Cooling System Utilizing Environmental Characteristics

Abstract

Focusing on the stable air layer with a relatively low temperature in the factory, to intensively cool the area directly below the spindle unit of the machine tool, that is, to provide a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics in the factory. 【Solution means】 It is composed of the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed (forming the first space part) located directly below the spindle unit and the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (forming the second space part) facing the relatively stable ground with a relatively low temperature in the factory. An intake fan 60 is installed on the side wall of the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed (forming the first space part) directly below the spindle unit, a plate-shaped air flow control member 70 is installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (forming the second space part), and an air intake port 80 is installed in the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (forming the second space part). It is characterized as a cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system that utilizes a stable air layer at a relatively low temperature in a factory for cooling a machine tool, that is, a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of the factory.

Background Art

[0002] It is known that the underground part of a building (below the ground) is affected by underground temperature, environmental conditions, etc. The underground temperature usually has little seasonal variation and is relatively stable. Since the underground part is located deeper than the ground surface, it functions as a buffer against rapid temperature fluctuations. Underground soil and rock have the ability to store heat (heat capacity). Due to this heat capacity, the underground can absorb or release heat, so it functions as a buffer against temperature fluctuations inside buildings such as factories, contributing to the temperature stability inside buildings such as factories. In short, the fact that a building such as a factory has a heat capacity underground means that the stable underground temperature variation also affects the temperature variation inside the building such as the factory.

[0003] The underground temperature is relatively stable against temperature changes due to seasons, etc. For example, a basement is usually located underground, and since the underground temperature is relatively low and stable, it is suitable for storing food. Furthermore, a basement can be used instead of a refrigerator or freezer, and temperature stability is very important. An underground wine cellar provides an optimal environment for storing and aging wine, and the stable underground temperature also acts favorably on the storage of agricultural products and vegetables. The applicants, who focused on the fact that the air layer near the ground (i.e., at a small distance from the ground inside the factory) that is easily affected by the underground temperature has a relatively low and stable temperature, conducted intensive research and development to utilize such temperature stability for cooling a machine tool, and as a result, arrived at the present invention.

[0004] Patent Document 1 has as its problem "effectively reducing the temperature of the living space by using the air in the underfloor space", and discloses "a housing structure comprising an underfloor space surrounded by a heat-insulated foundation, a first-floor floor supported by the foundation, and an earthen floor disposed below the floor, and a living space above the underfloor space, the housing comprising a foundation ventilation opening for introducing outside air into the underfloor space, a partition disposed on the earthen floor side of the underfloor space and forming an earthen floor side space through which air can pass between the partition and the earthen floor, and supply means for supplying to the living space air that has exchanged heat with the surface of the earthen floor by passing through the earthen floor side space" (Patent Document 1: Name of the Invention).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the housing structure according to Patent Document 1 (Patent Document 1: Name of the Invention), in summer, the air in the underfloor space is heat-exchanged near the surface of the earthen floor, and the heat-exchanged air is supplied to the living space, so that the temperature of the living space can be effectively reduced. However, in the housing structure according to Patent Document 1 (Patent Document 1: Name of the Invention), for example, it is not possible to concentrate (focus) cooling on points to be cooled such as directly below the spindle unit of a machine tool.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of a factory by focusing on a stable air layer in a state where the temperature in the factory is relatively low and intensively cools directly below the spindle unit of a machine tool or the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 utilizes the air layer near the ground that is stable in a relatively low-temperature state in the factory for cooling the machine tool, that is, a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of the factory. It is composed of the upper part of the machine tool bed that is directly below the spindle unit and forms a first space part, and the lower part of the machine tool bed that forms a second space part facing the ground that is stable in a relatively low-temperature state in the factory. It includes an intake fan installed on the upper part of the machine tool bed, a plate-shaped air flow control member installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed, and an air intake installed on the lower part of the machine tool bed. and the plate-shaped air flow control member is installed at a predetermined interval from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed and extends downward to a height of 50% to 30% of the lower part of the machine tool bed. It is characterized by being a cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics.

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein The air intake installed on the lower part of the machine tool bed is installed at a position lower than the tip of the extension of the plate-shaped air flow control member, and it is characterized by being a cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] The cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics according to the present invention utilizes the air layer near the ground that is stable in a relatively low-temperature state in the factory for cooling the machine tool, that is, a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of the factory. Even if the environmental temperature drops below the ground surface temperature, the air layer near the ground is kept at a stable temperature with the temperature drop alleviated by heat exchange with the ground. The cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics is composed of the upper part of the machine tool bed (forming a first space part) that is directly below the spindle unit and the lower part of the machine tool bed (forming a second space part) that faces the ground that is stable in a relatively low-temperature state in the factory.

