Coolant Line Vacuum Control to Prevent Leakage During Tool Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolant supply systems for machining devices face challenges in preventing coolant leakage during tool replacement or maintenance, leading to environmental contamination and exposure risks for operators, as existing methods like shutting down the coolant pump are insufficient to prevent escape.
Innovation Solution
A control device is implemented to deactivate the coolant conveyor and create a negative pressure in the coolant circuit, using a main valve, signal valve, and delay valve to ensure coolant remains within the circuit by shutting off inflow and outflow and using a bypass to drain lines, preventing coolant escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the coolant pump is shut down to prevent coolant leakage during tool replacement, then operator safety is improved, but coolant still escapes due to residual pressure in the coolant lines
Solution Approach 1:
The control device creates a negative pressure state in the coolant lines before tool removal occurs. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the residual positive pressure that would otherwise cause coolant leakage, ensuring that even when connection points are opened, coolant cannot escape due to the pressure differential.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter from positive (normal operation) to negative (evacuated state) in the coolant lines. By using a vacuum pump or ejector to create negative pressure, the system fundamentally alters the pressure condition to prevent coolant escape during tool replacement or maintenance activities.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the coolant circuit is evacuated to create negative pressure and prevent coolant escape, then environmental contamination is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional control devices
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is automatically triggered when a tool is removed from the coolant circuit. The system monitors the connection state and autonomously activates the evacuation process, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing the complexity of user interaction while maintaining effective coolant containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic or hydraulic evacuation methods (vacuum pump or ejector) to create negative pressure in the coolant lines. This approach leverages fluid dynamics principles to achieve coolant containment without requiring complex mechanical sealing systems or multiple valve assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If elastic coolant lines are used to accommodate tool movement, then adaptability is improved, but coolant leakage risk increases due to line expansion under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
By establishing negative pressure in the coolant lines before tool removal, the system counteracts the expansion force that elastic lines experience during normal operation. This preliminary anti-action prevents the lines from expanding and leaking coolant during the critical moment of tool replacement, while still allowing flexibility during machining operations.
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
Effectively prevents coolant leakage during tool removal or maintenance, ensuring operator safety and environmental protection by maintaining negative pressure within the coolant circuit, even when the tool is replaced or defective.
Implementation Method 1
causes a certain suction drainage in the inflow and outflow of the coolant circuit. This takes place such that in the coolant circuit, in particular in the region of the tool that is to be cooled, there is an at least slight negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a coolant supply device of a machining device to be supplied with a fluid coolant, particularly with water, for example a welding arrangement (2) or a welding robot etc., the region or tool to be cooled, for example a welding cap, being incorporated into an open or closed coolant circuit which has an inflow (4) and an outflow (5), and said device comprising a conveyor device that operates in the coolant circuit and conveys the coolant within said coolant circuit, and a control device (8) for deactivating said conveyor device and/or closing the inflow (4) and/or outflow (5) and evacuating said inflow (4) and/or outflow (5) such that, in the region of the tool being cooled, an at least negligible level of negative pressure prevails in the inflow line (9) and/or in the outflow line (12).