Wire Electrical Discharge Machine Pump Control for Fluid Freezing Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The working fluid in a wire electrical discharge machine may freeze when the control device is in a power-off state, posing a challenge for maintaining operational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pump, numerical control device, temperature acquisition unit, and power supply control unit to monitor and switch the device to a power-on state when the temperature falls below a predetermined level, ensuring the working fluid remains unfrozen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the numerical control device is kept in power-off state to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the working fluid may freeze

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidworking fluid freezing prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The numerical control device automatically monitors its own operational state and triggers power-on when temperature conditions indicate freezing risk, enabling self-protection without external intervention. The device serves itself by detecting its vulnerable state (power-off with cold temperature) and autonomously resolving it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature acquisition unit continuously monitors environmental or working fluid temperature and feeds this information back to the power supply control unit. When the feedback indicates temperature below the predetermined threshold, the power supply control unit responds by switching to power-on state, creating a closed-loop feedback system for freezing prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the pump is continuously operated to prevent working fluid freezing, then freezing is prevented, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking fluid freezing preventionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous pump operation, the system employs periodic action by only activating the pump when temperature conditions warrant it. The pump operates intermittently based on temperature triggers, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining adequate freezing protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of the pump from continuous operation to conditional operation based on temperature parameters. By monitoring temperature as a controlling parameter, the pump's operational state changes dynamically, operating only when temperature falls below the predetermined threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the numerical control device automatically switches to power-on state when temperature is low, then working fluid freezing is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking fluid freezing preventionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature acquisition unit and power supply control unit are integrated into the existing numerical control device architecture. By merging these functions into the control device rather than adding completely separate systems, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving automatic freezing prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4406683A1Wire electrical discharge machine, and method for controlling wire electrical discharge machine
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 FANUC LTD
  • EP4406683A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4406683A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4406683A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wire electrical discharge machine (20) comprises: pumps (312, 314, 316, 318); a numerical value control device (212) including a pump control unit (620) that controls the pumps to drive the pumps when a power supply is in an ON state; a temperature acquisition unit (710) that acquires an environmental temperature (TP) or working fluid temperature (TP); and a power supply control unit (720) that switches the numerical value control device to the power supply ON state when the numerical value control device is in a power supply OFF state, and the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature (STP).