Spindle apparatus
AssigneeMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
InventorsAkira Watanabe, Tetsuo Ichikizaki, Keiji Mizuta, Kenji Hamanaka
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Abstract
A spindle apparatus of a machine tool comprises a main spindle rotatably supported in a housing via bearings. A helium circulation system is provided for introducing helium, lower in density and fluid pressure than air, through a helium supply port into a gap on the outer periphery of the main spindle within the housing, and for discharging helium to the outside through a helium discharge port. The main spindle is rotated in an atmosphere of the helium. The spindle apparatus is simple in structure, but can minimize the power loss of the main spindle and reduce the motor power, and also gives a cooling effect.
Claims11
A spindle apparatus of a machine tool, comprising:
- a housing;
- a main spindle rotatably supported in the housing by at least one bearing;
- means for circulating a circulating gas, lower in density and fluid pressure than air, between the housing and the main spindle such that the main spindle is rotated in an atmosphere of the circulating gas;
- and
- means for supplying a sealing gas to a gap between the housing and the main spindle to contain the circulating gas within the housing.
A spindle apparatus comprising:
- a hollow housing having at least one opening;
- a spindle provided inside the housing;
- a gas supply unit that supplies a first gas inside the hollow housing, the first gas having density and pressure lower than atmospheric air;
- and
- a sealing gas supply unit that supplies a second gas in the vicinity of the opening to at least one of seal the first gas inside the hollow housing and prevent particles from entering the hollow housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.