Vibrotumbling machine

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibrotumbling machine, in particular applicable for the processing of manufactured products having at least one cavity or inner surface.

[0002] Vibrotumbling processes represent an economical solution for removing the surface layer in the case of at least one surface obtained in particular by means of electro-erosion techniques.

[0003] A surface layer which is substantially hard and fragile, or in any case such as to have micro-structural and morphological characteristics which are not acceptable for certain types of applications, is in fact obtained through electro-erosion.

[0004] An example of this type of manufactured product consists of objects having at least one cavity, such as rotors, in particular.

[0005] The processing of external surfaces with vibrotumbling is simple and economical, as the manufactured product to be processed is immersed in an abrasive mix.

[0006] This is kept in a container which, in turn, is vibrated by means of vibrating means.

[0007] The abrasive mix normally includes various elements of material which is usually not particularly hard, known by the English term as "media", abrasive particles, water and additives.

[0008] The function of the various material elements, i.e. the media, is to transmit kinetic energy to the abrasive particles so that these strike against the manufactured product to be processed.

[0009] Each media element is surrounded by abrasive particles present in the abrasive mix and receives the vibrations from the vibrating means through the container.

[0010] In this way, the various elements of the abrasive mix strike the external surface of the manufactured product to be processed, causing the abrasive particles to rub against the same surface.

[0011] By rubbing against the surface, said particles cause the removal of material from the external surface of the manufactured product with the consequent abrasion of the surface layer and removal of material therefrom.

[0012] A vibrational movement is therefore conferred to the abrasive mix machines for vibrotumbling or vibrofinishing currently on the market, which is subsequently transmitted to a manufactured product to be processed or surface smoothed.

[0013] In other terms, a vibration is transmitted to a manufactured product to be processed by means of an abrasive mix in which the manufactured product is fully immersed; the abrasive mix is kept in a container which is subjected to vibration.

[0014] The vibration is, in turn, transmitted to the abrasive mix and, consequently, to the manufactured product.

[0015] The relative movement of the abrasive mix with respect to the surface of the product to be processed is exclusively created by the vibration induced to the abrasive mix by means of the vibration means.

[0016] One of the drawbacks of current machines is consequently that the relative movement is reduced or completely absent in grooves, openings, cavities and narrow fins, as said abrasive mix is stagnant in said inner cavities, causing a so-called "plug" effect.

[0017] As an efficient relative movement between the abrasive mix and the inner surfaces, often inaccessible, of the product to be processed, is not possible with current machines, it is consequently not possible to efficiently process said inner surfaces.

[0018] This leads to the fact that, as it is not possible to process said inner surfaces by means of the abrasive action of an abrasive mix, it is often necessary to obtain the products through different technologies, usually having higher operating costs, accompanied at the same time by a lower quality result.

[0019] Even when the use of vibro-erosion machines is possible, these are not efficient for processing inner surfaces such as those with grooves and thin cavities having narrow sections, in particular, for example, in the case of some rotors.

[0020] In this case, the abrasive means reach the inner surfaces with no vibrational energy or, even worse, remain inside said grooves or cavities.

[0021] In both cases an efficient action cannot be obtained of the abrasive mix on the inner surfaces, accessible through rather thin and narrow sections, in which a minimum section value can range from 5 to 10 millimetres.

[0022] Another drawback is that, for wider sections, in any case, a non-uniform abrasion of the surface is obtained, mainly close to the external portions of the product to be processed.

[0023] This is due to the fact that the change of direction and velocity causes a higher frequency and intensity of the impact of the elements of the abrasive mix on the object.

[0024] WO 00/32355 describes a mixture, method and apparatus for polishing parts using vibration of a polishing mixture pumped through a cavity to be polished. US 3 584 419 describes an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 for cleaning a cavity of a casting where an abrasive is run straight through the cavity.

[0025] An objective of the present invention is to provide a vibrotumbling machine capable of processing inner surfaces such as groves, cavities, housings and holes, even when these are thin and narrow.

