Patent ID: 8215878

Claim:
An indirect cooling system for a rotating tool having a tool body and a cutting element, the system comprising: at least one specific area on the tool body for mounting the cutting element; an indirect channel in the tool body for conducting coolant that is at a temperature that is less than ambient temperature to the rear face of the cutting element; a cryogen comprising the coolant; a cavity formed in the rear face of the cutting element for receiving the coolant from the channel; whereby the coolant in the cavity cools the cutting element; and an exhaust port in the cavity and an exhaust outlet coupled to the exhaust port on the face of the cutting element, whereby coolant flowing into the cavity can be exhausted to atmosphere through the exhaust outlet, wherein the cutting system uses a flow rate that is less than ten percent of the flow rate required for conventional flood coolants when machining the same workpiece, and wherein the coolant uses the latent heat of vaporization of the cryogen to remove heat from the cutting element.