AI-Based System for Inverting and Maintenance of a Submerged Snorkel
Patent Information
- Application Number
- KR1020260046404
- Authority / Receiving Office
- KR · KR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2046-03-16
Smart Images

Figure 112026031265807-PAT00004_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technology Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for maintaining an immersion tube used in a steel mill's RH (Ruhrstahl-Heraeus) vacuum degassing facility, etc. More specifically, it relates to a tilting rotary table structure for safely tilting an immersion tube 180° to transfer it to a maintenance position, and an AI control-based immersion tube tilting maintenance system and method thereof that detects the seating state, fastening state, and position information of the immersion tube in real time to determine whether rotation is permitted. Background Technology
[0003] The RH vacuum degassing facility at a steel mill is a secondary refining process that removes gases by circulating molten steel under a vacuum. The lower part of the vacuum chamber is equipped with a suction pipe for raising the molten steel and a discharge pipe for lowering it, to which immersion pipes are connected for use. Since the immersion pipes are repeatedly exposed to high-temperature molten steel and slag, wear, cracking, and deformation of the refractory materials occur frequently, requiring replacement or maintenance at regular intervals. Accordingly, the immersion pipes are separated from the vacuum chamber, transported to a maintenance location, and, if necessary, inverted to perform maintenance work.
[0004] Patent Registration No. 10-1657010 (Application No. 10-2015-0123505) discloses technology regarding a device for supporting and rotating RH equipment or similar heavy structures, and proposes a mechanical configuration that changes the direction of an object within a certain angle range using a rotating structure. However, this prior art mainly focuses on mechanical rotating structures and support frame configurations, and does not specifically disclose a control system that detects the seating state, fastening state, and position information of a heavy object in real time through multiple sensors and automatically determines whether rotation is permitted based on the detection results.
[0005] In addition, when tilting structures prone to longitudinal center deviation, such as immersion tubes, by 180°, minute eccentricity can cause significant loads on the rotating shaft and bearings; however, conventional technology has not sufficiently considered a closed-loop control method that quantitatively measures such eccentricity and actively corrects it during the tilting process. As a result, rotation operations are often performed relying on the operator's experience or visual judgment, which has limitations in terms of safety and precision control.
[0006] Therefore, there is a growing need for an intelligent tilting maintenance system capable of comprehensively detecting the seating, fastening, position information, and load status of the immersion tube, determining whether rotation is permitted based on this information, and simultaneously correcting eccentricity occurring during the tilting process in real time. Prior art literature
[0008] Patent Registration No. 10-1657010 (Application No. 10-2015-0123505) The problem to be solved
[0009] The present invention relates to a tilting device and a work method for maintaining an immersion tube used in a steel mill's RH vacuum degassing facility, and in particular, is intended to structurally and intelligently solve safety problems and control instability problems that may occur during the process of tilting a heavy immersion tube 180° simultaneously.
[0010] The immersion tubes used in RH facilities have lengths exceeding several meters and weights reaching several tons, and are connected to the suction or discharge pipes of the vacuum chamber via bottom connecting flanges. Since the immersion tubes are repeatedly exposed to high-temperature molten steel and slag, wear, cracking, and peeling of the refractory material occur frequently; therefore, they must be disassembled at regular intervals for maintenance or replacement. During this process, it is required to transport the immersion tube to the maintenance position and invert its vertical direction to service the interior or bottom surface.
[0011] However, conventional maintenance methods often involved lifting with a crane and stacking on a workbench, followed by reversing direction using manual labor or simple mechanical rotating devices; furthermore, there was no system in place to quantitatively assess the seating or fastening status of the immersion tubes. In particular, if rotation is initiated when the immersion tube is not precisely centered on the rotary table, even slight eccentricity can cause excessive loads on the shaft and bearings, potentially leading to equipment damage or safety accidents. Additionally, if rotation occurs with faulty fastening of the fixing means, there is a risk of the immersion tube becoming detached or falling.
