Tool turret
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KOLIBRI BETEILIGUNG GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
Smart Images
Figure EP2024070888_27022025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] tool turret
[0002] The invention relates to a tool turret, in particular a tool disk turret, with a tool drive that is operable by means of a gear from a motor on the drive side and is equipped with a lubricating device for the gear. Tool turrets of this type are state of the art and are regularly a component of machine tools. The tool disk, which can be pivoted about a turret axis, has tool stations arranged at equal angular intervals from one another around the circumference, which can each be brought into at least one working position by rotating the tool disk. The tool stations, for example twelve in number, have a tool holder for machining tools, which are in particular rotating tools for machining workpieces, for example drilling or milling tools.The column part, on which the tool disk is mounted so as to be rotatable about the turret axis, has, in addition to a base body, a swivel drive for the tool disk mounted on a bearing plate and a drive motor mounted on a motor plate, which, via a gear housing part mounted on the base body, forms a rotary drive for a rotating machining tool. The tool is located in the respective tool holder of the tool disk aligned with the working position and is coupled to the respective machining tool via a coupling device located in the gear housing part.
[0003] DE 10 2015 003 878 A1 discloses such a tool turret, comprising a tool disk that can be pivoted into selective positions relative to a column part. The column part comprises at least a housing base, a gear housing part, and a bearing plate and a motor plate. At least the base, the gear housing part, and the bearing plate and motor plate are combined into a single, space-saving housing. However, a modular design is also possible.
[0004] The gear trains of such tool turrets are usually equipped with a lubrication device. In the simplest case, a gear chamber for the gear is permanently filled with lubricating grease. The friction partners of the gear train then run in the grease and are lubricated by it. The lubricating grease is distributed by adhesion to the friction partners, with the lubricant being introduced by the lubrication device during assembly and, in particular, only after delivery to the respective customer. The grease thus provides a one-time, permanent filling of the gear chamber of the tool turret and is only replaced if necessary in the event of repair. For this purpose, the gear chamber is then completely sealed, preventing any unintentional leakage of grease.Grease lubrication can be implemented cost-effectively in this way. However, grease is usually difficult to work, resulting in unwanted high work and thus high heat input in the gear train. However, high heat input, in turn, reduces the service life of the lubricant and thus the duty cycle of the tool turret, as well as a more even heat transfer between the components of the tool turret, which can lead to unwanted geometric shifts. Therefore, grease lubrication is usually only used at low speeds.
[0005] DE 40 18 543 C1 discloses a tool turret comprising a) a housing to be connected to a machine tool, b) a drive motor, c) a tool disk which is rotatably mounted relative to the housing and can be locked in selectable angular positions and has receptacles for tools, at least one of which is designed for rotatably mounting the tool, which can be driven by the drive motor via shafts which are connected to one another by a gear, and d) a hollow column arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation of the tool disk, which contains at least one line which is incorporated into a system provided for the transmission of energy, lubricant, coolant, pressure medium or auxiliary energy.
[0006] The hollow column is immobile relative to the housing of the tool turret, and the respective line is arranged inside the wall of the hollow column. This allows for an extremely space-saving design of the hollow column within the tool turret, and energy or fluid transport via channels within the hollow column does not pose any problems at the channel ends because the hollow column is immobile or stationary relative to the housing of the tool turret. In addition to the grease lubrication already mentioned, other lubricating media can also be introduced using the corresponding lubrication device, such as lubricating oils, for example to implement oil sump lubrication, oil-air lubrication, or oil mist lubrication. However, the known lubrication device only ever provides one type of lubrication for the friction partners of one or more gear trains.The invention is therefore based on the object of providing variable lubrication options for the tool drive of a tool turret, particularly in the form of a disk-type tool turret, with only one lubrication device. This object is achieved by a tool turret having the features of patent claim 1 in its entirety.
[0007] According to the invention, to achieve this object, the lubrication device comprises at least two structurally different types of lubricant inlets and at least one outlet, which are connected to a gear chamber containing the gearbox, so that different types of lubrication can be implemented as needed with just one lubrication device for the gearbox. This creates a variable lubrication option that can be readily used in all types of tool-driven tool turrets, even as part of a retrofit if necessary.
