METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SOLID PARTICLES IN POLISHING PROCESSES

Abstract

Methods and equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles and/or solid particles containing an electrolyte, in a liquid environment. The method includes a step of aspirating the liquid from the container where the particles are located; a step of thermally adjusting the liquid; and a step of reincorporating the liquid after its thermal adjustment into the container to control the temperature of the particles. And the equipment includes: a duct circuit, with an inlet mouth and an outlet mouth in the container; a suction pump; a filter with a mesh that does not allow particles to pass through; and a heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A method for surface treating a metal part through ion transport using electrically conductive solid particles, the method comprising: electrically coupling the electrically conductive solid particles to a first pole of a current generator, the solid particles being at least partially immersed within a liquid inside a container; electrically coupling the surface of the metal part to a second pole of the current generator; contacting the surface of the metal part with the solid particles; during the surface treating of the surface of the metal part, aspirating to outside the container at least part of the liquid in which the solid particles are immersed; altering the temperature of the aspirated liquid; and reintroducing the temperature altered liquid into the container to regulate the temperature of the solid particles.

2. The method to claim 1, wherein the solid particles are loaded with an electrolyte liquid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the aspirated liquid is altered by being circulated through a heat exchanger.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the aspirated liquid prior to or during the step of aspirating part of the liquid, the liquid being filtered to prevent the solid particles from being removed from the container during aspiration of the liquid.

5. Equipment for controlling the temperature of particles used in surface treating a metal part through ion transport, the particles comprising solid particles and/or solid particles loaded with an electrolyte liquid and immersed in a liquid, the equipment comprising: a container configured to hold the particles and the liquid; a duct circuit configured to circulate at least a portion of the liquid, the duct circuit having a first inlet opening and a first outlet opening located at the container; a suction pump located in the duct circuit and configured to produce a suction at the first inlet opening of the duct circuit to aspirate the liquid, the suction pump being configured to circulate the liquid through the duct circuit; a filter located in the duct circuit upstream the suction pump, the filter having a mesh of a size that permits passage of the liquid and prevents passage of the particles; and a heat exchanger disposed in the duct circuit downstream of the filter and the suction pump, the heat exchanger being configured to alter the temperature of the liquid before the liquid is returned to the container through the first outlet opening.

6. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the first inlet opening of the duct circuit, through which the liquid is aspirated by the suction pump, is integrated into the filter and is located at a bottom region of the container.

7. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the first inlet opening is located at a first height with respect to a bottom of the container and the first outlet opening is located at a second height with respect to the bottom of the container, the second height being different than the first height.

8. The equipment of claims 5, wherein the first outlet opening of the duct circuit is located at an upper region of the container.

9. The equipment of claim 7, wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

10. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the duct circuit includes a second outlet opening through which the liquid is returned to the container, the second outlet opening being spaced apart from the first outlet opening, the first and second outlet openings being positioned at or adjacent a perimeter of the container.

11. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the duct circuit includes a second inlet opening through which the liquid is aspirated, the second inlet opening being spaced apart from the first inlet opening, the first and second inlet openings being positioned at or adjacent the perimeter of the container.

12. The equipment of claim 10, wherein the duct circuit includes a second inlet opening through which the liquid is aspirated, the second inlet opening being spaced apart from the first inlet opening, the first and second inlet openings being positioned at or adjacent the perimeter of the container.

13. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the first outlet opening of the duct circuit is positioned above a surface of the liquid within the container.

14. The equipment of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second outlet openings of the duct circuit is positioned above a surface of the liquid within the container.

15. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the filter comprises a hollow elongate body mounted to a wall of the container, the hollow body including a lower portion having a correspondingly elongate front inlet opening covered by the mesh to allow passage of the liquid and prevent passage of the particles, and an upper portion having a support for attachment to an upper edge of the container.

16. The equipment of claim 15, wherein the filter further comprises a tube extending along the length of the hollow body and having at its upper end a connector that serves as an extension of the duct circuit, the tube having at its lower end the inlet opening through which the liquid is drawn upward.

17. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-type heat exchanger.

18. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the container is positioned within a cooling jacket that surrounds the container, a bottom region of the cooling jacket having a cooling fluid inlet, a top region of the cooling jacket having a cooling fluid outlet.

19. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the duct circuit includes an emulsifying element configured to emulsify the liquid.

20. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the suction pump is configured to operate with an expiration cycle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] To complement the description being made and to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, drawings are attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof, in which the following is depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a container or tank used in a polishing process by means of solid particles in an at least partially liquid environment, in which an exemplary embodiment of the equipment for controlling the temperature of particles has been incorporated, showing the main parts and elements comprising it, as well as the arrangement thereof.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a section view of the container or tank with the equipment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show respective front, rear and section perspective views of a filter comprised in the equipment, showing its configuration and main parts.

