External cooling MQL manipulators and machine tools and lubrication method using machine tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465252-B2
Application number	US-201916693207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

This application relates to lubrication, and more particularly to an external cooling MQL manipulator and a machine tool and a lubrication method using the machine tool. The external cooling MQL manipulator includes a suspension structure, a robot arm, a controller and an oil mist generator. The suspension structure fixedly connects the robot arm and a frame, and a nozzle is provided on a free end of the robot arm; an oil mist generator is connected to the nozzle for ejecting oil mists to a processing area. When the machine tool works, the controller selects the corresponding lubrication parameters according to the processing parameters such as the cutter type and the workpiece material. The first motor and the second motor are controlled to rotate by the controller according to real-time changes of the processing positions detected by the detecting component, thereby adjusting the position of the nozzle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An external cooling MQL manipulator, comprising:
a suspension structure;
a robot arm, comprising a connecting rod and an oil ejecting rod, wherein the connecting rod and the oil ejecting rod are hollow; one end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the suspension structure, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the oil ejecting rod; a nozzle is provided on a free end of the oil ejecting rod;
a controller and a detecting component, the controller is electrically connected to a first motor and a second motor; and the detecting component is electrically connected to the controller and is configured to detect a processing condition; and
an oil mist generator configured to provide oil mists and comprising an air compressor, an oil tank, a pneumatic pump, an oil and gas mixing valve, a solenoid valve and an air handler;
wherein the pneumatic pump, the oil and gas mixing valve, the air handler and the solenoid valve are provided in the connecting rod; wherein the solenoid valve is configured to control a feeding of a compressed air; and the air handler is configured to remove moisture in the compressed air to reduce a moisture content of the oil mists;
a pipeline for connecting the oil and gas mixing valve and the nozzle is provided in the oil ejecting rod;
the solenoid valve and the air handler are provided on a pipeline which is for connecting the air compressor and the oil and gas mixing valve;
the oil tank is connected to the pneumatic pump, and the pneumatic pump is connected to the oil and gas mixing valve;
the oil and gas mixing valve is connected to the nozzle;
wherein the first motor is provided on the suspension structure; the first motor is in transmission connection with the connecting rod and is configured to drive the connecting rod to rotate; the second motor is provided at a joint between the connecting rod and the oil ejecting rod and is configured to drive the oil ejecting rod to rotate.

2. The external cooling MQL manipulator of claim 1 , wherein
the connecting rod comprises a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod; one end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the suspension structure, and the other end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the second connecting rod; the second connecting rod is rotatably connected to the oil ejecting rod; and
a third motor is provided at a joint between the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod; the third motor is electrically connected to the controller.

3. The external cooling MQL manipulator of claim 2 , wherein a bearing is sheathed on the first connecting rod, and the first connecting rod is connected to the suspension structure via the bearing.

4. The external cooling MQL manipulator of claim 1 , further comprising a shroud, wherein the shroud is connected to the suspension structure; and the controller and the first motor are provided in the shroud.

5. The external cooling MQL manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a microcontroller or PLC.

6. A machine tool, comprising: a spindle, a frame and the external cooling MQL manipulator of claim 1 ;
wherein the suspension structure is connected to the frame; the controller comprises a storage unit, a reading unit and a control unit, and the storage unit and the reading unit are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively.

7. The machine tool of claim 6 , wherein the oil mist generator comprises an air compressor, an oil tank, a pneumatic pump, and an oil and gas mixing valve; the air compressor and the pneumatic pump are respectively connected to the oil and gas mixing valve; the pneumatic pump is connected to the oil tank; and
the oil and gas mixing valve is connected to the nozzle.

8. The machine tool of claim 7 , wherein the oil mist generator further comprises a solenoid valve and an air handler; and
the solenoid valve and the air handler are provided on a pipeline which is for connecting the air compressor and the oil and gas mixing valve.

9. The machine tool of claim 6 , wherein the connecting rod and the oil ejecting rod are hollow; the pneumatic pump, the oil and gas mixing valve, the air handler and the solenoid valve are provided in the connecting rod; a pipeline for connecting the oil and gas mixing valve and the nozzle is provided in the oil ejecting rod.

10. The machine tool of claim 6 , wherein the connecting rod comprises a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod; one end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the suspension structure, and the other end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the second connecting rod; the second connecting rod is rotatably connected to the oil ejecting rod; and
a third motor is provided at a joint between the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod; the third motor is electrically connected to the controller.

11. The machine tool of claim 10 , wherein a bearing is sheathed on the first connecting rod, and the first connecting rod is connected to the suspension structure via the bearing.

12. The machine tool of claim 6 , wherein the external cooling MQL manipulator further comprises a shroud; the shroud is connected to the suspension structure; and the controller and the first motor are provided in the shroud.

13. The machine tool of claim 6 , wherein the controller is a microcontroller or PLC.

14. An MQL method using the machine tool of claim 6 , comprising:
a) pre-storing lubrication scheme information in the storage unit; wherein the lubrication scheme information comprises processing parameters and lubrication parameters corresponding to the processing parameters; the processing parameters comprise a cutter type, a spindle speed, a cutter material, a workpiece material, a machine temperature and a processing position; the lubrication parameters comprise a lubricant ejecting speed, a lubrication position, a flow rate, and an air pressure;
b) starting the spindle and the external cooling MQL manipulator; and adjusting the lubrication parameters by the external cooling MQL manipulator in real time according to changes of the processing parameters.

Assignees

• Univ Sichuan

Inventors

• Zhao Wu
• Yu Zeyuan
• Zhang Zida
• Chen Ling
• Guo Xin
• Yu Miao
• Zhang Kai
• Wan Hao
• Du Lin
• Jiang Wei
• Wu Nianhan

Classifications

• B23Q11/1084

  specially adapted for being fitted to different kinds of machines · CPC title

• B23Q11/10 Primary

  Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work · CPC title

• B23Q11/1076

  with a cutting liquid nozzle specially adaptable to different kinds of machining operations · CPC title

• B23Q11/1046 Primary

  using a minimal quantity of lubricant (spraying apparatus using a carrying fluid B05B7/00) · CPC title

• Y02P70/10

  Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working · CPC title