Spring End Grinding Machine Protective Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing spring end grinding machines face issues with machine availability and quality due to the deposition of wear products and material removed during the grinding process, which leads to increased production time and costs, as well as potential damage to the machine and tools.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a spring end grinding machine with protective devices made from inorganic non-ferrous materials, such as copper, aluminum, or ceramic coatings, to reduce or prevent the adhesion and deposition of ferrous particles on surfaces within the machine, thereby maintaining machine availability and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If regular cleaning with chisel is performed to remove deposits, then deposit accumulation is reduced, but production time is reduced and personnel are tied up

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposit accumulationVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device made of inorganic non-ferrous material enables the machine surfaces to protect themselves automatically by preventing adhesion of ferrous particles, eliminating the need for regular manual cleaning interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device is a cost-effective solution that can be easily replaced when worn, providing continuous protection against deposit formation without requiring expensive maintenance procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If protective device made from inorganic non-ferrous material is used, then adhesion of ferrous particles is reduced, but machine cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion of ferrous particlesVSAvoidmachine cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device is applied only to specific surfaces within the machine that are exposed to particle streams and prone to deposit formation, rather than treating the entire machine, thereby limiting the additional cost to only where necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device uses inorganic non-ferrous materials that combine the properties of being non-ferrous (resistant to ferrous particle adhesion) with mechanical strength sufficient to withstand the grinding environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If deposits are removed regularly, then quality of ground compression springs is maintained, but machine availability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of ground compression springsVSAvoidmachine availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device creates a self-maintaining system where surfaces automatically resist deposit adhesion through their material properties, ensuring consistent grinding quality without interrupting machine operation for cleaning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 use of non-ferrous materials significantly reduces the adhesion of ferrous particles, preventing permanent deposits and facilitating easy removal, thus enhancing machine efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

a surface formed by an inorganic non-ferrous material. The surface properties are thus partly determined by the material properties of the non-ferrous material... iron-containing particles adhere significantly less strongly to a surface formed by an inorganic non-ferrous material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion reduction: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2732915B1Spring end grinding machine with protection device
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 WAFIOS AKTIENGES
  • EP2732915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2732915B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The spring end grinding machine (100) has a grinding unit (120) with a grinding wheel pair with two rotatable grinding disks (130,140), between which a grinding space (135) is formed. A protective unit is mounted at a position of the spring end grinding machine, where the position is obtainable by the particle stream. An upper surface of the protective unit is made from an inorganic non-ferrous material which contains copper, aluminum or zinc. The non-ferrous metal is a brass metal alloy.