Grinding Wheel Coolant Delivery via Radial Flow Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional milling machines with axial coolant feed are incompatible with grinding wheels, leading to coolant deprivation and inefficiencies in grinding operations, which increases the time and expense of workpiece fabrication by requiring additional tool changes and setups.
Innovation Solution
A grinding wheel with an annular grinding face and a tubular inner wall configured to convey coolant downstream, coupled with a flange that directs coolant radially outward through a fluid flow passage to the grinding face, ensuring a laminar coolant flow and improving coolant distribution and tool life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure axial coolant feed is used from the spindle, then coolant delivery to the cutting head is effective for milling operations, but coolant flow is incompatible with grinding wheels and causes coolant deprivation
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant delivery system is segmented into multiple pathways: an axial bore for coolant entry, and multiple radial passages that distribute coolant to different zones of the grinding wheel. This segmentation allows the single axial coolant source to be divided into multiple targeted delivery points, resolving the incompatibility between axial feed and radial grinding requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant delivery transitions from a single-dimensional axial flow to multi-dimensional distribution by incorporating radial passages that extend outward from the axial bore. This dimensional change enables coolant to reach the grinding wheel periphery and face, making the system adaptable to grinding operations while maintaining axial feed from the spindle.
2Productivity
If conventional milling machines with axial coolant feed are used for grinding operations, then existing equipment can be utilized, but grinding wheels suffer from coolant deprivation and reduced tool life
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding wheel hub and body structure serve as an intermediary coolant distribution system. The axial bore in the hub receives coolant from the spindle, while radial passages within the wheel body act as intermediate conduits to deliver coolant to the grinding face and periphery. This intermediary structure bridges the gap between axial coolant feed and radial cooling requirements, preventing tool life reduction.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple discrete fabrication steps including separate milling and grinding operations are used, then precision surface requirements can be met, but time and expense increase due to extra tool changes and setups
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges milling and grinding operations into a single hybrid tool that can perform both functions. The tool combines a milling cutter body with a grinding wheel, allowing roughing and finishing operations to be completed without changing tools. This eliminates multiple setups and tool changes, reducing fabrication time while maintaining precision surface quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding wheel tool is designed with multi-functionality to perform both milling and grinding operations. The tool can switch between roughing (milling) and finishing (grinding) modes, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized tools. This universality reduces the number of discrete fabrication steps while maintaining the ability to meet tight dimensional tolerances and surface finish requirements.
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
This solution enables efficient grinding operations on conventional milling machines, reducing tool life issues and the need for multiple tool changes, allowing for precision grinding in one or two passes instead of multiple steps, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The inner wall is coupled to a concave body portion terminating at an inner periphery of the annular grinding face. A flange having an outer periphery disposed within about 20 mm of the inner periphery of the grinding face, is disposed within the concave body portion, in superposed orientation therewith, to define a fluid flow passage between the flange and the concave body portion.
Implementation Method 2
The fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with the axial bore and with the grinding face, so that during operable rotation of the grinding wheel, coolant flowing downstream through the bore is conveyed radially outward into the fluid flow passage for delivery to the grinding face.
Implementation Method 3
delivering coolant to the grinding face in a substantially laminar flow
Implementation Method 4
coolant flowing downstream through the bore is conveyed radially outward into the fluid flow passage for delivery to the grinding face
Data Source
AI summary
An abrasive grinding wheel having an annular grinding face depending from a substantially circular body includes a tubular inner wall which defines an axial bore configured to convey coolant in a downstream direction therethrough. The inner wall is coupled to a concave body portion terminating at an inner periphery of the annular grinding face. A flange having an outer periphery disposed, in representative embodiments, within about 20 mm of the inner periphery of the grinding face, is superposed with the concave body portion, to define a fluid flow passage between the flange and the concave body portion. The fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with the axial bore and with the grinding face, so that during operable rotation of the grinding wheel, coolant flowing downstream through the bore is conveyed radially outward into the fluid flow passage for delivery to the grinding face.