Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of workpieces by means of temperature and pressure shocks through the ignition of a combustible gas mixture, particularly a thermal deburring system, is proposed whose workpiece treatment chamber (1, 21, 34) consists of an outer hollow member (3, 22, 35) and an inner hollow member (4, 29, 37) which are guided one into the other and are arranged so as to be movable relative to one another, the inner hollow member (4, 29, 37) having at least one combustion space (10, 31, 32, 39, 40) for receiving the workpieces, which combustion space (10, 31, 32, 39, 40) can be brought into the area of a wall (5, 23) of the outer hollow member closing the combustion space by means of a relative movement of the two hollow members.

Abstract: Instead of monitoring a thermal deburring operation by reference to whether a certain high temperature is reached and thereby indicting whether a successful ignition in the deburring chamber has taken place at every step of operation of the chamber, a circuit responsive to the rate of change of temperature is used to recognize a successful operation, thus permitting faster operation of the apparatus. Such a circuit is also useful for rapid detection of a short circuit circuit in electrochemical apparatus utilizing heavy electrical currents and variable amounts. In the latter case a digital circuit for measuring the amount of change at equal intervals of time is particularly useful.

Abstract: To separate combustion within a combustion chamber for deburring or high-temperature, high-pressure article treatment from gas supply valves, the combustion chamber is formed of a dual wall structure, having an outer wall (21) which is telescopically slidable with respect to an inner wall (12). The articles are introduced into the chamber (11) by placing a support plate (14) against the outer wall structure, with the inner wall (12) slightly raised, leaving a gap (23) between the lower edge of the inner wall and the support plate. Gas introduced within the outer wall structure than can pass into the chamber (11) within the inner wall, through said gap. When the requisite volume and pressure of fill gas--typically oxygen and a combustion gas such as hydrogen, methane or the like--is within the chamber, the inner wall (12) is lowered into sealing engagement with the support plate (14), for ignition of the combustible mixture.

Abstract: To permit installation of various sizes of deburring chambers, matched to particular sizes, or combination of sizes of workpieces, so that only the minimum size chamber for the particular quantity or size of workpiece need be used, the chambers are provided in sets with adapters so that a single machine frame can be utilized, the adapters and chambers being fitted within the machine frame so that the lower edge (13a, 13'a) of any one of the chambers is within the closing or sealing stroke of a closing plate (14) carrying the workpieces. A coding system, for example coding bolts (16) is secured to each one of the chambers, to be scanned by a reading head (17) and transmitting information relative to the appropriate fill quantity and pressure of gases for the particular chamber then being installed in the machine.

Abstract: A gas supply for feeding at least two components of a combustion mixture to a combustion chamber has gas dosing cylinders (16, 19) respectively for oxygen and fuel of which the gas filling pressures are controllable or adjustable by a pressure regulator (15) and a throttle valve (18) respectively. The mixture ratio of the gases can thus be changed between each filling of the dosing devices by control of the setting motor (35) of the pressure regulator. This setting can also change the filling pressure in the combustion chamber (10). The length of the piston stroke in the dosing cylinders can also be controlled.