Abstract:
A saw guide assembly includes a stack of saw guides with bodies having a second portion with lubricant holes and coolant holes extending between the first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof. The lubricant and coolant holes are aligned so that fluid supplied to any of the lubricant or coolant holes of a saw guide at one end of the stack passes into the corresponding holes of at least some of the remaining saw guides in the stack. The first portion has a first saw blade engagement surface with a lubricant distribution region and a coolant distribution region. Coolant and lubricant transfer paths extend from selected coolant and lubricant holes for that saw guide to the coolant and lubricant distribution regions. The coolant and lubricant transfer paths are different for at least some of the saw guides for separate delivery to the distribution regions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/023,012, filed 10 Jul. 2014, entitled Saw Guide Lubrication and Saw Temperature Control System. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The lumber industry uses thin kerf guided circular saws in the process of making lumber out of logs. The thin kerf saw blades require precision saw guiding means to ensure that the saw blades cut the proper path through the wood to make on-size lumber. The current state of the art for saw guides and saw lubrication and cooling is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,512 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,200. The methods described in these patents include dispensing liquid lubricant and coolant through the saw guide block onto the surface of the saw blade. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,512 separate paths are used to apply the lubricant and coolant to the surface of the saw blade. In each of these inventions, the flow of lubricant and coolant is not precisely metered to each individual saw blade, but rather applied in a somewhat random fashion. Both the coolant and the lubricant are fed into a common gallery that connects to each saw guide so that the volumetric distribution of these liquids to each individual saw blade is dependent upon several factors. These factors include difference in the pressure drop in the galleries going to each saw guide in the stack of saw guides, the orifice area of the outlets for each saw guide, and the overall pressure of the lubricant and coolant being delivered. Each saw blade, often referred to simply as a saw, in the system typically gets approximately the same amount of lubricant and coolant with differences depending upon the variables involved. Saws that may saw less often than other saws in the stack still get approximately the same amount of liquid as the saws that are sawing every piece that goes through the machine. This causes a large amount of waste of both the coolant and the lubricant because the saw not sawing does not need but a small percentage of the coolant and lubricant as the saw that is actually sawing. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,216. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A saw guide assembly includes a stack of saw guides; each saw guide includes a body having first and second portions. The second portion for each saw guide includes first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the second portion, a plurality of lubricant holes extending between the first and second surfaces, and a plurality of coolant holes extending between the first and second surfaces. The lubricant holes and coolant holes are aligned with one another so that fluid supplied to any of the plurality of lubricant holes or coolant holes of a saw guide at one end of the stack passes into the corresponding lubricant holes or coolant holes of at least some of the remaining saw guides in the stack. The first portion has a first saw blade engagement surface with a first lubricant distribution region and a first coolant distribution region formed therein. For each saw guide, a first coolant transfer path extends from a selected coolant hole for that saw guide to the first coolant distribution region. Also, for each saw guide, a first lubricant transfer path extends from a selected lubricant hole for that saw guide to the first lubricant distribution region. The first coolant transfer path and the first lubricant transfer path are different for at least some of the saw guides so that lubricant and coolant can be separately provided to the lubricant and coolant distribution regions thereof. 
         [0004]    Examples of the saw guide assembly may include one or more the following. Temperature sensors may be provided at the first portions of at least some of the saw guides, whereby the temperature of a saw blade adjacent to the temperature sensor can be measured. The saw blade temperature sensors may generate saw blade temperature signals; a lubricant distribution system, coupled to the saw blade temperature sensors, may supply lubricant to at least some of the lubricant holes based at least in part on the saw blade temperature signals. At least some of the saw guides may have a second saw blade engagement surface, the second saw blade engagement surface comprising a second lubricant distribution region and a second coolant distribution region formed therein. Fluid supplied to any of the plurality of lubricant holes, or to any of the plurality of coolant holes, of a saw guide at one end of the stack of saw guides may pass into the corresponding plurality of lubricant holes, or into the corresponding plurality of coolant holes, of all of the remaining saw guides in the stack of saw guides. The first lubricant transfer path and/or the first coolant transfer path can be different for each saw guide. 
