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[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for directing cooling liquid onto a cutting implement and more particularly to a rotor for causing cooling liquid to form an envelope which surrounds the cutting implement on all sides to ensure more effective cooling.
[0002] In an automated machine for drilling, cutting or milling a workpiece, the cutting implement operates at such a high speed that a great deal of heat is generated. The heat must be dissipated to avoid damage to the cutter and the usual way of doing so is to direct a continuous stream of cooling liquid against the cutter as it operates. The stream is conventionally directed against one side of the cutter and because the cutter is rotating, all sides of the cutter are contacted by the liquid.
[0003] Cooling of a cutter in this way has a number of shortcomings. First, because the cutter is rotating so rapidly, much of the cooling liquid rebounds off the cutter. As a result the cooling effect of much of the liquid is lost because it is flung away by the cutter as soon as it touches it. Secondly, the cooling liquid does not contact the hottest part of the cutter, namely the part that is doing the actual cutting. That is because once the initial cut is made in the workpiece, the cutting part of the cutter is within a recess or “pocket” where it is inaccessible to the cooling liquid.
[0004] A third problem that arises from the use of a stream of cooling liquid to cool the cutter results from debris generated from the cutting operation. The debris collects in the pocket where it impairs the cutting operation by causing excessive heat to build up in the pocket since it is in constant contact with the cutter. In addition the debris increases the cost of the cutting operation because it is cut and re-cut by the cutter, all of which requires energy.
[0005] The cooling liquid cannot remove debris in a pocket if the liquid is directed against the cutter. If, on the other hand, the coolant is directed against the debris itself, only the debris on the side of the pocket which is actually contacted by the coolant will be blasted from the pocket. Debris on the opposite side of the pocket will remain in the pocket and continue to cause problems.
[0006] There are other problems too numerous to mention which result from cooling a cutter in this way.
[0007] I have found a way of avoiding or lessening many of these problems by means of a rotor which is mounted for rotation on or adjacent to the chuck which holds the cutter. The rotor has a number of blades which convert the linear stream of cooling liquid to an envelope of coolant. The envelope surrounds the cutter where it cools all sides of the cutter. The coolant can be directed downwardly against the whole area of the cutter beneath the rotor, the area of the cutter that is actually doing the cutting, into the pocket or against all areas of the cutter beneath the rotor as well as into the pocket.
[0008] The coolant, being in the form of an envelope, is more effective to cool the cutter and to blast the debris on all sides of the cutter from the pocket.
[0009] Briefly, the rotor of my invention comprises includes at least one blade which is adapted to receive a stream of cooling liquid directed thereon. The blade is arranged and constructed such that it re-directs cooling liquid against a cutting implement. Preferably there is more than one blade and each is helical in shape. The blades radiate outwardly from the axis of the rotor and have oppositely facing leading and trailing surfaces. The leading surfaces are adapted to receive a stream of cooling liquid directed thereon and the blades are arranged and constructed to re-direct the cooling liquid downwardly in the form of an envelope that surrounds and cools the cutting implement.
[0010] The apparatus of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019] Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
[0020] With reference to
[0021] With reference to
[0022] With reference to
[0023] When the blades are viewed from the side, and with reference to
[0024] The slope of the leading surface increases smoothly from a minimum adjacent to the outer edge of the annulus to a maximum at the central opening
[0025] With reference to
[0026] Thus when the cooling liquid exits from the blades it will be travelling downward in a stream in the shape of a hollow cone
[0027] As the bit cuts a work-piece, a recess or “pocket” will form. It is desirable that cooling fluid enter the pocket at high pressure to blast out the debris that collects in the pocket as the cutting operation proceeds. For that to occur, the velocity of the cooling liquid that exits from the rotor must be of sufficient force.
[0028] Not only does the configuration of the leading surface of the blade affect the shape of the stream of cooling liquid but so too does the rate of rotation of the rotor. The faster the rotor rotates, the greater the centrifugal force will be that acts on the cooling liquid. As a result, the angle of taper of the cone of cooling liquid as it travels downward from rotor will become increasingly more shallow as the rate or rotation of the rotor increases.
[0029] Thus, the configuration of the leading surface of the blades and the speed of rotation of the blades affect the path of the cone of cooling liquid that flows downward from the rotor.
[0030] With reference to
[0031] The location of apertures
[0032] It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the embodiments of the rotor described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.