TOOL LUBRICATION DELIVERY MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A tool lubrication delivery system comprising:
- a fluid supply unit disposed on a spindle, the fluid supply unit including a valve assembly having a valve that moves along an axis between a closed position in which flow of a lubricant is inhibited and a open position in which flow of the lubricant is permitted; and
an accelerometer disposed on the valve assembly along the axis that detects acceleration of the valve.
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Abstract
A tool lubrication delivery monitoring system and a method of control. An accelerometer is provided to detect a position of a valve and fluid flow through the valve. Accelerometer data may be compared to a baseline profile to determine whether fluid flow or valve operation is within established parameters.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tool lubrication delivery system comprising:
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a fluid supply unit disposed on a spindle, the fluid supply unit including a valve assembly having a valve that moves along an axis between a closed position in which flow of a lubricant is inhibited and a open position in which flow of the lubricant is permitted; and an accelerometer disposed on the valve assembly along the axis that detects acceleration of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of monitoring lubrication flow to a cutting tool, comprising:
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providing a baseline acceleration profile representative of a position of a lubricant flow control valve of a valve assembly; comparing data from an accelerometer disposed on the valve assembly indicative of a position of the valve to a threshold range based on the baseline acceleration profile; and providing a warning signal when the data is not within the threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a tool lubrication delivery system, comprising:
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providing a baseline acceleration profile indicative of operation of a fluid supply unit that is disposed on a spindle and that controls the supply of an aerosol having a lubricant to a fluid passage of a cutting tool, the baseline acceleration profile having first, second, and third regions; determining first, second, and third threshold values based on the first, second, and third regions, respectively; providing data from an accelerometer disposed on the fluid supply unit; selecting one of the first, second, and third threshold values; comparing the data from the accelerometer to the selected one of the first, second and third threshold values; and generating a warning signal when the data exceeds the selected threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification