Liquid coolant/lubricant recovery system for machine tools
OwnerToshiharu Tom Miyanoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of for performing a machining operation and recovering a liquid used in the machining operation. The method includes the steps of providing a machine tool to perform a machining operation, directing a liquid against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which the machining operation is being performed by the machine tool in such a manner that discrete particles become entrained in the liquid, directing at least a part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein to a first location, and at the first location separating the liquid from the discrete particles.
Claims9
A method of performing a machining operation and recovering a liquid used in the machining operation, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a machine tool to perform a machining operation;
- providing at a first location a first receptacle having a storing space with a top and bottom;
- directing a liquid against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which the machining operation is being performed by the machine tool in such a manner that discrete particles become entrained in the liquid;
- directing at least a part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein into the receptacle storing space;
- allowing discrete particles that are denser than the liquid to move under gravitational force and progressively accumulate at the bottom of the receptacle storing space;
- providing a return path from said receptacle to said machine tool so that liquid from above the accumulated discrete particles in the receptacle storing space is directed against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which a machining operation is being performed by the machine tool until the accumulated discrete particles in the receptacle storing space accumulate to a predetermined height in the receptacle storing space;
- moving the receptacle with the discrete particles therein accumulated to the predetermined height from the first location to a point of use;
- and
- providing at the first location a second receptacle having a storing space with a top and bottom and directing at least part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein into the second receptacle to cause progressive accumulation of discrete particles at the bottom of the storing space in the second receptacle.
A method of performing a machining operation and recovering a liquid used in the machining operation, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a machine tool to perform a machining operation;
- directing a liquid against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which the machining operation is being performed by the machine tool in such a manner that discrete particles become entrained in the liquid;
- directing at least a part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein to a first location;
- at the first location separating the liquid from discrete particles;
- wherein the step of separating the liquid from discrete particles comprises the steps of directing the liquid with discrete parties entrained therein into a receptacle and allowing discrete particles that are denser than the liquid to move by gravity downwardly in the liquid in the receptacle;
- and
- directing at least a part of the liquid separated from discrete particles in the receptacle against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which a machining operation is being performed by the machine tool,
- wherein the step of directing at least a part of the liquid separated from discrete particles comprises the steps of providing a conduit with an inlet for conveying the liquid, situating the inlet of the conduit in the receptacle, and raising the inlet in the receptacle as the discrete particles accumulate in the receptacle.
A machining system comprising:
- a machine tool for performing a machining operation on a workpiece,
- means for collecting a liquid directed against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which a machining operation is being performed by the machine tool;
- a receptacle in which liquid can be separated from discrete particles entrained in the liquid;
- means for directing liquid collected by the collecting means to the receptacle;
- and
- means for directing liquid separated from discrete particles away from the receptacle to a point of use,
- wherein the means for directing liquid away from the receptacle comprises a conduit for conveying liquid and having an inlet and means cooperating between the receptacle and conduit for selectively varying the location of the inlet within the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.