[0012] The upper part of the machine tool bed that forms the first space part is equipped with an intake fan, and the lower part of the machine tool bed that forms the second space part is characterized by including a plate-shaped air flow control member installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed and an air intake installed on the lower part of the machine tool bed.

[0013] The plate-shaped air flow control member extends downward from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed to a height of 50% to 30% of the lower part of the machine tool bed. The air intake installed in the lower part of the machine tool bed is installed at a position lower than the tip of the plate-shaped air flow control member (the whole). These features are configurations for taking in air from the air layer near the ground that is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory.

[0014] Since the cooling system utilizing environmental characteristics has a structure that sucks air with an intake fan installed on the upper part of the machine tool bed, an air flow is generated by the suction effect of the intake fan (by strengthening the suction force of the intake fan, the air flow can be made faster).

[0015] In the second space portion opposite to the relatively stable ground in a state where the temperature in the factory is relatively low, a plate-shaped air flow control member is installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed, so that the air flow crawls along the ground side of the second space portion (the lower part of the machine tool bed). Furthermore, in the cooling system utilizing environmental characteristics, since the air is designed to flow from the second space portion with a large volume to the first space portion with a small volume, the air flow is concentrated, and the fluid dynamics effect makes the air flow velocity in the first space portion faster. Therefore, the cooling effect will be further improved. From the above, with the cooling system utilizing environmental characteristics according to the present invention, it has become possible to efficiently utilize the air layer that is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory for cooling the machine tool.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] <Structure of Cooling System Utilizing Environmental Characteristics> Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cooling system 10 utilizing environmental characteristics according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2. FIG. 1 is an overall view of the cooling system 10 utilizing environmental characteristics according to the present invention. Note that FIG. 1(a) is a front view and FIG. 1(b) is a side view.

[0018] The cooling system 10 utilizing environmental characteristics utilizes the air layer near the ground that is relatively low and stable in temperature in the factory for cooling the machine tool, that is, it is a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of the factory.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, above the machine tool bed 30 (forming the first space portion 20) directly below the spindle unit (not shown), and opposite to the ground that is relatively low and stable in temperature in the factory (forming the second space portion 40) below the machine tool bed 50, it is characterized by having (as a space for the passage of cooling air). (There are many machine tools that do not have such a configuration.) In short, the first space portion 20 and the second space portion 40 are connected and serve as a passage for cooling air, and are configured to cool the directly lower part (the hatched portion in FIG. 1) of the spindle unit, which is a heat source generated by the operation of the machine tool.

[0020] The cooling system 10 utilizing environmental characteristics includes an intake fan 60 installed on the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed (forming the first space portion 20) directly below the spindle unit (not shown), a plate-shaped air flow control member 70 installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (forming the second space portion 40), and an air intake port 80 installed on the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (forming the second space portion 40). Note that the air intake port 80 can be installed in all directions (360°) with respect to the installation position of the machine tool.

[0021] The plate-shaped air flow control member 70 extends downward from the ceiling of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed to a height of 50% to 30% of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed, and the air intake port 80 installed in the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed is installed at a position lower than (the uppermost part) the tip end where the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 extends.

[0022] <Operating state of the cooling system utilizing environmental characteristics> FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of cooling air in the cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics.

[0023] The cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics has been devised in various ways to actively utilize the air layer near the ground, where the temperature in the factory is relatively low and stable, for cooling the machine tool. By rotating the intake fan 60 installed on the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed (forming the first space part 20) directly below the spindle unit, a flow of cooling air is generated. The flow of cooling air in the cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics will be described later.

[0024] The plate-shaped air flow control member 70 and the air intake port 80 are installed in the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed. Since the air intake port 80 is installed at a position lower than (the uppermost part) the tip end where the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 extends, as shown in FIG. 2, it is devised so that cooling air can be taken into the machine tool from the air layer near the ground, where the temperature in the factory is relatively low and stable.

[0025] By installing a plate-shaped air flow control member 70 in the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed, the flow of the cooling air can be controlled so as to flow along the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed. That is, the cooling air that has entered the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed from the air intake port 80 flows, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, first into the spaces formed by the two end sides of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 (the space between the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70), and into the space formed by the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 (the space between the two plate-shaped air flow control members 70).

[0026] However, the air that has flowed into the spaces formed by the two end sides of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70, and into the space formed by the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70, is blocked by the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 and cannot flow any further (marked with an "x" in FIG. 2). Then, the flow of the air that was about to flow into the spaces formed by the two end sides of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70, and into the space formed by the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 and the plate-shaped air flow control member 70, also comes to flow only in the central direction of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed.

