# US 2014/0197146 A1 · Coolant recovery and waste separation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197146 A1 - Document ID: US20140197146A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,977 - Filed: 2012-08-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-19 - Assignees: Eigen Systems Limited - Inventors: Murray Houlton Forlong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197146A1 ## CPC - B23Q 11/1069: {Filtration systems specially adapted for cutting liquids (filtration in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - B22D 11/126: for cutting - B23K 7/002: {Machines, apparatus or equipment for cutting plane workpieces, e.g. plates} - B23K 10/00: Welding or cutting by means of a plasma - B23K 26/16: Removal of by-products, e.g. particles or vapours produced during treatment of a workpiece (by a fluid stream B23K26/142) - B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting - B23K 37/0408: {for planar work} - B23Q 11/0067: {chip containers located under a machine or under a chip conveyor} - B23Q 11/10: Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work - Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system is provided for a combined machining and thermal metal plate cutting machine A trolley structure is located underneath a table supporting a fume chamber and coolant tray. The trolley is movable both in the X axis, and in response to the location of the cutting tools which move with the gantry along the rails to be positioned over the table and plate to be cut, during use in cutting the plate such that the coolant or cutting fluid is captured and reused and kept separate from the cutting waste. The trolley structure is suspended under the cutting table and includes a chamber for movably supporting at least one fume extraction chamber and at least one tray for receiving and removing coolant, whereby the coolant recovery and waste separation system movement is synchronised with the cutting tools by the machine control system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system for a machine that combines a machining head with coolant supply to machining tools and thermal cutting heads for cutting metal plates, the machine including a gantry that is movably guided to travel on a substrate in an X axis in a horizontal plane on rails, at least one cutting tool movably mounted on a carriage that is movably guided to travel in a Y axis which is at right angles to the X axis in the horizontal plane, the carriage being movably mounted to the gantry, each of these cutting tools has its own vertical or Z axis drive and guide system and a cutting table for supporting and locating and allowing a plate to be cut, the below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system comprising: a rolling trolley located underneath the table supporting a fume and dross containment chamber and coolant collection tray, wherein the trolley supporting the fume chamber and coolant tray is constructed to be movable in the X axis and guided by the cutting table, and is movable in response to the location of the cutting tools which move with the gantry along the rails to be positioned over the table and plate to be cut, during use in cutting the plate in combination such that the coolant or cutting fluid can be captured and reused and be kept separate from the dry fumes or dross generated during the thermal or other cutting processes, wherein the trolley supporting the fume chamber and coolant tray is suspended under the cutting table and the assembly includes at least one fume extraction chamber connected to an extraction fan and at least one channel tray for receiving and removing coolant, whereby the coolant recovery and waste separation system is synchronised with the movement of the cutting tools. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a controller is operatively connected to the cutting tools and to the cutting table and the fume chamber and coolant tray to enable the cutting to be synchronised by control system software with the movement of the fume chamber and coolant tray and the cutting table, wherein the controller can be programmed according to specific instructions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein if required for load bearing, a central parallel support members can support the table and plate necessitating two travelling fume chambers and coolant trays separated by the support member which is parallel to the table side members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the trolley system incorporating a fume containment chamber and coolant tray assembly can slidably move independently of the table and independently of the machine ### Claim 5 (depends on 5) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 5 further including longitudinal ductways which are located underneath the table and act as ductways for the passage and removal of fumes or air from under the cutting table. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fume containment trolley includes a hollow frame that allows fumes to be fluidly connected from the fume containment area in the trolley to the fume extraction chamber which is oriented in the X axis parallel with the rails of the machine and the trolley is fitted with guide rollers which run on guides connected and parallel to the fume extraction chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a portion of the tray support structure includes an exit which allows fluid collected in the tray to fall into a channel that is the length of the cutting table such that at any point along the X axis the exit can drain into the channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the longitudinal ductways which can extend at least the length of the system and profile cutting machine have cut outs on top such that air evacuated in longitudinal ducting which has an open top and covered with a belt that lifts up over rollers inside the ends of the frame of above longitudinal ductway such that air evacuated from one fume chamber also evacuates the cross support members and through slots in the bottom of and into the fume chamber to evacuate the fumes generated during thermal cutting processes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 8 wherein an extraction fan and filter system is connected to longitudinal ducting which has an open top and covered with a belt that lifts up over rollers inside the ends of the trolley frame above longitudinal ductway such that air evacuated from one fume chamber also evacuates the fume containment chamber to evacuate the fumes generated during thermal cutting processes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 9 wherein a portion of the table structure includes a channel fluidly connected to the tray to allow for the drainage and removal of fluid from the cutting table. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the trolley containing the fume extraction chamber and coolant collection tray support structure including at least one chamber and tray is movable to follow the machining head to ensure that all coolant that falls through the plate through cuts and holes in the plate or off the edges of the plate or following the drill tool 4 passing through the bottom of the plate is collected and funnelled down tray and through into a channel located and provided under the length of the cutting table for collection and re use of coolant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 11 wherein any fumes generated by the operation of the cutting tools will enter the chamber of fume chamber whereby the dry fumes will then be evacuated through at least part of tray and chamber members which can extend at least the length of the system and profile cutting machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a portion of the tray support structure includes an exit which allows fluid collected in the tray to fall into a channel that is the length of the cutting table such that at any point along the X axis the exit can drain into the channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein boxed section is hollow which functions as a support and passage way for the air or fumes to go through from the fume chamber to the duct way, also has at least one slidable drawer adapted and shaped to allow manual or automatic removal of any solid waste which is drawn in with the fumes or air. ### Claim 15 A machine having coolant recovery and waste separation that combines a machining head with coolant and thermal cutting for cutting metal plates, the machine comprising: a below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system for the machine that combines a machining head with coolant supply to machining tools and thermal cutting heads for cutting metal plates, the machine including a gantry that is movably guided to travel on a substrate in an X axis in a horizontal plane on rails, at least one cutting tool movably mounted on a carriage that is movably guided to travel in a Y axis which is at right angles to the X axis in the horizontal plane, the carriage being movably mounted to the gantry, each of these cutting tools has its own vertical or Z axis drive and guide system and a cutting table for supporting and locating and allowing a plate to be cut, the below plate coolant recovery and waste separation system including a rolling trolley located underneath the table adapted to support a fume and dross containment chamber and coolant collection tray, wherein the trolley supporting the fume chamber and coolant tray is constructed to be movable in the X axis and guided by the cutting table, and is movable in response to the location of the cutting tools which move with the gantry along the rails to be positioned over the table and plate to be cut, during use in cutting the plate in combination such that the coolant or cutting fluid can be captured and reused and be kept separate from the dry fumes or dross generated during the thermal or other cutting processes, wherein the trolley supporting the fume chamber and coolant tray is suspended under the cutting table and the assembly includes at least one fume extraction chamber connected to an extraction fan and at least one channel tray for receiving and removing coolant, whereby the coolant recovery and waste separation system is synchronised with the movement of the cutting tools.