Adjustable Disc Cutter Cooling Nozzle for Lower-Sector Heat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disc cutters with cooling devices have limited cooling capacity due to coolant being thrown tangentially at high rotational speeds, primarily cooling the upper half of the disc, which does not effectively address overheating issues in the disc contact and penetration areas during cutting.

Innovation Solution

A disc cutter with a protective cover featuring a tube and nozzle system that directs coolant tangentially to the lower sector of the disc, specifically the contact and penetration area, using a semi-rigid cannula and adjustable attachment means to maintain nozzle position and configuration for efficient cooling, ensuring coolant is applied uniformly on both faces and the periphery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If coolant is supplied on the upper half of the cutter disc, then the disc is cooled, but the cooling effectiveness is low because the high rotational speed throws the coolant tangentially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisc temperatureVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of cooling the upper half of the disc as in conventional systems, this invention inverts the approach by directing coolant to the lower half of the disc where the cutting contact occurs. The nozzle is positioned to spray coolant downward onto the lower surface of the rotating disc, ensuring the coolant remains in contact with the disc surface rather than being immediately thrown off by centrifugal force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies cooling locally to the specific area where heating occurs most intensely - the lower half of the disc in the cutting contact zone. By positioning the nozzle to target this specific region, the cooling effect is concentrated where it is most needed, rather than distributing coolant uniformly or only on the upper surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a single tube is used for supplying coolant, then the construction is simplified, but the cooling capacity is limited by projection on the upper area only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction complexityVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional upper-surface cooling approach to a three-dimensional cooling strategy by extending the coolant delivery to the lower half of the disc. The nozzle is positioned below the disc plane and directs coolant upward onto the lower surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve cooling on both faces of the disc through a single tube system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If fins are defined on the lateral walls to redirect coolant, then coolant is redirected towards the disc, but the cooling capacity remains limited and the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant redirectionVSAvoidprotective cover structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the coolant redirection function from the protective cover structure itself. Instead of modifying the cover with fins or channels to redirect coolant, the system uses a separate, movable nozzle assembly that actively directs coolant to the lower disc surface. This separates the cooling function from the protective cover structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the coolant spray position and angle. The nozzle can be repositioned along the lower half of the disc to optimize cooling coverage for different cutting conditions, providing adaptability without requiring complex fin structures on the cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively cools the disc in the area where heating occurs, providing uniform and efficient cooling by directing coolant to the disc contact and penetration areas, enhancing the disc's operational life and cutting performance.

Implementation Method 1

a nozzle (5) that pours the coolant on the periphery of the disc (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a cannula (4) made of semi-rigid material, mounted and capable of longitudinal movement in a curved, tubular guide (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3838461B1Disc cutter comprising a cooling device
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 RUBI TOOLS GROUP SA ES
  • EP3838461B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3838461B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3838461B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooling device for disc cutters, which comprises: - a curved, tubular guide (6), with a radius of curvature slightly greater than the cutter disc and concentric with the periphery of the disc (2); - a curved cannula (4), made of semi-rigid material, mounted inside the curved guide capable of longitudinal movement between two end positions, connected to a tube (3) for supplying coolant to a nozzle (5); and - means for attaching the cannula (4) in any position comprised between the two end positions of movement with respect to the curved guide. The nozzle (5) moves over a lower sector (21) of the periphery of the disc, and during the cutting of parts (P) of different thicknesses, said nozzle (5) is located at different heights and facing the disc (2)