Systems and methods for providing coolant to an active grinding area

Abstract

A grinding system is presented that includes a grinding wheel with a coolant channel coupled to a coolant exit. The coolant channel extends through a grinding layer of the grinding wheel. The coolant exit is on an active grinding surface of the grinding wheel. The grinding system also includes a mounting feature configured to couple the grinding wheel to a grinding machine. The grinding system also includes a coolant distribution component configured to receive coolant and provide it through the coolant channel to the coolant exit point.

1 . A grinding system comprising:
 a grinding wheel with a coolant channel coupled to a coolant exit, wherein the coolant channel extends through a grinding layer of the grinding wheel and wherein the coolant exit is on an active grinding surface of the grinding wheel;   a mounting feature configured to couple the grinding wheel to a grinding machine; and   a coolant distribution component configured to receive coolant and provide it through the coolant channel to the coolant exit point.   
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The grinding system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature is integral to the coolant distribution component. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The grinding system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant distribution component is mechanically coupled to the mounting feature, such that the coolant distribution component and the mounting plate remain stationary with respect to the grinding wheel during a grinding operation. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The grinding system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant distribution component comprises a plurality of reservoirs, each configured to receive coolant and provide it to one of a plurality of coolant channels. 
     
     
         14 . The grinding system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant distribution component comprises an internal space defined by an inner edge with an inner radius and an outer edge with an outer radius, and wherein the coolant distribution component comprises a plurality of blades coupled to the inner edge, and wherein each of the plurality of blades extends toward the outer edge. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The grinding system of  claim 14 , wherein the grinding system comprises a plurality of coolant channels such that the number of coolant channels is at least as many as a number of blades. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant exit is radially separate from a coolant entry of a coolant channel connecting the coolant exit and coolant entry. 
     
     
         21 . A coolant distribution component for an abrading system comprising:
 a mounting component configured to couple the coolant distribution component to a grinding machine;   a shaped coolant reservoir configured to receive coolant from a source other than the coolant distribution component; and   a coolant distribution component configured to provide the coolant to an interior of an abrasive article.   
     
     
         22 . The coolant distribution component of  claim 21 , wherein the mounting component is a complementary feature that couples to a feature of a mounting plate of a grinding machine. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The coolant distribution component of  claim 21 , and further comprising a bore configured to receive a spindle of the grinding machine, and wherein the mounting component couples the coolant distribution component to the spindle. 
     
     
         26 . The coolant distribution component of  claim 25 , wherein the spindle provides the coolant into the shaped coolant reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The coolant distribution component of  claim 21 , wherein the shaped coolant reservoir has a plurality of chambers, and wherein each chamber has a separate coolant distribution point. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The coolant distribution component of  claim 21 , wherein the shaped coolant reservoir comprises a plurality of blades extending from an interior edge toward an exterior edge. 
     
     
         32 . A method of providing coolant to an active grinding surface, the method comprising:
 receiving coolant from a coolant source;   directing the coolant through a bonded abrasive article to the active grinding surface; and   wherein the coolant is provided through the bonded abrasive article in a turbulent flow.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein directing the coolant through a bonded abrasive article comprises:
 collecting the received coolant in a coolant reservoir;   directing the received coolant to an internal channel of the bonded abrasive article.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the reservoir comprises a curved edge. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the internal channel extends to an exit point on the active grinding surface. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the exit point is at least 45° away from an entry point of the internal channel with respect to a radial axis extending through a center of the bonded abrasive article, wherein the radial axis is parallel to the active grinding surface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coolant reservoir comprises a material free of abrasive particles. 
     
     
         38 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the reservoir comprises a plurality of internal features, each extending outward from an internal bore. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled)