Electrolytic apparatus and surface treatment method using the same

Abstract

An electrolytic apparatus that is used for a workpiece having an irregular cross-sectional shape, the workpiece having a hollow section that is formed vertically therethrough, and having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses that are formed on an inner surface thereof, the electrolytic apparatus includes a mounting section that closes a lower opening of the workpiece, a holding section that closes an upper opening of the workpiece, and an electrode that is placed inside the workpiece, the electrode having a hollow cross-sectional shape, and having a plurality of jet orifices for discharging an electrolyte solution respectively toward the plurality of recesses of the workpiece, and the mounting section and/or the holding section having a plurality of drain outlets that are provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of recesses of the workpiece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolytic apparatus that is used for a workpiece having an irregular cross-sectional shape, the workpiece having a hollow section that is formed vertically therethrough, and having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses that are formed on an inner surface thereof, the electrolytic apparatus comprising:
 a mounting section that closes a lower opening of the workpiece;   a holding section that closes an upper opening of the workpiece; and   an electrode that is placed inside the workpiece,   the electrode having a hollow cross-sectional shape, and having a plurality of jet orifices for discharging an electrolyte solution respectively toward the plurality of recesses of the workpiece, and   the mounting section and/or the holding section having a plurality of drain outlets that are provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of recesses of the workpiece.   
     
     
         2 . A surface treatment method that utilizes the electrolytic apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , the surface treatment method comprising:
 closing a lower opening of a workpiece having an irregular cross-sectional shape using the mounting section, the workpiece having a hollow section that is formed vertically therethrough, and having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses that are formed on an inner surface thereof;   closing an upper opening of the workpiece using the holding section;   connecting the electrode and the workpiece to a power supply for electrolysis; and   discharging an electrolyte solution from the plurality of jet orifices of the electrode respectively toward the plurality of recesses of the workpiece to effect electrolysis while discharging the electrolyte solution from the plurality of recesses of the workpiece through the plurality of drain outlets provided to the mounting section and/or the holding section.