Pre-sealing Unit Fluid Distribution for Wire-EDM

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pre-sealing units for wire-cut electric discharge machines face challenges in evenly distributing clean working fluid, leading to inefficient contaminant discharge and reduced filter life due to uneven fluid distribution and contamination adhesion.

Innovation Solution

A pre-sealing unit with a bellows cover featuring multiple openings along its longitudinal direction, allowing for uniform fluid distribution and introduction of clean working fluid under pressure, ensuring efficient contaminant discharge and extended filter life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clean working fluid is supplied through a fluid supply pipe to the pre-sealing unit, then contaminants can be discharged by introducing clean working fluid under higher pressure, but it is difficult to equally distribute the working fluid into the pre-sealing unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant discharge effectivenessVSAvoidfluid distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid supply system is segmented by providing multiple supply ports (first supply port and second supply port) at different locations on the bellows cover. This segmentation allows clean working fluid to be supplied to different regions of the pre-sealing unit simultaneously, achieving uniform distribution throughout the space and resolving the contradiction between effective contaminant discharge and uniform fluid distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple openings are provided on the bellows cover for fluid supply, then uniform fluid distribution is achieved, but the structural complexity of the bellows cover increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid distribution uniformityVSAvoidbellows cover structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows cover is designed with multiple openings that function as porous structures, allowing clean working fluid to pass through and distribute uniformly into the pre-sealing unit. This approach achieves uniform fluid distribution while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the openings are integrated into the existing bellows cover geometry rather than requiring separate complex distribution mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 modified pre-sealing unit ensures uniform distribution of clean working fluid, effectively discharging contaminants and maintaining filter durability by adjusting water currents and maintaining fluid levels within the working tank.

Implementation Method 1

a bellows unit having an operating range corresponding to the range of movement of the movable table

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

introduces a clean working fluid into a space defined by the sealing mechanism and the partition unit, under a pressure higher than the pressure of the working fluid present outside the space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2567771B1Pre-sealing unit for wire-cut electric discharge machine
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 FANUC LTD
  • EP2567771B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2567771B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2567771B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sealing mechanism is disposed in a lower-arm insertion portion of a working tank (1) of a wire-cut electric discharge machine, and a pre-sealing unit (P) is attached to the sealing mechanism. The pre-sealing unit includes bellows unit (4) and partition unit (2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 13) which surrounds the sealing mechanism from within the working tank. Further, a supply pipe (8) formed with a plurality of openings directed to the sealing mechanism is located at the upper part of the bellows unit (4), and a working fluid is introduced into the pre-sealing unit (P) through the openings of the supply pipe (8).