FLOW LAPPING DEVICE FOR SMOOTHING A SURFACE OF A WORKPIECE

Abstract

Disclosed is a flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface of at least one workpiece, preferably an impeller, by an abrasive fluid including at least one holding device for holding the workpiece, in particular including at least one holding plate, as well as at least one encasing device arranged around the holding device and within which the fluid can flow, wherein the holding device is at least partially supported, in particular fixed, by at least one inner wall section of the encasing device.

Claims

1. Flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface of at least one workpiece, by an abrasive fluid, comprising: at least one holding device for holding the workpiece and having at least one holding plate and at least one encasing device arranged around the holding device and within which the fluid can flow, wherein the holding device is at least partially supported by at least one inner wall section of the encasing device, wherein the encasing device comprises at least a first and a second encasing part.

2. Flow lapping device, in particular according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fluid guiding device which is arranged within the encasing device in order to divert the fluid within the encasing device at least in regions.

3. (canceled)

4. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is inserted into the encasing device and/or is clamped in the encasing device.

5. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the encasing device and/or the first and/or the second encasing part, form(s) an annular jacket.

6. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding device is arranged at the level of a transition between the first and second encasing part.

7. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein on an inner wall of the encasing device at least one projection and/or at least one step is formed, on which the holding device is placed, and/or on one/the inner wall of the encasing device an annular receiving space is formed, wherein in the receiving space a circumferential edge of the holding device is received.

8. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein mutually adjacent ends of the first and of the second encasing part form a groove-shaped receiving space for receiving a circumferential edge of the holding device, wherein for that at least one of the mutually adjacent ends, both mutually adjacent ends have a step or a projection.

9. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein mutually adjacent ends of the first and of the second encasing part abut one another or form a gap.

10. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein a first closing device is arranged at a first end of the encasing device, wherein the first closing device comprises a first cylinder and/or a first pressure piston and/or a second closing device is arranged at a second end of the encasing device wherein the second closing device comprises a second cylinder and/or a second pressure piston.

11. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, comprising at least one fluid guiding device arranged within the encasing device to guide the fluid in a targeted manner past the workpiece and/or through the workpiece.

12. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first fluid guiding device which is arranged on a first side and/or is arranged inside the first encasing part, wherein at least one inner cross section of the first fluid guiding device changes in the direction of the holding device, and/or a second fluid guiding device, which is arranged on a second side and/or is arranged inside the second encasing part, wherein at least one inner cross section of the second fluid guiding device changes in the direction of the holding device, and/or comprising a third fluid guiding device, which is arranged on one/the second side and/or is arranged inside the second encasing part, wherein at least one outer cross section of the third fluid guiding device changes in the direction of the holding device, wherein the third fluid guiding device is formed compactly and/or is arranged inside the second fluid guiding device.

13. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, comprising at least one spacer in order to space the workpiece from a cover part and/or a base part, wherein a spacer extension is provided in order to allow a greater spacing.

14. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device has at least one opening, which can be brought in alignment with at least one opening of at least one workpiece.

15. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, comprising at least one fastening means for fastening at least one workpiece to the holding device.

16. Flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the flow lapping device can be formed in multi-stage manner such that at least two holding devices are formed, wherein at least one workpiece can be arranged on each holding device and/or such that at least a third encasing part is provided.

17. System for assembling a flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises the holding device comprising the at least one holding plate for holding the workpiece, as well as the at least one encasing device, within which the fluid can flow.

18. System according to claim 17 for assembling a flow lapping device, wherein the system comprises at least two different first and/or two different second and/or two different third fluid guiding devices, which can be arranged at the same location and/or differ by: an outer geometry and/or an inner geometry; and/or a height; and/or a diameter; and/or a shape; and/or a material.

19. Arrangement, comprising at least one flow lapping device according to claim 1, as well as at least one workpiece, comprising: the at least one workpiece is adjacent to the holding device and lies on the holding device; and/or at least one opening of the workpiece is at least in sections in alignment with at least one opening of the holding device and/or with at least one opening of at least one fluid guiding device; and/or the at least one fluid guiding device is adjacent to the workpiece; and/or the at least one fluid guiding device lies on the workpiece; and/or the at least one fluid guiding device is arranged around the workpiece at least in sections.

20. Method for assembling a flow lapping device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) arranging at least a part of the encasing device on a first closing device; b) arranging the holding device in the encasing device; c) arranging a second closing device on the encasing device.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the holding device is arranged on at least one first fluid guiding device and/or at least one second fluid guiding device is arranged on the holding device.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein the holding device is fixed between the first encasing part and the second encasing part by pressurizing the first and/or second encasing part.

