Rotating Polishing Disk Cooling With Airfoil Vanes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polishing machines generate extreme heat during operations, potentially damaging the working surface and equipment, and existing cooling solutions are not effective in preventing heat-related issues like swirl marks and paint burns.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device with a housing and shroud assembly that uses airfoiled vanes to create a pressurized chamber, accelerating air through vents to cool the polishing pad and work surface, attached to a rotating backing plate with a hub and foam pad for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotary buffer is used for fast paint defect removal, then polishing efficiency is improved, but heat generation increases causing paint burns and swirl marks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing efficiencyVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A fan assembly is introduced as an intermediary cooling device between the polishing pad and work surface. The fan assembly includes a fan blade that draws air through a housing and directs it through the polishing pad to the work surface, serving as a mediator to remove heat generated during polishing without interfering with the polishing action itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system utilizes pneumatic principles by using a rotating fan blade to create air pressure differential, drawing ambient air through the housing and forcing it through the polishing pad via pressure differential. This pneumatic flow system efficiently removes heat from the work surface during polishing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If random orbital machines are used to reduce heat and improve safety, then paint burn risk is reduced, but polishing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaint burn riskVSAvoidpolishing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The polishing system is segmented into two independent functional components: the polishing mechanism (backing plate with pad) that provides mechanical action, and the cooling mechanism (fan assembly) that provides active cooling. This segmentation allows the polishing machine to maintain high-speed rotation while the separate cooling system removes heat, achieving both high productivity and low heat damage risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If dual action machines are used for controlled polishing, then operator skill requirement is reduced, but heat generation still occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator skill requirementVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fan assembly serves as an intermediary cooling device that actively removes heat generated during dual action polishing. The housing directs air flow through the polishing pad, and the fan blade creates the necessary pressure differential to maintain continuous cooling, mediating between the mechanical polishing action and heat accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively cools the polishing pad and work surface during rotation, reducing the risk of heat damage and improving safety by preventing swirl marks and paint burns.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of vanes are shaped as airfoils. The vanes have a rounded leading edge and a sharp trailing edge. Each vane extends from the shroud opening to a periphery of the separator plate.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirfoil: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 2

A plurality of vanes are positioned between the shroud and the separating plate. The plurality of vanes draw air into the cooling device.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3785850B1Cooling device for a rotating polishing disk
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 LAKE COUNTRY TOOL LLC
  • EP3785850B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785850B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3785850B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A cooling device for a rotating machine has a fan assembly coupled with a backing plate. A hub, on the backing plate, secures the cooling device with a shaft. The backing plate includes one or more vents to enable air to exit the cooling device. The fan includes an opening to enable air to enter the cooling device. A chamber is formed between the fan assembly and the backing plate. During rotation, air is drawn into the opening. The air is passed into the chamber and exits through the vents to cool a work surface or working pad attached to the backing plate.