Apparatus for Collecting and Transporting Coolant-Lubricant Contaminated with Chips

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting and transporting chip-contaminated coolant, including a trough-shaped channel arranged underneath or between machine tools and a filter apparatus or a recirculating pump station, with at least one opening being provided in a lower region of the channel. Above this opening is at least one fluid outlet, which is configured such that coolant or another fluid streaming through this opening and the fluid outlet accelerates the transport of liquid and/or solid materials in the channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to illustrative preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an installation with a plurality of machine tools and a channel for removing contaminated coolant;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a nozzle head in a longitudinal section;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the nozzle head shown in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a channel with a plurality of nozzle heads arranged therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows three machine tools 10, 11, 12. Underneath these machine tools extends an apparatus, also referred to as channel 13, for collecting and transporting chip-contaminated coolant. The coolant discharged from the machine tools carrying the chips produced is fed into this channel through suitable funnel-shaped devices 14, 15, 16. The machine tools are supplied with filtered coolant from a filter apparatus 17 through the fluid line 18.

In the channel 13 are nozzle heads 19, 20, 21 and 22, which are arranged in the floor of the channel 13. The nozzle heads are also supplied with fluid, which is removed from the filter apparatus 17 and flows through the line 24. The nozzle heads are located below the fluid level and receive the fluid at a certain fluid pressure via a pump 25. The nozzles are oriented toward the filter apparatus and ensure that the fluid 26 inside the channel 13 flows toward the filter apparatus. As may be seen, the channel has a downward slope or gradient in the direction of the filter apparatus. As a rule, this gradient is kept very small, however, so that a plurality of machine tools can be connected to the channel and the channel at the last machine tool is not excessively high.

The advantage of the nozzle heads is that almost no gradient is required within the channel, since the fluid streaming out of the nozzle heads nevertheless ensures that the flow velocity of the fluid 26 is sufficiently high that the material contained therein, such as chips or swarf, is reliably entrained.

FIG. 2 is a section of a nozzle head 19 taken along the channel. The channel floor 27 has an opening 28, above which the nozzle head is arranged. The nozzle head has a nozzle opening 29 through which the fluid 30 is delivered. The nozzle head 19 has a connection 31 extending through the opening 28 and is connected to the line 24. The nozzle head has an inclined surface to improve the flow of the contaminated fluid over the nozzle head. The inclined surface also prevents dirt or chips from collecting on the nozzle head.

FIG. 3 shows the nozzle head 19 as seen from the nozzle openings 29 (a) through (d). It is useful to equip the nozzle heads with a varying number of nozzle openings along the length of the channel. Of course, the diameter of the nozzle openings may also be varied to optimize flow within the channel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the channel 13 showing a nozzle head 19 and a nozzle head 20. At the beginning of the channel a single nozzle head 32 may be provided in the end wall 33.

The foregoing description and examples have been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and are not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the described embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed broadly to include all variations within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting and transporting chip-contaminated coolant, said apparatus comprising a trough-shaped channel arranged underneath or between machine tools, a filter apparatus, and a recirculating pump station; wherein at least one opening is provided in a lower region of the channel, and above this opening there is at least one fluid outlet which is configured such that a coolant or another fluid which flows through this opening and the fluid outlet accelerates the transport of liquid or solid material or both inside the channel.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening provided in the lower region is equipped with a nozzle head, which is screwed or welded to the channel, and said nozzle head has a plurality of fluid outlet openings.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of spaced apart fluid outlet openings or nozzle heads are distributed along the channel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one velocity sensor provided in the area of the channel for measuring flow velocity inside the channel, and wherein fluid flow through the nozzle head is controlled as a function of the measured flow velocity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid has a flow velocity in the range from 0.1 to 1 meter per second.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channel is assembled from a plurality of sections, and the individual sections are interconnected by a flanged connection, and at least one axially acting sealing ring is provided for each flanged connection to form a seal between interconnected sections.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each nozzle head along the channel has a number of individual nozzles adapted to the required flow velocity, and flow in the geodetically upper region of the channel has a flow velocity greater than in the lower region of the channel.