[0012] Furthermore, conventional technology lacked an intelligent control system capable of comprehensively detecting the seating, fixing, rotation angle, eccentricity, and load conditions of the immersion tube and automatically determining whether to permit rotation based on this information. Consequently, operators were forced to rely on visual inspection or empirical judgment to perform rotation operations, which led to issues such as variations in work quality and reduced safety.
[0013] Furthermore, during the process of transferring the load of the immersion tube to the trolley after the overturning is complete, there were instances where the securing means were released without quantitative verification of whether the load transfer had been sufficiently completed. Consequently, there was a risk of structural damage or overturning due to the rapid transfer of the load. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a phased safety procedure that numerically determines whether the load has been transferred and releases the securing only when certain criteria are met.
[0014] Accordingly, the main objective of the present invention is to provide an AI-based system for maintaining the tilting of an immersion tube, which provides a structure capable of precisely aligning and fixing the immersion tube on a tilting rotary table, while simultaneously detecting the seating state, fastening state, position information, eccentricity state, and load state in real time through a plurality of sensing units, and having an AI control unit comprehensively analyze the detection results to automatically determine whether rotation is permitted based on whether pre-set safety conditions are met. Furthermore, another objective is to establish a series of intelligent work procedures that ensure rotational stability by actively correcting eccentricity occurring during the tilting process using a closed-loop control method, and then release the fixing means after confirming whether the load transfer is complete following the completion of tilting.
[0015] Consequently, the present invention aims to significantly improve the safety, precision, and work efficiency of RH facility maintenance work by enabling the operation of the heavy immersion tube's tilting maintenance work to be performed while simultaneously ensuring structural safety and control stability. means of solving the problem
[0017] The AI-based system for maintaining the conduction of immersion tubes according to the present invention for solving the above problems is,
[0018] In a system (1000) for maintaining immersion tubes (10) that are respectively connected to suction tubes (2) and discharge tubes (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1);
[0019] The above system (1000) is equipped with a rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20);
[0020] An immersion tube fixing means (40) is provided to support and fix the immersion tube (10) so as to be detachably attached to the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0021] Each is provided with a sensing unit that detects the seating state of the immersion tube (10) loaded on the upper surface (TL) of the above-mentioned rotary table (30), the fastening state of the above-mentioned immersion tube fixing means (40), and the position information of the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0022] It includes an AI control unit (60) that controls the system (1000) by synthesizing information collected from the plurality of sensing units to determine whether rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is permitted;
[0023] The above AI control unit (60) is characterized by applying or blocking a rotational drive signal depending on whether a pre-set safety condition is met.
[0025] And, the AI-based system for maintaining the immersion tube conduction of the present invention for solving the above problem is a system (1000) for maintaining an immersion tube (10) that is respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1);
[0026] The above system (1000) is equipped with a conductive rotary table unit (70) that conducts the immersion tube (10);
[0027] The above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is equipped with a rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20);
[0028] A horizontally rotatable disc (80) capable of horizontal rotation is installed parallel to the conductive rotating table (30) at the center of the upper surface (TL) of the above-mentioned conductive rotating table (30);
[0029] A plurality of ball bearings (81) are inserted between the lower surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotating table (30), so that the horizontal rotating disc (80) can rotate smoothly in the horizontal direction;
[0030] The immersion tube (10) is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) such that the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) faces downward, and the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the immersion tube (10) is positioned on the same vertical line;
[0031] An immersion tube fixing means (40) capable of detachably supporting and fixing an immersion tube (10) to the horizontal rotating plate (80) and the rotating table (30) is installed on the rotating table (30);
[0032] A plurality of sensing units are provided to each detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the conductive rotating table (30);
[0034] It includes an AI control unit (60) that determines whether rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is permitted by synthesizing information collected from the plurality of sensing units and controls the system (1000);
[0035] The above AI control unit (60) is characterized by applying or blocking a rotational drive signal depending on whether a pre-set safety condition is met.
