Machine Tool Air Cooling via Rotor Fan Negative Pressure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tools face suboptimal air distribution and cooling, leading to compromised robustness and design, with particles entering the tool via the air cooling system, potentially reducing the service life of internal components.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool with a fan on the rotor generating a cooling airflow independent of the housing, guiding it through internal components in a specific sequence to optimize cooling and prevent particle ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If housing parts are used for air distribution and cooling, then the cooling system can be integrated into the housing structure, but the robustness, appearance, and protection functions of the housing are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of cooling systemVSAvoidhousing robustness and protection function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the cooling function from the housing structure by introducing a dedicated cooling device with fan and air guide. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain its original robustness and protective functions while the cooling system independently performs air distribution and cooling tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary cooling device that acts as a mediator between the motor components and the external environment. This cooling device handles all air intake and distribution functions, preventing direct interaction between the housing and the cooling airflow, thus preserving housing integrity while achieving effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If air cooling is implemented through housing components, then cooling can be provided, but particles can enter the machine tool and reduce component service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent coolingVSAvoidcomponent service life
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide serves as an intermediary component that directs airflow through designated paths. It acts as a barrier that prevents particles from entering the internal space while still allowing cooling air to reach the motor and electronics, thus protecting components without compromising cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the particle protection function from the housing and assigns it to the cooling device and air guide. By separating this protective function into the cooling system, the housing can focus on its structural role while the cooling system independently handles both cooling and particle prevention tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If housing parts are designed for air distribution, then cooling function is achieved, but design compromises are made between function, construction, and appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair distribution functionVSAvoiddesign compromises
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air distribution function into a dedicated cooling device with its own fan and air guide components. This allows the housing to maintain its original design for appearance and structural integrity, while the cooling device independently handles air distribution without requiring design compromises in the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling device is designed to be self-contained with its own airflow generation and distribution mechanisms. The fan and air guide work together as an integrated cooling unit that serves itself, eliminating the need for the housing to be modified for air distribution purposes and thus avoiding design compromises.

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 solution provides efficient, housing-independent air cooling, protecting internal components from dust and particles, enhancing the machine tool's robustness and compactness while extending component life.

Implementation Method 1

a fan (40) arranged on a rotor (37) of the motor (5), which is designed to create a negative pressure such that an airflow generated by the negative pressure cools the components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

an airflow generated by the negative pressure cools the components of the machine tool in the order a) to d) of their appearance above

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4255671B1Machine tool with air cooling and method for cooling components of a machine tool
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 HILTI AG
  • EP4255671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4255671B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4255671B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a machine tool having air cooling. In the context of the invention, special air guidance is proposed with which a cooling air stream can flow around the components of the machine tool, such as motor, transmission or electronics of the machine tool, particularly efficiently and cooled in this manner. The cooling should be more particularly independent of any components of the housing of the machine tool, because the air guidance is effected advantageously by internal steering processes, wherein said internal steering processes run preferably independently of components of the housing of the machine tool. The housing-independent air cooling of the components of the machine tool is achieved more particularly by the provision of a fan on a rotor of the motor of the machine tool, which fan is configured to generate by means of a negative pressure a cooling air stream and guide same in a suitable manner through the machine tool. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for cooling components of a machine tool.