Machine Tool Mist Collector Cyclone Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of cooling liquids in machine tools leads to scattering and disruption, resulting in inefficiencies, health hazards, and increased costs due to loss and re-circulation issues, as well as contamination of air intakes and respiratory problems from mist formation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an intake, mist filters, and air filters that collect and remove cooling liquid droplets from the mist, allowing for recirculation of the cooling liquid and purification of air, including a housing with a fan, first and second mist filters, and first and second air filters to ensure effective demisting and pollutant removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling liquid is circulated to prevent damage from frictional heating, then the tool and work material are protected from heat damage, but the cooling liquid scatters into droplets and forms mist that causes mess, health hazards, and efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful cooling liquid droplets from the air stream using a cyclone separator. The cyclone separates the cooling liquid from the air by utilizing centrifugal force generated by the rotating air flow, allowing the cooling liquid to be collected in a reservoir while clean air is exhausted. This removes the harmful mist while preserving the beneficial cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the separated cooling liquid from the cyclone separator and returns it to the cooling system reservoir. This allows the cooling liquid to be reused rather than discarded, reducing waste and maintaining the cooling effectiveness while eliminating the mist problem.
2Area of stationary object
If cooling liquid stream is disrupted into droplets, then cooling coverage is increased, but cooling liquid is lost and must be replaced, increasing expense and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator captures the cooling liquid droplets that would otherwise be lost to the environment. The collected liquid is returned to the reservoir for reuse, preventing loss and reducing the need for replacement, thereby lowering costs and maintaining efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a feedback loop where the cooling liquid recovered from the air stream is fed back into the cooling reservoir. This continuous recycling ensures that the cooling liquid is not lost but rather continuously reused, maintaining system efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cooling liquid forms mist that enters air intakes, then cooling liquid is distributed widely, but machine operation is fouled and worker health is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator extracts the cooling liquid droplets from the air stream before the air can enter the machine tool air intakes. This prevents contamination of the air intake system and eliminates the respiratory hazard to workers while maintaining the cooling distribution benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone separator acts as an intermediary device between the cooling liquid spray and the air intake system. It intercepts and separates the cooling liquid droplets, allowing air to pass through cleanly to the machine tool without carrying harmful cooling liquid contaminants.
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 system effectively removes cooling liquid droplets from the mist, recirculates the cooling liquid, and purifies the air, enhancing efficiency, reducing health risks, and minimizing costs by preventing mist-related issues and maintaining machine tool functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A cyclone separator is configured to separate the cooling liquid from the air flow
Implementation Method 2
A fan is configured to move air through the housing
Data Source
AI summary
One example embodiment includes a system for removing cooling liquid from a mist. The system includes an intake, where the intake is configured to receive the cooling mist. The system also includes a mist filter, where the mist filter is configured to remove cooling liquid from the mist. The system further includes an exhaust, where the exhaust is configured to output the demisted air.