Cavitation Hole Processing with External Jet and Flow Obstruction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cavitation processing methods struggle to effectively perform on the inner surfaces of target holes with various shapes and sizes, particularly those with branches or specified tolerances, without deforming or impairing the workpiece.

Innovation Solution

A cavitation processing apparatus and method that involves attaching a cap with a through hole and a closing body to the inlet of a target hole, using a nozzle to eject a jet of processing liquid inside the hole, and moving an obstruction body along the jet flow direction to perform the cavitation process on the inner surface, while avoiding non-processing regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a jet of processing liquid is ejected into a target hole to perform cavitation processing on the inner surface, then the processing effectiveness on the inner surface is improved, but the jet may contact and deform non-processing regions or impair workpiece quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner surface processing qualityVSAvoidworkpiece deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The target hole is divided into a processing region and a non-processing region. The processing region is further segmented into multiple sub-regions along the flow direction, with each sub-region processed by positioning the obstruction body at different locations. This segmentation allows selective processing while protecting non-processing regions from harmful jet contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the target hole are treated differently: the processing region receives cavitation treatment while the non-processing region is protected. The obstruction body enables local application of the jet, ensuring that only the intended processing area is exposed to the high-velocity liquid while other areas remain unaffected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 3:

The obstruction body acts as an intermediary that controls and directs the jet flow. By positioning the obstruction body at different locations, the jet is redirected to process specific sub-regions while preventing contact with non-processing regions, thus mediating between the need for effective processing and workpiece protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the nozzle is inserted into the target hole to perform cavitation processing, then the processing coverage is improved, but the device complexity and risk of workpiece deformation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing coverage areaVSAvoidnozzle positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting the nozzle into the target hole, the nozzle is positioned outside the hole and ejects the jet into the hole through the inlet. This inverted approach achieves processing coverage without the complexity and risks associated with nozzle insertion, while the obstruction body inside the hole directs the jet to the desired processing regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The obstruction body serves as an intermediary that receives the jet from the externally positioned nozzle and redirects it to process the inner surface. This allows the nozzle to remain outside the hole (reducing complexity) while still achieving effective processing coverage through the mediating action of the obstruction body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the jet is ejected at high velocity to improve processing efficiency, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of damaging the workpiece and creating harmful effects increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidworkpiece damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The obstruction body acts as a mediator that controls the interaction between the high-velocity jet and the workpiece. It directs the jet energy to the processing region while preventing contact with non-processing regions, enabling high productivity without excessive damage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The high-velocity jet is applied locally only to the processing region, not to the entire workpiece. This localized application maintains processing efficiency while minimizing the overall risk of harm to the workpiece by concentrating energy where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If the obstruction body is made movable to enable processing of multiple sub-regions, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing region flexibilityVSAvoidobstruction body mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The obstruction body is made movable along the flow direction, transforming from a static to a dynamic component. This allows the system to adapt to different processing requirements by repositioning the obstruction body to process different sub-regions, enhancing versatility while maintaining relatively simple mechanism design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables effective cavitation processing on the inner surfaces of target holes, including those with branches or specified tolerances, without deforming the workpiece, by controlling the jet flow and using movable obstruction bodies to prevent contact with non-processing regions.

Implementation Method 1

a jet of a fluid containing a cavity (bubble) is caused to collide with the workpiece to process the surface of the workpiece by an impact force when the cavity collapses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Data Source

PatentEP4454813B1Cavitation processing method and cavitation processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SUGINO MACHINE
  • EP4454813B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4454813B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4454813B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The cavitation process is performed on the inner surface of the target hole. The cavitation processing method includes; attaching a cap (50) having a through hole (58) to an inlet (21) of a target hole (20e) of a workpiece (10e); immersing the workpiece (10e) and a nozzle (102) into a processing liquid; and ejecting a jet of the processing liquid from the nozzle (102) located outside of the target hole (20e) to an inside of the target hole (20e) through the through hole (58) such that a cavitation process is performed on a processing region (A1e) that is located downstream of a non-processing region (B1e, B2e) covered by the cap (50) on an inner surface of the target hole (20e).