Method and apparatus for continuously clarifying machine tool coolant and the like

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION IN A GRINDING MACHINE; A GRINDING WHEEL, A WORK TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A WORKPIECE TO BE GROUND BY THE WHEEL, A COOLANT SUPPLY NOZZLE ADJACENT THE WHEEL TO SUPPLY COOLANT TO THE WHEEL AND WORKPIECE, A COOLANT TANK CONNECTED FOR RECEIVING THE COOLANT FROM THE SAID TABLE TOGETHER WITH THE SWARF DEVELOPED DURING GRINDING OPERATION AND WHICH IS CARRIED BY THE COOLANT, A PUMP HAVING ITS INLET CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO WITHDRAW SWARF LADEN COOLANT THEREFROM, A VORTEX SEPARATOR HAVING AN INLET, SAID INLET BEING CONNECTED TO THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE PUMP, A SUPPLY CONDUIT LEADING FROM THE CLARIFIED LIQUID OUTLET OF SAID SEPARATOR TO SAID NOZZLE, A DISCHARGE FROM THE SEPARATOR FOR SEPARATED OUT SWARF AND LIQUID ENTRAINED THEREIN, A SWARF TANK POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE SWARF FROM SAID SEPARATOR AND ARRANGED TO OVERFLOW LIQUID INTO SAID COOLANT TANK, SAID SEPARATOR DISCHARGE EXTENDING TO BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID SWARF TANK, MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SWARF IN SUBSTANTIALLY DRY CONDITION FROM SAID SWARF TANK, AND MEANS LEADING FROM SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT TO SAID COOLANT TANK IN BYPASSING RELATION TO SAID NOZZLE AND TABLE TO PERMIT CLARIFICATION OF THE COOLANT WHEN THERE IS NO SUPPLY THEREOF TO SAID NOZZLE.