Spindle Drum Cooling Channel Segmentation for Thermal Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-spindle lathes face challenges in uniformly cooling the spindle drum to minimize thermal displacements and optimize heat dissipation from spindle motors.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a cooling channel system with multiple parallel sub-channel systems that discharge liquid cooling medium into an annular space around the spindle drum, allowing for adjustable cooling capacity across different heat input areas, with sub-channel systems arranged to optimize cooling efficiency and minimize radial expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a cooling channel system is implemented in the spindle drum, then heat dissipation from spindle motors is improved, but uniform cooling across different sections is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoiduniform cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling channel system is divided into multiple independent sub-channel systems, each responsible for cooling a specific section of the spindle drum. This segmentation allows each sub-channel to be optimized for its local heat dissipation requirements, achieving uniform cooling across the entire spindle drum while maintaining effective heat removal from all spindle motors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each sub-channel system is designed with locally adapted cooling capacity to match the heat input of its corresponding spindle motor section. The cooling channels are configured with varying dimensions, lengths, or flow rates to provide appropriate cooling intensity for each specific location, ensuring optimal temperature control throughout the spindle drum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If sub-channel systems are arranged to enclose the spindle motor mount, then cooling coverage is improved, but radial expansion of the spindle drum increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidradial expansion
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of expanding the cooling channels radially outward from the spindle motor mount, the sub-channel systems are arranged axially along the spindle drum. This dimensional change allows the cooling channels to enclose and cool the motor mounts effectively while maintaining a compact radial profile of the spindle drum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling channels are nested within the existing structural walls and webbing of the spindle drum. The sub-channel systems are integrated into the drum's wall structure, utilizing the available space between the outer and inner surfaces of the drum walls, thereby achieving comprehensive cooling coverage without increasing the overall radial dimensions of the spindle drum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Loss of energy

If multiple sub-channel systems are arranged in successive areas, then cooling efficiency is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wall webs of the spindle drum serve dual functions: they provide structural support for the drum and simultaneously act as the walls containing the cooling channels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional structural elements, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling efficient cooling through the multiple sub-channel systems arranged in successive areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution provides efficient and uniform cooling of the spindle drum, allowing for specific heat management in different sections, reducing thermal displacements, and optimizing heat dissipation while maintaining a cost-effective and space-saving design.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid cooling medium provides efficient cooling of the spindle drum via the cooling channel system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the sub-channel systems discharge the liquid cooling medium into an annular space for cooling medium that encloses the spindle drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the flow of cooling medium through the different sub-channel systems can be adjusted by throttle elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow restriction: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP3023194B1Multiple spindle rotating machine
Publication Date: 2018.05.09 INDEX WERKE GMBH & CO KG HAHN & TESSKY
  • EP3023194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3023194B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3023194B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multi-spindle lathe comprising a machine frame (12), a spindle drum (14) arranged in the machine frame (12) and rotatable about a spindle drum axis (16), the spindle drum being at least partially constructed from segments (80) cut from flat material in a stacking direction (82) parallel to the spindle drum axis (16) and extending in stacking planes (88) transversely to the stacking direction (82) with overlapping receiving cutouts (90) and cooling channel cutouts (92, 96, 106), such that the spindle drum (14) has spindle motor mounts (30) for spindle motors (32) and a cooling channel system (120, 130, 180) separated from it by wall webs (98), characterized in that the cooling channel system has several parallel-fed sub-channel systems (120, 130, 180) for a liquid cooling medium, and that the sub-channel systems (120, 130, 180) discharge the liquid cooling medium into an annular space (170) surrounding the spindle drum (14) for cooling medium.