Caterpillar Inc.

Rohit Bhapkar

Timothy A Thorson

George Mathai

Eric Richard Larsen

A system for dispensing lubricant in a stream of cool air to a work piece and a machine tool. A source of lubricant and cool air are coupled to a stationary coupler. A rotating turret includes a plurality of machine tools mounted thereon and the plurality of rotating couplers mounted thereon. Each machine tool is associated with or coupled to one of the rotating couplers. The turret rotates so that a rotating coupler is in abutting engagement with the stationary coupler. Lubricant and cool air pass through the stationary coupler to the rotating coupler, which delivers the lubricant and cool air to a nozzle that is directed at the machine tool associated with the rotating coupler.

Cooled minimum quantity lubrication for machining

A combined method of machining and applying a surface texture to a work piece and a tool assembly that is capable of machining and applying a surface texture to a work piece are disclosed. The disclosed method includes machining portions of an outer or inner surface of a work piece. The method also includes rotating the work piece in front of a rotating cutting tool and engaging the outer surface of the work piece with the rotating cutting tool to cut dimples in the outer surface of the work piece. The disclosed tool assembly includes a rotating cutting tool coupled to an end of a rotational machining device, such as a lathe. The same tool assembly can be used to both machine the work piece and apply a surface texture to the work piece without unloading the work piece from the tool assembly.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Rohit Bhapkar