Electro-Hydraulic Joint Supply for Automatic EDM Tool Changing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical machining systems face challenges in automating tool changing due to the rotation of flushing fluid containers relative to the electrodes, leading to inefficient and manual processes for power and fluid supply changes, which hinder machining efficiency and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An electro-hydraulic joint supplying system that includes an insulator, electro-hydraulic joint supplying base, pipe terminal, and clamping mechanisms, enabling a snap-fit connection for rapid tool changing and maintaining constant angles during rotation, thus facilitating automatic tool changing and integrated power and fluid supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a flushing fluid container in an existing electrical machining electrode shank is in rotatable fit with a rotating shaft, then the electrode shank can rotate during machining, but the flushing fluid container rotates relative to the rotating shaft and the electrodes during tool changing, resulting in inconvenient automatic tool changing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode shank into separate functional modules: the rotating shaft portion and the flushing fluid container portion. The flushing fluid container is made detachable and can be separated from the rotating shaft, allowing the rotating shaft to be changed automatically while the flushing fluid container remains with the tool magazine or is independently managed. This segmentation enables automatic tool changing by decoupling the rotation function from the flushing fluid supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the flushing fluid container is positioned within or around the rotating shaft assembly. The container can be nested within the shaft structure or attached to it in a way that allows easy detachment. This nesting approach maintains compactness during machining while enabling quick separation for automatic tool changing operations.
2Device complexity
If manual mounting or removal of flushing component and conductive component is required during shank changing, then the existing system structure is simple, but the machining efficiency is affected and operator workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flushing fluid container, conductive components, and electrode holder into an integrated assembly that can be automatically handled. The container is designed with features that allow it to be automatically coupled or decoupled from the rotating shaft by the tool changing mechanism. This merging of functions into a unified automatically-changeable assembly eliminates manual intervention while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the flushing fluid container and associated components to be pre-positioned or pre-assembled in the tool magazine before tool changing occurs. The container is prepared in advance with proper alignment features, sealing elements, and connection interfaces so that when the automatic tool changing mechanism operates, the entire assembly can be quickly transferred without requiring manual assembly or adjustment during the changing process.
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-hydraulic joint supplying system for electrical machining and supporting automatic tool changing includes an electro-hydraulic joint supplying device and a clamping device. The electro-hydraulic joint supplying device includes an insulator, an electro-hydraulic joint supplying base, an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe terminal, and an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe. The base is fixedly connected with a spindle shell through the insulator. A working fluid pipe connector and a wiring post are arranged on the base; a terminal connector is in a snap-fit with a top end of the electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe terminal. The pipe terminal communicates with a flushing fluid container in an electrical machining electrode shank through an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe. The clamping device includes a first clamping mechanism, a second clamping mechanism, and a cooperation mechanism fixedly connected with the first clamping mechanism or the second clamping mechanism to circumferentially limit the flushing fluid container.