Wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine

• US 5,126,524 A
• Filed: 12/22/1989
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakai, Akihiro, Moro, Toshio, Mune, Masakatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/455,014
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69.12, 219/69.14
• US Class Current: 219/69.12
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/105 Wire guides

Abstract

In a wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine, a holder member has at least an insertion path permitting insertion of wire electrode and a wire guide forming part of the insertion path. A housing holds the holder member and a guide holding sleeve is provided at the holder engaging part of the housing and resiliently holds the holder member by a device for a working fluid. A groove provided between the guide holding sleeve and the holder engagement part and forms a closed path for sealing the working fluid, and a pressure regulating device provided in the housing communicates with the groove. A positioning device positions the holder member with respect to the housing, around the electrode. A stylus shaped cleaning member (element 75) is used to remove chips deposited near the inner end of tapered cooling apertures to eliminate clogging.

Claims

1. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising:

a holder member having at least an insertion path permitting insertion of a wire electrode and a wire guide forming part of said insertion path;

a housing for removably holding the holder member and having a holder engagement part;

a guide holding sleeve provided at said holder engagement part of said housing and resiliently holding the holder member by means of a working fluid;

a groove provided between said guide holding sleeve and the holder engagement part and forming a closed path for sealing said working fluid;

a pressure regulating means provided in said housing and communicating with said groove; and

a positioning means for positioning said holder member with respect to the housing, around said wire electrode.

2. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holder member has a hollow cap having a jet aperture for jetting a machining fluid coaxially with said wire electrode.

3. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said holder member comprises a lower holder member, which has a cap movable in the direction of the axis of said wire electrode.

4. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising:

a wire electrode insertion path provided in a lower holder member;

a machining fluid path provided in said lower holder member;

a cap mounted on said lower holder member and having a supply chamber for a machining fluid from said machining fluid path;

a cooling aperture for communicating said insertion path with said supply chamber in said cap and having one end open to part of said insertion path directly under the wire guide; and

a stylus-shaped cleaning member inserted in said cooling aperture and supported by said cap;

wherein the tip of said cleaning member is withdrawn relative to a first end of said cooling aperture when the cap is substantially lifted, and is projecting relative to the first end of said cooling aperture when the cap is substantially lowered.

5. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising:

a wire electrode insertion path provided in a lower holder member;

a wire electrode collection path connected to said insertion path;

a nozzle having inner and outer nozzle chambers interposed in the collection path;

the inner nozzle chamber of said nozzle being connected to said insertion path; and

the outer nozzle chamber of said nozzle being connected to a conduit for a pressurized fluid supply; and

a throttle aperture provided in the outer nozzle chamber for jetting the pressurized fluid toward the direction of the wire electrode collection path, so as to create a negative pressure on said inner nozzle chamber.

6. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising;

a wire electrode insertion path provided in a lower holder member;

a wire electrode collection path connected to said insertion path;

a nozzle having inner and outer nozzle chambers interposed in the collection path, the inner nozzle chamber of said nozzle being connected to said insertion path, and the outer nozzle chamber of said nozzle being connected to a conduit for a pressurized fluid supply;

a throttle aperture provided in the outer nozzle chamber for jetting the pressurized fluid toward the direction of the wire electrode collection path, and

a machining fluid path provided in said lower holder member;

a communication path for communicating said machining fluid path with said inner nozzle chamber;

a check valve mechanism for opening and closing said communication path; and

a back pressure-type spool valve mechanism provided in the middle of the conduit connected to said machining fluid path and having a working aperture communicating with the conduit for supplying said pressurized fluid.

7. A wire device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising:

an upper holder member having an insertion path permitting insertion of a wire electrode and a wire guide forming at least part of said insertion path; and

a housing for removably holding said upper holder member;

wherein said upper holder member comprises;

guide holder with a T-shaped longitudinal cross section having said insertion path and said wire guide;

a hollow holder for accommodating said guide holder and having a space around said guide holder;

with a pressurized fluid being supplied into said space via said housing; and

a jet aperture provided at the tip of said holder to jet said pressurized fluid coaxially with said wire electrode.

8. A wire guide device for a wire electrodischarge machine comprising:

an insertion path for a wire electrode provide in a lower holder member;

a machining fluid path provided in said lower holder member; and

means for cooling and cleaning said insertion path for the wire electrode, said means comprising a cooling aperture means for communicating said insertion path with said machining fluid path, said cooling aperture means comprising at least one cooling aperture having a tapered configuration to allow flow-down of said machining fluid to clean and cool said insertion path for the wire electrode, and having one end open to part of said insertion path directly under the wire guide.