Dielectric fluid dust extraction system for electric discharge machine

A device for entrapping and removing dust and particles originating from a milling operation being performed by a machine tool on a graphite workpiece, in an electric discharge machining system including an electric discharge machine fluid pumping and filtering apparatus, said device comprising:

• a collar including a ring portion having a lower face and an upper face, a first annular groove and a second annular groove concentrically disposed in relation to said first annular groove on said ring portion, said ring portion being concentrically disposed about a tool handling spindle of the machine tool;
• a lower disk axially aligned and attached to said ring portion, said lower disk having an outer circumferential portion, said lower face of said ring portion and said circumferential portion of said lower disk defining an endless radial nozzle in fluid communication with said first annular groove;
• means for providing a radially spaced fluid flow from said first annular groove to said endless radial nozzle;
• spraying means in fluid communication with said second annular groove for adjustably directing fluid flow onto the milling operation;
• means for providing a flow of electric discharge machine fluid from the fluid pumping and filtering apparatus to said first annular groove and said second annular groove;
• and
• whereby the fluid provided to said first annular groove is discharged from said endless radial nozzle as a closed fluid envelope entrapping dust and particles generated by the milling operation, and the fluid provided to said second annular groove is discharged from said spraying means to flush away said particles from the workpiece.

An electric discharge machining system, including a device for entrapping and removing dust and particles originating from a milling operation being performed by a machine tool on a graphite workpiece, comprising:

• an electric discharge machine fluid pumping and filtering apparatus for pumping and filtering a supply of electric discharge machine fluid;
• a collar including a ring portion having a lower face and an upper face, a first annular groove and a second annular groove concentrically disposed in relation to said first annular groove on said ring portion, said ring portion being concentrically disposed about a tool handling spindle of the machine tool;
• a lower disk axially aligned and attached to said ring portion, said lower disk having an outer circumferential thinned portion, said lower face of said ring portion and said thinned portion of said lower disk defining an endless radial nozzle in fluid communication with said first annular groove;
• means for providing a radially spaced fluid flow from said first annular groove to said endless radial nozzle;
• spraying means in fluid communication with said second annular groove for adjustably directing fluid flow onto the milling operation;
• means for providing and for controlling a flow of electric discharge machine fluid from said fluid pumping and filtering apparatus to said first annular groove and said second annular groove;
• and
• means for collecting and returning said fluid to said fluid pumping and filtering apparatus;
• whereby the fluid provided to said first annular groove is discharged from said endless radial nozzle as a closed fluid envelope entrapping dust and particles generated by the milling operation, and the fluid provided to said second annular groove is discharged from said spraying means to flush away said particles from said workpiece.

A machining system, including a device for entrapping and removing dust and particles originating from a milling operation on a graphite workpiece, comprising:

• an electric discharge machine fluid pumping and filtering apparatus for pumping and filtering a supply of electric discharge machine fluid;
• machine tool means for performing the milling operation, said machine tool means including a tool handling spindle;
• a collar including a ring portion having a lower face and an upper face, a first annular groove and a second annular groove concentrically disposed in relation to said first annular groove on said ring portion, said ring portion being concentrically disposed about said tool handling spindle of said machine tool means;
• a lower disk axially aligned and attached to said ring portion, said lower disk having an outer circumferential thinned portion, said lower face of said ring portion and said thinned portion of said lower disk defining an endless radial nozzle in fluid communication with said first annular groove;
• means for providing a radially spaced fluid flow from said first annular groove to said endless radial nozzle;
• spraying means in fluid communication with said second annular groove for adjustably directing fluid flow onto the milling operation;
• means for providing and for controlling a flow of electric discharge machine fluid from said fluid pumping and filtering apparatus to said first annular groove and said second annular groove;
• and
• means for collecting and returning said fluid to said fluid pumping and filtering apparatus;
• whereby said fluid provided to said first annular groove is discharged from said endless radial nozzle as a closed fluid envelope entrapping dust and particles generated by the milling operation, and said fluid provided to said second annular groove is discharged from said spraying means to flush away said particles from the workpiece.