[0008] This means that with just one lubrication device and suitable lubricant inlets or connections, a wide variety of lubrication types can be implemented, for example in the form of a
[0009] Grease lubrication,
[0010] - Oil sump lubrication,
[0011] - Oil-air lubrication, or
[0012] - Oil mist lubrication.
[0013] For example, a tool turret subject to low stress, for example, when operated only at low speeds, can have its gear chamber greased with a suitable lubricating grease via one lubricant inlet. For higher stresses on the same tool turret, for example, when operated at higher speeds or with alternating loads, it can be lubricated with oil via a different lubricant inlet, spatially separated from the grease inlet. Experience has shown that an oil sump created by conventional oil lubrication can be moderately easily worked, resulting in only moderate friction and moderate heat input. The decision regarding the lubricant to be used is usually made by the customer before commissioning.A subsequent change of the lubricating medium is possible, but in practice would involve disassembly and cleaning work, especially if you want to change from grease to oil lubrication.
[0014] For tool turret solutions subject to even greater operational stress, oil-air lubrication or oil mist lubrication can be implemented using differently designed lubrication systems, which are always different from a grease lubrication system. Especially with oil mist lubrication, this lubricant can be easily worked, resulting in significantly reduced heat generation and, associated with this, very little heat input into the friction or gear components of the respective gear train used.
[0015] This change of lubricant options in a tool turret with only one lubrication device has no equivalent in the state of the art, whereby usually just one lubricant drain is sufficient to drain the various lubricants, with the exception of the intensive working grease, from the respective tool turret gearbox to the outside during maintenance or replacement. If several separate gearboxes are used, for example, a gearbox for the swivel drive of the tool disk and at least one further drive for driving a machining tool that is attached to the disk via a further gear stage separate from the first gear train, a separate lubrication device with a separate lubricant supply can also be created for each gearbox.Thus, both types of lubrication can be used in a single tool turret, for example, grease lubrication for the swivel drive of the tool turret and a less milling-intensive lubrication, such as oil mist lubrication, for the tool drive of a machining tool on the tool disk. Accordingly, one type of lubricant supply can be used to supply a milling-intensive fluid, such as gear grease, while the other type can be used to supply a less milling-intensive fluid, such as gear oil.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the tool turret according to the invention, the respective type of lubricant inlet consists of a connecting part that can be closed to the environment and an associated supply channel that exits from the connecting part adjacent to the gear teeth of the gearbox to be lubricated. A lubricant-specific supply device can be connected via the respective connecting part, which can introduce the respective lubricant into the gear chamber with the respective gearbox at a predefined pressure and, if necessary, with the aid of a transport medium such as air.
[0017] In particular, it is provided that the respective connecting part is housed in a stationary support section arranged opposite the rotating tool disk, and that the channel path of the respective supply channel enables the supply of the respective lubricant to the gear teeth with the aid of gravity, preferably being arranged vertically as viewed in the usual configuration of the tool turret. This results in a particularly uniform distribution of the respective lubricant over the gear train to be lubricated. The lubricant can also be introduced easily against gravity using a transport medium, such as compressed air, or pump pressure.
[0018] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the tool turret according to the invention, the drain opens into a lower region of the gear chamber, preferably at a point above an area used as a lubricating bath. Any excess lubricant, or when replacing the lubricant, can be removed, in particular sucked out, from the gear housing via the drain mentioned. By forming the lubricating bath, the respective lubricant can be collected at a central location on the bottom or foot side, particularly when the tool turret is stopped, and is then immediately available for lubrication of the respective gear when it is started up again. Any excess lubricant can also be collected in this way at a central location in the gear housing without causing damage there, in particular without impairing the flexing behavior of the lubricant as a whole.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment of the tool turret according to the invention, the output and / or drive gear meshing with the intermediate gear is at least partially provided with a housing that accommodates one of the possible types of lubricant supply. Due to the housing, additional supply devices for introducing various lubricants can be easily and detachably attached to the tool turret.
[0020] If it is preferably further provided that the respective outlet opens into a lower area of the gear chamber, preferably at a point above an area used as a lubricating bath, lubricant can be retained within the lubricating bath, even if a complete exchange of the lubricant otherwise takes place. In this respect, start-up problems during gear operation are avoided due to the remaining and stored lubricant in the lubricating bath. In particular with low-viscosity lubricant, this can be removed or sucked out of the gear housing by means of a suction device acting on the outlet by applying a negative pressure. In addition to the suction, there can also be an outlet which generates a media discharge by conveying a third medium, such as air, or at least a low viscosity generates its own stimulated discharge due to gravity.