[0026] Another objective of the present invention is to produce a vibrotumbling machine capable of uniformly removing material from at least one inner surface of a manufactured product having at least one cavity or indentation to be processed.

[0027] A further objective is to provide a vibrotumbling machine capable of effectively and uniformly processing both inner and outer surfaces.

[0028] Yet another objective is to have a simple and economical vibrotumbling machine.

[0029] These objectives, according to the present invention, are achieved by producing a vibrotumbling machine as specified in claim 1.

[0030] Further characteristics of the invention are indicated in the subsequent claims.

[0031] The characteristics and advantages of a vibrotumbling machine according to the present invention will appear more evident from the following illustrative and non-limiting, description, referring to the enclosed schematic drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a raised right-side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a vibrotumbling machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic, partially sectional, raised view of the vibrotumbling machine of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail of figure 1.

[0032] With reference to the figures, these show a machine 10 for the vibrotumbling of a manufactured product 18, such as, for example, a rotor, by means of an abrasive mix comprising various elements of not particularly hard material, abrasive particles, water and additives.

[0033] Said machine 10 comprises vibration means for causing a relative movement between said abrasive mix and said manufactured product 18, to obtain its processing.

[0034] Said vibration means are associated with said manufactured product 18 to make it vibrate directly and obtain its processing.

[0035] Said vibration means are preferably associated with said manufactured product 18 by means of a rod 20 or said vibration means are directly connected to said manufactured product 18.

[0036] Said machine 10 also comprises pressure means for obtaining a forced flow of said abrasive mix with respect to said manufactured product 18, in particular for obtaining a forced flow inside at least one cavity of said manufactured product 18.

[0037] Said pressure means preferably include a column of abrasive mix situated above said manufactured product 18 to force the relative flow with respect to the same of a part of abrasive mix which is close to the manufactured product 18, in order to uniformly remove material therefrom.

[0038] At the same time, said rotor 18 is fed with the commercial abrasive mix (means, abrasive product, water, additives) by means of a rubber collector 62, shown in figure 3, which receives the mix from a feeding duct 61 connected to a tank 60, suspended about 1,000 mm above.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, said machine 10 preferably comprises a frame 12 to which said rod 20 is constrained by means of elastic means 40, such as, in particular, a series of springs.

[0040] Said rod 20 is preferably constrained at a first upper end 21 to said frame 12 by means of a series of vertical guides 45 and suspended to said frame by means of said elastic means 40, which allow a relative movement of the rod 20 with respect to the frame 12 in a vertical direction.

[0041] Said vertical rod 20 also has a lower end 22 on which said rotor 18 is tightened, and said upper end 21 is connected to vibration means such as, in particular, a non- balanced motor 30 which transmits vibrations thereto.

[0042] Said motor 30 is preferably situated above said frame 12 and it is preferably constrained to said upper end 21 of said rod 20 by means of a disk 24 integral with said rod 20.

[0043] The vibration means are thus directly associated with the manufactured product 18 to be processed and are therefore capable of transmitting vibrations to the same without any kind of attenuation.

[0044] Said machine 10 preferably comprises a rubber collector 62 to channel said mix into said at least one cavity of said manufactured product 18, or thereon.

[0045] Said pressure means preferably include a tank 60 and a feeding duct 61 which comprises a first end and a second end, said first end is situated downstream of said tank 60 and said second end is upstream of said manufactured product 18 to allow the abrasive mix to flow against said manufactured product 18.

[0046] Said tank 60 is situated above said duct 61, below which a rubber collector 62 is connected to channel said abrasive mix into said at least one cavity of said manufactured product 18.

[0047] Said second end of said feeding duct 61 is preferably connected upstream of said collector 62 to allow the abrasive mix to flow against said manufactured product 18.

