Coolant Coupling Piston Geometry to Prevent Machine Tool Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolant coupling devices for machine tools suffer from complex structures leading to higher production costs and leakage issues due to coolant flowing out of the outlet, making it difficult to increase pressure in the cylinder chamber.
Innovation Solution
A coolant coupling device with a piston-driven mechanism where the inlet of the coolant supply flow channel has a smaller opening area than the outlet, preventing coolant leakage by ensuring the coolant flows into the cylinder chamber before being directed to the tool rest, thus maintaining pressure and preventing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the coolant supply flow channel is opened at the pressure receiving surface of the piston toward inside of the cylinder chamber, then the structure is simple, but the coolant readily flows through the coolant supply flow channel and out of the outlet, making it difficult to increase the pressure in the cylinder chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet opening area is made smaller than the outlet opening area, creating a local quality difference in the flow channel geometry. This asymmetric design causes coolant to preferentially flow into the cylinder chamber rather than leaking out through the outlet, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and preventing leakage.
2Ease of operation
If the valve member is opened to cause flow of coolant toward the outlet as the tip end of the piston is brought into abutment with the back surface of the tool rest, then coolant can be supplied to the tool rest, but a complicated structure is required that involves higher production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant supply flow channel is integrated directly into the piston body, merging the valve function and coolant supply function into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate valve mechanisms and complex flow control structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining the coolant supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening areas of the inlet and outlet are designed with specific parameter relationships (inlet area smaller than outlet area), which automatically controls coolant flow direction and pressure buildup without requiring complex valve mechanisms. This parameter-based control simplifies the overall structure.
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 simple and effective structure that prevents coolant leakage from the outlet, ensuring consistent coolant supply to the tool rest without increasing production costs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of coolant distribution in machine tools.
Implementation Method 1
a piston driven by the pressure of the coolant supplied to the cylinder chamber, wherein the piston is advanced by the pressure of the coolant
Implementation Method 2
the inlet has an opening area that is smaller than an opening area of the outlet... preventing coolant leakage by ensuring the coolant flows into the cylinder chamber before being directed to the tool rest, thus maintaining pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A coolant coupling device (20) includes: a cylinder chamber (25) provided for a support member (2) for a tool rest (4) in a machine tool and supplied with coolant; a piston (P) movably arranged in the cylinder chamber (25); and a coolant supply flow channel (30) provided for the piston (P) for passing coolant therethrough. The piston (P) is driven by the coolant supplied to the cylinder chamber (25) so that an outlet (32) of the coolant supply flow channel (30) is connected to a coolant inlet port (10) of the tool rest (4) to supply the coolant to the tool rest (4). The piston (P) comprises a cylindrical projection (29) protruding toward and into the cylinder chamber (25), and the coolant supply flow channel (30) has an inlet (34) that opens at an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection (29).