Flow directors and shields for abrasive flow machining of internal passages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11364587-B2
Application number	US-201815957857-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2018
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

An insert apparatus for protecting a curved inner surface within a passageway from abrasion during an abrasive machining operation is disclosed. In various embodiments, the insert apparatus includes a shield having a shell shaped to match a curved portion of the curved inner surface of the passageway and a shaft having a first end connected to the shell and a second end connected to a member configured to maintain the shaft within the passageway and the shell positioned against the curved inner surface during the abrasive machining operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insert apparatus for protecting a curved inner surface within a passageway from abrasion during an abrasive machining operation, comprising:
a shield having a shell shaped to match a curved portion of the curved inner surface of the passageway; and
a shaft having a first end connected to the shell and a second end connected to a disc configured to maintain the shaft within the passageway and the shell positioned against the curved inner surface during the abrasive machining operation, the disc having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the disc threadedly coupled to the shaft proximate the second end of the shaft, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to convey an abrasive media from a pump to the passageway.

2. The insert apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shield is pivotally connected to the first end of the shaft by a pin.

3. The insert apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the disc is configured for positioning proximate one of an inlet and an exit of the passageway.

4. The insert apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the shell is configured for insertion into a straight section of the passageway prior to being positioned against the curved inner surface.

5. The insert apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shell includes a heel configured to wrap around the shaft during insertion of the shell into the straight section of the passageway.

6. The insert apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the heel includes a cutout portion configured to receive the shaft during insertion of the shell into the straight section of the passageway.

7. The insert apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising one or more radially extending wings positioned on the shaft intermediate the first end and the second end.

8. The insert apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the curved inner surface defines a 90-degree segment of the passageway.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp
• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Thayer Henry H
• Twelves Wendell V

Classifications

• B24B31/006 Primary

  for grinding the interior surfaces of hollow workpieces · CPC title

• B24B5/40

  for grinding tubes internally · CPC title

• B24C1/04

  for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass · CPC title

• B24C3/327

  by an axially-moving flow of abrasive particles without passing a blast gun, impeller or the like along the internal surface (polishing or abrading surfaces using plastically deformable grinding compound, moved relatively to the workpiece under the influence of pressure B24B31/116) · CPC title

• B24B31/12

  Accessories; Protective equipment or safety devices; Installations for exhaustion of dust or for sound absorption specially adapted for machines covered by group B24B31/00 {(in general B24B55/00)} · CPC title