Collar Assembly Gas Flow System for Cutting Tool Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting systems, such as milling systems, face issues with oil contamination and heat buildup during operations, leading to premature failure of cutting tools and electrical contacts, as well as the creation of burrs that result in imperfections and further failures.

Innovation Solution

A collar assembly with a gas flow system and conduits that uses a collar member with a support portion and chamber portion to deliver cold gas, removing oil contamination and reducing heat buildup by pumping oil away and using precision tip members to deliver a steady flow of cold gas for cooling and burr removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oil is used to lubricate the spindle and cutting tool, then friction and heat are reduced, but the separable electrical contact becomes contaminated and fails more easily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of separable electrical contactVSAvoidoil contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful oil lubrication from the cutting zone by introducing a gas flow system that delivers gas through precision tip members positioned near the cutting tool, removing the need for oil in the immediate cutting area while maintaining spindle lubrication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces gas as an intermediary substance to replace oil lubrication in the cutting zone. The gas flow system with precision tip members delivers gas that acts as a mediator between the cutting tool and workpiece, providing cooling and lubrication without contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If conventional cutting systems are used, then cutting operations can be performed, but heat buildup occurs that shortens cutting tool life and causes the separable electrical contact to burn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting operation capabilityVSAvoidheat buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a gas flow system with pumps and conduits to deliver controlled gas flow through precision tip members. This pneumatic system provides cooling to the cutting zone, removing heat that would otherwise damage the cutting tool and workpiece

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and flow parameters of the gas to optimize cooling efficiency. By controlling gas pressure, flow rate, and delivery timing through the precision tip members, the system maintains optimal cooling parameters throughout the cutting operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional cutting systems are used, then material can be removed, but a significantly large number of burrs are created that require removal and create imperfections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial removal capabilityVSAvoidsurface quality of separable electrical contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful hot gas that would normally contribute to heat buildup into a beneficial cooling and deburring agent. The gas flow system directs gas through precision tip members that simultaneously cool the cutting zone and blow away burrs as they form, turning a potential harm into a dual-purpose benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution allows for machining without oil contamination, extends the life of cutting tools, reduces burr formation, and simplifies tool changes by maintaining a controlled environment for cooling and chip evacuation, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

a gas flow system having a number of gas flow delivery apparatus and a number of conduits... delivering a steady flow of cold gas for cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 2

pumping oil from the interior of the support portion through the one of the number of components and the tubular member with the pump apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS9931723B2Method of operating a cutting system, and collar assembly and collar member therefor

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

A collar member is for a collar assembly of a cutting system and method. The cutting system has a spindle and a cutting tool coupled to the spindle. The collar assembly includes a number of components and a gas flow system having a number of gas flow delivery apparatus and a number of conduits. The collar member includes a support portion structured to be coupled to the spindle, and a chamber portion extending from the support portion and being structured to be coupled to each of the number of components, the number of gas flow delivery apparatus, and the number of conduits. The support portion has a side portion having an edge portion defining a thru hole in order to form a passageway from an interior of the support portion to an exterior thereof.