[0021] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the tool turret according to the invention, it is provided that, as part of the guidance of a lubricant flow along the orbit of the intermediate gear, at least one type of drip edge is present in the stationary part of the tool turret, which is arranged in the output or drive-side transition area between the output or drive gear and the intermediate gear. Due to the aforementioned drip edge, lubricating medium introduced into the gear housing via the respective lubricant inlet can be released evenly via the gear parts of the gear train, in particular in the form of the gears, and any excess of lubricating medium can be retained. In particular, this ensures a uniform application of lubricant to the gear train with pinpoint accuracy, without an excess of lubricating medium causing inhibition in gear operation.
[0022] In the following, the tool turret according to the invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment according to the drawing. In this diagram, not to scale, the
[0023] Figure 1 in perspective rear view the essential
[0024] Components of the tool turret;
[0025] Figure 2 shows a partially exposed rear view of the
[0026] Tool turret according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a frontal view from the rear of a tool turret according to Figure 1 pivoted counterclockwise by approximately 30°;
[0027] Figure 4 is a further exposed view, without gear train, of the tool turret according to Figure 2; and
[0028] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the area framed by a dashed circle in Figure 4.
[0029] Figure 1 shows a simplified representation of the essential components of a tool turret, which as a whole comprises a post part designated 10, which has longitudinal webs 14 laterally attached, in particular cast, to a housing base body 12, which define recesses between them, by means of which the post part 10 can be secured to a machine tool (not shown) by means of individual screws 16. In the manner customary for such tool turrets, a pivot shaft 18 (Figure 2) is mounted in the base body 12 for rotation about a turret axis, which, as viewed in the direction of Figure 2, runs along a central axis through the pivot shaft 18.For an associated swivel drive, by means of which a tool disk 20 of the turret can be adjusted into swivel positions by rotating the swivel shaft 18, in which a tool station of the disk 20 reaches a working position 22, as partially shown in Figure 2 for a tool holder shown at the rear. A swivel drive, designated as a whole by 26, is mounted in the base body 12 and has an electric motor 28 and a gear device connected to the swivel shaft 18. In order to fix the tool disk 20 in the desired swivel positions relative to the stand part 10 in a releasable manner, a locking device 32 is provided, which, in the manner customary for such tool turrets, has a Hirth toothing between a bearing ring of the tool disk 20 and an annular locking body that is guided axially displaceably in the base body (not shown).By means of a conventional displacement device, which is preferably hydraulically operated, the locking body can then be brought into and out of engagement with the Hirth toothing in order to precisely position or release the tool disk 20 in accordance with the Hirth toothing designed with a high pitch.
[0030] In addition to the housing part formed by a gear housing 24, a motor plate 82 is provided as a further housing part, which forms the support for a further electric motor 36, which is intended to drive the respective machining tool (not shown) located in the tool holder aligned with the working position 22. Depending on the design, the gear housing 24 can also be identical to the motor plate 82. Within the motor plate 82, as shown in particular in Figure 2, a gear 40 driven by a shaft 38 of the further motor 36 is mounted on the drive side. This gear establishes the drive connection in the sense of a gear train 46 to a gear 42 on the opposite drive side as a component of the working position 22. In this way, the gear rims of the drive gear 40 engage with an intermediate gear 41, and the teeth of the intermediate gear 41, in turn, engage with the output gear 42.The intermediate gear 41 is continuously accommodated in a gear housing 44 of the tool turret in a concentric arrangement to the pivot shaft 18 and with a predeterminable radial distance.
