A method for chemical processing an internal cavity of an additive manufactured (AM) metal workpiece is disclosed in which a connector is provided in fluid connection with the internal cavity and a chemical polishing solution is flowed through the connector and the internal cavity to process the internal cavity to a desired finish.
A method for chemical processing an internal cavity of an additive manufactured (AM) metal workpiece is disclosed in which a connector is provided in fluid connection with the internal cavity and a chemical polishing solution is flowed through the connector and the internal cavity to process the internal cavity to a desired finish.
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
B24B 31/116 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving other means for tumbling of work using plastically deformable grinding compound, moved relatively to the workpiece under the influence of pressure
B24B 33/02 - Honing machines or devices; Accessories therefor designed for working internal surfaces of revolution, e.g. of cylindrical or conical shapes
3.
Method for inspecting and processing high hardness alloy steels
A highly reactive conversion coating chemistry is used during CAVF processing of high hardness steel alloys such as AMS 6509 and AMS 6517 steel alloys. This chemistry produces a hard, thin, black conversion coating that is not fully rubbed off by the media during the CAVF process. Distressed material regions on the surface of the alloys are not susceptible to forming the conversion coating and remain white. Visual inspection for the presence of such regions is facilitated.
C23C 8/40 - Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using liquids, e.g. salt baths, liquid suspensions
C23C 22/46 - Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH < 6 containing oxalates
C23C 22/73 - Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals characterised by the process
C23C 22/77 - Controlling or regulating of the coating process
A wind-turbine gearbox system includes an input gear stage having mating gear surfaces finished to a surface roughness of less than 0.25 micron and at least one bearing supporting the input gear stage. A lubrication circuit is arranged to deliver lubricant to the input gear stage and the bearing during operation of the wind-turbine and includes an inline filter for removal of particles of less than 2 micron from the lubricant prior to delivery. A lubricant for use in the system may have a relatively low viscosity compared to conventional wind turbine gearbox lubricants.
A wind-turbine gearbox system includes an input gear stage having mating gear surfaces finished to a surface roughness of less than 0.25 micron and at least one bearing supporting the input gear stage. A lubrication circuit is arranged to deliver lubricant to the input gear stage and the bearing during operation of the wind-turbine and includes an inline filter for removal of particles of less than 2 micron from the lubricant prior to delivery. A lubricant for use in the system may have a relatively low viscosity compared to conventional wind turbine gearbox lubricants.
A fixture is provided for retaining a metal workpiece for contact by finishing media during operation of a media based finishing operation. The fixture comprises a body and a magnet for retaining the workpiece in contact with the body. By use of super-magnetic materials a significant holding force may be achieved.
B24B 31/06 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving oscillating or vibrating containers
A fixture is provided for retaining a metal workpiece for contact by finishing media during operation of a media based finishing operation. The fixture comprises a body and a magnet for retaining the workpiece in contact with the body. By use of super-magnetic materials a significant holding force may be achieved.
B24B 31/06 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving oscillating or vibrating containers
A fixture is provided for retaining a metal workpiece for contact by finishing media during operation of a media based finishing operation. The fixture comprises a body and a magnet for retaining the workpiece in contact with the body. By use of super-magnetic materials a significant holding force may be achieved.
B24B 31/02 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving rotary barrels
B24B 31/03 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving rotary barrels the workpieces being continuously-travelling
B24B 31/06 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving oscillating or vibrating containers
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
B25B 11/00 - Work holders or positioners not covered by groups , e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
A method for finishing a surface of a metal component is carried out in a receptacle containing a quantity of non-abrasive media. The component is at least partially immersed in the media and a quantity of active finishing chemistry is supplied. The chemistry forms a relatively soft conversion coating on the surface. By inducing high energy relative movement between the surface and the media the coating can be continuously removed. The method may be carried out in a drag finishing machine.
