WO2009044968A1

WO2009044968A1 - Mist generating device for machine tool

Info

Publication number: WO2009044968A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000998
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung Gu Cho
Original assignee: Sung Gu Cho
Priority date: 2007-10-05
Filing date: 2008-02-20
Publication date: 2009-04-09
Also published as: KR20090035051A

Abstract

A mist generating device is disclosed, which is capable of generating mist for cooling and lu¬ bricating a cutting tool or a workpiece while cutting by various machine tools is performed. One or more mist emission paths are formed to emit mist generated in a container, and connected to an air source through respectively different air supply paths so that the generated mist can be emi tted by high air pressure of the air source. Accordingly, cooling of the mist can be achieved without requiring a dedicated cooling unit. Also, the operation can be performed at several places at one time through one or more mist emission pipes each having a high emitting pressure. Especially, since the mist emitting pressure is improved, the emission can be performed con- centratedly to a long distance.

Description

MIST GENERATING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a mist generating device capable of generating mist for cooling and lubricating a cutting tool or a workpiece during a cutting process performed by various machine tools. Background Art

[2] In general, when performing a cutting process with various machine tools including a machining center and a turning lathe, cutting oil is used for cooling and lubrication of the cutting tool and the workpiece. However, since use of the cutting oil incurs high cost for treatment of waste cutting oil, and especially, causes environmental pollution, a mist generating device capable of solving such problems has been in increasing need.

[3] Mist, being formed by atomizing fluid using pressure of air or other gases, is widely used in almost all fields of industry. For example, mist is used for diverse medical inhalers, and humidifiers and atomizers in the fields of not only agriculture and fishery but also everyday life, as well as the industrial machine tool.

[4] Examples of the mist generating device according to prior arts are disclosed in KR

Patent Registration No. 10-444292 and KR Patent Laid-open No. 10-2004-77521.

[5] However, the mist generating device of KR No. 10-444292 requires not only a dedicated oil tank, besides an oil pulverizing tank, but also a rotation unit for further atomizing the mist by rotating a pulverizer head. Accordingly, the structure becomes complicated. Although comprising a single tank, the structure disclosed in KR Patent Laid-open No. 10-2004-77521 is also very complicated due to a multistage pressure adjusting unit. Such complicated structures increase the manufacturing cost, thereby deteriorating price competitiveness of the product.

[6] Meanwhile, in the mist generating devices using air to generate mist, all air compressors are designed to have a restricted maximum pressure for safety in use. The mist is generated as an air pressure generated from the air compressor is jetted into a tank through a small-diameter nozzle together with fluid. After this, when thus- generated mist is emitted through a small-diameter emission path, the pressure abruptly drops undesirably, thereby greatly weakening the emitting pressure of the mist. Therefore, a cooling operation cannot be achieved at all during the mist emission. Accordingly, a dedicated cooling unit for cooling the mist is required when the mist generating device is used for cooling and lubricating various machine tools. Consequently, the manufacturing cost is increased. Furthermore, nonetheless, residues of the cutting are not satisfactorily removed due to the low emitting pressure of the mist. [7] Especially when the undesired pressure drop occurs while the mist is being generated and the generated mist is being emitted passing through a cooling system by an inner pressure of the tank, a mist emitting distance is decreased, thus deteriorating the range of use. In addition, when the mist emitting pressure is weakened, the emitted mist soon scatters and so fails in reaching the workpiece. Therefore, the function of the mist generating device is deteriorated while increasing loss of the mist. Thus, several problems including increase of the maintenance cost are caused. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mist generating device capable of reducing the manufacturing cost by simplifying a mist generating and cooling structure, improving the range of use in accordance with increase of a mist emitting distance by maximizing an emission pressure of the generated mist, preventing loss of the mist by enabling concentrated mist emission to a workpiece, effectively removing residual materials of the processing by the improved emission pressure, and further capable of working at several places simultaneously by having one or more mist emission paths each maintaining a sufficient emission pressure. Technical Solution

[9] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a mist generating device in which the mist is generated as a predetermined quantity of oil supplied in a container moves up along an oil supply path by air pressure from an air source, and when the generated mist is emitted along one or more emission paths by an inner pressure of the container, a strong air pressure is operated through an air supply path connecting the respective emission paths to the air source, thereby increasing an emission pressure of the mist. Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[11] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mist generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[12] Fig. 2 is a front view of the mist generating device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[13] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the mist generating device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[14] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a head of a container of the mist generating device; [15] Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the head of the container, as seen from another direction; and

[16] Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an air distribution unit provided to the head of the container, according to the embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[17] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout the drawings and well-known functions and structures will not be explained herein not to obscure the invention.

