Shrink-Fit Chuck Cooling Device Liquid Bath Separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shrink chuck cooling devices experience significant loss of coolant, leading to inefficient cooling and environmental contamination due to the lack of effective separation of coolant from air streams during the cooling process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a liquid bath separator within the suction device to separate coolant from air streams, utilizing a liquid container with specific inlet and suction configurations, and additional separating elements to minimize losses and purify the coolant, allowing for its reuse with minimal waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air is drawn in through a gap between the cooling head and shrink-fit chuck for cooling purposes, then cooling effect is improved, but coolant loss increases due to escape through the extraction system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcoolant loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A liquid bath separator is introduced as an intermediary component between the suction device and the environment. The separator uses a liquid barrier to prevent coolant-laden air from directly escaping into the environment, forcing the air through a controlled path where coolant can be recovered. This mediator resolves the contradiction by maintaining the cooling airflow while preventing coolant loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the coolant that escapes with the air stream, the system recovers it through the liquid bath separator. The separator design allows coolant to be collected from the exhaust air and returned to the cooling system, transforming a loss scenario into a recovery scenario that maintains coolant availability while preserving the effective cooling airflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Temperature

If liquid coolant is added to the airflow to enhance cooling effect, then cooling performance is improved, but separation of coolant from air becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidseparation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid bath separator utilizes hydraulic principles where a liquid barrier (water or other liquid) is used to separate and recover coolant from the air stream. The design employs liquid-level control, inlet pipes positioned below the liquid surface, and overflow mechanisms that leverage fluid dynamics to achieve automatic separation without complex mechanical moving parts. This hydraulic approach simplifies the separation process while maintaining effective coolant recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Loss of substance

If coolant is supplied precisely controlled to be carried away completely, then coolant loss is reduced, but cooling effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant lossVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid bath separator creates a feedback loop where coolant that would otherwise be lost is captured and returned to the cooling system. The separator continuously monitors and recovers coolant from the exhaust stream, feeding it back into the available coolant supply. This feedback mechanism ensures that coolant is not lost while maintaining adequate coolant availability for effective cooling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution significantly reduces coolant loss and ensures effective cooling by efficiently separating and recycling the coolant, maintaining its purity and preventing contamination, thereby optimizing coolant usage and environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

The coolant flow drawn in via the suction device can thus be passed through a liquid bath. This allows the water or other additional coolant supplied to an air stream or other carrier gas stream to be separated from the air or carrier gas stream in a particularly effective manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid separation: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Implementation Method 2

the drawn-in air rises, it passes over the clamping area of ​​the shrink-fit chuck and cools it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3479952B1Cooling device for shrink-fit chuck tool holder
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 HAIMER
  • EP3479952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3479952B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3479952B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a shrink-fit cooling device comprising a cooling element (1) that can be mounted on a shrink-fit die (66), a device (58, 59, 60) for supplying a coolant to the cooling element (1), and an extraction device (4) connected to the cooling element (1). To enable the most effective cooling possible with reduced coolant loss, the extraction device (4) includes a liquid bath separator (32).