U.S. patent application number 14/734027 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for control panel cooling device for machine tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is FANUC Corporation. Invention is credited to Yuuta SEKIKAWA.
Application Number | 20150362262 14/734027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54383618 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150362262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEKIKAWA; Yuuta |
December 17, 2015 |
CONTROL PANEL COOLING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL
Abstract
A cooling device with a first heat sink is provided with a
blowing unit configured to introduce an ambient atmosphere into the
cooling device. The first heat sink is provided with a plurality of
fin portions, configured to perform heat exchange when contacted by
the ambient atmosphere introduced by the blowing unit, and a mist
collection unit horizontally projecting from the fin portions and
configured to collect mists in the ambient atmosphere.
Inventors: |
SEKIKAWA; Yuuta;
(Minamitsuru-gun, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FANUC Corporation |
Minamitsuru-gun |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
54383618 |
Appl. No.: |
14/734027 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/0213 20130101;
F28F 17/005 20130101; F28F 3/02 20130101; H05K 7/202 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/02 20060101
F28F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 17, 2014 |
JP |
2014-124138 |
Claims
1. A control panel cooling device for a machine tool with a first
heat sink, the control panel cooling device for the machine tool
comprising a blowing unit configured to introduce an ambient
atmosphere into the cooling device, the first heat sink comprising:
a plurality of fin portions, configured to perform heat exchange
when contacted by the ambient atmosphere introduced by the blowing
unit; and a mist collection unit horizontally projecting from the
fin portions and configured to collect mists in the ambient
atmosphere.
2. The control panel cooling device for a machine tool according to
claim 1, wherein the cooling device for the machine tool comprises
a heat, exhaust unit with a second heat sink, and the second heat
sink comprises a plurality of fin portions, configured to perform
heat exchange when contacted by the ambient atmosphere introduced
by the blowing unit, and a mist collection unit horizontally
projecting from the fin portions and configured to collect mists in
the ambient atmosphere.
3. The control panel cooling device for a machine tool according to
claim 1, wherein the blowing unit is installed on the exhaust port
side of the first heat sink.
4. The control panel cooling device for a machine tool according to
claim 1, further comprising a tray in which droplets dripped from
the mist collection unit of the first heat sink are configured to
be accumulated.
5. The control panel cooling device for a machine tool according to
claim 4, further comprising a hole through which the droplets
accumulated in the tray are configured to be discharged out of the
control panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling device, and more
particularly, to a cooling device installed in a control panel of a
machine tool.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A large number of components with a heating portion are
installed in a control panel of a machine tool. Depending on the
states of the machine tool and its surroundings, the temperature
inside the control panel may sometimes increase to damage the
components thermally in the control panel. To suppress thermal
damage, a method is generally known in which a cooling device, such
as a cooling fan or heat exchanger, is installed in the control
panel, thereby keeping the temperature low inside the control
panel.
[0005] The installation environment of the machine tool involves a
large number of cutting fluid mists. Although closed control panels
are frequently used to protect electric components from the cutting
fluid mist atmosphere, they may sometimes allow penetration of the
cutting fluid mists during prolonged operation. Typical cooling
devices may be based on a method in which the efficiency of heat
dissipation from a metallic control panel is increased by stirring
an atmosphere in the control panel using a fan installed therein.
Alternatively, the cooling devices may use a method, in which
condensation in a control panel is prevented by exhausting heat in
the control panel using a fan and a heat exchanger and
dehumidifying the control panel. In a cooling device using a fan,
cutting fluid mists in the control panel are gathered by the fan,
so that the rate of failure of electric components in the path of
air blown from the cooling device may increase, in some cases.
[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-187977
discloses a prior art technique for a low-failure cooling device
with a heat sink, based on the consideration of the installation
environment of a machine tool. This cooling device can suppress
adhesion of liquid or oil droplets even in an environment in which
water or oil is scattered. For the cooling device disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-187977, the problem
mentioned above is solved by providing a plate-like member in the
path of air leading to the heat sink, or a plurality of inlets such
that the liquid or oil droplets cannot easily reach the interior of
the cooling device.
[0007] However, the cooling device disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 2009-187977 is configured so that the
plate-like member forms lower, middle, and upper duct portions
along which air introduced from outside is forcibly moved. Thus,
there is a problem that the cooling device requires a large number
of constituent components, costs high as a whole, and is bulky.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, in view of the above-described problems of the
prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a
cooling device capable of suppressing adhesion of liquid or oil
droplets despite its space-saving design, even in an environment in
which water or oil is scattered.
[0009] A control panel cooling device for a machine tool according
to the present invention has a heat sink. The cooling device
comprises a blowing unit configured to introduce an ambient
atmosphere into the cooling device, and the heat sink comprises a
plurality of fin portions, configured to perform heat exchange when
contacted by the ambient atmosphere introduced by the blowing unit,
and a mist collection unit horizontally projecting from the fin
portions and configured to collect mists in the ambient
atmosphere.
[0010] The cooling device may comprise a heat exhaust unit and a
heat sink of the heat exhaust unit may comprise the mist collection
unit.
[0011] The blowing unit may be installed on the exhaust port side
of the heat sink.
[0012] The cooling device may further comprise a tray in which
droplets dripped from the heat sink are configured to be
accumulated.