[0039] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show respective perspective, top plan and elevation views of an example of the heat exchanger comprised in the equipment.

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the container or tank with the equipment for controlling the temperature of the particles, incorporated inside a cooling jacket in this particular case.

[0041] FIGS. 10 and 11 show respective section views of the container or tank with the cooling jacket, according to the section A-A indicated in FIG. 9, where FIG. 11 is a container or tank with a central elevation.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the equipment for controlling the temperature of particles in polishing processes by means of solid particles with electrolyte in a liquid environment of the invention is shown, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the equipment (1) of the invention, particularly applicable to polishing processes of parts (not represented) by means of solid particles (2) with an electrolyte, immersed inside a container (3), together with the presence of a mediating liquid (4), that is conductive or non-conductive, the equipment comprises: [0044] a duct circuit (10), suitable for circulating the liquid (4), which has an inlet mouth (101) and an outlet mouth (102) in the container (3); [0045] a suction pump (11), with power suitable for causing the liquid (4) to circulate throughout the entire path of the duct circuit (10); [0046] a filter (12) equipped with a fine mesh (121) with a lumen size such that it allows the liquid (4) when aspirated by the pump (11) to pass through it, but not the solid particles (2); and [0047] a heat exchanger (13), inserted in the duct circuit (10) downstream of the filter (12) and of the pump (11), where the liquid (4), as it passes through the same, is thermally adjusted before returning to the container (3) through the outlet mouth (102).

[0048] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the inlet mouth (101) to the duct circuit (10) from which the liquid (4) is aspirated by the pump (11) is integrated into the filter (12). and located at the bottom of the container (3). The aspiration cycle with which the pump (11) is configured can be combined with one or more expiration cycles, which can avoid possible clogging problems in the filter (12), increasing flow and thermal exchange efficiency. In some cases, in order to contribute to the foregoing, a stirring device, not represented in the figures, can be located, for example, at the bottom of the container (3), which helps avoid excessive compaction of the particles (2) in areas close to the inlet mouth (101).

[0049] Preferably, the outlet mouth (102) of the duct circuit (10), from which liquid (4), already thermally adjusted, is returned to the container (3), is at the top thereof. Preferably suspended above the surface of the liquid (4) contained in the container (3), so that after thermal adjustment, it falls inside the same by gravity. It is possible to vary the place where the outlet mouth (102) is located along the vertical axis, from the highest area to the lowest. It is also possible to have different numbers of outlet mouths (102) along the entire perimeter of the container (3), in order to improve recirculation efficiency, along with the homogeneity of the temperature inside the container (3).

[0050] Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the filter (12) consists of a device comprising a hollow body (122) of elongate configuration that is attached to the wall of the container (3), having a lower portion (123) that has an equally long and narrow front inlet opening (124), where it incorporates the mesh (121) that allows the liquid (4) to pass through it and prevents the particles (2) from passing through it, and an upper portion (125) perforated and internally separated from the lower portion (123) in the top of which it has a support (126) for fastening the device to the upper edge of the container (3). The place where the filter (12) and the suction opening (101) are located can vary along the vertical axis, from the highest area to the lowest. It is also possible to have different numbers of inlet/aspirartion mouths (101), with their respective filters (12), along the entire perimeter of the container (3), in order to improve aspiration efficiency, along with the homogeneity of the temperature inside the container (3).

[0051] Furthermore, said body of the filter (12) incorporates therein a tube (103) that runs along its entire length and has a splice connector (127) at the top, acting as an extension of the duct circuit (10) with the inlet mouth (101) at its lower end, through which the liquid (4) rises.

[0052] Moreover, taking into account FIGS. 6 to 8, it is shown how, preferably, the heat exchanger (13) is a plate exchanger (131) provided with a first pair of inlet (132) and outlet (133) connections, for coupling to the duct circuit (10) through which the liquid (4) from the container (3) passes, alternately running through half of said plates (131), and a second pair of inlet (134) and outlet (135) connections, intended for coupling to another circuit (not shown) of fluid that cools or heats and circulates through the remaining plates (131). Optionally, the container (3), as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is incorporated inside a cooling jacket (5) that surrounds it externally and has a cooling fluid inlet (51) at the bottom and a cooling fluid outlet (52) at the top. Furthermore, for said cooling jacket (5) to have a greater effect, the container (3) optionally defines a central elevation (31), such that the liquid (4) is always closer to its walls.

[0053] In some configurations, an emulsifying element of the mediating liquid (4) can be located in the recirculation circuit (1), for example, located in the tube circuit (10). This can contribute to greater efficiency in controlling the temperature of the medium, while providing advantages in the finish obtained during the surface treatment.

[0054] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as how to implement it, it is not considered necessary to further explain it so that any person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from it.