Method of electropolishing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022411954-A1
Application number	US-202217842447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2022
Priority date	Jun 24, 2021
Publication date	Dec 29, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of electropolishing an internal passageway of a component, wherein the passageway has an inlet and an outlet; including: providing an electrode assembly including a flexible electrode, a shuttle and a guide cable extending between the flexible electrode and the shuttle; inserting the shuttle into the inlet; causing fluid to flow through the passageway to transport the shuttle through the passageway from the inlet towards the outlet; pulling the guide cable through the passageway to position the electrode in the passageway adjacent to a region of the passageway to be polished; and electropolishing the passageway using the electrode while moving the electrode within the passageway. Also, an electrode assembly for electropolishing an internal passageway of a component, including: a flexible electrode, a shuttle, and a guide cable extending between the flexible electrode and the shuttle.

First claim

1 . A method of electropolishing an internal passageway passageway of a component, wherein the passageway has an internal inlet and an outlet; comprising:
providing an electrode assembly comprising a flexible electrode; a shuttle and a guide cable extending between the flexible electrode and the shuttle; inserting the shuttle into the inlet; causing fluid to flow through the passageway to transport the shuttle through the passageway from the inlet towards the outlet; pulling the guide cable through the passageway to position the electrode in the passageway adjacent to a region of the passageway to be polished; and electropolishing the passageway using the electrode while moving the electrode within the passageway.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein transporting the shuttle through the passageway by the fluid flow causes the guide cable to be pulled through the passageway to position the electrode adjacent to the region of the passageway to be polished.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising inserting a retainer through the outlet, and catching the shuttle with the retainer.

4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein the retainer is controllable to close around the shuttle.

5 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein the guide cable is pulled through the passageway to position the electrode by using the retainer to pull the shuttle and thereby the guide cable.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises guiding the transport of the shuttle within the passageway towards the outlet with a temporary guide located within the passageway.

7 . A method according to claim 6 , further comprising removing the temporary guide.

8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the temporary guide is removed by leaching or etching.

9 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the guide is formed in the passageway by additive manufacturing.

10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible electrode comprises a plurality of electrode segments which are independently selectable for electro-polishing by a controller, the method further comprising the controller selecting a proper subset of the electrode segments and electropolishing portions of the passageway local to the or each respective electrode segment.

11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein an electrolyte is received in the passageway for electropolishing, and wherein the electrolyte comprises a deep eutectic solvent.

12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the component is a component of a gas turbine engine; optionally wherein the component is one of:
a fuel injector nozzle; a stator vane such as a nozzle guide vane; a rotor blade such as a compressor blade or a turbine blade; a heat exchange element for a heat exchanger.

13 . A kit for electropolishing an internal passageway of a component, comprising:
a flexible electrode, a shuttle, and a guide cable extending between the flexible electrode and the shuttle.

14 . A kit according to claim 13 , wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of electrode segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments is configured to be independently selectable for electropolishing.

15 . A kit according to claim 14 , wherein each segment of the flexible electrode comprises an electrically conductive core covered by an insulating jacket, the jacket having at least one window exposing the core.

16 . A method comprising:
manufacturing a component by additive manufacture to form:
a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an internal passageway for flow between the inlet and the outlet;
a temporary guide disposed within the internal passageway, wherein the temporary guide is configured to guide transport of a shuttle suspended in a fluid flow from the inlet and the outlet so that the shuttle moves towards the outlet;
wherein the temporary guide and the body are formed from different materials, such that the temporary guide is removable by leaching or etching while the body remains intact.

17 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein the temporary guide is configured to at least partially block a portion of the internal passageway so as to direct fluid flow and/or the shuttle towards the outlet.

18 . A method according to claim 16 , further comprising electropolishing the internal passageway, comprising:
providing an electrode assembly comprising a flexible electrode; a shuttle and a guide cable extending between the flexible electrode and the shuttle; inserting the shuttle into the inlet; causing fluid to flow through the passageway to transport the shuttle through the passageway from the inlet towards the outlet; pulling the guide cable through the passageway to position the electrode in the passageway adjacent to a region of the passageway to be polished; and electropolishing the passageway using the electrode while moving the electrode within the passageway.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Clark Daniel

Classifications

• C25F3/24

  of iron or steel · CPC title

• B22F10/62

  by chemical means · CPC title

• C25F3/16 Primary

  Polishing · CPC title

• C25F7/00 Primary

  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

• F01D25/002

  Cleaning of turbomachines · CPC title