[18] Fig. 1 is a perspective view and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a mist generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mist generating device comprises a container 2 having a vertical length, a mist nozzle 4 formed at a ceiling of the container 2, an oil supply path 6 formed between a bottom of the container 2 and the mist nozzle 4, and a pulverizing plate 8 mounted in the middle of the inside of the container 2. A pressure gauge 10 and an oil level gauge 12 are mounted at the outside of the container 2. An oil inlet 14 and an air outlet 16 are connected to an upper part of the container 2. In addition, the oil supply path 6 in connection with the mist nozzle 4 and mist emission paths 22 and 24 each in connection with mist emission pipes 18 and 20 are connected to an air source by air supply paths 28, 30 and 32, respectively, which are independently formed from an air hose 26 of the air source.

[19] The container 2 according to the present invention is not specifically limited in size and shape. However, in consideration of assemblability, the container 2 according to this embodiment comprises a base 2a and a head 2c which are separately formed and connected with each other by bolts. The oil supply path 6 may be formed through a sidewall of the container 2 using thickness of a container body 2b in order for a more simplified structure. However, the oil supply path 6 may be implemented by a separate connection pipe dedicatedly formed to supply oil therethrough.

[20] The pulverizing plate 8 mounted in the container 2 is fixed to face the mist nozzle 4 in a vertical direction. A mounting height of the pulverizing plate 8 is determined to be higher than the maximum level of an oil 34. Other conditions including the shape of the pulverizing plate 8, an interval between the pulverizing plate 8 and the mist nozzle 4, and an inner diameter of the mist nozzle 4 are optimally determined through experiments to further atomize a mist 36 into microfine particles.

[21] Here, the mounting position of the pulverizing plate 8 is not limited to the inside of the container 2. Also, as necessary, the pulverizing plate 8 may be structured to be rotated by application of a rotational force. [22] The pressure gauge 10 and the oil level gauge 12, mounted to the outside of the container 2, indicate the pressure of the generated mist 36 and a remaining quantity of the oil 34, respectively.

[23] A flow valve 38 may be further connected to the oil supply path 6 formed in the container 2. The flow valve 38 improves convenience in use by adjusting a supplied quantity of the oil 34 depending on uses.

[24] The air supply paths 28, 30 and 32 respectively connecting the oil supply path 6 and the mist emission paths 22 and 24 to the air source are disposed near the head 2c of the container 2. The air supply paths 28, 30 and 32 may be connected to the air source through one air hose 26 by sharing the same entrance or through respectively different air hoses so that a high air pressure can be operated separately.

[25] The air source may be implemented by an air compressor, a compression tank or the like. When an air filter regulator 40 is provided between the air source and each of the air supply paths 28, 30 and 32, impurities contained in the air can be filtered off and the air pressure can be maintained constantly.

[26] Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an air distribution unit provided to the head 2c of the container 2. Any one of the air supply paths 28, 30 and 32 sharing one entrance to be connected with the air source through the single air hose 26 is connected to the oil supply path 6, while the other two air supply paths to the mist emission paths 22 and 24 each emitting the generated mist 36. By this structure, the high air pressure can be applied to a plurality of the mist emission paths 22 and 24 through the air supply paths 30 and 32 independently formed, according to the quantity of the generated mist 36.

[27] Furthermore, when two or more mist emission paths, for example, the mist emission paths 22 and 24 are provided, solenoid valves 42, 44, 46 and 48 which are selectively opened and closed may be connected to the air supply paths 30 and 32 and the mist emission pipes 18 and 20, respectively, so as to more conveniently operate the mist generating device.

[28] According to this embodiment, while the oil 34 is being injected into the container 2 through the oil inlet 14, the air outlet 16 disposed near the oil inlet 14 is opened to facilitate the oil injection.

[29] Here, it is preferred that the oil 34 injected in the container 2 maintains a predetermined level not to submerge the pulverizing plate 8 formed in the inner middle of the container 2.

