GB2306370A - Hand portable electro-discharge machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand portable electro-disharge machine has a container 1 that is a transportation and housing vessel for a spark erosion system that is portable within it. A unit head 2 is connected via cables 6,7, and pipes 10 to a supply area, which includes a pump 5 and fluid storage container 4. This is powered through a mains cable 8, that may be subject to input from a portable generator. A stand 3 allows the unit head 2 to direct an electrode 9 to the subject, on which spark erosion is being performed. Fluid 4 is directed to the head area 2 during the erosion process, which may be carried out by non skilled operatives due to an automatic control method within the system.

Description

Title : Hand Portable Blectro--DiM=barge machine This invention relates to an electro discharge machine that offers a medium of use that is portable by nature of its size and weight, and which is used for the purpose of renoving broken or damaged drills. taps and the like, whilst providing other services in relation to the manufacture of moulds, press tools and dies.

A common problem relating to the use of electro-discharge machines is their size and weight in relation to the purpose for which they are to be used. In oany instances the process usually involves an EDX machine which has a work tank large enough in capacity to be able to contain and submerge the component unit to be machined. Highly skilled operators are normally required to oversee and control the process throughout its duration, this is combined with a substansive time period and effort to dismantle the component unit to a stage by which it may be more easily handled.Following this the then reduced component needs to be of a size to allow it to suit or fit the EDX machine, also requiring reassembly following completion of the work upon it, due to these complications work is frequently not undertaken and the part itself is discarded.

Therefore, although the process of Spark Erosion or Electro Discharge 'machining is commonly known and well established, and offers a functional process that is lengthy, and on occasion effective, the machine itself is normally oversized or requires fluid submersion and skilled operatives throughout the work to achieve the desired result. This adds unnecessary difficulty, with the basic working process being reliant on a skilled controller being present at all times to ensure a safe and satisfactory completion.

In relation to the use of machines of this nature, am aforementioned a skilled operator is required to fulfil the basic working process. Blectrcrdischarge work of this type requlres an experienced and skilled operator to carry out the work, this ability is derived by years of knowledge in this field. Therefore, a machine of this type cannot be safely used or successfully worked without an operator being present.

The very size and weight of most known machines results in then being stationary. Vork has to be transported to then and applied following various dismantling work on the part itself. Therefore, a restriction in portability is maintained, with no real option of the machine to being taken to the location of the part.

when work is required on very large parts, extensive dismantling commonly required to ensure that the component can be housed during the work. Providing that the machine and its housing capabilities are sufficient work can be carried out successfully, This however, can be very costly and time consuming, as well as providing the aforementioned difficulties to the working team and operators. In many instances the number and sie of personnel and equipment required to perforn the work far outweighs the seemingly simple erosion work that is being performed, possibly resulting only in the removal of a small unit of material.

According to the present invention there is provided an electro discharge machine that is smaller in size than those already known, and which is compacted into a carrying enclosure to allow it to be located easily, containing an inbuilt control system, which allows for operation without the required skill or expertise normally apparent in use, and which eliminates the need to submerge the component part in fluid.

An embodiment of how the invention works will now follow, with reterence to the five accompanying diagram which show Fig 1 : A dimensional view of the closed transportation and housing enclosure.

Fig 2 : A dimensional view of the opened transportation and housing enclosure.

Fig 3 : A general view of the interior components of the unit head.

Fig 4 : A working example of the invention during an application.

Fig 5 : A typical flow diagram on which the program is based.

The hand portable electro-discharge machine is generally designated 1 and comprises a housing enclosure 1 and a unit head 2 providing the very basis for a system that performs the work. The head 2 has a motor 13 which is supplied as a drive for the quill 16. Various electrodes 9 are held within the modified chuck 18, as shown in Fig 3. This is aligned and mechanically or magnetically clamped near to or onto the workpiece, in such a manner as to align the electrode(s) with the area or part to be eroded. To allow various electrodes 9 to be housed within the head 2, a cone insert 21 may be applied to the receiving area within the chuck 18.