[0031] Furthermore, a clutch (not shown in detail) is provided at the working position 22, which in such tool turrets is typically designed such that a machining tool located in the tool holder of the turret 20 engages with the clutch upon entering the working position 22. Thus, in the engaged state, by actuating the further electric motor 36, the gear train 46, consisting of the drive gear 40, the intermediate gear 41, and the output gear 42, can be driven, thus rotating the machining tool (not shown in detail) on the tool disk 20. For pivoting operation of the tool disk 20 by means of the electric motor 28, the further electric motor 36 is again stopped, thus stopping the drive of the machining tool via the aforementioned gear train 46.In a so-called BMT (base mounted tool) solution, in which a tool is attached via screws, the coupling (which cannot be coupled hydraulically) is disengaged from the motor 36. The motor 36 and, subsequently, its gear train 46 are then secured. In the VDI solution, in which a pressure piece is used to clamp onto a gearing on the tool, the motor 36 is first secured, and then the coupling (hydraulically, pneumatically) is disengaged. The structure described above is common for tool turrets of this type and will not be described in more detail here. Further details can be found in the disclosure content of DE 10 2015 003 878 A1 of the patent holder.
[0032] As explained above, the tool turret, particularly in the form of a tool disk turret, has a tool drive, designated as a whole by 48, which can be driven by a gear 50, forming the gear train 46, by an (electric) motor 36 on the drive side by means of the drive gear 40. Furthermore, the tool turret has a lubrication device 52, designated as a whole by 52, for the gear 50. The lubrication device 52 has structurally different types of lubricant inlets 54, 56, 58, and 60 and furthermore has at least one outlet 62 for the lubricant discharge, which is connected to a gear chamber 64 with the gear 50 in a media-conducting manner. If no suction can be connected behind a shut-off valve 80 on the output side, the outlet 74 can also be used directly. Furthermore, all lubricant inlets 54, 56, 58, 60 open with their one free end in the direction of the gearbox 50.Accordingly, with only one lubrication device 52 for the transmission 50, different types of lubrication can be realized as required, which will be explained in more detail below.
[0033] The lubricant inlet 54 is used to supply a highly viscous fluid, such as gear grease, during an initial fill. This inlet 54 forms a type of channel, particularly in the form of a through-bore, in a stationary disk holder 66 along which the tool disk 12 is guided so as to be rotatable or pivotable. The channel-shaped inlet 54 can be closed at its outward end with a cover cap 68 as the first connection part, which, at a distance from the inlet 54, allows the connection of a grease supply device (not shown), for example in the form of a conventional grease gun, by means of which the gear grease can be introduced into the gear chamber 64 for the first time. After the gear grease has been introduced, the inlet 54 can again be closed in a media-tight manner with the cover cap 68. Grease lubrication by means of a grease gun is also possible via connection parts 70 and 86.Viewed in the direction of Figure 2, the channel-like inlet 54, while maintaining the same cross-section, opens directly into the gear chamber 64 and ends above and adjacent to the individual gears of the intermediate gear 41. Starting from this channel supply point 54, the gear grease is then distributed evenly along the entire gear train 46 with its individual gears of the drive gear 40, the intermediate gear 41, and the output gear 42. Furthermore, the grease is distributed along the entire outer circumference of the intermediate gear 41.
[0034] With the aforementioned grease filling, the gear chamber 64 can be permanently filled with lubricating grease. However, the gear chamber 64 is regularly connected to a central grease lubrication system (not shown). The swivel drive with its components 28, 18, and 30 is lubricated for its lifetime. The friction partners, formed primarily by the components of the gear train 46, run in the grease and are thus lubricated. The gear grease is distributed by appropriate adhesion to the aforementioned friction partners. The aforementioned lubricating filling via the inlet 54 can be introduced during assembly, but preferably only after delivery to the respective customer. Once filled, the gear grease remains in the tool turret and is only replaced if necessary in the event of repair. In this respect, the gear chamber 64 is completely sealed, thus preventing any unintentional leakage of the gear grease into the environment.
[0035] Since gear grease is inherently difficult to work, this results in a high heat input into the turret structure as a whole. Accordingly, grease lubrication can only be used for the gear 50 at low speeds and with a low number of load cycles due to the pivoting of the tool disk 20. If the turret shown is to experience a higher duty cycle and speeds, especially more load cycles, with the associated increase in temperatures, oil sump lubrication is preferred over grease lubrication. The gear oil used here is moderately easy to work, resulting in medium workability and a moderate heat input into the gear 50.
