Through-Coolant Clamp Geometry for Stable Insert Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool holders with through coolant clamps do not provide optimal coolant flow to cutting inserts due to suboptimal flow behavior under operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A tool holder assembly with a through coolant clamp that includes a base portion with a fluid chamber, a nose portion with nozzles, and a transition outer surface for controlled coolant flow, ensuring a smooth transition and reduced turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flows through the clamp to cool the cutting insert, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but flow behavior becomes suboptimal due to turbulence and poor flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The transition outer surface is designed with a curved profile that provides a smooth transition between the fluid chamber and nozzle inlet, eliminating sharp corners and abrupt geometric changes that cause turbulence. This curved transition surface allows coolant to flow smoothly from the reservoir into the nozzle, reducing flow separation and turbulent mixing while maintaining effective cooling delivery to the cutting insert.
2Device complexity
If a simple clamp design is used to secure the cutting insert, then device complexity is reduced, but coolant flow control capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed to perform multiple functions: it mechanically secures the cutting insert to the tool holder while simultaneously serving as a coolant delivery system. The integrated design includes a fluid chamber for coolant storage, transition surfaces for smooth flow, and nozzle structures for directed coolant delivery, allowing a single component to fulfill both clamping and cooling functions without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition outer surface acts as an intermediary element between the fluid chamber and nozzle inlet, mediating the coolant flow to ensure smooth transition and reduce turbulence. This intermediate transition surface is specifically designed to guide the coolant flow from the reservoir into the nozzle without causing flow separation or turbulent mixing, thereby improving flow control capability.
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 tool holder assembly achieves controlled and efficient coolant flow to the cutting insert, reducing turbulence and enhancing cooling performance, thereby improving tool holder efficiency and insert longevity.
Implementation Method 1
The transition outer surface forms a smooth transition between the coolant fluid reservoir chamber and the nozzle inlet such that a transition angle measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the through coolant clamp between at least a portion of the transition surface and the nozzle coolant channel axis is less than 60°
Data Source
AI summary
A tool holder for cooling a cutting insert is disclosed. The tool holder may include a tool holder body, a cutting insert mounted on the tool holder body, and a through coolant clamp mounted to the tool holder body that secures the cutting insert to the tool holder body and provides coolant fluid to the cutting insert. The through coolant clamp may include a base portion with a fluid chamber extending radially outward from a clamp screw hole. A nose portion extends radially outward from the base portion, and at least one nozzle is provided within the nose portion extending along a nozzle axis. The nozzle includes a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet with a nozzle surface therebetween. The through coolant clamp may further include a transition outer surface in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the nozzle inlet. The transition outer surface forms a smooth transition between the fluid chamber and the coolant channel inlet that provides controlled flow of the coolant through the coolant clamp.