Spindle Assembly Leak Detection for Inclined Rotary Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle units for machining glass, stone, and metal face challenges in detecting water leaks from rotary joints, particularly when the spindle changes inclination or when water remains deposited on detection devices, leading to false alarms and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A spindle unit with a detection system that includes a hollow chamber, a fluid transport device with a main and secondary duct, a rotating joint, and a detection system using capacitive, photoelectric, or acoustic sensors, along with a conveying device to direct leaks to the sensors and a vent valve for evacuation, controlled by a logic unit that sends alarm signals and controls spindle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If detection devices are placed in the hollow chamber to detect water leaks, then leak detection capability is improved, but false detection occurs when water remains deposited on the devices
Solution Approach 1:
A conveying device acts as an intermediary between the hollow chamber and detection devices. It actively transports leaked water from the chamber to the detection devices, ensuring that detection occurs only when actual leaks are present rather than when water merely accumulates on the devices due to gravity or inclination changes.
2Reliability
If detection devices are arranged in the hollow chamber, then leak detection is enabled, but detection fails when the spindle changes inclination during machining
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying device serves as a mediator that actively transports water to the detection devices regardless of the hollow chamber's inclination angle. This active transport mechanism ensures consistent detection performance whether the spindle is horizontal, vertical, or at any intermediate angle during machining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces passive gravitational water flow (mechanical system dependent on inclination) with an active conveying mechanism. This substitution ensures water reaches the detection devices through controlled transport rather than relying on gravity, making detection reliable across all spindle inclination angles.
3Device complexity
If a simple detection device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but detection reliability decreases when water does not deposit on the device
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying device acts as a reliable intermediary that ensures water is delivered to the simple detection device. This combination maintains overall system simplicity while the conveying mechanism guarantees water presence at the detection point, eliminating the reliability issues that would otherwise require complex detection device designs.
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
Enables timely and accurate detection of water leaks, preventing damage to tools and workpieces by ensuring continuous operation and reducing false alarms through effective fluid leak detection and evacuation.
Implementation Method 1
said detection device is one or more capacitive sensors
Implementation Method 2
said detection device is one or more capacitive sensors, or photoelectric sensors
Implementation Method 3
said detection device is one or more capacitive sensors, or photoelectric sensors, or optical sensors, or acoustic sensors
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a spindle unit (M), that can be installed on a machine for machining pieces made of glass, stone, marble, ceramic, metal, composite materials, and the like, including a hollow chamber (1), at least one spindle (2), arranged inside said hollow chamber (1), at the end of which a working tool (21) can be coupled, at least one fluid transport device (3) that can be coupled to convey a fluid, in particular water, towards said at least one spindle (2), a detection system (5), coupled to said hollow chamber (1), capable of conveying any possible leaks of said fluid deriving from said transport device fluids (3) and to detect any such conveyed leaks.