This cone insert 21, as shown in Fig 3 A, allows for different electrodes 9 to be applied, using its shape to accommodate for the widths of various electrodes 9, allowing them to seal on various areas of the cones opening. This method of producing a seal provides the use of differeint electrodes without having special seals. As shown in the example in Fig 3 A, various stages of the cone shape allow for a seal to be created.

The fluid when using this system is either pumped through the electrode 9 or floods the area to be eroded, being either recovered or disposed of. Vith this system of fluid application there is no need to completely immerse the workpiece in the fluid. Should the fluid be recovered for later use, it may be filtered and cleaned by separate means.

A microprocessor is used to control the complete working process, this includes the unit head monitor, the output waveforms, voltage, current and fault monitoring, control and indicating. This allows for the whole system to be used without a skilled operator. Its size and ease of use allows erosion to be performed at any location on structures that would normally have been to large, impractical uneconomic or not possibly transportable.

The transportation and housing enclosure 1 as shown in Fig 1 2 and 4, contains a transformer, power supplies power heatsink assemblies printed circuit boards and the microprocessor, which contain; the control program in an eprom type memory. This program is provided to monitor the input controls and the eroding conditions, being 'the volts amps, and magnetic conditions present in the workpiece / electrodes gap. Depending on the conditions actually being monitored, the program then controls the speed and direction of the motor 13 and also the output waveform, volts, current and timing of the signal which is creating the erosion process. This also includes fault control, correction, indication and the termination of the process if and when required. The transportation and housing enclosure 1 also contains the pump 5 as shown in Fig 4 and the storage container 4 for the fluid, also shown. There is a space to store the unit head 2, along with its mechanical or magnetic base with universal arms and clamp 3, all required cables, consisting of a control cable 6, a power cable 7, and a power source cable and plug 8. Pipes for supplying fluids 10 are also included as part of the completed system assembly.

When the unit is correctly assembled and the power lead 8 is connected to a suitable electrical power source, the mechanical or magnetic base 3 including universal arms and clamps, are positioned to align the electrode (8) 9 over the area to be eroded.

The hand or automatic control is set to hand position, with the direction controls in and out being used to control the unit head motor 13 direction to position the electrode 9 at a poiat which is suitably close to the erosion point.

Following this another input control is set to match the appropriate electrode 9 diameter(s) which have been chosen for the particular application. Wen the hand or automatic control is set to the automatic position the unit by way of the microprocessor and its accompanying program, may be operated as a whole system of spark erosion by an untrained user. The unit head 2 as shown in Fig 3, contains various components to enable it to control precisely the spark erosion process by means of a drive motor 13, a lead screw 14, an anti-backlash nut 15, a quill 16, limit sensors 17, a modified chuck 18, a cable connector 20, and a fluid connector 19.All of which provide a combined freely locating medium to perform the aforementioned positioning and alignment in almost any desired location.

When combined with its main body housing 1, which also allows it to receive all required means to operate and perform the erosion process, it may be transported to any desired location with sufficient power to allow it to perform on more difficult and very large extensive work.

The power source may vary, being normally obtained from a standard fixed supply for general locative application, or possibly drawn from a free standing generator to allow work to be performed in almost any location, where power is not available in any provided form. This, combined with its compact self containing size and general ability to be applied in any number of various locations and positions for operation, cu 1 mi nates in a system that is completely portable.

Claims (24)

1) A hand portable electro-discharge machine has a housing enclosure that provides a medium to house and transport an electro discharge machine that is, portable; means to supply power to the system is provided by fixed or generated methods; erosion works being directed from a unit head that is connected by supply leads and pipes to the control and power source located within the transportable housing enclosure; unrestricted usage is provided by a control program within the system to allow non skilled operatives to perform spark erosion techniques, without immersion in fluid.

2) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a housing enclosure forms a container to allow for transportation and housing of a spark erosion system.

