Abstract:
According to the present invention, there is provided a gravity-feed liquid delivery system for a machine tool. A liquid reservoir has an attachment mechanism to attach the reservoir to a structure separate from the machine tool. Coolant contained in the reservoir is transmitted by a hose having a first end combined to the liquid reservoir and a second end attachable to the machine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application 61/260,251 filed Nov. 11, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The instant invention relates generally to a liquid delivery system for power machine tools and more specifically to removable and repositionable liquid reservoirs. 
     Numerous machine tools have been disclosed in the prior art that require coolant or lubricant applied to the cutting area to increase the speed at which the machine tools cut and extend the useful life of the cutting bits. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a gravity-feed liquid delivery system for a machine tool. A liquid reservoir has an attachment mechanism to attach the reservoir to a structure separate from the machine tool. Coolant contained in the reservoir is transmitted by a hose having a first end combined to the liquid reservoir and a second end attachable to the machine. The reservoir is moveable between a first position attached to the machine tool and a second position remote from the machine tool. In operation, the machine tool can be oriented in any position and the reservoir is repositionable to an elevated position higher than an arbor assembly of the machine tool. 
     In another embodiment, a portable gravity-feed liquid delivery system is provided. A liquid reservoir has an attachment mechanism attached to the liquid reservoir for attaching the liquid reservoir to a structure integral with or separate from a machine tool. A hose that has a first end combined to the liquid reservoir and a second end selectively positionable at a second position is capable of supplying liquid from the liquid reservoir to an operating area. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of particular embodiments and their features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a machine tool showing the gravity-feed liquid delivery system with the reservoir in a first position on the machine tool; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the machine tool of  FIG. 1  with the chip guard and the feed handle removed; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of the machine tool in  FIG. 1  in the horizontal drilling position with the reservoir in a second position remote from the machine tool; 
         FIG. 3   b  is an enlarged detailed view of that portion of  FIG. 3   a  designated in the circle A. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a back view of the reservoir of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the reservoir of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system; 
         FIG. 4   c  is a section view taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 4   a  of the reservoir of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system; 
         FIG. 4   d  is a perspective view of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system; 
         FIG. 5   a  is an alternate embodiment of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system on a knee mill; 
         FIG. 5   b  is an enlarged detailed view of that portion of  FIG. 5   a  designated in the circle B; and 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view of yet another embodiment of the gravity-feed liquid delivery system as a stand alone system. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the attachment mechanism; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the attachment mechanism; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a portable machine tool  100  having a geared motor  111  mounted on a magnetic base  112  is illustrated. A fluid reservoir  102  is attached to the portable machine tool  100  above the magnetic base  112 . A hose extends from the reservoir  102  to the arbor  115  to provide fluid flow to the cutting tool. The reservoir  102  is selectively moveable and repositionable to allow gravity-fed coolant flow to the cutting tool when the portable machine tool  100  is any position. 
     More specifically, the preferred embodiment discloses a gravity-feed liquid delivery system  200  for a machine tool  100 . In the preferred embodiment, where the machine tool  100  is a portable drilling machine  100 , it may be advantageous to drill horizontally or any position in which the arbor  115  is level to or at a higher elevation than the reservoir  102 . In such instances, the removable reservoir  102  is moved from a first position on the portable power tool  100  to a second position remote from the portable power tool  100 . When the removable reservoir  102  is at its second position and elevated higher than the portable power tool  100 , the gravity-feed liquid delivery system  200  continues to deliver coolant or lubricant to the drilling surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  where the drill  100  is in the horizontal drilling position, the reservoir  102  includes an attachment mechanism  201  to hold the reservoir  102  in its second position remote from the machine tool  100 . In the preferred embodiment and better illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d , the attachment mechanism  201  is a magnet  201 ; however, in alternative embodiments, the attachment mechanism  201  may include, but not limited to, a hook (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), an adhesive material (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), or manually held by an operator at the second position. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a moveable member (not shown) combines the machine tool  100  with the reservoir  102 . The moveable member pivots outward from the machine tool  100  thereby moving the reservoir to a second position remote from the machine tool  100 . More specifically, the moveable member may be a plate that is pivotally attached to the machine tool  100  with the reservoir  102  attached thereon. The moveable member pivots outward and upward to position the reservoir  102  in a second position remote from the machine tool  100  when the machine tool  100  is in a horizontal drilling position. In the second position, the reservoir is elevated higher than the machine tool  100  and the force of gravity supplies liquid to the cutting surface. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d , the reservoir  102  is more specifically described. Substantially near the bottom of the reservoir  102  is an outlet port  204 . A fitting  203  combines the outlet port  204  to a hose  104  or, alternatively, a valve  113  is disposed in the outlet port  204  of the reservoir  102 . The outlet port  204  is positioned to allow free flow of liquid out of the reservoir  102  and in to the hose  104 . If the valve  113  is used, the valve  113  provides controlled fluid flow from the reservoir  102 . Obviously, however, the valve  113  can be disposed at any point in the hose  104  and still provide controlled flow from the reservoir  102 . The reservoir  102  and hose  104  are made of a translucent material to allow the operator to visualize the supply of liquid. A removable lid  202  at the top of the reservoir  102  is conveniently placed for easy filling of the reservoir  102 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the machine tool  100  is adapted to annular cutters, which have a hollow center portion. A ring assembly  106  is combined with the arbor  115  of the machine tool  100 . A hose  104  connecting the ring assembly  106  to the reservoir  102  provides a path for fluid flow. Fluid flows through hose  104  to the inside of the annular cutter from the reservoir  102  when the machine tool  100  is cutting. 
     In an alternate embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , a gravity-feed liquid delivery system  200  is provided as a separate system adaptable to any type of machine tool  100  including, but not limited to, a Knee Mill  100 . In this embodiment, a ring assembly  106  is adaptable to combine with the arbor of the Mill  100 . A hose  104  extends from the reservoir  102  to the ring assembly  106 . The reservoir  102  is attachable at any position on or around the Mill  100 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment and illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the gravity-feed liquid delivery system  200  is provided as a stand-alone system  200  having a valve  113  at the outlet  204  of the reservoir  102  and a hose  104 . The hose  104  may be formed of a resilient yet flexible material that holds the hose in a temporarily fixed position. Alternatively, the hose  104  may have an attachment mechanism (not illustrated) in the form of a hook, an adhesive, or a magnet. This allows the gravity-feed liquid delivery system  200  to be adapted for use on a wide range of machine tools  100  including, but not limited to, circular saws, hand drills, and lathes. 
     Various aspects of any of the embodiments can be combined in different combinations than the ones shown to create new embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by appended claims and their equivalents. The invention can be better understood by reference to the following claims. For purpose of claim interpretation, the transitional phrases “including” and “having” are intended to be synonymous with the transitional phrase “comprising.”