Tool Clamping with Integrated Fluid Channels for Cooling Duct Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping devices for tools, particularly those with cooling channels, are not efficiently designed for simple preparation, cleaning, and testing, as they lack effective mechanisms for clamping and fluid supply to check or clean the channels.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with a housing and tool holder that includes a fluid channel for supplying cleaning media to the tool, featuring clamping jaws actuated by a piston and a support element to ensure secure clamping and prevent foreign body penetration, allowing for easy insertion and removal of tools with varying diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamping device is designed to securely clamp tools, then clamping reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components needed for fluid supply and tool preparation functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (clamping, fluid supply, tool preparation, cleaning, and testing) into a single integrated clamping device. The housing incorporates both the clamping mechanism with clamping jaws and the fluid supply system with fluid channels, eliminating the need for separate clamping and fluid supply devices. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable clamping through the interconnection of these functions within one device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device is designed as a multi-functional unit that can perform clamping, fluid supply, tool preparation, cleaning, and testing operations. The same device structure serves multiple purposes: the housing provides both mechanical clamping and fluid pathways, and the tool holder accommodates various tool types while enabling fluid access to cooling channels. This universality allows one device to replace multiple separate devices, reducing complexity.
2Productivity
If fluid supply channels are integrated into the clamping device, then tool preparation and cleaning efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional segments: the housing forms the external structure, the tool holder is a separate component that interfaces with tools, and the fluid channels are integrated pathways within the housing and tool holder. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using appropriate processes, then assembled together. The fluid channels are formed as integrated features within the housing structure, enabling efficient fluid supply for tool preparation and cleaning while maintaining manufacturability through modular assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clamping device is designed to accommodate tools with different diameters, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to adjustable components
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device incorporates dynamic elements including an actuating element that can move the clamping jaws between clamped and unclamped positions, and a support element that can adjust its position axially. These dynamic components allow the device to adapt to tools of varying diameters by adjusting the clamping jaw positioning and support element location, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-size devices. The adjustable nature of these components enables the same device structure to handle different tool sizes efficiently.
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 efficient clamping, cleaning, and testing of tools by allowing fluid to be introduced into cooling channels, preventing foreign body entry and ensuring tool preparation, while maintaining a compact and user-friendly design.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping jaws (16) are acted upon by an actuating element (22) with a clamping force
Implementation Method 2
a fluid channel (12) for supplying the tool with a fluid or a blocking medium or a cleaning medium
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a clamping device for clamping a cylindrical tool, a fluid channel being provided in the clamping device, by which fluid can be fed into at least one cooling duct of the tool. The invention also relates to a method for the clamping device, by which the tool is checked and/or can be cleaned and/or by which fluid can be fed as a blocking means. The invention further relates to a use of the clamping device, which provides a checking of the tool and/or cleaning of the tool and/or a feed of the tool with a blocking means.