Conical Tool Holder Interface for Stable MQL Lubricant Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

MQL technology faces fluctuations in lubricant quality due to demixing in aerosol supplies, leading to unpredictable tool breakage and production interruptions, especially under high feed forces and temperature loads, as existing interfaces struggle to maintain consistent lubricant delivery.

Innovation Solution

An interface with a funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber between the shank tool and the tool holder, ensuring stable lubricant flow and sealing, eliminates the need for a radially directed slit and reduces eddy generation, allowing consistent lubricant access and flow even under centrifugal forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a radially directed slit is used to cover the orifice in the conical shank end, then sealing against lubricant escape is improved, but the complexity of the interface and potential for demixing in the lubricant supply increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the sealing function from the radially directed slit and relocates it to the conical surface contact interface between the shank end and the inner cone. This eliminates the need for the slit while maintaining sealing effectiveness, as the conical contact surface provides the seal against lubricant escape into the clamping area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical surface contact area acts as an intermediary element that simultaneously provides both sealing and lubricant transfer functions. The funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber formed by the conical surfaces mediates the lubricant flow from the central supply line to the orifice, eliminating the need for separate sealing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a radially directed slit is required to access orifice openings, then sealing is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and potential lubricant flow issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesealingVSAvoidproduction simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the radially directed slit from the conical shank end design. The orifice openings remain in the conical surface but are accessed directly from the funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber without requiring a slit to cover or expose them, greatly simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the lubricant transfer chamber does not fully enclose the conical surface, then manufacturing is simpler, but lubricant flow stability and access to orifices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlubricant flow stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses the conical geometry to create a three-dimensional funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber that encloses the orifice openings from multiple directions. This spatial arrangement ensures stable lubricant flow access to all orifices regardless of their angular position, while the conical surfaces themselves provide the manufacturing simplicity through standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the aerosol supply undergoes demixing, then lubricant quality fluctuates, but this cannot be prevented by the interface design alone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant quality consistencyVSAvoiddemixing effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potential harm of demixing by designing a lubricant transfer system that minimizes flow disturbances. The funnel-shaped chamber with its gradually expanding cross-section reduces turbulence and pressure pulsations that cause demixing, while the direct axial flow path from the central supply line to the orifices maintains aerosol integrity.

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 provides a stable and efficient lubricant supply, reducing tool breakage and production interruptions by ensuring consistent lubricant flow and minimizing segregation, thus enhancing machining performance and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber completely encloses the conical surface of the conical shank end in the area radially inside the conical surface contact point... ensuring stable lubricant flow from the centric even under the influence of centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2196273B2Interface between a revolving shaft tool and a lubricant discharge point in a tool holder

Publication Date: 2018.03.07 GUEHRING KG

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

The interface is provided between a shaft tool (20) and a lubricant-transfer point, where the shaft tool is arranged in a tool holder (1). The lubricant-transfer point is also provided in the tool holder, which has an inner recess tapered in the direction of a central lubricant-inlet pipe. A conical shaft end (23) and the lubricant transfer point enclose a funnel shaped lubricant-transfer chamber. The funnel shaped lubricant-transfer chamber extends between the central lubricant-inlet pipe and a conical surface contact point.