[0036] A separate inlet 56 is provided for this oil lubrication, which is implemented at a short distance, essentially parallel to the inlet 54, together with the latter, in the disc holder 66 in the form of a through bore. As Figure 2 in particular shows, the inlet 56 is permanently closed off to the outside with a plug 69 and has in its upper third a connecting part 70 in the form of a detachable screw plug, which projects rearward from the disc holder 66, preferably vertically, in the direction of view of the observer. An oil supply device (not shown in detail) can in turn be connected via the corresponding connecting part 70. Once a sufficient amount of oil has been introduced into the gear chamber 64 via the connecting part 70, the oil supply device is removed and the screw plug as the connecting part 70 is moved into its closed position blocking the media flow.The inlet 56 also opens out at the lower end, frontally opposite the row of teeth of the intermediate gear 41.
[0037] The oil introduced in this way allows for so-called oil sump lubrication, and particularly when the tool turret is stopped, the oil flows within the gear chamber 64 at the foot or bottom side toward a lubricating bath 72, which is schematically shown in Figure 3. Thus, an oil sump is formed in the lubricating bath 72, from which the gear train 46 can be lubricated accordingly when the tool turret is restarted.
[0038] In the tool turret shown in Figure 2, either gear grease can be introduced into the gear chamber 64 via the inlet 54 or a lubricating oil can be introduced into the gear chamber 64 via the inlet 56 in order to lubricate the gear components, i.e. the gear train 46 of the gear 50, within the gear chamber 64. For a uniform distribution of the respective lubricant, a radial distance is formed between the gear 50 and the inside of the gear housing 44, wherein this radial distance essentially forms the free distribution space for the lubricant within the gear chamber 64.
[0039] As can be seen from Figure 2, the outlet 62, which can be composed of at least one or more channel sections, is arranged above the aforementioned possible lubricating bath 72. Depending on the structural position, the lubricating bath 72 or the outlet 74 or the respective channel section can also run differently. A channel section 74 in the form of an arc section opens with its one free end below the output gear 42 into the gear chamber 64. The other end of the arc section opens into a longitudinal channel 76, which is arranged parallel to the turret axis in the housing base body 12 and extends through it. The free end of the longitudinal channel 76, as the further channel section, then opens into a third channel section in the form of a further arc section 78, which merges into a valve nozzle 80.A suction device (not shown in detail) can be connected to this lockable nozzle 80. When the Venturi nozzle 80 is open, a low-viscosity lubricant, such as gear oil, can then be suctioned out of the gear chamber 64 by means of a vacuum during a change. Independently of this, a flushing process can also be carried out by connecting a flushing agent, such as air, to the respective inlet 54 and / or 56. With the preset pressure of the flushing medium, the respective lubricant can then be discharged from the gear chamber 64 via the outlet 62 from the tool turret with the nozzle valve 80 open. In this respect, a suction device would not necessarily be necessary. After the nozzle 80 is closed, a lubricant can then be introduced again, either in the form of lubricating grease via the inlet 54 or in the form of lubricating oil via the inlets 56 and 60.
[0040] It is understood that for a uniform lubricant distribution it is best to provide the respective inlet, for example 54 or 56, at a location above the gear train 46, preferably at a central distribution position in the middle of the intermediate gear 41 as shown in Figure 2.
[0041] As can be seen particularly from the illustration in Figure 3, the tool turret shown in Figure 1 can also be used in a rotated position, which may be necessary, for example, if no other installation space is available on the machine tool. Accordingly, the tool turret shown in Figure 1 has been pivoted about its longitudinal or turret axis by approximately 30° counterclockwise into its position shown in Figure 3. Of course, it is also possible to operate the tool turret in its starting position shown in Figure 1. As can also be seen from the illustration in Figure 3, the tool turret has a housing 82 for the drive gear 40 on its rear side. This housing 82 can be an integral part of the disk holder 66 and thus of the stand part 10 in the broadest sense. In particular, wall parts of the housing 82 merge integrally into the motor plate 34.The rectangular housing 82 forms a type of solid connection box with a square or rectangular cross-section. The solid body of the housing 82 has a further third inlet 58 and a fourth inlet 60. Only one type of lubricant is to be supplied via the channel sections of inlet 58 and inlet 60. In this respect, it is possible to provide the housing 82 with just one inlet, but in order to demonstrate all the possibilities here, the inlet 58 is to serve as an example for the supply of a further lubricating medium and the inlet 60, different from this, is to serve as an example for the supply of a further lubricating medium. In this respect, two further inlets 58, 60 are incorporated in the housing 82. As already described above, the inlet 58 and the inlet 60 also have connection parts 84 and 86 which can be closed off from the outside to the environment.86, via which corresponding lubricant supply devices (not shown) can be removably connected. Thus, the channel-like inlet 58 is closed to the outside by a removable end cap 88, and the channel orientation runs vertically in the housing 82. The possible supply direction of the lubricant in the inlet 58 is indicated by an arrow; in particular, the inlet 58 opens laterally offset above the row of teeth of the drive gear 40 into the gear housing 44 and from there can in turn be distributed throughout the gear chamber 64 with the intermediate gear 41 and the output gear 42.