[0027] In short, (the cooling air) flows in such a way as to crawl under the machine tool bed 50. By installing the plate-shaped air flow control member 70, the upward flow at both ends of the lower part of the machine tool bed 50 is stopped, that is, it is controlled so that the cooling air can only rise (directly below the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed), and heat exchange is designed to be carried out by the cooling air that enters the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed forming the first space part 20 from the air layer near the ground in a relatively low and stable temperature state in the factory. In other words, the air on the upper side of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (at a height higher than 0.2 m from the ground), which is not the air layer near the ground, is designed so that it cannot be used for cooling. Therefore, the cooling air supplied from the air layer near the ground in a relatively low and stable temperature state in the factory flows from the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed to the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed, reaches directly below the spindle unit which is the heat source (the shaded part in Fig. 1), and contributes to the cooling of (directly below the spindle unit which is the heat source).

[0028] <Effect of Cooling System Utilizing Environmental Characteristics> When measuring the temperature distribution based on the height from the ground in the factory, it was found that the air layer at a height from the ground up to 0.2 m is affected by the temperature of the ground and is relatively stable. That is, the air layer near the ground in the factory, specifically, the air layer at a height from the ground up to 0.2 m, has a relatively stable temperature. The applicants have found that the air layer at a height from the ground up to 0.2 m plays an important role in the cooling effect in the bed part of the machine tool. (From this finding, it can be said that it is desirable to install the air intake 80 installed in the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed so that the top of the air intake 80) comes to a height of 0.2 m or less from the ground in the factory.)

[0029] The cooling system 10 utilizing environmental characteristics exchanges heat with the ground in a large space (the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed), and by taking this air into a small space (the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed), (as an obvious effect based on the knowledge of fluid dynamics), the flow velocity can be increased, and the object to be cooled can be efficiently cooled.

[0030] The cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics includes an air intake port 80 and a plate-shaped air flow control member 70 as a configuration for using the air layer near the ground, which is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory, for cooling the machine tool bed main body (especially the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed). The air intake port 80 installed at the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (which can be installed in all directions, i.e., 360°) is installed at a position lower than the tip where the plate-shaped air flow control member 70 extends, so that the air layer near the ground, which is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory, can be taken in. (Since the relatively cold air has a greater specific gravity, only the cold and stable air will enter through the air intake port 80.)

[0031] The cooling system 10 that utilizes environmental characteristics can make the air flow crawl along the bottom surface of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed by installing the plate-shaped air flow control member 70. That is, it is designed to draw the air that crawls along the bottom surface of the lower part 50 of the machine tool bed (the air near the ground, which is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory) into the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed, so the air cooling effect is enhanced. Therefore, the air layer, which is relatively stable and at a relatively low temperature in the factory, can be used for cooling the upper part 30 of the machine tool bed.

[0032] <Modification Example of Cooling System Utilizing Environmental Characteristics> The cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics according to the present invention is not limited to the aspects of the above-described embodiments at all. The configurations such as the first space part, the upper part of the machine tool bed, the second space part, the lower part of the machine tool bed, the intake fan, the plate-shaped air flow control member, and the air intake port can be appropriately changed as needed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0033] Since the cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics according to the present invention has the excellent effects as described above (it is affected by the spindle unit, which is the heat source of the machine tool), it can be suitably used as a cooling mechanism for the bed part.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10··Cooling system utilizing environmental characteristics 20··First space part 30··Above the machine tool bed 40··Second space part 50··Below the machine tool bed 60··Intake fan 70··Plate-shaped air flow control member 80··Air intake port

Claims

1. A cooling system that utilizes the relatively low temperature state in a factory to utilize the air layer near the ground that is stable, i.e., a cooling system that utilizes the environmental characteristics of the factory. It is composed of the upper part of the machine tool bed that forms the first space part directly below the spindle unit and the lower part of the machine tool bed that forms the second space part facing the ground where the temperature in the factory is relatively low and stable. It is equipped with an intake fan installed on the upper part of the machine tool bed, a plate-shaped air flow control member installed so as to extend downward from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed, and an air intake installed on the lower part of the machine tool bed. The plate-shaped air flow control member is installed at a predetermined interval from the ceiling of the lower part of the machine tool bed and extends downward to a height of 50% to 30% of the lower part of the machine tool bed. A cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics, characterized by this.

2. The air intake installed on the lower part of the machine tool bed is installed at a position lower than the tip where the plate-shaped air flow control member extends. The cooling system that utilizes environmental characteristics according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

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