Grinding wheel guard apparatus
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Diebolt, Stephen Kidd, Donald E. Rivers, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool holder (32) includes a rotary portion (36) securable in a spindle (20) of a machining center (10). A pumped flow of primary coolant (16) is delivered through spindle (20) and rotary portion (36). A pumped flow of secondary coolant (22) is delivered to a static connection (26) and through the static portion (34) of the tool holder. A tool guard assembly (42) secured to static portion (34) surrounds an installed superabrasive grinding wheel (66). It also includes flow paths (50, 52, 98; 62, 68, 82 84) and nozzles (70, 80, 86, 94) to direct coolant to pre-established directions. The tool may be installed automatically in a multipurpose machining center with no additional set up time required.
Claims17
A grinding wheel apparatus comprising:
- a machining center including a drive spindle for receiving a tool holder, and having a flow hole through the centerline thereof;
- a primary pump for circulating primary coolant;
- a secondary pump for circulating a secondary coolant;
- a static flow connector located adjacent to said spindle;
- a primary coolant flowpath from said pump to said hole through the centerline of said spindle;
- a secondary coolant path from said secondary pump to said static flow connector;
- a tool holder including a static holder portion and a rotary portion;
- said rotary portion securable in said drive spindle and rotatably mounted in said static holder portion, and suitable for mounting an arbor supported superabrasive grinding wheel therein;
- a holder primary flowpath entering said rotary portion through the centerline thereof, and in fluid communication with said primary coolant path, and exiting through said static holder portion;
- a holder secondary flowpath entering and exiting said static holder portion;
- a guard assembly, secured to said static tool holder portion including an arcuate frame surrounding an imaginary circle representing a potential grinding wheel;
- a primary guard flowpath through said arcuate frame in fluid communication with one of said holder flowpaths;
- said arcuate frame also including a secondary guard flowpath through said frame in fluid communication with the other of said holder flowpaths;
- a cooling nozzle located at one arcuate end of said frame and arranged to discharge coolant tangential to said imaginary circle;
- said primary guard path in fluid communication with said cooling nozzle;
- at least one cleaning nozzle oriented substantially 30 degrees from the radial direction of said imaginary circle;
- and
- said secondary guard flowpath arranged to discharge coolant through said cleaning nozzles.
A tool holder for a grinding wheel for use in a machining center including a drive spindle for receiving the tool holder, and having a flow hole through the centerline thereof, a primary pump for circulating primary coolant, a secondary pump for circulating a secondary coolant, a static flow connector located adjacent to said spindle, a primary coolant flowpath from said pump to said hole through the centerline of said spindle, a secondary coolant path from said secondary pump to said static flow connector, comprising:
- a static tool holder portion;
- a rotary holder portion;
- said rotary holder portion securable in said drive spindle and rotatably mounted in said static holder portion, and suitable for mounting an arbor supported superabrasive grinding wheel therein;
- a holder primary flowpath entering said rotary holder portion through the centerline thereof, and in fluid communication with said primary coolant path, and exiting through said static holder portion;
- a holder secondary flowpath entering and exiting said static holder portion;
- a guard assembly, secured to said static tool holder portion including an arcuate frame surrounding an imaginary circle representing a potential grinding wheel;
- a primary guard flowpath through said arcuate frame in fluid communication with one of said holder flowpaths;
- said arcuate frame also including a secondary guard flowpath through said frame in fluid communication with the other of said holder flowpaths;
- a cooling nozzle located at one arcuate end of said frame and arranged to discharge coolant tangential to said imaginary circle;
- said primary guard path in fluid communication with said cooling nozzle;
- at least one cleaning nozzle oriented substantially 30 degrees from the radial direction of said imaginary circle;
- and
- said secondary guard flowpath arranged to discharge coolant through said cleaning nozzles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.