23. Method for assembling an arrangement according to claim 19, wherein before or after step b) at least one workpiece is arranged on the holding device, wherein the workpiece is not pressurized and/or only comes into contact with the holding device and/or fastening device.

24. Method according to claim 23, wherein at least one third fluid guiding device is arranged on the workpiece.

25. Method for smoothing at least one workpiece, comprising the steps: providing an arrangement according to claim 19; flowing through the arrangement such that at least one surface of the workpiece is smoothed.

Description

[0067] Hereby Show:

[0068] FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 the flow lapping device according to FIG. 1 with fluid guiding devices;

[0070] FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0071] FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 5 a schematic sectional view of a section of a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 6 an oblique view of components of a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0074] FIGS. 7a-7e various portions of a method for preparing a flow lapping device according to the invention;

[0075] FIG. 8 an oblique sectional view of the flow lapping device according to FIG. 6;

[0076] FIG. 9 a spacer according to the invention for the flow lapping device; and

[0077] FIG. 10 a spacer extension according to the invention for the flow lapping device.

[0078] In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same and have the same effect.

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a flow lapping device according to the invention in a schematic sectional view. The flow lapping device comprises a holding device 10 (in the form of a holding plate or component platform). On the holding device 10 a workpiece 11 (e.g. in the form of an impeller) is arranged.

[0080] Furthermore, the holding device 10 is fixed to an encasing device 12. The encasing device 12 comprises a first encasing part 13 and a second encasing part 14 in the form of (e.g. circular in cross-section) hollow cylinders.

[0081] First and second encasing parts 13, 14 may abut or contact each other or be (at least slightly) spaced from each other (e.g., by a, possibly sealed gap).

[0082] The first encasing part 13 has a step 15 on (in) which an edge or a (circumferential) edge lap 16 of the holding device 10 is arranged (laid on).

[0083] The second encasing part 14 has a complementary step 17 which, together with the first step 15, forms an annular groove-shaped receiver 18. Through this annular groove-shaped receiver 18, the holding device 10 is fixed within the encasing device 12, specifically by an inner wall section 19 thereof.

[0084] The holding device 10 has (at least) one opening 20, such that abrasive fluid 26 can penetrate through this opening 20 into a (corresponding) opening 21 of the workpiece 11 to smooth an inner (cavity) surface of the workpiece 11.

[0085] The fluid 26 can be pressurized by a first (lower) pressure piston 23 as well as a second (upper) pressure piston 24, so that the fluid can flow either from top to bottom or from bottom to top (as indicated by the arrows 25). The first pressure piston 23 is disposed in or on a first (lower) closing device 27, and the second pressure piston 24 is disposed in or on a second (upper) closing device 28.

[0086] The second (upper) closing device 28 thereby does not support itself on the workpiece 11, but on the encasing device 12 or its second encasing part 14. By that it can effectively be prevented that impairments are caused to the workpiece 11 by a closing pressure.

[0087] In addition to the opening 21, the workpiece 11 has further openings 31, 32 (which are preferably oriented in the lateral direction).

[0088] FIG. 2 shows basically the flow lapping device according to FIG. 1, but with additional fluid guiding inserts. Specifically, a first fluid guiding insert 33 is located below the holding device 10 and a second fluid guiding insert 34 and a third fluid guiding insert 35 are located above the holding device 10.

[0089] The first fluid guiding insert 33 has a fluid guide that tapers (continuously) in the direction of the holding device 10 or its opening 20. A corresponding cavity formed by the first fluid guiding insert 33 is preferably conical or frustoconical in shape.

[0090] Above the holding device 10 and also above the workpiece 11 is the third fluid guiding device 35, which is formed without an internal cavity and tapers starting from the workpiece 11. An outer surface of the second fluid guiding insert 35 is preferably formed in a conical or frustoconical shape.

[0091] The second fluid guiding insert 34 in turn has a cavity, the cross-section of which first widens and then tapers again starting from the holding device 10. The (continuous) widening adjoins (directly) the openings 31, 32 of the workpiece 11. Overall, an effective passage or diversion of the fluid can thus be achieved in an effective manner with the present geometry of the workpiece 11 (in particular an impeller).

[0092] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment which basically corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1. However, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, several openings 20 are provided in the holding device and several workpieces 11 (corresponding to the number of openings) are arranged. The number of openings and/or workpieces may be at least two or at least three or at least five (for example, seven, as shown in FIG. 3).

