Method and apparatus for electrochemical milling

Claim 1

AN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN WITH AN ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION AND WITH AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY TO REMOVE METAL FROM AN INCLUDED WORKPIECE, AND COMPRISING: SAID WORKPIECE HAVING AN UNCOATED SURFACE AREA, AN ANODE FRAME HAVING AN INTERIOR OPENING, BLEEDER MEANS CONTOURED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID WORKPIECE AND HAVING AN INTERIOR OPENING THAT ENCIRCLES SAID WORKPIECE UNCOATED SURFACE AREA AND THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN SAID ANODE FRAME INTERIOR OPENING, CATHODE PLATE MEANS, ROD-LIKE CATHODE ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO SAID PLATE MEANS AND HAVING OUTWARD END PORTIONS WHICH ARE PROJECTED TO CONFORM TO SAID WORKPIECE UNCOATED SURFACE AREA AS TO PROJECT CONTOUT, FIRST FASTENER MEANS SECURING SAID BLEEDER MEANS TO SAID FRAME FIXEDLY AND IN ELECTRONCONDUCTING RELATION, SECOND FASTENER MEANS SECURING SAID CATHODE PLATE MEANS TO SAID FRAME FIXEDLY AND IN ELECTRICALLY-INSULATED RELATION, AND THIRD FASTENER MEANS SECURING SAID WORKPIECE TO SAID FRAME FIXEDLY AND IN ELECTRON-CONDUCTING RELATION, SAID THIRD FASTENER MEANS LOCATING SAID WORKPIECE SO THAT SAID BLEEDER MEANS IS SPACED APART A UNIFORM DISTANCE FROM SAID WORKPIECE UNCOATED SURFACE AREA AND FROM SAID CATHODE ELEMENT OUTWARD END PORTIONS.