Air-Cooled Grinding Wheel Eccentric Loading Plate Dust Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current grinding machines face challenges in productivity, occupational safety, and energy efficiency due to the spread of grinding dust and exhaust air, complex cooling systems, and high consumption of cooling fluids, particularly when dealing with spring end grinding processes.

Innovation Solution

A grinding machine design featuring a turntable with eccentrically mounted loading plates and two grinding disks, an inner grinding chamber with a pivotable door for improved dust containment and cooling fluid alignment, and an outer chamber for enhanced safety and productivity, along with adjustable cooling devices to optimize cooling performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling fluids are supplied to the grinding zone using conventional methods, then cooling effect is achieved, but cooling fluid consumption is high and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding zone temperatureVSAvoidcooling fluid consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and utilizes the natural airflow already present in the grinding machine by positioning outlet openings on the inner grinding chamber door to direct ambient air into the grinding zone, eliminating the need for additional cooling fluid supply systems and reducing cooling fluid consumption while maintaining effective cooling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner grinding chamber door is designed with multiple functions: it provides access to the grinding zone, contains grinding dust, and serves as a cooling device through its outlet openings that direct airflow to the grinding zone, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the grinding chamber is fully enclosed to contain dust, then occupational safety improves, but access to the loading area is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding dust spreadVSAvoidloading area accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding chamber is segmented into an inner grinding chamber that can be independently opened via the inner grinding chamber door, allowing access to the loading area while the outer grinding chamber remains closed to contain grinding dust, thus maintaining both safety and operational accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner grinding chamber door is designed to be dynamically openable and closable, allowing the system to transition between a fully enclosed state for dust containment and an accessible state for loading operations, adapting to different operational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Temperature

If cooling devices are fixed in position, then system complexity is reduced, but cooling effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece cooling effectivenessVSAvoidcooling device adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is designed with adjustable outlet openings that can be positioned at different angles and locations on the inner grinding chamber door, allowing the airflow direction to be dynamically adjusted to optimize cooling effectiveness for different workpiece positions and grinding conditions without requiring complex movable cooling systems

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 design effectively limits the spread of dust and heat, enhances air flow for better dust removal, increases productivity, and reduces cooling fluid consumption, while improving occupational safety and energy efficiency by containing dust and noise within the inner chamber and optimizing cooling fluid usage.

Implementation Method 1

a first cooling device which has at least one outflow opening for a cooling fluid which is directed towards the grinding zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

Cooling the grinding wheels or workpieces enables significantly higher stock removal rates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2926948B9Air-cooling grinding wheels and loading plate of spring end grinding machine
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 OMD OFFICINA MECCANICA DOMASO
  • EP2926948B9 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2926948B9 patent drawingFigure 1c
  • EP2926948B9 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

The invention solves the problem of providing a grinding machine that offers higher productivity, occupational safety, and energy efficiency. In particular, the design and equipment of the grinding machine are improved with regard to the dispersion of grinding dust and exhaust air from the grinding process, the cooling effect is increased, and the consumption of cooling fluid is reduced. This is achieved by a grinding machine (1) comprising: - a rotary table (10) rotatably mounted about a rotary axis (A), - at least one loading plate (11) for loading workpieces (12), in particular coil springs, which is rotatably mounted eccentrically in the rotary table (10) about a rotary axis (B), wherein the rotary axes (A, B) of the rotary table (10) and the loading plate (11) are parallel to each other, and the loading plate (11) can be moved from a loading position (L) to a grinding position (S) by rotating the rotary table (10).- a grinding unit (13) with at least one grinding wheel (14) rotatably mounted about a rotary axis (C), wherein the rotary axis (C) of the grinding wheel (14) is substantially parallel to the rotary axis (B) of the loading table (11) and the grinding wheel (14) comes into grinding contact with at least one workpiece (12) in a grinding zone (15) when the loading table (11) loaded with workpieces is in a grinding position (S), - an inner grinding chamber (16) enclosing the grinding zone (15), - an outer grinding chamber (17) at least partially enclosing an inner grinding chamber (16), wherein the inner grinding chamber (16) has at least one inner grinding chamber door (18) which, in a closed state (G), separates the outer grinding chamber (17) from the grinding zone (15). Furthermore, the grinding machine (1) can be equipped with first, second, and third cooling devices (20, 21, 22) for cooling the workpieces.