C23C 22/77 - Controlling or regulating of the coating process
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
B24B 1/04 - Processes of grinding or polishing; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such processes subjecting the grinding or polishing tools, the abrading or polishing medium or work to vibration, e.g. grinding with ultrasonic frequency
C23C 22/73 - Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals characterised by the process
A method for finishing a surface of a metal component is carried out in a receptacle containing a quantity of non-abrasive media. The component is at least partially immersed in the media and a quantity of active finishing chemistry is supplied. The chemistry forms a relatively soft conversion coating on the surface. By inducing high energy relative movement between the surface and the media the coating can be continuously removed. The method may be carried out in a drag finishing machine.
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
C23C 22/73 - Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals characterised by the process
11.
Method for inspecting and refurbishing engineering components
Refurbishing used or damaged engineering components is performed using a subtractive surface engineering process to remove material from worn or damaged critical surfaces. The method involves initially performing the process on the component to remove a first quantity of material from the surfaces, inspecting the surface of the component to determine the extent of damage and subsequently further performing the process to remove a further quantity of material if necessary.
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
B24B 5/00 - Machines or devices designed for grinding surfaces of revolution on work, including those which also grind adjacent plane surfaces; Accessories therefor
12.
METHOD FOR INSPECTING AND REFURBISHING ENGINEERING COMPONENTS
Refurbishing used or damaged engineering components is performed using a subtractive surface engineering process to remove material from worn or damaged critical surfaces. The method involves initially performing the process on the component to remove a first quantity of material from the surfaces, inspecting the surface of the component to determine the extent of damage and subsequently further performing the process to remove a further quantity of material if necessary.
B24B 5/00 - Machines or devices designed for grinding surfaces of revolution on work, including those which also grind adjacent plane surfaces; Accessories therefor
B24B 31/00 - Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
A method for superfinishing a high density carbide steel component using chemically accelerated finishing is provided. The high density carbide steel component is vibrated in a vessel containing a plurality of media, with active chemistry being added to the vessel at a low flow rate. An active chemistry composition is also provided, consisting of one or more conversion coating agents having preferably a phosphate radical, and one or more chelating agents preferably including citric acid.
Disclosed herein is a new improved large planetary gear system used on the input stage of wind turbine power generators. This improved planetary gear system reduces or eliminates lubricant debris traditionally generated from the gear teeth, thereby eliminating an initiating source for bearing failure. To achieve these results, some and preferably all of the gear teeth within the planetary gear system are superfinished using chemically accelerated vibratory finishing to a surface roughness of approximately 0.25 micron or less. Several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a gearbox with reduced metal debris, improved bearing life, reduced wear, reduced vibro-frictional noise, improved contact fatigue, improved fretting resistance, improved lubrication, to simplify the run-in process, and to enhance the durability and efficiency of the gearbox.
A method for superfinishing a high density carbide steel component using chemically accelerated finishing is provided. The high density carbide steel component is vibrated in a vessel containing a plurality of media, with active chemistry being added to the vessel at a low flow rate. An active chemistry composition is also provided, consisting of one or more conversion coating agents having preferably a phosphate radical, and one or more chelating agents preferably including citric acid.
C23F 1/28 - Acidic compositions for etching iron group metals
C23F 11/00 - Inhibiting corrosion of metallic material by applying inhibitors to the surface in danger of corrosion or adding them to the corrosive agent
C23F 11/04 - Inhibiting corrosion of metallic material by applying inhibitors to the surface in danger of corrosion or adding them to the corrosive agent in markedly acid liquids
C23F 11/18 - Inhibiting corrosion of metallic material by applying inhibitors to the surface in danger of corrosion or adding them to the corrosive agent in other liquids using inorganic inhibitors
Disclosed herein is a new improved large planetary gear system used on the input stage of wind turbine power generators. This improved planetary gear system reduces or eliminates lubricant debris traditionally generated from the gear teeth, thereby eliminating an initiating source for bearing failure. To achieve these results, some and preferably all of the gear teeth within the planetary gear system are superfinished using chemically accelerated vibratory finishing to a surface roughness of approximately 0.25 micron or less. Several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a gearbox with reduced metal debris, improved bearing life, reduced wear, reduced vibro-frictional noise, improved contact fatigue, improved fretting resistance, improved lubrication, to simplify the run-in process, and to enhance the durability and efficiency of the gearbox.
patents
