Pressure masking systems and methods for using same in treating techniques

Abstract

Systems and methods of treating, e.g., stripping and coating, a target surface of an article including a passageway are disclosed. The systems may fluidly connect a pressure masker including pressurized masking fluid to a first side of the passageway, passing the pressurized masking fluid through the passageway from the first side to a second side including the target surface, and, submerging at least a portion of the target surface in a treatment bath, wherein the pressurized masking fluid passing through the passageway prevents the treatment bath from entering the passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a target surface of an article including a passageway, the method comprising:
 passing a pressurized masking fluid through the passageway from a first side to a second side including the target surface; and   submerging at least a portion of the target surface in a treatment bath while passing the pressurized masking fluid through the passageway, wherein the pressurized masking fluid passing through the passageway substantially prevents the treatment bath from entering the passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fluidly connecting the pressure masker including pressurized masking fluid to the first side of the passageway.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid connection includes a multi-outlet manifold connection that connects to the first side and comprises an internal passage, wherein the internal passage receives the pressurized masking fluid and fluidly distributes it to the passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized masking fluid includes a gas. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway includes a cooling hole. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized masking fluid includes a liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment bath comprises a stripping bath that strips at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the stripping bath comprises an acid stripping bath. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment bath comprises a coating bath that coats at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the coating bath comprises one of a chemical bath or an electrolysis bath. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment bath comprises a cleaning bath that cleans at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized masking fluid continues to pass through the passageway after the at least a portion of the target surface is no longer submerged. 
     
     
         13 . A pressurized masking system for treating a target surface of an article including a passageway, the pressurized masking system comprising:
 a pressure masker fluidly connected to a first side of the passageway of the article for passing a pressurized masking fluid through the passageway from the first side to a second side, wherein the second side includes the target surface; and   a treatment bath comprising a treatment material to treat at least a portion of the target surface, wherein the pressurized masking fluid substantially prevents the treatment material from entering the passageway.   
     
     
         14 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the pressure masker includes a multi-outlet manifold connection connecting to the first side of the article and an internal passage receiving the pressurized masking fluid for fluidly distributing the pressurized masking fluid to the passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the pressurized masking fluid includes a gas. 
     
     
         16 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the pressurized masking fluid includes a liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the treatment bath includes a stripping bath that strips at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged in the treatment bath. 
     
     
         18 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 17 , wherein the stripping bath comprises an acid stripping bath. 
     
     
         19 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the treatment bath comprises a coating bath that coats at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged. 
     
     
         20 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 19 , wherein the coating bath comprises one of a chemical bath or an electrolysis bath. 
     
     
         21 . The pressurized masking system of  claim 13 , wherein the treatment bath comprises a cleaning bath that cleans at least a portion of the target surface when a portion of the target surface is submerged.