Apparatus and method of cryogenic cooling for high-energy cutting operations

A method for controlling cooling of a cutting tool during a cutting operation, comprising the steps of:

• providing a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• delivering a flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool;
• and
• regulating the flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool at a substantially uniform mass flowrate, whereby a frost coating is maintained on at least a portion of the cutting tool during substantially all of the cutting operation in an atmosphere having an ambient relative humidity in a range of about 30% to about 75% and an ambient temperature in a range of about 10° C. to about 25° C.

A method for cooling a cutting tool having a cutting edge, comprising the steps of:

• providing a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• providing a nozzle adapted to discharge a jet of the cryogenic fluid, said nozzle having at least one discharge point spaced apart from the cutting edge by a distance greater than or equal to about 0.1 inches and less than about 3.0 inches;
• and
• delivering a free-expanding stabilized jet of the cryogenic fluid from the discharge point to the cutting tool, wherein the cryogenic fluid has a temperature of about minus 150 degrees Celsius (−150° C.) at the discharge point.

A method for controlling cooling of a cutting tool during a cutting operation, comprising the steps of:

• providing a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• providing a nozzle adapted to discharge a flow of the cryogenic fluid, said nozzle having at least one discharge point spaced apart from the cutting tool;
• delivering a flow of the cryogenic fluid from the discharge point to the cutting tool;
• and
• regulating the flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool at a substantially uniform mass flowrate greater than or equal to about 0.5 lbs/minute and less than or equal to about 5.0 lbs/minute having a flow pulse cycle time less than or equal to about 10 seconds, whereby a frost coating is maintained on at least a portion of the cutting tool during substantially all of the cutting operation in an atmosphere having an ambient relative humidity in a range of about 30% to about 75% and an ambient temperature in a range of about 10° C. to about 25° C.

An apparatus for controlling cooling of a cutting tool during a cutting operation, comprising:

• a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• means for delivering a flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool;
• and
• means for regulating the flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool at a substantially uniform mass flowrate, whereby a frost coating is maintained on at least a portion of the cutting tool during substantially all of the cutting operation in an atmosphere having an ambient relative humidity in a range of about 30% to about 75% and an ambient temperature in a range of about 10° C. to about 25° C.

An apparatus for cooling a cutting tool having a cutting edge, comprising:

• a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• a nozzle adapted to discharge a jet of the cryogenic fluid, said nozzle having at least one discharge point spaced apart from the cutting edge by a distance greater than or equal to about 0.1 inches and less than about 3.0 inches;
• and
• means for delivering a free-expanding stabilized jet of the cryogenic fluid from the discharge point to the cutting tool, wherein the cryogenic fluid has a temperature of about minus 150 degrees Celsius (−150° C.) at the discharge point.

An apparatus for controlling cooling of a cutting tool during a cutting operation, comprising:

• a supply of a cryogenic fluid;
• a nozzle adapted to discharge a flow of the cryogenic fluid, said nozzle having at least one discharge point spaced apart from the cutting tool;
• means for delivering a flow of the cryogenic fluid from the discharge point to the cutting tool;
• and
• means for regulating the flow of the cryogenic fluid to the cutting tool at a substantially uniform mass flowrate greater than or equal to about 0.5 lbs/minute and less than or equal to about 5.0 lbs/minute having a flow pulse cycle time less than or equal to about 10 seconds, whereby a frost coating is maintained on at least a portion of the cutting tool during substantially all of the cutting operation in an atmosphere having an ambient relative humidity in a range of about 30% to about 75% and an ambient temperature in a range of about 10° C. to about 25° C.