Fluidic system for monitoring machine tool wear during a machining operation

Claim 2

In a machining apparatus of the type including machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on a workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozzle formed in the tool for movement therewith relatively toward and away from the workpiece; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to saiD nozzle; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. a tool support structure is provided for supporting the machine tool and for moving the machine tool toward and away from the workpiece; and b. communicating portions of said conduit means are formed in said machine tool and in said tool support.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a sealing ring is provided to seal the juncture between said communicating portions in said tool and said tool support.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sealing ring is formed of a material having a coefficient of heat expansion greater than that of the materials from which the surrounding tool and tool support portions are formed.

Claim 6

In a machining apparatus of the type including a tool support and a machine tool positionable thereon one at a time in a plurality of attitudes to selectively present a plurality of machining surfaces one at a time for a machining operation on a workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring movement of the tool toward and away from a workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a plurality of nozzles formed in said tool, each of said nozzles being associated with a separate one of said machining surfaces and being adapted to direct fluid under pressure onto a workpiece; ii. a plurality of fluid passages formed in said tool, each of said passages having a separate inlet and an outlet communicating with a separate one of said nozzles; iii. conduit means adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and selectively connectable one at a time to said inlets to effect the discharge of fluid under pressure through a selected nozzle and onto a workpiece; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes the pressure of fluid discharged through said selected nozzle as an indication of changes in distance between said selected nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 7

In a machining apparatus of the type including a tool support and a machine tool positionable thereon one at a time in a plurality of attitudes to selectively present a plurality of machining surfaces one at a time for a machining operation on a workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring movement of the tool toward and away from a workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a plurality of nozzles formed in said tool, each of said nozzles being associated with a separate one of said machining surfaces and being adapted to direct fluid under pressure onto a workpiece; ii. a plurality of fluid passages formed in said tool, each of said passages having a separate inlet and an outlet communicating with a separate one of said nozzles; iii. conduit means adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and selectively connectable one at a time to said inlets to effect the discharge of fluid under pressure through a selected nozzle and onto a workpiece; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes the pressure of fluid discharged through said selected nozzle as an indication of changes in distance between said selected nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said conduit means includes a fluid conduit formed in said tool support, and said inlets are arranged to communicate one at a time with said fluid conduit as different ones of said machining surfaces are positioned for a machining operation, whereby orienting said tool on said tool support to position a selected machining surface for a machining operation will simultaneously communicate the associated fluid nozzle with said fluid conduit.

Claim 9

In a machining apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on a workpiece and a tool support structure for moving the machine tool toward and away from the workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozzle formed in the tool support structure at a position near the tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle, portions of said conduit means being formed in the tool support structure; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 10

In a machining apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on a workpiece and a tool support structure for moving the machine tool toward and away from the workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozzle formed in the tool support structure at a position near the tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle, portions of said conduit means being formed in the tool support structure; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 11

In a machining apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on portions of a workpiece which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozZle formed in the tool for movement therewith relatively toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid onto machined workpiece portions traveling along such path of movement from engagement with the tool; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 12

In a machining apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on portions of a workpiece which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozZle formed in the tool for movement therewith relatively toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid onto machined workpiece portions traveling along such path of movement from engagement with the tool; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 13

In a machine apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on portions of a workpiece which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, and a tool support structure supporting the tool for movement toward and away from the workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozzle formed in the tool support structure for movement therewith relatively toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid onto machined workpiece portions traveling along such path of movement from engagement with the tool; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle, said conduit means having portions formed in the tool support structure; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 14

In a machine apparatus of the type including a machine tool operable to perform a machining operation on portions of a workpiece which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, and a tool support structure supporting the tool for movement toward and away from the workpiece, the improvement of a system for monitoring relative movement of the tool toward and away from the workpiece, comprising: a. a fluid supply system including: i. a fluid nozzle formed in the tool support structure for movement therewith relatively toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid onto machined workpiece portions traveling along such path of movement from engagement with the tool; ii. conduit means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle, said conduit means having portions formed in the tool support structure; and, b. pressure monitoring means communicating with said fluid supply system for sensing changes in fluid pressure as an indication in changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece.

Claim 15

In an apparatus including a cutting tool operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring cutting tool wear during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle coupled to the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as an indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece whereby an indication of tool wear is provided during the machining operation.

Claim 16

In an apparatus including a cutting tool operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring cutting tool wear during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle coupled to the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as an indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece whereby an indication of tool wear is provided during the machining operation.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10 additionally including a tool support structure for moving the tool relatively toward and away from said workpiece, said nozzle and portions of said conduit means being formed within said tool support structure.

Claim 22

In an apparatus including a cutting tool having a main cutting edge portion which is operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring wear of the main cutting edge portion during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle formed within the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the main cutting edge portion of the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and, c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as a indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece portions which have been engaged by the main cutting edge portion whereby an indication of wear of the main cutting edge portion is provided during the machining operation.

Claim 23

In an apparatus including a cutting tool having a main cutting edge portion which is operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring wear of the main cutting edge portion during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle formed within the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the main cutting edge portion of the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; and, c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as a indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece portions which have been engaged by the main cutting edge portion whereby an indication of wear of the main cutting edge portion is provided during the machining operation.

Claim 24

In an apparatus including a cutting tool having main cutting edge portion which is operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring wear of the main cutting edge portion during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle coupled to the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the main cutting edge portion of the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as an indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece portions which have been engaged by the main cutting edge portion whereby an indication of wear of the main cutting edge portion is provided during the machining operation; and, d. a tool support structure for moving the tool relatively toward and away from said workpiece, said nozzle and portions of said conduit means being formed within said tool support structure.

Claim 25

In an apparatus including a cutting tool having main cutting edge portion which is operable to engage a workpiece and to perform a machining operation on workpiece portions which engage the tool and move relative thereto along a predetermined path of movement, the improvement of a system for monitoring wear of the main cutting edge portion during the machining operation, comprising: a. a fluid nozzle coupled to the cutting tool for movement therewith toward and away from the workpiece, said nozzle being positioned to discharge fluid under pressure onto machined workpiece portions traveling along said path from engagement with the main cutting edge portion of the tool; b. fluid supply means communicating with said nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized fluid for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle; c. pressure monitoring means for sensing changes in the pressure of the fluid discharging through said nozzle as an indication of changes in the distance between said nozzle and the workpiece portions which have been engaged by the main cutting edge portion whereby an indication of wear of the main cutting edge portion is provided during the machining operation; and, d. a tool support structure for moving the tool relatively toward and away from said workpiece, said nozzle and portions of said conduit means being formed within said tool support structure.