         [0005]    Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review the drawings, the detailed description, and the claims which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of a seven-saw sawing system. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the sawing system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the saw guide assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the saw guide assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a specific saw guide, that is saw guide  2  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a transparent side view of the saw guide of  FIG. 5  showing hidden holes, channels and pathways in dashed lines. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6A  is a simplified view of the structure of  FIG. 6  but highlighting the visible and hidden holes, channels and pathways formed in saw guide  2  and used to transport fluid to the lubricant and coolant distribution channels on one side of the saw guide. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a transparent perspective view of the saw guide of  FIG. 5  illustrating hidden holes, channels and pathways in dashed lines. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7A  is a simplified view of the structure of  FIG. 7  illustrating the external and hidden holes, channels and pathways formed in saw guide  2  and used to transport fluid to the lubricant and coolant distribution channels on both sides of the saw guide. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a simplified view of the opposite side of the saw guide of  FIG. 6  highlighting the visible and hidden holes, channels and pathways formed in the saw guide and used to transport fluid to the lubricant and coolant distribution channels on the opposite side of the saw guide, and also showing 3 infrared temperature sensors on the opposite side. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows the saw guide of  FIG. 8  with the saw guiding bearing pad removed showing a 3 output wireless temperature sensor assembly mounted within a recess in the body of the saw guide. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view the 3 output wireless temperature sensor assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the saw guide of  FIG. 8  but adjacent to a saw blade on its far side, the saw guiding bearing pad having the infrared temperature sensors and showing the circular temperature sensor path lines. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an overall view of a portion of a wood sawing machine including the sawing system of  FIG. 1  and a saw lubricant and coolant dispensing system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of the main components of the saw lubricant and coolant dispensing system of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The following description will typically be with reference to specific structural embodiments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed embodiments and methods but that the invention may be practiced using other features, elements, methods and embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows. Unless otherwise stated, in this application specified relationships, such as parallel to, aligned with, or in the same plane as, mean that the specified relationships are within limitations of manufacturing processes and within manufacturing variations. When components are described as being coupled, connected, being in contact or contacting one another, they need not be physically directly touching one another unless specifically described as such. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals. 
         [0022]    The current invention is an improvement over the current state of the art because it allows for the metering of both coolant and lubricant to each saw blade individually. By individually metering the coolant and lubricant to each saw blade, the volumetric usage of both the coolant and the lubricant is greatly reduced. In actual use these reductions were measured and the usage was decreased to approximately 10 percent of a current state of the art system. There are methods to detect which saws are sawing and which saws are just idling during the processing of any given work piece. This invention uses this information to regulate the volume of lubricant and coolant that is dispensed to any given saw blade in the system. This invention goes a step farther by measuring the temperature of the saw blade in several places to determine if that individual saw blade need more or less coolant and/or lubricant. The current invention has huge positive environmental impact because it greatly reduces the usage of saw blade cooling liquid, typically water, and saw blade lubricating fluid. The proper lubricating and cooling of guided circular saws is import to assure accurate sawing to minimize wood waste. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a seven-saw sawing system  10  including a saw guide assembly  12  used to guide a stack of circular saw blades  14  mounted to a splined arbor  16 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  are side elevation and isometric views of the saw guide assembly  12  of  FIG. 1 . Saw guide assembly  12  is shown to include, in this example, eight saw guiding and spacing blocks  18 , referred to as saw guides  18 , including saw guides  18 . 1 - 18 . 8 . Saw guide  18 . 1  and saw guide  18 . 8  are single-sided saw guides, because they engage only a single saw blade  14 , while saw guides  18 . 2 - 18 . 7  are double-sided saw guides. Assembly  12  includes a saw guide mounting assembly  20  including a clamping cylinder  22  at one end and a stop bar  24  to prevent rotation of saw guides  18  during use. Mounting assembly  20  also includes a lateral adjuster  25  which allows the entire saw assembly to be moved along the axis perpendicular to the face of the saw guides. A combination lubricant and coolant manifold  26  is located adjacent to saw guide  18 . 1 . Clamping cylinder  22  supplies sufficient force against a clamping plate  28  located adjacent to saw guide  18 . 8  to secure the saw guides  18  between manifold  26  and clamping plate  28 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an individual saw guide  18 , in particular saw guide  18 . 2 , which is a double-sided saw guide. Saw guide  18 . 2  has a body  30  with a first portion  32  and a second portion  34 . First portion  32  has a first bearing pad  36  mounted on one side and a second bearing pad  38  mounted the on the other side, both with screws  39 . This provides saw guide  18 . 2  with first and second saw blade engagement surfaces  40 ,  42 , surface  42  and bearing pad  38  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0025]    Second portion  34  of body  30  has a first surface  44  and a second surface  46 , second surface  46  shown in  FIG. 8 . First surface  44  has a first lubricant groove  48  while second surface  46  has a second lubricant groove  50 . Lubricant grooves  48 ,  50  typically have a U cross-sectional shape with a width and a depth of, for example, about 0.125 inch×0.125 inch. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , lubricant grooves  48 ,  50  are axially offset so that lubricant is not transferred directly between lubricant grooves  48 ,  50  of adjacent saw guides  18 . First surface  44  also has a first coolant groove  52  and second surface  46  also has a second coolant groove  54 . Coolant grooves  52 ,  54  typically have a U cross-sectional shape with a width and a depth of, for example, about 0.125″×0.125″. As with lubricant grooves  48 ,  50 , coolant grooves  52 ,  54  are axially offset. Lubricant groove  48  and coolant groove  52  are shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 8 and 9  to for ease of illustration. 
         [0026]    Second portion  34  of body  30  has two different types of through holes passing completely through body  30  from first surface  44  to second surface  46 . The through holes include 14 lubricant holes  58 . 1  through  58 . 14  and  7  coolant holes  60 . 1  through  60 . 7 . First and second lubricant distribution channels  62 ,  64  and first and second coolant distribution channels  66 ,  68  are formed in first and second saw blade engagement surfaces  40 ,  42 , respectively. The construction of saw guides  18  as thus far described is identical with regard to saw guide  18 . 2  through saw guide  18 . 7 . 
         [0027]    Manifold  26  is used to separately supply lubricant, such as light grease, to each of lubricant holes  58 . 1 - 58 . 14  and separately supply coolant, such as water or a water-based coolant, to each of coolant holes  60 . 1 - 60 . 7 . Saw guide  18 . 1  does not have a first bearing pad  36  because no saw blade is provided on that side. Similarly, saw guide  18 . 8  does not have a second bearing pad  38 . 
         [0028]    The way by which lubricant is provided to first and second lubricant distribution channels  62 ,  64  and coolant is supplied to first and second coolant distribution channels  66 ,  68  will now be discussed specifically with regard to saw guide  18 . 2  and with reference to  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0029]    The supply of lubricant to first lubricant distribution channel  62  of saw guide  18 . 2  will be discussed first. Referring now to  FIGS. 6A ,  7 A and  8 , a relatively short connection channel  70  is formed in first surface  44  of saw guide  18 . 2  to fluidly connect lubricant hole  58 . 7  to first lubricant groove  48 . A connection channel  72 , also relatively short, is formed in first surface  44  of saw guide  18 . 2  to fluidly connect first lubricant groove  48  with a first bore  74  extending perpendicular to first surface  44 . First bore  74  opens into and terminates at one end of a first pathway  76 . First pathway  76  extends into and through first portion  32  of body  30 , the end of first pathway  76  being sealed by a plug  78 . 1 . A connection channel  80  fluidly connects first pathway  76  to first lubricant distribution channel  62 . A lubricant transfer path thus extends from lubricant hole  58 . 7 , through connection channel  72 , through first lubricant groove  48 , through first bore  74 , through first pathway  76 , and through connection channel  80  for connection to first lubricant distribution channel  62 . Each of the elements  70 - 80  is specific to saw guide  18 . 2 . 
         [0030]    Next, the supply of coolant to first coolant distribution channel  66  will be discussed. A connection channel  82  is formed the first surface  44  of saw guide  18 . 2  to fluidly connect coolant hole  60 . 7  to first coolant groove  52 . A second bore  84 , which extends perpendicular to first surface  44 , fluidly connects first coolant groove  52  to one end of a second pathway  86 . Second bore  84  terminates at second pathway  86 . Second pathway  86  extends into and through first portion  32  of body  30 , the end of which is sealed by a plug  78 . 2 . A connection channel  88  fluidly connects second pathway  86  to first coolant distribution channels  66 . Each of elements  82 - 88  is specific to saw guide  18 . 2 . A coolant transfer path thus extends from coolant hole  60 . 7 , through connection channel  82 , through first coolant groove  52 , through second bore  84 , through second pathway  86 , and through connection channel  88  for connection to first coolant distribution channel  66 . 
         [0031]    Next, the supply of lubricant to second lubricant distribution channel  64 , see  FIGS. 7A and 8 , will be discussed. A connection channel  90 , oriented generally perpendicular to second surface  46 , is formed in second surface  46  to fluidly connect lubricant hole  58 . 13  to second lubricant groove  50 . A third bore  92  is formed in saw guide  18 . 2  extending perpendicular to second surface  46  to fluidly connect second lubricant groove  48  to one end of a third pathway  94 . Third pathway  94  is situated directly behind first pathway  76  in  FIGS. 6 and 6A  so that it is identified in those figures in parentheses following reference numeral  76 . Third bore  92  opens into and terminates at third pathway  94 . Third pathway  94  extends into and through first portion  32  of body  30 , the end of which is sealed by a plug  78 . 3 . A connection channel  96 , see  FIG. 8 , fluidly connects third pathway  94  to second lubricant distribution channel  64 . Each of the elements  90 - 96  is specific to saw guide  18 . 2 . 