3) A hand portable electro-disharge machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the electrontisharge machine is portable within its housing enclosure or container.

4) A hand portable electro-disharge machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein, power is supplied by a fixed source or that of a portable generator.

5) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the power and means are supplied to allow a unit head to perform spark erosion, being supplied by leads and pipes from the container housing.

6) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the unit head is freely locatable, and has a stand with various positioning means to allow it to be aligned with the subject.

7) A hand portable electro-disharge machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein. the system has a treestanding head that may be operated by an unskilled person when in conjunction with a control program.

8) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein, a control program allows unskilled operatives to use the portable spark erosion system.

9) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein, it allows for unskilled usage, without the need to inverse the subject in a fluid.

10) A hand portable electro-disharge machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein, fluid is not required around the whole of the subject, as it is supplied directionally via the unit head.

11) A hand portable electro-discharge machine as claimed in all previous claims is a spark erosion system for use in known spark erosion requirement;, that is compact and portable, being completely housed and transported within a container, leaving a variable power source that will allow it to perform in unusual locations, providing an automatic control system that allows non skilled usage, without the need to immerse the subject in a fluid.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A portable electrSischarge machine comprising an electrode head adapted to receive an electrode for electodischarge erosion and a hand portable carrying enclosure comprising reservoir means. control means and storage means for said electrode head, and said machine further comprising an electrical conductor for the flow of an electrical current between said electrode head and said control means.

2. A portable electro clischarge machine according to Claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises storage means for said electrical conductor.

3. A portable eiectrischarge machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and comprising pipes for the supply of fluid.

4. A portable electrodischarge machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said enclosure comprises a fluid pump.

5. A portable elecbdischarge machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrode head comprises a selectively adjustable support base.

6. A portable electro-discharge machine according to Claim 5 wherein said base comprises a magnetic base portion.

7. A portable electro discharge machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrode head has associated therewith adjuster means to control movement of an electrode relative to the electrode head.

8. A portable electroXischarge machine according to Claim 7 wherein the electrode head comprises a drive motor for said relative movement of an electrode.

9. A portable electro-discharge machine according to Claim 8 wherein operation of said drive motor is controlled by said control means.

10. A portable electodischarge machine according to claim 9 wherein said control means is operable to control the speed and direction of movement of said drive motor.

11. A portable electro < iischarge machine acoording to any one of the preceding claims and comprising spark erosion power supply means to control transfer of electrical energy between a power source and the electrode head.

12. A portable electro < iischerge machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrode head comprises a cone insert for location of an end of an electrode.

13. A portable electrischarge machine according to any of the preceding claims wherein the control means comprises a microprocssor programmed to monitor input conditions at the electrode head and eroding conditions

14. A portable electro < Iischarge machine according to Claim 3 wherein said microprocessor controls the speed and direction of movement of an electrode in response to monitored conditions.

15. Aportable electro-discharge machine according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the 'microprocessor contains a control program in an eprom type memory.

16. A portable electro discharge machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means is responsive to information related to a diameter of the electrode.

17. A portable electro-discharge machine con and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A portable electro dlsharge machine according to Claim I and substantially as hereinbefore described.

19. Method of performing a spark erosion procedure on a work piece comprising positioning a hand portable electrclischarge machine in proximity to the vivrk piece, positioning an electrode head of the machine relative to the work piece and supplying fluid to that area of the work piece which is to be eroded by spark erosion as an electrode carried by the electrode head is operated to perform a spark erosion procedure.

20. Method according to Claim 19 wherein fluid supplied to the work piece is recovered and retumed to a reservoir contained in the portable electro discharge machine.

21. Method according to Claim 19 or Claim 20 wherein a microprocessor is employed to monitor input conditions and eroding conditions.

22. A method according to Claim 21 wherein the microprocessor operates to control movement of the speed and direction of movement of an electrode in response to monitored conditions.

23. Method according to Claim 19 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

24. Method of performing a spark erosion procedure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.