[0037] And, on the support surface (90) on which the above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is installed, a pair of rails (91) spaced apart from each other are installed, and a movable carriage (93) having a plurality of wheels (92) capable of driving by rolling contact on the pair of rails (91) is included;
[0038] The above-mentioned movable cart (93) is equipped with a hydraulic cylinder (94), and is characterized by being able to adjust the height of the above-mentioned movable cart (93).
[0040] And, the above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is provided with a pair of vertical supports (100) installed spaced apart from each other on a support surface (90), and the pair of vertical supports (100) are installed parallel to each other facing each other;
[0041] A bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of each of the above pair of vertical supports (100);
[0042] In each of the above bearing bodies (101), a horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed so as to be rotatably supported by a bearing;
[0043] A conductive rotary table (30) connecting the above horizontal rotation shafts (102) is installed;
[0044] The above-mentioned rotary table (30) is characterized by having vertical downward support panels (104) installed at each of its left and right ends.
[0046] And, the height (H) from the support surface (90) where the above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is installed to the axis of the horizontal rotation axis (102) of the rotary table unit (70) is characterized by being 1.1 to 1.6 times the sum of the height (H1) of the immersion tube (10) and the minimum height (H2) of the movable carriage (93).
[0048] And, the above-mentioned rotary table (30) has a plurality of elongated holes (110) formed radially based on the center (OC) of the horizontal rotary disc (80);
[0049] The above-mentioned multiple elongated holes (110) are formed at a radius position larger than the outer radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and are characterized by being positioned in an area outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0051] And, the above-mentioned immersion pipe fixing means (40) vertically inserts a guide pin (112) having a bolt head (111) integrally formed in the above-mentioned elongated hole (110);
[0052] A sliding ring (113) is fitted onto a guide pin (112) that protrudes downward through an elongated hole (110) formed in the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0053] A lower guide plate (114) is fitted onto a guide pin (112) at the lower part of the sliding ring (113);
[0054] A screw thread is formed on the lower outer surface of the guide pin (112), and a fastening nut (116) is fastened to the screw thread;
[0055] An electric cylinder (117) is installed on one end of the lower guide plate (114), and the shaft of the electric cylinder (117) is coupled to one end of the lower guide plate (114);
[0056] The lower guide plate (114) and the electric cylinder (117) are connected in series and arranged on a virtual same horizontal line;
[0057] The above-mentioned elongated hole (110) and electric cylinder (117) are characterized by being installed parallel to each other based on the length direction of the elongated hole (110).
[0059] In addition, the upper part of the guide pin (112) of the above-mentioned immersion tube fixing means (40) is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), so that the immersion tube (10) is fixed to the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the conductive rotating table (30).
[0061] The AI-based work method for educating tubes by tilting them to maintain the educating tubes (10), which are respectively connected to the suction tube (2) and the discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of the vacuum chamber (1), is an AI-based work method for educating tubes by tilting them.
