Abstract:
A filtration assembly for removing machined contamination from fluid flowing through machine circulation system is disclosed. The chamber receives fluid contaminated with machine contamination from the machine circulation system having. The chamber includes a continuous track disposed adjacent a bottom surface of the chamber for dragging the machined contamination from the tank and depositing the machined contamination into a primary collector. A modular fluid filter is interchangeably disposed inside the tank and includes filtration media for filtering machined contamination suspended in the fluid flowing through the machine circulation system. The chamber includes interchangeable components used in cooperation with the modular fluid filter for treating fluid flowing through the machine circulation system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed toward a filtration assembly used for removing machine contamination from fluid flowing through a machine circulation system. More specifically, the present invention is directed toward a modular filtration assembly system that is configured for interchanging various filtration components. 
         [0002]    Due to the increasing competition in manufacturing, it has become necessary to modify manufacturing assemblies to produce different components on an ever-increasing frequency. Therefore, old style manufacturing facilities that are engineered to produce high volumes of a single product are no longer economically practical. A drive has ensued to engineer facilities capable of manufacturing multiple variations of different components without having to close a manufacturing facility for an extended period of time to modify the facility to produce a different product. While advancements have been made to achieve rapid tooling changes for producing different products, underlying technology necessary for that production has not been previously adapted for rapid transformation. 
         [0003]    For example, machining operations used to machine cast or other formed metal parts are typically adapted to machine different metallic substrates, such as, for example aluminum or steel. Coolant and lubrication fluids are introduced to a machining operation to clean the drills and cores used to machine various substrates, remove the resultant machine contamination and cool the machinery, which is known to generate significant amounts of heat. It is necessary to remove the machine contamination from the circulating fluid and, therefore, a filtration assembly is introduced into a machine fluid circulation system that continuously pumps the fluid over the machine equipment. A typical machine circulation system includes filtration and cleaning apparatus used to remove the machine contamination from the machine circulation system. These assemblies typically include a chamber continuously filled with circulating fluid that includes a continuous track and filter used to drag contamination from the circulation system and a filter to filter smaller metallic shavings and dust prior to returning the fluid to the machine operation. Known filtration assemblies have not been designed to facilitate different future machine operations, such as, for example a filter initially designed and supplied for an Aluminum machining operation being re-used for a Cast Iron grinding operation. Typically this example would result in the customer requiring a complete new filter system designed for the Cast Iron grinding application. Furthermore, increasing a volumetric flow when additional machine operations are adapted to the machine circulation system, either a redundant or a larger capacity filtration assembly has been required. This has required scrapping existing filtration assemblies and replacing the existing filtration assembly with a new filtration assembly designed to meet the new filtration requirements. 
         [0004]    The filtration assemblies of the prior art has made it difficult to rapidly modify manufacturing of processes using machine operations because the prior art filtration assembly cannot be modified for flexible machine operations. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a new filtration assembly that is easily adapted for flexible machine operations to prevent the necessity of replacing existing filtration assemblies in their entirety to service flexible machine operations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A filtration assembly for moving machine contamination from fluid flowing through a machine circulation system is disclosed. The filtration assembly includes a chamber that receives fluid from a machine circulation system used to remove machine contamination from a machine operation. The chamber includes a continuous track disposed adjacent to a floor of the chamber for dragging the machine contamination from the tank and depositing the machine contamination into a collector. A modular fluid filter is interchangeably disposed inside the tank having a filtration media used for filtering the machine contamination that is suspended in the fluid flowing through the machine circulation system. The chamber is adapted for interchanging components used to treat the fluid flowing through the machine circulation system. 
         [0007]    The present inventive filtration assembly overcomes the deficiencies of prior art filtration assemblies by being flexible and easily adapted for various machining and/or grinding or honing operations and the changing volumes of machine operations. For example, the modular fluid filter is interchangeable with either a gravity system or vacuum system for filtration of the cooling fluid flowing through the machine circulation system. Prior art filtration assemblies made use of fluid filters that are sealed to either the walls or the base of the chamber that receives the fluid and are not removable from the chamber without significant mechanical revisions being made to the chamber which are known to result in destruction of the chamber. Due to the modular nature of the present fluid filter, the assembly is easily interchanged between a gravity filtration process and a vacuum filtration process when a machine operation is changed. Additional components that are easily interchanged with the inventive filtration assembly includes heat exchangers, drying modules, clean tanks, additional pumping capacity, oil separators, coolant make up systems, and additional filtration independent of the modular fluid filter set forth above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings that are not intended to be limiting, but exemplary in nature: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the modular assembly of the present invention disposed inside an enclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the modular assembly of the present invention with the enclosure removed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a partially fragmented schematic view of the assembly of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a partial expanded view of one version of the modular filtration assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a double, modular gravity filtration assembly used for increased filtration capacity; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a double, modular vacuum filtration assembly used for increased filtration capacity; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a partial perspective view of a clean tank for use with a modular vacuum filtration assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a partial perspective view of the modular assembly having magnets disposed beneath a floor of the chamber; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic view of the components that are easily interchanged on the present assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a filtration assembly of the subject invention is generally shown at  10 . The filtration assembly  10  is enclosed in a housing  12 , which is delivered as a complete filtration module to a manufacturing facility used to machine metallic objects into a dimensionally correct configuration as is known to those of skill in the art. The housing  12  includes access doors  14  to provide access to various components of the assembly  10 , as will be explained further hereinbelow. The filtration assembly  10  receives fluid  15  through inlet  13  from a machining operation (not shown). The fluid  15  is contaminated with dust and machinings drilled and shaved from the various metallic components being manufactured in the facility. The inlet  13  introduces the fluid  15  to a chamber  16  as is more clearly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0019]    The chamber  16  is continuously filled with contaminated fluid  15  during production. Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side wall of the chamber  16  has been removed from the chamber  16  for clarity. A continuous track  20  is positioned adjacent a bottom surface or floor  22  of the chamber  16 . The continuous track  20  is driven by track motor  24  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and includes a plurality of spaced braces  26  that drag machine contamination  19  that has descended through the fluid  15  to the floor  22  of the chamber  16 . The contamination  19  is removed by the continuous tracks  20  through outlet  28  and deposited into a primary collector  18 . It should be apparent to those of skill in the art that the continuous track  20  is driven in an endless loop to continuously remove contamination from the floor  22  of the chamber  16 . It should also be apparent that the fluid level is spaced below the outlet  28  of the chamber  16  to prevent fluid from spilling out of the chamber  16  through the outlet  28 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  also shows additional modular components that are included at the discretion of the end user. For example, a magnetic separator  29  is installed as a module when the machine operation includes both magnetic, ferrous material and non-magnetic material, such as, for example, aluminum. In this example, it is necessary to separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material. Therefore, the chamber  16  is configured to receive the magnetic separator at the time the machine operation is revised. A further modular addition is a media addition kit  31  which proved additional media filtration when desired. Similar to the magnetic separator, the media addition kit  31  is delivered as a module at the time it is determined by the end user that additional filtration is required. 
         [0021]    A modular gravity filter  30  is disposed inside the chamber  16 . The modular gravity filter  30  includes filtration media  32  that is disposed in a continuous loop and is driven by filtration motor  34  as will be explained further below. Machining dust and low mass contamination known to float in the fluid disposed inside the chamber  16  is filtered through the filtration media  32  so that clean, or substantially clean, filtered fluid only exits from the chamber  16  through a filter outlet  28  for either further processing or direct return to the machine operation. The modular design of the subject invention provides the ability for the end-user to select between the direct return of the fluid  15  to the machine operation or the further processing and filtration of the fluid  15 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a more detailed view of the modular filter  30  to enhance clarification. The filter media  32  is stretched around filter frame  38 . The modular filter  30  is sealed on opposing sides by opposing seal plates  40  independently from the structure comprising the chamber  16 . The seal plates  40  prevent fluid from entering an interior  42  of the modular filter  30  except through the filtration media  32 . The seal plates  40  include an outlet coupling  44  that mates to a sidewall  46  of the chamber  16 . The filtration motor  34  is positioned atop the modular filter  30  and is contemplated to be located outside the chamber  16  to prevent contact with the fluid and to facilitate maintenance. Rotation of the continuous filter media  32  ensures that a portion of the filter media  32  is positioned above the fluid level so that the filtered media  32  is easily cleaned by a washer (not shown) or other method to prevent fouling of the filter media  32  with machine contamination  19 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative modular filter  48  having a plurality of filter units  50  used to increase volumetric flow rate through the alternative modular filter  48  for increased machining capacity. The alternative modular filter  48  simply replaces the filter  30  when increased capacity is required. The primary mechanical work required to increase filtration capacity by way of addition of the alternative modular filter  48  is to disconnect the coupling  44  from the sidewall  46  of the chamber  16  and reconnect the outlet coupling  44  of the alternative modular filter  48  to the sidewall  46  of the chamber  16 . The modularity of the alternative modular filter  48  increases the capacity of the filter by two times previously unattainable by known prior art filters without major mechanical reconstruction. 
