flow between the bar stock and the cathodes with high velocity, and the bar stock is made anodic by contact with electrodes 46 positioned within the cooling chambers 14 and 16. The contact electrodes are pivoted so that they may be brought into engagement with the bar stock by the action of an hydraulic motor Fig.2 (not shown). The seal systems 124 through which the bar stock enters and leaves the machining chamber include seal members of U-shaped cross-section which surround the bar stock with base of the U adjacent thereto, and means for providing fluid pressure within the U- shaped seal member to bring the seal into liquidtight contact with the bar stock, the fluid pressure being variable so that the seal member may be released from the bar stock during indexing thereof longitudinally. Similar seal systems 80 are positioned where the bar stock enters and leaves the apparatus. Cooling water is supplied to the cooling chambers 14, 16 such that it impinges on to the bar stock immediately adjacent the sealing members 124.