[0063] (a) A step of aligning the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) such that the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) and the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) are positioned on the same vertical line;
[0064] (b) A step of rotating the horizontal rotating disc (80) in a horizontal direction relative to the conductive rotating table (30), aligning the position of the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) and the arrangement position of the radial elongated hole (110) formed in the conductive rotating table (30) so that they are aligned on the same radial line with respect to the center (OC) of the disc, and forming a fastening preparation state of the immersion tube fixing means (40);
[0066] (c) A step in which, while the sliding ring (113) and the lower guide plate (114) are inserted and coupled to the lower portion of the guide pin (112) vertically inserted into the elongated hole (110) of the conductive rotary table (30), the electric cylinder (117) serially coupled to the lower guide plate (114) is operated to move the guide pin (112) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole (110), and the upper portion of the guide pin (112) is aligned and inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), and at the same time, the immersion tube (10) is fixed by applying pressure in a radial direction toward the conductive rotary table (30);
[0067] (d) a step of detecting the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30) through a plurality of sensing units that each detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the tilting rotating table (30);
[0068] (e) A step in which the AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyzes information collected from the plurality of detection units and determines whether to allow rotation of the drive unit (20) based on whether a pre-set safety condition is satisfied;
[0069] (f) A step of operating the driving unit (20) according to the rotation permission signal of the AI control unit (60) to rotate the tilting rotary table (30) from a 0° working position to a 180° tilting position around the horizontal rotation axis (102), wherein during the tilting process, the center position and eccentricity state of the immersion tube (10) are measured in real time by the plurality of sensing units, and if the measured eccentricity value exceeds a pre-set allowable eccentricity error range within a certain ratio relative to the diameter of the immersion tube or a set angle, the AI control unit (60) drives the electric cylinder (117) finely to correct the center and fixed connection of the immersion tube (10), and the tilting is performed in a closed-loop control method by re-measuring the correction result and repeating the process until it reaches within the allowable eccentricity error range;
[0070] (g) After the 180° rotation of the rotating table (30) is completed, the step of moving the movable carriage (93) to the lower position of the rotating table unit (70);
[0071] (h) a step of operating a hydraulic cylinder (94) installed on a movable carriage (93) to raise the height of the movable carriage (93) so that the movable carriage (93) supports the inverted immersion tube (10) from below;
[0072] (i) a load transfer completion confirmation step of measuring whether the load of the immersion tube (10) has been transferred to the movable cart (93) through a load sensor installed on the movable cart (93), and confirming that a load of 80% or more of the total load of the immersion tube (10) or a load of more than a pre-set standard ratio has been applied to the movable cart (93);
[0073] (j) A step of releasing the fixation of the immersion tube fixing means (40) by operating the electric cylinder (117) in the opposite direction to release the pressure state of the guide pin (112), and loading the immersion tube (10) onto the movable carriage (93);
[0074] (k) A step of moving the immersion tube (10) mounted on the movable cart (93) to a maintenance position;
[0075] (l) A step of performing maintenance and repair work on the immersion pipe (10) at the maintenance location;
[0076] (m) A step of reconnecting the immersion tube (10) that has been repaired to the suction tube (2) or discharge tube (3) of the vacuum chamber (1);
[0077] It is characterized by including
[0079] The eccentricity measurement of step (f) above includes the displacement of the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10), the inclination of the lower fastening flange (11), and the change in load acting on the guide pin (112), and the displacement is characterized by being quantitatively measured by a linear displacement sensor or an angle sensor.
[0081] In the above step (f), the AI control unit (60) is characterized by independently fine-driving the electric cylinder (117) while decelerating or stopping the rotational speed of the conductive rotary table (30) for eccentric correction.
[0083] The above closed-loop control includes a cyclic process of eccentricity measurement → correction drive → re-measurement → normal determination, and is characterized in that the normal determination is confirmed when it is maintained continuously within the allowable eccentricity error range for a certain period of time or longer. Effects of the invention
[0085] The AI-based system for tilting and maintaining immersion tubes according to the present invention enables a series of operations to be performed by tilting heavy immersion tubes used in steel mill RH vacuum degassing facilities 180° while simultaneously ensuring structural safety and intelligent control stability, thereby effectively resolving various problems that occurred in existing manual-centered or simple mechanical rotation methods.
[0087] First, the present invention provides a mechanical structure in which a conductive rotary table, a horizontal rotary disc, radially arranged elongated holes, a guide pin, an electric cylinder, and an immersion tube fixing means are organically combined, thereby enabling precise center alignment and radial pressure fixing based on the lower fastening flange of the immersion tube.
[0088] Accordingly, since rotation is performed with the virtual vertical center axis of the immersion tube and the rotation center axis of the rotary table aligned on the same vertical line, the overload on the rotation axis and bearings caused by eccentric load can be significantly reduced. This has the effect of extending the lifespan of the equipment and reducing maintenance costs.