         [0032]    Next, the supply of coolant to second coolant distribution channel  68  will be discussed. A connection channel  98  is formed the second surface  46  of saw guide  18 . 2  to fluidly connect coolant hole  60 . 6  to second coolant groove  54 . A fourth bore  100 , see  FIG. 6 , which extends perpendicular to second surface  46 , fluidly connects second coolant groove  54  to one end of a fourth pathway  102 . Fourth pathway  102  is situated directly behind second pathway  86  in  FIGS. 6 and 6A  so that it is identified in those figures in parentheses following reference numeral  86 . Fourth bore  100  extends to and terminates at fourth pathway  102 . Fourth pathway  102  extends into and through first portion  32  of body  30 , the end of which is sealed by a plug  78 . 4 . A connection channel  104 , see  FIG. 8 , fluidly connects fourth pathway  102  to second coolant distribution channels  68 . Each of elements  98 - 104  is specific to saw guide  18 . 2 . 
         [0033]    Saw guides  18 . 1  and  18 . 3 - 18 . 7  have connection channels, bores and pathways similar to those of saw guide  18 . 2  but specific for each saw guide. In this example each lubricant hole  58 . 1  through  58 . 14  provides lubricant to a single lubricant groove on one saw guide  18 . In this example each coolant hole  60 . 1  through  60 . 7  provides coolant to two different coolant grooves on the same or different adjacent saw guides  18 . To do so each coolant hole  60 . 1 - 60 . 7  is connected to two coolant grooves  52 / 54  which may be on the same saw guide  18  or different adjacent saw guides  18 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , three temperature sensors  110 ,  111  and  112 , which in this example are infrared temperature sensors, are used to monitor the temperature of the saw blade  14  abutting second saw blade engagement surface  42 . Cutouts  114  are provided in saw guiding bearing pad  38  to permit direct access to the surface of the saw blade  14  by temperature sensors  110 - 112 . Temperature sensors  110 - 112  are parts of a wireless temperature sensing assembly  118  positioned within a recess  120  formed in body  30  of saw guide  18 . 2 . Assembly  118  is powered by internal battery. This allows the monitoring of the temperature of each saw blade  14  along three circular, generally equally radially spaced, temperature sensor paths  122 ,  123 ,  124 . With this information the amount of lubricant and/or coolant delivered to each saw blade  14  can be monitored and controlled to minimize waste and disposal problems while safeguarding the equipment and the product produced. In addition to temperature, other operating characteristics can be used to determine the delivery rate of the lubricant and/or the coolant for each saw guide. These include the physical characteristics of the workpiece, such as a log or cant, including the type of wood, which commonly would not change between a series of workpieces, and the diameter of each workpiece. With smaller diameter workpieces, the saw blades at either end of the stack of saw blades may not even be used to saw the workpiece under consideration; in such cases the amount of lubricant and/or coolant for such unused saw blade can be reduced or eliminated. Other operating characteristics which can affect the delivery rate of lubricant and/or coolant include the following: saw blades getting dull after normal use, damage to the tips of the teeth of some of the saw blades, and sawing certain types of timber which deflect immediately upon being cut. 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  is an overall view of a portion of a wood sawing machine  130  including the sawing system  10  of  FIG. 1  and a saw lubricant and coolant dispensing system  132 .  FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of the main components of the saw lubricant and coolant dispensing system  132  of  FIG. 12 . The saw lubricant and coolant dispensing system  132  provides coolant and lubricant to manifold  26  of sawing system  10 . System  132  includes a water inlet  134  connected to a water source  136 , water being the liquid coolant. The liquid water coolant passes through a ball valve  138  and a water filter  140  for delivery to a set of 7 water valves  142 . The liquid coolant water passes from water valves  142  to a set of 7 flow switches  144 . Water is delivered to manifold  26  through a set of 7 lines  146 . A controller  148  controls the operation of water valves  142  and monitors the flow switches  144  to control and confirm the flow of liquid coolant through lines  146  to manifold  26 . 
         [0036]    A supply of lubricant is provided by lubricant tank  150  to a lubricant pump  152 . Lubricant pump  152  is powered by air from a pressurized air source  154 , the air first passing through an air filter  156 . The lubricant from pump  152  passes through a ball valve  158 , a lubricant filter  160 , and a lubricant regulator  162 . Lubricant regulator  162  delivers lubricant through a line  164  to a set of 16 lubricant dispensers  166 . A set of 16 air valves  168 , powered by pressurized air from air source  154  through an air regulator  170 , are connected to the set of 16 lubricant dispensers  166 . Lubricant passes from lubricant dispensers  166  through lines  172  to manifold  26 . Controller  148  controls the operation of lubricant dispensers  166  and air valves  168  to control the flow of lubricant through the individual lines  172 . 
         [0037]    The above descriptions may have used terms such as above, below, top, bottom, over, under, et cetera. These terms may be used in the description and claims to aid understanding what is being disclosed and not used in a limiting sense. 
         [0038]    While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. For example, in some examples it may be desired to supply coolant to only one side of saw blades  14 . 
         [0039]    One or more elements of one or more claims can be combined with elements of other claims. 
         [0040]    Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above are incorporated by reference. What is claimed is: