Water Cooled Sanding Table with Room Heater Attachment

Abstract

This invention presents a water-cooled sanding table that uniquely integrates a cooling and thermal energy reclamation system. It features a motor-driven sanding belt, a compressor-regulated cooling system with a water tank, evaporator, and condensing coils, alongside an aluminum plate for direct heat transfer from the sanding process. This setup not only prevents heat damage to both workpiece and sanding belt, allowing for higher speed operations without damage, but also captures and repurposes the generated thermal energy. The expelled heat can be utilized for heating spaces or water, showcasing the invention's contribution to energy efficiency and sustainability. This system's ability to enhance processing quality while conservatively managing energy exemplifies a significant advancement in the field.

1 . A sanding table apparatus comprising:
 a fluid tank for storing a thermally conductive fluid;   a first heat exchange system, comprising an evaporator coil submerged in the thermally conductive fluid within the fluid tank, operationally linked to a compressor and an externally located condensing coil, designed to extract heat from the fluid and expel it into the surrounding air, thereby cooling the fluid;   a motor equipped with a variable frequency drive system for adjusting sanding speed, wherein the motor facilitates the movement of a sanding belt, which is tensioned across a lead drum pulley and a tail drum pulley, each of which are bolted to a steel frame;   a thermally conductive plate positioned beneath the sanding belt, configured to support a workpiece, and forming part of a second heat exchange system that transfers heat generated from the workpiece during sanding, through the thermally conductive plate and into the thermally conductive fluid;   and a pump configured to circulate the fluid between the fluid tank and the thermally conductive plate.   
       Dependent claims 
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to connect to a standard 220V outlet and includes a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) system capable of converting 220V 2-phase power to 3-phase power. 
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive plate includes multiple bore holes equipped with fittings for facilitating the flow of the thermally conductive fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange system includes a blower configured to direct air heated by the condensing coil into the surrounding area. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange system includes an attachment configured to direct air heated by the condensing coil into an HVAC duct system. 
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange system includes an attachment configured to utilize the heat extracted by the condensing coil for any application where such heat is beneficial. 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchange system includes an attachment configured to utilize the heated thermally conductive fluid for any application where such fluid is beneficial. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of guide wheels positioned between the lead drum pulley and the tail drum pulley, designed to maintain the alignment and stability of the sanding belt. 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of tail pulley adjustment mechanisms, each equipped with an adjustable bolt, allowing for fine-tuning of the sanding belt's tension and alignment by adjusting the position of the tail pulley relative to the lead pulley. 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinged workpiece fence positioned at the lead end of the thermally conductive plate. 
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 1 , further encased within an enclosure on all sides but one, wherein the one open side features two half-doors that partially enclose the open side, allowing access for workpiece manipulation and usage of the invention. 
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11 , further comprising an exhaust mechanism mounted on one of the doors, designed for dust extraction to enhance the operational environment by removing dust generated during sanding operations. 
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank contains 25 gallons of water and includes a compact pump to circulate the water within the tank, enhancing the heat exchange efficiency between the water and the evaporator coil. 
       Independent claim 
     
     
         14 . A method for capturing, storing, and repurposing thermal energy generated during sanding, the method comprising:
 extracting heat from a thermally conductive fluid, stored within a fluid tank, using a first heat exchange system comprising an evaporator coil-located in the tank and submerged in the fluid-a compressor, and a condensing coil located outside the fluid tank;   pumping the cooled thermally conductive fluid from the fluid tank through a second heat exchange system, comprising of a closed-loop system involving a thermally conductive plate situated beneath a sanding belt, wherein the plate is configured to support a workpiece during sanding;   capturing the heat generated at the interface between the workpiece and the sanding belt, wherein the thermally conductive plate causes the heat generated to be transferred to the thermally conductive fluid;   circulating the now heated thermally conductive fluid back to the fluid tank, wherein the first heat exchange system may extract the thermal energy, i.e. heat generated from sanding;   and repurposing the thermal energy extracted from the thermally conductive fluid.   
       Dependent Method claims 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , where circulating the thermally conductive fluid entails moving the fluid through multiple boreholes within the thermally conductive plate, connected via any configuration of tubbing which results in the flow of fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of adjusting the flow rate of the thermally conductive fluid through the closed-loop system using a gate valve on the return line to the fluid tank to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer from the workpiece to the fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein repurposing the thermal energy extracted includes utilizing an attachment configured to direct the heated air into an HVAC duct system for heating a space.