[0048] Said tank 60 is preferably suspended about 1,000 mm above said manufactured product 18, so that the weight of the column of abrasive mix itself, contained in the duct 61, causes a pressure on the part of the abrasive mix in contact with, or close to, said manufactured product 18.

[0049] In this way, the same is forced to flow with respect to the manufactured product 18, thus uniformly removing material from the surface of the same.

[0050] Said machine 10 comprises a basin 63 constrained to said manufactured product, which surrounds said manufactured product to allow both inner and outer surfaces of the same to be contemporaneously processed.

[0051] After flowing through said at least one cavity of said rotor 18, said abrasive mix is, in fact, collected inside said basin 63, and in this way it also processes the outer surface of said manufactured product 18.

[0052] This continues until a maximum level is reached in the basin 63, over which the abrasive mix overflows from the same and is collected in a container 64 constrained to the frame 12.

[0053] Said machine 10 comprises said container 64, which collects said abrasive mix when this falls from the basin 63.

[0054] The exhausted abrasive mix collected in the container 64 is then washed, mixed with new abrasive material and then reintroduced into the upper tank 60.

[0055] This functioning can be effected by manual means or with automatic means to provide a continuous working cycle.

[0056] The abrasive machine 10 has the following innovative characteristics:

• it transmits the vibration directly to the manufactured product to be processed, instead of through an abrasive mix;
• the fluid is forced to flow relatively with respect to the manufactured product to be processed, in particular with respect to the inner surfaces, such as, for example, cavities, holes or grooves in particular thin and narrow.

[0057] By directly vibrating the object to be processed, it is thus possible to obtain a relative movement between an inner surface to be processed, having a very narrow section, and the abrasive mix flow, which is forced to flow inside said at least one inner cavity, obtaining a vibro-abrasion effect capable of smoothing the surface of the same or, in any case, uniformly removing material therefrom.

[0058] The abrasive mix is forced to flow inside at least one inner surface by means of pressure means, increasing the relative movement between the abrasive particles dispersed in the mix and the inner surface of said inner cavity to be processed.

[0059] This causes the abrasive particles to strike against at least one inner surface to be processed creating an abrasive effect on the surface itself.

[0060] The use of pressure means for forcing said abrasive mix onto said at least one inner surface to be processed, advantageously prevents the abrasive mix from stagnating inside the holes and cavities of the rotor and other components, obtaining the evacuation of the eroded material.

[0061] The vibrotumbling machine of the present invention is advantageously extremely efficient in the case of inner surfaces which are difficult to reach or inaccessible, such as grooves, cavities and holes, in particular.

[0062] It can thus be seen that a vibrotumbling machine according to the present invention achieves the objectives specified above.

[0063] The vibrotumbling machine of the present invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0064] Furthermore, in practice, the materials used, as also the dimensions and components can vary according to technical demands.

Claims

1. A vibrotumbling machine (10) in particular for inner surfaces of a manufactured product (18), by means of an abrasive mix comprising several elements of not particularly hard material, abrasive particles, water and additives, said machine (10) comprises vibrating means to cause a relative movement between said abrasive mix and said manufactured product (18) in order to obtain a surface processing of the same, wherein said vibrating means are associated with said manufactured product (18) to make it vibrate directly, thus obtaining the surface processing of the same, and in that it comprises pressure means for obtaining a forced flow of said abrasive mix with respect to the manufactured product (18), in particular for obtaining a forced flow inside at least one cavity of said manufactured product (18), said pressure means comprises a basin (63), a tank (60) suspended above said manufactured product (18) so that the weight of the column of abrasive mix contained in a feeding duct (61) causes pressure on the abrasive mix in contact with said manufactured product (18) and wherein the feeding duct (61) comprises a first end and a second end, said first end is connected downstream of said basin (63) and said second end is upstream of aid manufactured product (18) to allow said abrasive mix to flow against said manufactured product (18) to allow said abrasive, mix to flow against said manufactured product (18) characterized in that said basin (63) is constrained to and surrounds said manufactured product when mounted to allow both inner and outer surfaces of the manufactured product to be contemporaneously processed.

