Modular Coolant Supply Unit for Machine Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tool cooling lubricant systems are inflexible and costly due to the need for numerous special adaptations to meet customer requirements, leading to a high variety of variants and increased expenses, particularly for production islands with multiple machines.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool with a device for supplying cooling lubricant, featuring a filter device and low-pressure pump as a separate structural unit, integrated low-pressure and high-pressure pumps, and a return pump, allowing for a unified cooling lubricant supply interface and reduced pipe layout complexity, with the option to integrate additional low-pressure pumps and a pressure-boosting station directly into the machine tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard cooling lubricant systems are adapted to special customer requirements, then customer-specific needs are met, but costs increase and system variety expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cooling lubricant supply interface that can serve multiple machine tools with different requirements. The standardized interface design allows the same basic system architecture to be used across different applications, reducing the need for custom adaptations while maintaining customer-specific functionality through configurable parameters rather than structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling lubricant system is divided into modular components including filter devices, pumps, and distribution units that can be independently configured and combined. This segmentation allows standard modules to be assembled in different configurations to meet various customer needs without creating entirely new system variants, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pressure boosting stations are designed as special units for each machine, then specific machine requirements are met, but costs increase due to purchasing in small numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure boosting station is designed as a universal module that can be applied to multiple different machine tools. By standardizing the pressure boosting interface and components, the same unit can serve different machines with varying requirements, enabling economies of scale in manufacturing and reducing unit costs while maintaining machine-specific adaptability through standardized connection interfaces.
3Ease of manufacture
If pipes are laid on the floor between cooling lubricant unit and machine, then installation is simpler, but it is annoying and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the pipe layout from horizontal floor-level routing to vertical routing through overhead structures and integrated machine tool mounting points. By utilizing the vertical dimension and integrating connection points directly into the machine tool structure, the system eliminates floor-level pipe routing while maintaining installation simplicity through standardized mounting interfaces.
4Ease of operation
If the entire cooling lubricant system is integrated into the machine tool, then flexibility is improved, but adaptability to customer requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling lubricant system is segmented into integrated core components and external configurable components. The filter device and pump are designed as separate structural units that can be integrated into the machine tool, while other components remain externally configurable. This segmentation allows the integrated portions to provide operational flexibility while the external portions maintain customization capability for different customer 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 configuration enables flexible adaptation to customer needs, reduces costs by minimizing variant numbers, and simplifies pipe installation, resulting in a compact, transportable, and cost-effective cooling lubricant system with reduced hydraulic lines and assembly effort.
Implementation Method 1
at least one low-pressure pump (5), which is connected to a low-pressure distributor (7) of the machine tool (1) via a low-pressure line (6)
Implementation Method 2
a high-pressure pump (13), which supplies the machine tool (1) with cooling lubricant at high pressure via a high-pressure line (12)
Implementation Method 3
a return pump (10), which conveys the used cooling lubricant from the collecting container (9) back to the filter device (2) via a return pump line (11)
Implementation Method 4
a filter device (2), in particular with a container (3) and a filter (4)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for supplying coolant lubricant to at least one machine tool (1), in particular a machining center, wherein the device for supplying coolant lubricant is equipped with: • a filter device (2) with reservoir (3), • at least one first low-pressure pump (4), • a low-pressure distributor (7), • a high-pressure pump (13) and • a return pump (10), characterized in that: • the filter device (2) with reservoir (3) and at least one first low-pressure pump (4) are designed as separate units, • the low-pressure distributor (7) and the high-pressure pump (13) are integrated into the machine tool (1), and • the machine tool (1) and the filter device (2) with reservoir (3) are connected to the low-pressure line (6) and the return pump line (11). The invention further relates to a machine tool comprising a device for supplying coolant lubricant.