[0089] Second, the present invention is configured to quantitatively detect, in real time, the seating state and fastening state of the immersion tube, the position information of the horizontal rotating disc, the angle position information of the tilting rotating table, the load state and the eccentric state, etc., through a plurality of sensing units, and to apply or block a rotational driving signal according to whether a pre-set safety condition is satisfied by an AI control unit that comprehensively analyzes this.
[0090] Accordingly, unlike conventional methods that relied on visual inspection or empirical judgment by workers, the permission to rotate is automatically determined by objective judgment based on data, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of safety accidents. In particular, since rotation is automatically blocked when faulty fastening of the fixing means, center alignment error, excessive eccentricity, or load deviation exceeding the allowable range is detected, it has the effect of preventing the risk of structural damage during detachment, falling, or tipping of the immersion tube in advance.
[0091] Third, the present invention actively stabilizes the tilting operation by applying a closed-loop control method that measures the center position and eccentricity of the immersion tube in real time during the tilting process, and corrects the error by finely driving the electric cylinder and re-measuring when the error exceeds the allowable eccentricity error range. Unlike a simple open-loop rotation method, this closed-loop control can immediately correct minute center shifts or tilting that occur during rotation, thus enabling the 180° tilting operation of a heavy-weight immersion tube to be performed in a high-precision and high-safety state.
[0092] As a result, vibration and shock during rotation are reduced, and positional error after the completion of the rotation is minimized, thereby improving the precision of subsequent maintenance work.
[0093] Fourth, the present invention is configured to support the immersion tube from below using a hydraulic cylinder of a movable cart after the completion of the transfer, and to release the immersion tube fixing means only after quantitatively confirming through a load sensor whether a certain percentage or more of the total load has been transferred to the movable cart.
[0094] Accordingly, this prevents sudden load shifts, structural deformation, or overturning accidents that may occur from releasing the fasteners before the load transfer is fully completed. This provides the effect of systematically ensuring safety throughout the entire process, including the transfer stage following the overturn.
[0095] Fifth, the present invention can flexibly respond to various specifications and weight conditions of immersion tubes by optimizing the structural dimension ratio of the conductive rotary table, the relative arrangement with the horizontal rotary disc, the radial arrangement of the elongated holes, and the serial arrangement structure of the electric cylinders. Accordingly, the versatility of the equipment is improved, and applicability in RH equipment maintenance sites is increased.
[0096] Consequently, the present invention provides a significant effect of substantially improving worker safety, reducing the risk of equipment damage, and simultaneously increasing the precision and efficiency of maintenance work by implementing the overturning maintenance work of a heavy immersion tube into an intelligent system that integrates structural fixing stability, real-time detection-based safety judgment, closed-loop eccentricity correction control, and load transfer verification procedures. This has technical significance in advancing the level of automation and intelligence of the RH equipment maintenance process to the next level. Brief explanation of the drawing
[0098] FIG. 1a illustrates a device to which the immersion tube of the present invention is applied, showing an immersion tube (10) that is connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1), respectively. FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the immersion tube of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating a system of the present invention as a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a tilting rotary table unit in which a horizontal rotating disc is not installed and a immersion tube fixing means fixes and fastens the immersion tube to the tilting rotary table using a bolt and a nut. FIG. 3a is a schematic front view illustrating a system in which a horizontal rotating disc is installed as a second embodiment of the present invention, a fixing means for an immersion tube is automatically operated by an AI control unit, and an immersion tube is mounted on a rotating table unit, with the rotating table facing the support surface. FIG. 3b is a schematic front view illustrating a system in which a horizontal rotating disc is installed as a second embodiment of the present invention, and a immersion tube fixing means is automatically operated by an AI control unit, and the immersion tube is separated from the rotating table unit, with the rotating table facing upward. FIG. 3c is a plan view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention in which the immersion tube in FIG. 3a is not mounted in the system. FIG. 3d is a plan view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc in FIG. 3c is made larger, a plurality of cut portions (CTP) are formed on the horizontal rotating disc, and a plurality of protrusion portions (PGF) are formed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc. FIG. 3e is a schematic front view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention in which a horizontal rotating disc is installed, an immersion tube fixing means is automatically operated by an AI control unit, and an immersion tube is mounted on a rotating table unit, wherein the rotating table is facing the support surface. FIG. 3f is a front view schematically illustrating a movable carriage that is commonly applied to all embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view schematically illustrating the immersion tube fixing means applied to the second and third embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the process flow of an AI-based work method for immersion tube conduction maintenance that can be implemented by the second and third embodiments of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention
[0099] In the present invention, since the upper and lower parts of the device change according to the rotation of the rotary table, the definitions of directions such as the upper surface, lower surface, right, left, left and right, upward direction, downward direction, and vertical downward direction of the present invention are defined based on FIG. 3a.
