초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for automatically cooling a workpiece being manufactured by shape melting whereby a gas/liquid coolant mixture is pumped onto the external surface of the part to be cooled. Temperature and pressure data is fed to a computer control system which regulates the flow of the gas an

A method and apparatus for automatically cooling a workpiece being manufactured by shape melting whereby a gas/liquid coolant mixture is pumped onto the external surface of the part to be cooled. Temperature and pressure data is fed to a computer control system which regulates the flow of the gas and liquid coolant mixtures. A suction device which enshrouds the spray head extracts the heated and vaporized fluid from the vicinity of the surface. The apparatus may be provided with multiple spray heads which comprise the cooling head and have the ability to control the total rate at which coolant flows through the device by individually controlling coolant and gas flow through each of the multiple spray heads. If more cooling is desired, the computer control system activates more nozzles for flow, or it increases flow rate through already activated nozzles. Both the number of spraying heads and flow rates through each spray head are variable, so the cooling capabilities of the system are continuously variable over a wide range of total flow rates through the device.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for automatically cooling a workpiece being manufactured by shape melting, comprising: at least one spray head directed externally at the workpiece, each spray head being supplied with a coolant and a gas; at least one housing covering at least one spray head for facilitating the remova

An apparatus for automatically cooling a workpiece being manufactured by shape melting, comprising: at least one spray head directed externally at the workpiece, each spray head being supplied with a coolant and a gas; at least one housing covering at least one spray head for facilitating the removal of coolant vapor; at least two temperature sensors for sensing the external temperature of the workpiece and establishing control signals indicative of same, one of said sensors being situated to sense the temperature or the workpiece before cooling, the other sensor being situated to sense the temperature of the workpiece after cooling; means for aspirating coolant vapor from each housing; means for regulating the supply of coolant and gas to each spray head responsive to the signals of said temperature sensors; and means for translating each housing about the workpiece.