2. The machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said vibrating means are associated with said manufactured product (18) by means of a rod (20).

3. The machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said vibrating means are directly constrained to said manufactured product (18).

4. The machine (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that said vibrating means comprise a non-balanced motor (30).

5. The machine (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said pressure means comprise a column of abrasive mix which is situated above said manufactured product (18) to force the flow relatively with respect to this of a part of abrasive mix which is close to the manufactured product (18) itself in order to uniformly remove material therefrom.

6. The machine (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a frame (12) to which said rod (20) is attached by means of elastic devices (40).

7. The machine (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a rubber collector (62) for sending said abrasive mix into said at least one cavity of said manufactured product (18).

8. The machine (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said second end of said feeding duct (61) is connected upstream of said collector (62) to allow said abrasive mix to flow against said manufactured product (18).

9. The machine (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a basin (63) fixed to said manufactured product, which surrounds said manufactured product (18) to allow inner and outer surfaces thereof to be processed contemporaneously.

Ansprüche

1. Vibrations-Gleitschleifapparat (10) insbesondere für Innenoberflächen eines hergestellten Produktes (18) mittels eines mehrere Elemente von nicht besonders hartem Material, abrasiven Partikeln, Wasser und Zusätzen aufweisenden abrasiven Gemisches, wobei der Apparat (10) Schwingungsmittel aufweist, um eine Relativbewegung zwischen dem abrasiven Gemisch und dem hergestellten Produkt (18) zum Erzielen einer Oberflächenbearbeitung desselben zu bewirken, wobei die Schwingungsmittel dem hergestellten Produkt (18) zugeordnet sind, um es direkt schwingen zu lassen, um somit die Oberflächenbearbeitung desselben zu erzielen, und sie Druckmittel aufweisen, um eine Zwangsströmung des abrasiven Gemisches in Bezug auf das hergestellte Produkt (18) zu erzielen, insbesondere um eine Zwangsströmung im Inneren wenigstens eines Hohlraums des hergestellten Produktes (18) zu erzielen, wobei die Druckmittel ein Becken (63) und einen über dem hergestellten Produkt (18) aufhängten Behälter (60) umfassen, sodass das Gewicht der in einem Zuführungskanal (61) enthaltenen Säule des abrasiven Gemisches einen Druck auf das abrasive Gemisch in Kontakt mit dem hergestellten Produkt (18) ausübt, und wobei der Zuführungskanal (61) ein erstes Ende und ein zweites Ende aufweist, wobei das erste Ende stromabwärts von dem Becken (63) verbunden ist und das zweite Ende stromaufwärts von dem hergestellten Produkt (18) verbunden ist, um dem abrasiven Gemisch zu ermöglichen, gegen das hergestellte Produkt (18) zu strömen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Becken (63) auf das hergestellte Produkt begrenzt ist und dieses dort, wo es befestigt ist, umgibt, um eine gleichzeitige Bearbeitung sowohl der Innen- als auch Außenoberflächen des hergestellten Produktes zu ermöglichen.

2. Apparat (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwingungsmittel dem hergestellten Produkt (18) mittels einer Stange (20) zugeordnet sind.

3. Apparat (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwingungsmittel direkt auf das hergestellte Produkt (18) beschränkt sind.

4. Apparat (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwingungsmittel einen Unwucht-Motor (30) umfassen.

5. Apparat (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Druckmittel eine Säule aus abrasivem Gemisch umfassen, welche sich über dem hergestellten Produkt (18) befindet, um die Strömung relativ in Bezug auf den Teil des abrasiven Gemisches zu erzwingen, welches sich nahe an dem hergestellten Produkt (18) selbst befindet, um davon gleichmäßig Material davon zu entfernen.

6. Apparat (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es einen Rahmen (12) aufweist, an welchem die Stange (20) mittels elastischer Vorrichtungen befestigt ist.

