Method and device for producing a wear-resistant surface on a workpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017306519-A1
Application number	US-201715498123-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	Apr 26, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method including closing upper and lower ends of a bore with upper and lower closure element, respectively; introducing a cathode into the bore; and flowing an electrolyte through an annular space between a wall of the bore an outer surface of the cathode to provide an inner surface of the bore with a wear-resistant surface by electrolysis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
closing upper and lower ends of a bore with upper and lower closure elements, respectively; introducing a cathode into the bore; and flowing an electrolyte through an annular space between a wall of the bore an outer surface of the cathode to provide an inner surface of the bore with a wear-resistant surface by electrolysis.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cathode is a hollow cathode.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the closing and introducing steps are carried out simultaneously.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing the electrolysis by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO).

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing the electrolysis by plasma electrolytic deposition (PED).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flowing step included continuously flowing the electrolyte.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the electrolyte into the bore from above the bore and through the cathode.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flowing step including flowing the electrolyte at a speed of 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wear-resistant surface has a thickness of 20 μm to 50 μm.

10 . A device comprising:
upper and lower closure elements for closing a bore; a cathode extending within the bore from the upper closure element towards the lower closure element to form an annular space between a wall of the bore an outer surface of the cathode, the annular space configured to receive a flow of an electrolyte therethrough during electrolysis; and an outlet opening for discharging a gas formed during electrolysis.

11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising an inlet line for feeding the electrolyte and opening into the cathode.

12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein a free end of the cathode is spaced apart from the lower closure element.

13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the annular space between the bore and the cathode increases continuously in the direction of the lower closure element towards the upper closure element with a conically tapering configuration of the cathode from a free end in the direction of the upper closure element.

14 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the cathode is a hollow cathode.

15 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a collecting space situated above the bore and on the upper closure element in which space gas that forms during the electrolysis collected.

16 . A device comprising:
upper and lower closure elements for closing a bore; and a hollow cathode extending within the bore from the upper closure element towards the lower closure element to form an annular space between a wall of the bore an outer surface of the hollow cathode, the annular space configured to receive a flow of an electrolyte therethrough during electrolysis.

17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an inlet line for feeding the electrolyte and opening into the cathode.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the cathode is a central hollow cathode.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the upper closure element includes multiple openings.

20 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising a collecting space situated above the bore and on the upper closure element in which space gas that forms during the electrolysis collected.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Beauvir Jacques
• Morawitz Urban
• Verpoort Clemens Maria

Classifications

• C25D11/026 Primary

  Anodisation with spark discharge · CPC title

• C25D17/004

  Sealing devices · CPC title

• C25D11/04

  of aluminium or alloys based thereon · CPC title

• C25D7/04 Primary

  Tubes; Rings; Hollow bodies · CPC title

• C25D11/005

  Apparatus specially adapted for electrolytic conversion coating (apparatus in general for electrolytic coating C25D17/00) · CPC title