Apparatus for electropolishing tubes

US4369101A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Nukem, LLC · DE

Inventors

• Willi Wolff
• Ottomar Pfahls · Gelnhausen, DE
• Reinhold Schumacher · Babenhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 29, 1981
• Grant date: Jan 18, 1983
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C25F7/00
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Tubes, especially nuclear fuel element jacket tubes, in many cases must be polished internally as well as externally. Previously there was not a satisfactory process for doing this. An electropolishing process for the inner surface of tubes for achieving uniform polishing is desirable. This is accomplished with apparatus in which a metal lance is inserted into the tube being treated. Insulating spacers at the point of the lance and rearwardly thereof from a cathode therebetween spaced uniformly from the inner surface of the tube. Electrolyte flows through such space and preferably is supplied from the interior of the lance.