[0093] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the flow lapping device according to the invention, which corresponds at least in part to the embodiment according to FIG. 3. In addition to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the embodiment according to FIG. 4 comprises a two-stage configuration with two holding devices 10 (each of which may be configured like the holding device 10 in FIG. 3). A plurality of workpieces 11 are disposed on each of the holding devices 10. In addition to the two encasing parts 13, 14, a third encasing part 36 is provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 4. This third encasing part 36 comprises a step 17a analogous to the step 17 of the second encasing part. The second encasing part 14 in FIG. 4 comprises a step 15a analogous to the step 15 of the second encasing part.

[0094] In FIG. 5, various solutions for a fastening of the respective workpiece to the holding device 10 are illustrated. For the sake of clarity, these are all shown in one figure, namely FIG. 5, but can also be employed independently from one another.

[0095] For fastening a workpiece 11, according to FIG. 5, in particular a clamping unit 37 (in particular clamping adapter) can be used and/or a clamping device 38 (in particular clamping claw), and/or a tube or connecting piece 39 (in particular threaded tube) and/or a screw device 40.

[0096] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a flow lapping device according to the invention in an assembled state. With reference to FIGS. 7a to 7e, individual steps of a method for preparing the flow lapping device for a flow lapping process are explained (whereby not every individual step is also explained with reference to an individual figure, but in some cases steps are also combined in one figure).

[0097] First, according to FIG. 7a, a base device 46 (base plate) is provided, on which the first encasing part 13 is then arranged. Thereafter, the first fluid guiding device 33 is arranged within the encasing part 13.

[0098] Thereupon (see FIG. 7b), the holding device 10 (holding plate) is placed on the first fluid guiding device 33 or, in particular, on the step 15 of the first encasing part 13. Subsequently, the second encasing part 14 is placed on the first encasing part 13 as well as the holding device 10, and then the second fluid guiding device 34 is placed on the holding device 10.

[0099] In a next step (see FIG. 7c), the workpiece 11 is placed in or put on the second fluid guiding device 34 or the holding device 10. Alternatively, the workpiece 11 can also be connected to the holding device 10 beforehand.

[0100] In FIG. 7d, the third fluid guiding device 35 is shown, which is placed on the workpiece 11 and simultaneously has a spacing function. Above the second 34 and third 35 fluid guiding device, in turn, an upper cover device 42 (see FIG. 7e) is arranged. The resulting structure is shown again in an oblique sectional view in FIG. 8.

[0101] The configuration according to FIG. 7e and FIG. 8, respectively, can then form the flow lapping device (possibly with further parts, such as not-shown pressure pistons and the like) and is prepared to perform a flow lapping process.

[0102] In FIG. 9, the third fluid guiding device 35 is shown in an oblique view. In particular, a plurality of rods 43 are shown here that provide the spacing function. In general, there may be at least one or at least two or at least 4 and/or at most 20 or at most 10 rods 43.

[0103] In FIG. 10, a spacer extension 44 is shown which can be placed on the spacer or the second fluid guiding device 34 on FIG. 9. For that, the spacer extension 44 also has rods 45 which can be brought into plug-in connection with corresponding plug-in devices 48 via a respective plug-in device 47. The plug-in devices 47 can be projections (as shown in FIG. 10) or corresponding recesses (as not shown in FIG. 10). The plug-in devices 48 can form recesses (as shown in FIG. 9) or reverse projections (in particular analogous to the projections shown in FIG. 10).

[0104] At this point, it should be pointed out that all of the above-described parts, taken alone and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed as embodiments of the invention. Modifications thereof are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0105] 10 holding device [0106] 11 workpiece [0107] 12 encasing device [0108] 13 first encasing part [0109] 14 second encasing part [0110] 15, 15a step [0111] 16 edge [0112] 17, 17a step [0113] 18 receiver/receiving space [0114] 19 inner wall section [0115] 20 opening [0116] 21 opening [0117] 23 first pressure piston [0118] 24 second pressure piston [0119] 25 line [0120] 26 fluid [0121] 27 first closing device [0122] 28 second closing device [0123] 31 opening [0124] 32 opening [0125] 33 first fluid guiding insert [0126] 34 second fluid guiding insert [0127] 35 third fluid guiding insert [0128] 36 third encasing part [0129] 37 clamping unit [0130] 38 clamping device [0131] 39 tube or connecting piece [0132] 40 screw device [0133] 42 cover device [0134] 43 rod [0135] 44 spacer extension [0136] 45 rod [0137] 46 base device (base plate) [0138] 47 plug-in device [0139] 48 plug-in device