[0042] Via the corresponding inlet 58, an oil-air mixture is to be introduced as an example of a lubricant to realize so-called oil-air lubrication. This oil-air mixture is in turn fed directly to the friction partners via the inlet 58 and sprayed onto the friction partners there, preferably at intervals, here in the form of the teeth of the drive gear 40. The distribution of the lubricant or oil to the adjacent friction partners in the form of the intermediate gear 41 and the driven gear 42 then occurs again via adhesion and contact between the friction partners, here particularly in the form of the individual teeth. Excess oil, which accumulates over time in the gear chamber 64, as new oil is constantly added at intervals until it is completely filled, can then be drained off from the turret in two ways.
[0043] The oil can thus flow out through a closable opening in the channel section 74 at the lower point of the gear chamber 64, so that no suction extraction as described above would be required. The oil could also be removed in this way via additional air intake via the inlet 58 and the resulting air flow in the gear housing 44. Additionally or alternatively, the oil can also be drawn out of the turret via the suction function already described using the lockable Venturi nozzle 80 and a suction device connected to it. Both variants are possible without modification or additional parts on the turret, which helps save costs. In principle, it is also possible to remove grease lubrication from the turret using appropriate suction nozzles (not shown) and a suction device despite the high viscosity, which opens up a wide variety of further applications for the turret.For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that with the reference symbol.
[0044] 90 is a coolant valve.
[0045] To explain, it should be mentioned that the aforementioned oil-air mixture is fed into the turret via hoses from a treatment unit and the respective inlets 56, 58, 60. In this process, oil released in droplets by the treatment unit is drawn into a smear by the air from the respective droplet and intermittently delivered to the gear train 46. Due to the aforementioned draining or suction of the oil from the gear chamber 64, no large quantities of oil accumulate, even in the lubricating bath 72, so that the turret as a whole cannot heat up when the oil is discharged.
[0046] The turret also has emergency lubrication, meaning that if, for example, the oil-air lubrication system fails, lubrication of the gear train 50 is still guaranteed for a certain period of time. The channel for the drain 62, which can also serve as a suction hole, was designed to be positioned at the lower point of the gear chamber 64 (Figure 2), but not at the lowest possible point. This permanently creates an oil level in the gear chamber 64 up to the height of the drain 62 within the lubrication pool 72 shown, and does not drain away completely. One of the friction partners is permanently immersed in this oil and distributes the lubricating medium to the other friction partners within the gear train 46 by adhesion, even if the oil-air lubrication system fails.
[0047] Additionally, there is the possibility of implementing oil mist lubrication via inlet 60, which, viewed in the direction of the Eigur 3, slopes slightly upwards from the surroundings and opens into the channel-shaped inlet 58 with one free end, thus ensuring the application of lubricant to the drive gear 40 via inlet 60. The oil mist lubrication mentioned can be easily worked, so that only a very low heat input occurs. In this respect, too, a suitable supply device for this lubricating medium is necessary, which can be connected to the lockable and openable connection part 86. The supply direction in this area is again symbolically indicated by an arrow. In particular, the introduced oil mist allows for even distribution across the friction partners of the gear train 46.A possible discharge of this type of lubrication from the tool turret can be carried out as described above.
[0048] It is understood that all of the lubrication types described are exemplary in nature, and that it may be sufficient to implement only two different inlets. A connection point for the supply of one lubricant can also be used as a connection point for the supply of a different type of lubricant. Overall, the solution according to the invention creates a disk tool turret that allows for the implementation of various types of lubrication without modifying the turret. Accordingly, the turret allows the gear train 46 of the tool drive 48 to be lubricated with either a grease filling, an oil sump lubrication system, an oil-air lubrication system, or an oil mist lubrication system without any modification; this always depends on how the disk tool turret is used in practice and the stresses and strains it is subjected to as a result.