[30] After the oil injection, when the high-pressure air of the air source is injected in the container 2 through the air supply path 28 and the mist nozzle 4, the oil 34 is raised along the oil supply path 6 by the Venturi principle of a nozzle formed between the air supply path 28 and the mist nozzle 4, thereby being jetted to the upper space of the container 2 together with the air. During the jetting, the oil 34 is atomized into the mist 36 by collision with the pulverizing plate 8.

[31] The mist 36 generated in the container 2 is emitted to the outside through the mist emission paths 22 and 24. The basic emitting pressure of the mist 36 is not as great as desired since the air pressure applied for generating the mist 36 determines the basic emitting pressure. However, while being emitted through the mist emission paths 22 and 24, the mist 36 is added with the high air pressure by the air source and therefore emitted with a high pressure.

[32] In greater detail, because the pressure of the air, injected to generate the mist 36 from the air source into the container 2, greatly drops while the oil 34 is atomized to the mist 36 passing through the nozzle, the inner pressure of the container 2 is insufficient. However, while the mist 36 is being emitted through the mist emission paths 22 and 24 even by the low pressure, a high air pressure is added by the air supply paths 30 and 32 connected to the air source. Accordingly, the mist 36 can be jetted to a long distance by the high pressure, and moreover, concentratedly without scattering.

[33] In case of performing the emission of the mist 36 using a dedicated high air pressure, one or more mist emission paths 22 and 24 may be formed according to the generated quantity of the mist 36, and the high air pressure is applied through the separate air supply paths 30 and 32 for the respective mist emission paths 22 and 24. Therefore, the high air pressure can be maintained regardless of the number of the mist emission paths and the emission can be performed at several places simultaneously. Furthermore, in a case where the solenoid valves 42, 44, 46 and 48 are connected to the air supply paths 30 and 32 and the mist emission paths 22 and 24, respectively, the operation can be performed more conveniently by selectively opening and closing the mist emission paths 22 and 24.

[34] Although the mist generating device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been explained for illustrative purposes, that is, cooling and lubricating of the cutting tool and the workpiece in the cutting process performed by various machine tools, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed device is applicable to almost all fields of industry such as the medical profession and fields of everyday life as well as agriculture and fishery. They will also appreciate that different types of fluid and pressurizing means can be applied, and various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible as long as those structures can emit mist generated in a container by a dedicated air pressure, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[35] The mist generating device according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a single container 2, and is able to emit the mist 36 generated in the container 2 by a high emitting pressure since high air pressure of the air supply paths 30 and 32 connecting the mist emission paths 22 and 24 to the air source is further applied additionally to an inner pressure of the container 2 when the generated mist 36 is emitted out through the mist emission paths 22 and 24. Therefore, the mist can be cooled sufficiently during the emission. As a result, a dedicated cooling unit is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[36] When the generated mist 36 is emitted by the high air pressure of the air source, the mist emission paths 22 and 24 for emitting the mist by the high emitting pressure according to the quantity of the mist 36 can be plurally provided. Therefore, the emission of mist can be performed at several places simultaneously with one mist generating device, thereby improving the utility value.

[37] Especially, the high emitting pressure enables a long-distance emission of the mist

36, thereby further improving the utility value. Also, loss of the mist 36 can be prevented since concentrated jetting of the mist 36 to the workpiece is possible. The high emitting pressure even removes residues of the processing during the emission.

Claims

[1] A mist generating device comprising: a container into which a predetermined fluid is jetted by an air pressure to thereby generate mist; and a mist emission path through which the generated mist is emitted, wherein the mist emission path is connected to an air source through a dedicated air supply path. [2] The mist generating device according to claim 1, wherein one or more mist emission paths are provided, and solenoid valves are connected to the mist emission paths and the corresponding air supply paths, respectively. [3] The mist generating device according to claim 1, wherein the container includes an oil supply path formed through a sidewall thereof to connect a bottom with a mist nozzle formed at a ceiling. [4] The mist generating device according to claim 3, wherein the oil supply path is connected with a flow valve that adjusts a supplied quantity of the oil. [5] The mist generating device according to any of claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the container comprises: a pressure gauge indicating an inner pressure of the container; an oil level gauge indicating a remaining quantity of the oil; an oil inlet enabling injection of the oil therethrough; and an air outlet emitting the air during the oil injection.