[0013] Further, the cooling device may comprise a hole through
which the droplets accumulated in the tray are configured to be
discharged out of the control panel.
[0014] According to the present invention configured as described
above, there can be provided a time-saving cooling device with a
low parts count, comprising a heat sink having a shape suitable for
the collection of liquid and oil droplets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will be obvious from the ensuing description of
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a general view of a cooling device according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a heat sink according to the
one embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cooling device according
to the one embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of air current in the
cooling unit according to the one embodiment of the invention;
and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view showing a control panel fitted with the
cooling device according to the one embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a general view showing a cooling device 1
according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cooling
device 1 comprises a cooling unit 10 having a cutting fluid mist
collection function and a cooling function and a heat exhaust unit
20 having a heat exhaust function. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling
unit 10 and the heat exhaust unit 20 are mounted on a bracket 30,
which is used for attachment to a control panel housing of a
machine tool, inside and outside the housing, respectively. The
heat exhaust unit 20 will be described in detail later.
[0022] The cooling unit 10 comprises a heat sink 11, cover 12, a
droplet guide 13, a tray 14, and a blowing unit 15. As shown in
FIG. 1, the heat sink 11, the droplet guide 13, and the tray 14 are
mounted so as to be accommodated in the cover 12. Further, the
cover 12 is open at its upper end and the blowing unit 15 is
attached to its lower end.
[0023] The heat sink 11 has a function of cooling an ambient
atmosphere introduced. therein by the blowing unit 15 and a
function of collecting cutting fluid mists, which will be described
later. Further, the droplet guide 13 has a function of introducing
water condensed by cooling and dripped from the heat sink 11 and a
cutting fluid collected by the mist collection function and dripped
into the tray 14.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the heat sink 11.
[0025] The heat sink 11 comprises fins 16 and a mist collection
unit 17. The fins 16 serve to increase the surface area to achieve
a higher cooling effect. The mist collection unit 17 is given a
shape suitable for cutting fluid mist collection. Dotted-line
arrows of FIG. 2 indicate a flow of air current produced as the
atmosphere is made to flow in the heat sink 11 by the blowing unit
15. Thus, the mist collection unit 17, in the form of a plurality
of projections between the fins 16, is provided so as to
deliberately resist a flow of air that passes between the fins 16.
In this way, the cutting fluid mists contained in the ambient
atmosphere in the heat sink is condensed into droplets at portions
hit by air and can be collected.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional, view of the cooling device 1
according to the present embodiment.
[0027] In the cooling unit 10, the heat sink 11 and a heat
exchanger 18 are in contact with each other. The heat exchanger 18
is a conventional heat-pipe or Peltier heat exchanger, which uses
the heat sink 11 to absorb heat from the ambient atmosphere
introduced into the cooling unit 10 and exhaust the heat toward the
heat exhaust unit 20. Since the heat sink 11 is cooled to a
temperature lower than the ambient temperature, it serves to cool
and condense the ambient atmosphere.
[0028] The droplet guide 13 introduces the water condensed and
dripped from the heat sink 11 and the cutting fluid collected by
the mist collection unit 17 and dripped into the tray 14. The tray
14 connected with a hole 31 through which the dripped cutting fluid
is gathered and discharged to the outside. The blowing unit 15 is a
device for guiding the atmosphere in the control panel into the
cooling unit 10.
[0029] The heat exhaust unit 20 comprises a case 21, blowing unit
22, and heat sink 23. The heat sink 23 is mounted in proximity to
the heat exchanger 18 and surrounded by the case 21. The blowing
unit 22 is attached to the outside of the case 21 so that heat from
the heat exchanger 18 can be exhausted to the outside as the
outside air is introduced into the heat sink 23 by operating the
blowing unit 22. While the case 21 has a function of efficiently
discharging the outside air from the blowing unit 22 through the
heat sink 23, the case 21 and the blowing unit 22 need not always
be provided, depending on the structure and heat exhaust efficiency
of the heat sink 23. Further, the blowing unit 22 may alternatively
be attached directly to the heat sink 23 without using the case
21.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a flow of air current in the cooling unit 10.
The ambient atmosphere to be introduced into the blowing unit 15
enters the heat sink 11 through its top and flows into the blowing
unit 15. Since the ambient atmosphere guided to the cooling unit 10
passes through the mist collection unit 17 in the heat sink 11
before flowing into the blowing unit 15, the cutting fluid mists
can be kept from adhering to the blowing unit 15. Thus, the rates
of failure of the blowing unit 15 and electric components (not
shown) surrounding the air outlet of the blowing unit 15 due to the
cutting fluid mists can be reduced.
[0031] In general, the heat exhaust unit 20 is also provided with
the blowing unit 22, which is greatly influenced by the cutting
fluid mists around the machine tool. In order to reduce the failure
of the blowing unit 22 due to the cutting fluid mists, the heat
sink 23 with the mist collection unit 17 may alternatively be
installed in the heat exhaust unit 20.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a view showing the control panel 40 in which the
cooling device 1 according to the present embodiment is installed.
Since the control panel 40 is mounted so that the cooling unit 10
and the heat exhaust unit 20 are located inside and outside the
control panel 40, respectively, the temperature inside the control
panel 40 can be reduced to facilitate the cutting fluid mists to be
discharged out of the control panel.
* * * * *