Rotary Table Cover with Labyrinth Seal and Air Blowing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary table assemblies in machine tools face issues with fine chips adhering to seal members and other parts, leading to reduced sealing performance and potential intrusion of cutting fluids and chips into the machine tool, especially during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A rotary table assembly with a cover and a labyrinth seal between the cover and the workpiece mounting table, along with disk-shaped plates and air inlet ports to prevent chip adhesion and enhance sealability by using air flow to maintain seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is disposed at the sliding portion of the rotary table, then sealing performance is improved, but fine chips adhere to the seal member causing wear and reduced sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful chips from the sealing area by introducing a blowing hole that directs airflow to remove chips before they can adhere to the seal member. This separates the chip removal function from the sealing function, allowing the seal member to maintain its performance without chip contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic action by introducing compressed air through the blowing hole to create an air stream that blows chips away from the seal member. This pneumatic chip removal mechanism prevents chip adhesion while maintaining the sealing function of the seal member.
2Ease of repair
If the rotary table is disassembled for maintenance, then chip removal is possible, but chips may get into the machine tool and time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary chip removal action during normal operation by continuously blowing air through the blowing hole to prevent chip accumulation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming disassembly during maintenance and prevents chips from entering the machine tool interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service chip removal system where the rotary table automatically removes chips during operation through the blowing hole and airflow mechanism, without requiring external intervention or disassembly for chip removal.
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 prevents chips from adhering to the rotary table and seal members, maintaining seal performance and preventing foreign matter intrusion, thereby ensuring efficient operation and easier maintenance by reducing chip accumulation and fluid ingress.
Implementation Method 1
an air seal ring is disposed between a body and a table rotator of a rotary table, thereby preventing intrusion of foreign matter between the body and the table rotator
Implementation Method 2
a rotating base of a rotating device is grooved to form a labyrinth seal, in order to suppress intrusion of foreign matter into a housing that supports a rotating shaft for rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary table assembly is provided with a rotary table with a workpiece mounting table on one end of a rotating shaft and a cover covering the rotary table. A seal member is disposed between the cover and the workpiece mounting table, thereby preventing foreign matter, such as chips, from adhering to the rotary table.