Belt Grinding Tool Drive Pulley Cooling Airflow Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional belt-type grinding tools inadequately cool the endless grinding belt, leading to potential rupture due to excessive heat at the bonded adhesive areas.

Innovation Solution

A belt-type grinding tool design featuring a fan integrated within the drive pulley's outer peripheral portion to generate airflow that passes through both inside and outside the pulley, directly cooling the endless grinding belt and preventing heat-induced rupture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a fan is provided on the driving roller to cool the bearings and shaft, then the bearings and shaft are cooled effectively, but the endless grinding belt is not cooled sufficiently leading to potential rupture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature of bearings and shaftVSAvoidreliability of endless grinding belt
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling function is segmented into two independent airflow paths: one path cools the bearings and shaft through the driving roller interior, while the other path cools the endless grinding belt directly through the drive pulley exterior. This segmentation allows each component to receive dedicated cooling without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between bearing cooling effectiveness and belt cooling sufficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dedicated cooling air passage is introduced as an intermediary structure that channels cooling air directly to the endless grinding belt. This passage includes a cooling air inlet, a cooling air passage extending along the outer peripheral portion, and a cooling air outlet, forming a complete intermediary cooling system that bridges the gap between the fan and the belt surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the endless grinding belt is pressed against the material to grind, then grinding function is achieved, but friction heat causes the belt to overheat and potentially rupture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature of endless grinding belt
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Cooling air is supplied to the endless grinding belt before the heat from friction can cause excessive temperature rise. The cooling air passage is positioned to deliver cool air to the belt surface in advance, creating a temperature buffer that prevents the belt from reaching rupture temperatures during high-friction grinding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling air flows continuously along the entire length of the outer peripheral portion of the drive pulley, maintaining constant cooling of the endless grinding belt throughout the grinding operation. This continuous cooling action ensures that heat generated during prolonged grinding is constantly dissipated, preventing cumulative heat buildup that could lead to belt rupture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 tool efficiently cools both the drive pulley and the endless grinding belt, effectively preventing adhesive melting and belt rupture, enhancing operational safety and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

a fan at least partially disposed radially inside the outer peripheral portion, the fan being configured to rotate together with the drive pulley to generate a flow of air passing through inside the outer peripheral portion in the direction of a rotation axis of the drive pulley

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an airflow path provided in the accommodating space, the airflow path extending from the inner opening portion to pass through inside the outer peripheral portion and turning around the other side end edge of the outer peripheral portion to pass through outside the outer peripheral portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection cooling: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3785848B1Belt type grinding tool
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 NITTO KOHKI CO LTD
  • EP3785848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785848B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785848B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Technical Problem] Provided is a belt-type grinding tool configured to be capable of cooling an endless grinding belt even more efficiently. [Solution to Problem] The belt-type grinding tool 10 includes a fan 36 disposed inside an outer peripheral portion 28 of a drive pulley 22. The belt-type grinding tool 10 has airflow paths 68 formed therein which extend from inner opening portions 62 of a cover 52 to pass through inside the outer peripheral portion 28 and through through-holes 46 in the drive pulley 22 and which turn around a side end edge 28b of the outer peripheral portion 28 to pass through outside the outer peripheral portion 28 to reach outer opening portions 64 of the cover 52. When the fan 36 is rotated, together with the drive pulley 22, the outside air is sucked into an accommodating space 58 from the inner opening portions 62. The air flows along the airflow paths 68 and is discharged to the outside of the accommodating space 58 from the outer opening portions 64. The drive pulley 22 and the endless grinding belt 24 are efficiently cooled by the air.