Electropolishing system with probe for internal deburring of part and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021283701-A1
Application number	US-202016815922-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A probe assembly of an electropolishing system for electropolishing a surface of a part is disclosed. The probe assembly includes a supply line, at least a part of which is flexible. The supply line defines a fluid passage for a flow of an electrolyte therethrough. The probe assembly also includes an electrode with at least one aperture. The electrode is attached to the supply line and is fluidly connected to the fluid passage for receiving the electrolyte and outputting the electrolyte via the at least one aperture. The electrode is configured to be electrically charged for electropolishing the surface of the part. Also, the probe assembly includes a sensor that is attached to at least one of the supply line and the electrode. The sensor is configured to provide substantially real-time feedback corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part. Methods of using the system are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A probe assembly of an electropolishing system for electropolishing a surface of a part, the probe comprising:
a supply line, at least a part of which is flexible, the supply line defining a fluid passage for a flow of an electrolyte therethrough; an electrode with at least one aperture, the electrode attached to the supply line and fluidly connected to the fluid passage for receiving the electrolyte and outputting the electrolyte via the at least one aperture, the electrode configured to be electrically charged for electropolishing the surface of the part; and a sensor that is attached to at least one of the supply line and the electrode, the sensor configured to provide substantially real-time feedback corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part.

2 . The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is configured to be negatively charged by a direct current (DC) power source with the part being positively charged by the DC power source for electropolishing the surface of the part.

3 . The probe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer that is attached to at least one of the supply line and the electrode and projecting therefrom, the spacer configured to abut against the part and maintain separation between the electrode and the part.

4 . The probe assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spacer is resiliently flexible.

5 . The probe of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical lead that is electrically connected to the electrode, wherein the electrical lead and the supply line are at least partly coextensive.

6 . The probe of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a camera configured to provide substantially real-time video of an area proximate the electrode for visually monitoring electropolishing of the surface of the part.

7 . The probe of claim 6 , wherein the sensor includes a light that is configured to illuminate the area proximate the electrode.

8 . The probe of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is attached to a terminal end of the supply line.

9 . The probe of claim 8 , wherein the electrode includes an internal passage and a plurality of apertures, the internal passage fluidly connected to the fluid passage of the supply line for receiving the flow of the electrolyte, the plurality of apertures providing a fluid outlet for the electrolyte out of the probe assembly.

10 . The probe of claim 9 , wherein the electrode defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of apertures is disposed on the electrode and directed radially with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11 . The probe of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of apertures is arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis.

12 . An electropolishing system configured for electropolishing a part, the electropolishing system comprising:
a direct current (DC) power source; a pump assembly configured to pump an electrolyte; and a cathode probe assembly that includes a supply line, an electrode, and a sensor; the supply line being at least partly flexible and defining a fluid passage that is fluidly connected to the pump assembly for supplying the electrolyte to the electrode; the electrode including an internal passage that receives the electrolyte from the fluid passage of the supply line, the electrode including at least one aperture that outputs the electrolyte from the internal passage and out of the electrode; the electrode electrically connected to the DC power source to be negatively charged thereby while the part is positively charged by the DC power source to electropolish a surface of the part; and the sensor attached to at least one of the supply line and the electrode proximate the electrode and configured to provide substantially real-time feedback corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electrolyte filter that is fluidly connected within a flow circuit of the electrolyte, the flow circuit circulating the electrolyte from the pump assembly, through the fluid passage of the supply line, out the electrode, and back to the pump assembly; and
wherein the electrolyte filter is operable to filter the electrolyte flowing within the flow circuit.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electrolyte cooler that is fluidly connected to a flow circuit of the electrolyte, the flow circuit circulating the electrolyte from the pump assembly, through the fluid passage of the supply line, out the electrode, and back to the pump assembly;
wherein the electrolyte cooler is operable to cool the electrolyte for supplying cooled electrolyte to the electrode via the supply line.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an actuator that is attached to at least one of the probe assembly and the part, the actuator operable to actuate the probe assembly relative to the part.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a control system with a processor configured to receive an input signal corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part; and
wherein the control system is configured to control relative movement of the probe assembly and the part according to the received input signal.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a camera; and
further comprising a display configured to display substantially real-time video of an area proximate the electrode provided by the camera for visually monitoring electropolishing of the surface of the part.

18 . A method of operating an electropolishing system, the method comprising:
introducing a probe assembly of the electropolishing system within a part to position an electrode of the probe assembly proximate an internal surface of the part; selectively pumping electrolyte through a flexible line of the probe assembly to provide the electrolyte to the electrode, which outlets the electrolyte from at least one aperture of the electrode; selectively charging the electrode to a negative polarity while selectively charging the part to a positive polarity to electropolish a surface of the part; and providing, via a sensor of the probe assembly, substantially real-time feedback corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving, by a processor of a control system, an input and outputting a command from the processor based on the input; and
wherein outputting a command includes at least one of:
outputting a command to an actuator for actuating the probe assembly relative to the part;
outputting a command to a pump assembly for adjusting mass flow rate of the electrolyte to the electrode; and
outputting a command to a power source for adjusting power to the electrode.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensor includes a camera that provides substantially real-time video feedback corresponding to the electropolishing of the surface of the part.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Yang Qiang
• Cao Gangmin
• Lv Jingkang

Classifications

• B23H3/00 Primary

  Electrochemical machining, i.e. removing metal by passing current between an electrode and a workpiece in the presence of an electrolyte · CPC title

• B23H9/02

  Trimming or deburring {(B23H9/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C25F7/02

  Regeneration of process liquids · CPC title

• C25F7/00

  Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic removal of material from objects (for both electrolytic coating and removal C25D); Servicing or operating · CPC title

• C25F3/16 Primary

  Polishing · CPC title