Modular Reducing Sleeve Interface for Coolant and Pull-Out Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reducing sleeves for machining tools incur high storage and production costs due to the need for multiple variants to accommodate various machining tasks, and they often require separate coolant supply channels and pull-out safety mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional reducing sleeve with an interface that can be coupled to a sealing unit for coolant supply and a safety unit for pull-out protection, allowing a single sleeve to be used universally across different applications, and a modular system incorporating these units to reduce storage needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple variants of reducing sleeves are produced to accommodate various machining tasks, then adaptability is improved, but storage costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reducing sleeve is designed with a universal interface at its second end that can be coupled to different units (sealing unit, safety unit, coolant supply unit) depending on the machining task. This allows a single reducing sleeve body to perform multiple functions by simply changing the coupled unit, eliminating the need to produce and store multiple reducing sleeve variants while maintaining full adaptability across different machining applications
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple variants of reducing sleeves are produced to accommodate various machining tasks, then adaptability is improved, but storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a universal reducing sleeve with a standardized interface that accepts different functional units, the system allows one reducing sleeve to replace multiple specialized sleeves. This dramatically reduces the quantity of reducing sleeves that need to be stored while maintaining the ability to adapt to various machining tasks by selecting the appropriate functional unit
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate coolant supply channels are integrated into the reducing sleeve, then coolant supply function is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant supply functionality is segmented into a separate, interchangeable unit that couples to the reducing sleeve via the universal interface. This allows the coolant supply channel to be provided either in the reducing sleeve or in the coupled unit, offering flexibility without permanently increasing the complexity of the base reducing sleeve design
Data Source
AI summary
A reducing sleeve for fastening a machining tool in a tool holder is described. The reducing sleeve includes a reducing sleeve body, which has a first tool-side end and a second tool holder-side end. In addition, at least one coolant supply channel is provided in the reducing sleeve body. In one embodiment, a safety unit with a pull-out safety geometry has a sealing element, such as an O-ring, to selectively direct coolant through coolant holes in the safety unit and the at least one coolant supply channel or alternatively through a central coolant channel. In this embodiment, a multifunctional interface, and additional O-ring and a sealing unit are not required. A modular reducing sleeve assembly includes a reducing sleeve and a safety unit as separate parts. In addition, a machining assembly including a tool holder, a reducing sleeve, and a machining tool is described.