Coolant delivery apparatus for machine tool
AssigneeThe Gleason Works
InventorEric G. Mundt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coolant delivery apparatus for a machine tool wherein the position of the coolant delivery apparatus is controllable such that coolant may be delivered to the machining contact zone of a tool even though the location of the machining zone of the tool may change such as during machining of a workpiece, or from one workpiece to another.
Claims15
An apparatus for delivering coolant to the area of contact between a workpiece and a contact zone of a rotatable tool on a machine during a machining process, wherein at least two different contact zones of said tool are utilized in the machining of said workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of coolant nozzles positionable to direct coolant to the area of contact between the workpiece and the contact zone of the tool,
- positioning means for changing the position of said plurality of coolant nozzles concurrently with a change to another contact zone of said tool, whereby during machining with said another contact zone of said tool, coolant is directed to the area of contact between the workpiece and said another contact zone,
- wherein said plurality of coolant nozzles are attached to and in fluid communication with a coolant header, said coolant header being positionable with said plurality of coolant nozzles, and
- wherein movement from one contact zone to another contact zone on said tool comprises movement of said tool relative to the workpiece along at least one axis of motion on the machine, the repositioning of said plurality of coolant nozzles being synchronized with said movement of said tool along said at least one axis wherein a defined amount of movement of said tool yields a predetermined amount of repositioning movement of said plurality of coolant nozzles.
A method for machining a workpiece and delivering coolant to the area of contact between the workpiece and a contact zone of a rotatable tool on a machine during the machining process, wherein at least two different contact zones of said tool are utilized in the machining of said workpiece, said method comprising:
- positioning a plurality of coolant nozzles to direct coolant to the area of contact between the workpiece and the contact zone of the tool, said plurality of coolant nozzles being attached to and in fluid communication with a coolant header,
- machining said workpiece at the contact zone of said tool and simultaneously delivering coolant through said plurality of coolant nozzles to the area of contact between said tool and workpiece,
- moving said tool and workpiece relative to one another to machine said workpiece at another contact zone of said tool,
- changing the position of said plurality of coolant nozzles concurrently with said moving to another contact zone of said tool, said coolant header changing position with said plurality of coolant nozzles, wherein the moving from one contact zone to another contact zone on said tool comprises moving said tool relative to the workpiece along at least one axis of motion on the machine, said changing the position of said plurality of coolant nozzles being synchronized with said movement of said tool along said at least one axis wherein a defined amount of movement of said tool yields a predetermined amount of repositioning movement of said plurality of coolant nozzles,
- machining said workpiece with said another contact zone of said tool and simultaneously delivering coolant to the area of contact between the workpiece and said another contact zone of said tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.