         [0024]    A modular vacuum filter is generally shown at  52  of  FIG. 6 . As set forth above, the unique modular characteristics of the inventive assembly  10  provides the ability to achieve vacuum filtration from the assembly  10  originally designed for gravity filtration without requiring substantive mechanical alteration to the chamber  16 . The modular vacuum filter  52  merely replaces the modular gravity filter  30  via a disconnect of the outlet coupling  44  to remove the modular filter  30  in favor of the modular vacuum filter  52 . Once the modular gravity filter  30  is removed, the modular vacuum filter  52  is inserted into the chamber  16  and the modular vacuum filter coupling  54  is connected to the sidewall  46  of the chamber  16 . The vacuum filter  52  shown in  FIG. 6  includes a seal member  56  that is disposed below the fluid level in the chamber  16  allowing a pump  57  ( FIG. 7 ) to draw a vacuum inside the modular vacuum filter  52 . It should be understood that the modular vacuum filter  52  shown in  FIG. 6  is represented as having a plurality of vacuum filter units  60 . However, it is contemplated by the inventor that a single filter unit  60  may also be used to support lower required filtration capacity. It should also be understood that the pump  57  is also used to pump clean fluid from the interior  42  of the gravity filter  30 . Furthermore, the pump  57  is fixedly attached to the sidewall  46  of the chamber  16  for ease of assembly. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a clean tank  62  is easily affixed to the vacuum outlet  64  when modular vacuum filter  52  is installed in the chamber  16 . As should be understood by those of skill in the art, the modular vacuum filter  52  is sealed from the pump  57  when cleaning filtration media  32 . Therefore, the pump  57  draws clean fluid from the clean tank  62  so that manufacturing may continue while cleaning the filtration media  32  of the modular vacuum filter  52 . During the cleaning cycle, a valve (not shown) positioned between the modular vacuum filter  52  and the pump  57  is closed and a second valve (not shown) positioned between the clean tank  62  and the pump is opened. The clean tank  62  siphons clean fluid from the assembly  10  as is known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0026]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , various other components that may be optionally added to the assembly  10  are shown disposed upon assembly platform  66 . In this example, a redundant filtration assembly  68  receives fluid from the modular gravity filter  30  or the modular vacuum filter  52  for additional cleaning via pump  57 . The redundant filter assembly  68  discharges contaminates  19  into filter  69  which makes use of media paper  70  through which clean fluid is poured. A redundant collector  72  is positioned adjacent the collector  18  so that maintenance crews can easily empty the collector  18  and the redundant collector  72  simultaneously. An optional heat exchanger  74  is connected to an outlet header  75  or other coupling (not shown) to either heat or cool the fluid flowing through the assembly  10  as required. The assembly platform  66  also secures a control unit  78  used to provide electronic control to the assembly  10 . It should be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that any additional component required for adequate filtration not discussed above is affixed to the assembly platform  66 , including but not limited to, oil separators, fluid make up systems, etc. 
         [0027]    One method of fabricating the assembly  10  is to prepare the platform  66  and fully assemble the chamber  16  by installing the desired modular components. Once the chamber  16  and components are assembled, the chamber  16  is fixedly attached to the platform  66 . For example, the pump  57  is mounted to the chamber wall  46  via a platform  66  and prior to fixedly attaching the chamber  16  to the platform  66 . 
         [0028]    A still further enhancement to the assembly  10  is represented in  FIG. 8 . The floor  22  of the chamber  16  is spaced from the assembly platform  66  providing a receptacle  78 , and is always manufactured from Stainless Steel irrelevant of the machining operation. This is to facilitate A plurality of magnets  80  disposed on a tray  81  having rollers  82  are optionally inserted into the receptacle  78  when the assembly  10  is used to filter contamination having magnetic properties. The magnets  80  draw the magnetic contamination to the floor  22  of the chamber  16  enhancing the ability of the continuous track  20  to remove the contamination from the chamber  16  as explained above. To further force contamination to the floor  22  of the chamber  16 , a baffle  84  is optionally secured between the inlet  13  and the modular vacuum filter  52  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The baffle  84  may be used with or without the magnets  80 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the various modular components that are added or removed from the assembly  10  to meet the flexible manufacturing needs of the end user. The platform  66  to which the chamber  16  is affixed is designed receive each of the modular components identified in  FIG. 9 , including a man-davit  84  to assist maintenance, the media addition kit  31  having partial flow magnets  86 , modular filters  30 ,  48 ,  52 , the clean tank  62  for use with the modular vacuum filter  48 , one or more heat exchangers  74 , full flow magnets  80  for use with ferrous machine operations, a complete pump out module  88 , media polish filter  90  and secondary filters  68  for providing additional filtration. The list of modular components is not exhaustive, but exemplary. Other modular components are included a the discretion of the end user including, but not limited to a back-up sentinel filter, future media, a mist extraction module, a high pressure system, and a spray bar. 
         [0030]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
         [0031]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.