[0049] As can be seen particularly from Figures 4 and 5, and particularly in the context of implementing oil-air lubrication or oil mist lubrication, the free end of the inlet 58, which is vertically oriented in Figure 3, terminates in a half-shell-shaped or half-channel-like groove 92 in the region of the receiving space 93 for the drive gear 40 in the gear housing 44. This groove 92 forms a limited collection point for the lubricant, and drawn off along a drip edge 94 of the groove 92, the lubricant reaches the passing teeth of the intermediate gear 41 in an even distribution. This drip edge 94 delimits the groove 92 inwards and runs vertically parallel to the axis of the shaft 38 of the electric motor 36.
[0050] Furthermore, the groove 92 opens approximately centrally into a strip-shaped discharge area 96, which, as a groove-like depression in the adjacent wall of the gear housing 44, also serves to even out the discharge of the lubricant to the toothing of the intermediate gear 41. In order to build up a corresponding lubrication discharge pressure in the groove-shaped discharge area 96, it can preferably further be provided that, starting from the groove 92, the free groove depth decreases toward the groove end until a smooth transition between the discharge area 96 and the wall of the gear housing 44 in this transition area 98.
[0051] As can also be seen from Figure 4, another, comparable groove 100 is also present on the drive side of the gear train 46 in the area of the output gear 42; this time directly adjacent to the associated receiving space 99 for the output gear 42 and outside of it, directly adjacent to the inner wall of the gear housing 44. In this respect, too, the free ends of the groove 100, as longitudinal edges, form so-called drip edges 94, which become effective depending on the direction of rotation of the intermediate gear 41. Furthermore, the respective groove 92, 100 forms a type of reservoir, which contributes to achieving a uniform lubricant delivery for the gear train 46.
Claims
Patent claims 1 . Tool turret, in particular a tool disk turret, with a tool drive (48) which can be operated by means of a gear (50) by a motor (36) on the drive side (40) and is equipped with a lubricating device (52) for the gear (50), characterized in that the lubricating device (52) has at least two structurally different types of lubricant inlets (54, 56, 58, 60) and at least one outlet (62) which are connected to a gear chamber (64) with the gear (50), so that with only one lubricating device (52) for the gear (50) different types of lubrication can be realized as required.
2. Tool turret according to claim 1, characterized in that one type of lubricant inlet (54) serves to supply a highly viscous fluid, such as a gear grease, and the other type of lubricant inlet (56) serves to supply a fluid of low viscosity, such as a gear oil.
3. Tool turret according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the following types of lubrication can be implemented within the scope of the supply of gear oil: - Oil sump lubrication, - Oil-air lubrication, or oil mist lubrication.
4. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective type of lubricant inlet (54, 56, 58, 60) consists of a sealable connecting part (68,70,84,86) and an associated supply channel which emerges from the connecting part (68,70,84,86) adjacent to the gear teeth (40,41,42) of the gear (50) to be lubricated.
5. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective connecting part (68, 70, 84, 86) is introduced into the stand part (10) arranged stationary opposite the rotatable tool disk (20) and that the channel course of the respective supply channel enables the supply of the respective lubricant to the gear toothing (40, 41, 42), preferably being arranged vertically as seen in the usual setup of the tool turret.
6. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet (62) opens into a lower region of a gear chamber (64), preferably at a point above a region which is used as a lubricating bath (72).
7. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (40) and / or driven gear (42) meshing with an intermediate gear (41) is at least partially provided with a housing (82) which has one of the possible types of lubricant inlets (54, 56, 58, 60).
8. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective outlet (62) opens into a lower region of the gear chamber (64), preferably at a point above a region which is used as a lubricating bath (72).
9. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, as part of lubrication with low-viscosity lubricant, excess lubricant can be removed from the gear chamber (64) by means of a suction device acting on the outlet (62).
10. Tool turret according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the context of guiding a lubricant flow along the orbit of the intermediate gear (41) in the stationary part (10) of the tool turret, at least one type of drip edge (94) is present, which is arranged in the output or drive-side transition region between the output (40) or the drive gear (42) and the intermediate gear (41).