Electropolishing apparatus

Abstract

An electropolishing apparatus comprises a direct current electrical power supply and reservoirs of electrolyte and coolant, a lead which carries current to a cathode block and pumps which pump the electrolyte and coolant from their respective reservoirs through tubes to the block which is made of brass and is covered with an electrolyte absorbent boot knitted from Teflon coated fiber glass thread.

1 . An electropolishing apparatus comprising a direct current electrical power supply and reservoirs of electrolyte and coolant, a lead which carries current to the underside of an a cathode block and pumps which pump the electrolyte and coolant from their respective reservoirs through tubes to the block. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the block is made of brass. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the block is covered with an electrolyte absorbent boot. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the boot is knitted from Teflon coated fibre glass thread. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the electrolyte is a solution comprising about 45% of orthophosphoric acid and about 25% citric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the electrolyte also comprises up to 2% of a bonding agent. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the coolant is high density glycol. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the power supply is operated in a range from 20 to 60 volts direct current. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the power supply has a slightly alternating current component on top of the direct current. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the block is attached to a handle by means of three copper tubes one of which feeds electrolyte to the block and the other two of which provide a circuit for the coolant to flow through the block. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the handle has an on/off control for the supply of electrolyte to the block. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the current lead connects to all three copper tubes. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which has a switch to turn the power supply on. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which has a switch to switch the electrolyte supply from automatic to manual. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which has a controller to control the rate of flow of electrolyte to the block, 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 3  which has an immersion water heater to recondition the boot before use.