7. Apparat (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Sammeleinrichtung (62) aus Gummi aufweist, um das abrasive Gemisch in den wenigstens einen Hohlraum des hergestellten Produktes (18) zu senden.

8. Apparat (10) nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Ende des Zuführungskanals (61) stromaufwärts mit der Sammeleinrichtung (62) verbunden ist, um ein Strömen des abrasiven Gemisches gegen das hergestellte Produkt (18) zu ermöglichen.

9. Apparat (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er ein Becken (63) aufweist, das an dem hergestellten Produkt befestigt ist, welches das hergestellte Produkt (18) umgibt, um eine gleichzeitige Bearbeitung von dessen Innen- und Außenoberflächen zu ermöglichen.

Revendications

1. Machine de polissage au tonneau (10) en particulier pour les surfaces intérieures d'un produit manufacturé (18), au moyen d'un mélange abrasif comprenant plusieurs éléments d'un matériau pas particulièrement dur, des particules abrasives, de l'eau et des additifs, ladite machine (10) comprenant des moyens vibrants destinés à provoquer un mouvement relatif entre ledit mélange abrasif et ledit produit manufacturé (18) afin d'obtenir un traitement de surface de celui-ci, dans lequel lesdits moyens vibrants sont associés au dit produit manufacturé (18) pour le faire vibrer directement, en obtenant ainsi le traitement de surface de celui-ci, et en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de pression pour obtenir un écoulement forcé dudit mélange abrasif par rapport au produit manufacturé (18), en particulier pour obtenir un écoulement forcé à l'intérieur d'au moins une cavité dudit produit manufacturé (18), ledit moyen de pression comprend une cuvette (63), un réservoir (60) suspendu au-dessus dudit produit manufacturé (18) de telle sorte que le poids de la colonne de mélange abrasif contenu dans une conduite d'alimentation (61) provoque une pression sur le mélange abrasif en contact avec ledit produit manufacturé (18) et dans lequel la conduite d'alimentation (61) comprend une première extrémité et une seconde extrémité, ladite première extrémité est raccordée en aval de ladite cuvette (63) et ladite seconde extrémité est en amont dudit produit manufacturé (18) pour permettre au dit mélange abrasif de s'écouler contre ledit produit manufacturé (18) caractérisée en ce que ladite cuvette (63) est serrée contre et entoure ledit produit manufacturé (18) lorsqu'il est monté pour permettre que, à la fois les surfaces intérieures et extérieures du produit manufacturé, soit traitées en même temps.

2. Machine (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens vibrants sont associés au dit produit fabriqué (18) au moyen d'une tige (20).

3. Machine (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens vibrants sont directement serrés sur ledit produit manufacturé (18).

4. Machine (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens vibrants comprennent un moteur non équilibré (30).

5. Machine (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que ledit moyen de pression comprend une colonne de mélange abrasif qui est situé au-dessus du dit produit manufacturé (18) pour forcer relativement l'écoulement par rapport à ceci d'une partie d'un mélange abrasif qui est près du produit fabriqué (18) lui-même, afin de retirer du matériau uniformément de celui-ci.

6. Machine (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un cadre (12) sur laquelle ladite tige (20) est fixée au moyen de dispositifs élastiques (40).

7. Machine (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un collecteur en caoutchouc (62) destiné à envoyer ledit mélange abrasif dans ladite au moins une cavité dudit produit fabriqué (18).

8. Machine (10) selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ladite second extrémité de ladite conduite d'alimentation (61) est raccordée en amont dudit collecteur (62) pour permettre au dit mélange abrasif de s'écouler contre ledit produit fabriqué (18).

9. Machine (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une cuvette (63) fixée sur ledit produit fabriqué, qui entoure ledit produit fabriqué (18) afin de permettre que les surfaces intérieures et extérieures de celui-ci soit traitées en même temps.

Drawing