DYNAMIC ADAPTIVE FLUSHING FOR WORKPIECE EROSION

摘要

The hand-held electro-discharge device to remove boluses of material from a workpiece is disclosed. In some implementations, a conductive electrode and its supporting ground pin are immersed in a dielectric fluid contained in a hood or cavity near or at the electrode's distal tip, and removably sealed to a conductive workpiece. A flushing inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said hood provide a flushing fluid, which may also be a dielectric fluid to remove FOD and to cool. A dynamic adaptive adjustment of fluid flow may be applied to increase fluid pressure inside the electrode and adjust pressure outside the electrode to be within a range the operator can maintain seal of the device against workpiece under.

主权项

1. A method of adaptive flushing, the method comprising:
a hood (32) attached to a base (26), the hood being configured to enclose a portion of a surface of a workpiece; a tubular erosion electrode (66) within said hood configured to advance during use to erode at least a recess in the surface of the workpiece; a fluid inlet (54) configured to deliver a dielectric flushing fluid through said tubular electrode, wherein the fluid inlet (54) is connected to a high pressure producing inlet pump; a fluid outlet (34) configured to evacuate from the hood the flushing fluid and debris from the erosion wherein the fluid outlet (34) is connected to a low pressure producing drain pump; an outlet (98) in the hood fluidly connected to a pressure regulator (97) which is in close proximity to the hood; an outlet from the fluid regulator to the fluid outlet; and, a pressure adjustment whereby at least pressure of said flushing fluid of at least one of the hollow electrode, at the recess, within the hood, or outside the erosion electrode is adjusted corresponding to a spark-gap voltage.