Closed Loop Coolant System for Metal Container Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ram guidance systems in metal can production suffer from coolant contamination due to oil leakage, leading to costly machine downtime and production losses, as faulty seals require changing all seals in the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A closed loop coolant system with seals and an oil skimmer is implemented to isolate coolant fluid and prevent oil migration, allowing for monitoring and targeted seal changes, reducing cross-contamination and maintenance time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional open coolant system with check valves is used, then complete coolant coverage of the ram is ensured, but oil leakage contaminates the coolant and requires changing all seals in the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coolant system into separate isolated loops for each machine or processing station. Each loop has its own coolant circulation, allowing contamination to be contained to a single segment rather than affecting the entire manufacturing process. This enables targeted maintenance of only the contaminated segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an oil separation system as an intermediary component between the coolant and the contaminated environment. This separator removes oil particles from the coolant, preventing contamination from spreading and eliminating the need to discard the entire coolant system when oil leakage occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If all seals are changed when oil leakage is detected, then contamination of cans is prevented, but machine downtime and production loss increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the coolant system into isolated loops, the patent enables localized problem containment. When oil leakage is detected in one segment, only the seals in that specific segment need to be replaced, rather than shutting down the entire manufacturing process to change all seals across all machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a monitoring system that provides feedback on coolant contamination levels. This early detection capability allows for proactive maintenance scheduling, enabling seal replacement to be performed during planned downtime rather than causing unexpected production stoppages.
3Temperature
If coolant is returned to a central collection sump, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but oil from one machine can migrate to other machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the centralized collection sump system with distributed, isolated coolant loops for each machine. Each loop maintains its own coolant circulation and temperature control, preventing oil contamination from migrating between machines while preserving cooling efficiency through dedicated circulation paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oil separation systems as intermediary components in each coolant loop. These separators act as barriers that prevent oil contamination from entering the coolant stream, thereby protecting other machines from cross-contamination while maintaining effective cooling.
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
The closed loop system effectively isolates coolant, minimizing oil leakage and enabling efficient monitoring, reducing unnecessary seal changes and production losses by identifying contamination sources, thus optimizing production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
spiral grooves in the bush housings direct the coolant around the ram to remove heat away from the ram surface
Implementation Method 2
seals for minimising leakage of oil into the coolant; a closed loop coolant system which ensures the isolation of coolant fluid within that apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A closed loop coolant system which ensures the isolation of coolant fluid within an apparatus for producing a metal container by wall ironing. The apparatus includes a die toolpack which reduces the thickness of the container side wall, a ram (5) and a ram guidance assembly (10) which guides the ram along a bore of a tubular assembly. The tubular assembly has a fluid inlet, and the surface of the bore of the tubular assembly has grooves (13) for passage of coolant fluid between the bore and around the outside of the ram (5) and seals for minimizing leakage of oil into the coolant. Coolant is directed back to a tank (20) via a heat exchanger (21) and any oil is skimmer off the coolant by an oil skimmer (24). This oil can then be filtered, cleaned and recycled, or disposed of.