[0100] That is, based on Fig. 3a, the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating table are defined, and the upper and lower surfaces, left and right sides, etc. of the horizontal rotating disc are defined.
[0101] Therefore, in FIG. 3a, a component faces upward, and the surface located in the upward direction of that component becomes the upper surface.
[0103] Hereinafter, the overall operating mechanism of the AI-based system for immersion tube conduction maintenance of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0104] The present invention relates to a series of structural and intelligent integrated systems for separating a immersion tube (10) that is connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1), safely tilting it 180° to repair it, and reconnecting it.
[0106] The immersion tube (10) is connected to the vacuum chamber (1) through the lower fastening flange (11), and regular inversion maintenance is required because refractory wear occurs due to prolonged exposure to high-temperature molten steel.
[0107] The system according to the present invention is basically configured with a pivoting rotary table (30) that is driven by a driving unit (20) as the central structure. The pivoting rotary table (30) is supported by a pair of vertical supports (100), and a horizontal rotation axis (102) is rotatably supported on a bearing body (101) installed at the top of each vertical support (100), and the pivoting rotary table (30) is configured to rotate stably from a 0° working position to a 180° pivoting position through this horizontal rotation axis (102).
[0108] A horizontal rotating disc (80) is installed parallel to the center of the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotating table (30), and a plurality of ball bearings (81) are interposed between the lower surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotating table (30) so that horizontal rotation is performed smoothly.
[0109] The operator places the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) so that it faces downward, and aligns the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) and the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) on the same vertical line.
[0111] Subsequently, the immersion tube fixing means (40) operates based on the elongated hole (110) formed radially on the conductive rotary table (30). The guide pin (112) is a structure in which the bolt head (111) is integrally formed and is vertically inserted into the elongated hole (110), and a sliding ring (113) and a lower guide plate (114) are coupled to the guide pin (112) protruding downward. A fastening nut (116) is fastened to the threads on the lower outer surface of the guide pin (112) to form a basic fastening state, and an electric cylinder (117) is coupled in series to one side of the lower guide plate (114) and is positioned on a virtual same horizontal line as the lower guide plate (114).
[0112] When the electric cylinder (117) is driven, the lower guide plate (114) moves along the length direction of the elongated hole (110), and accordingly, the guide pin (112) moves in a radial direction and is aligned and inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12). During this process, the immersion tube (10) is pressed in a radial direction and is firmly fixed to the conductive rotary table (30). By arranging the immersion tube fixing means (40), which includes a plurality of guide pins (112), in a circumferential direction, center alignment and even load distribution are ensured.
[0113] Meanwhile, on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting the seating state of the immersion tube (10), a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting the angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30) are each installed.
[0114] In addition, a sensor that detects changes in load acting on the guide pin (112), center displacement of the immersion tube (10), and tilt may be included.
[0115] The AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyzes information collected from the plurality of detection units to determine whether pre-set safety conditions are met. When abnormal conditions such as center deviation, poor fastening, excessive load deviation, or exceeding the allowable angle are detected, the rotational drive signal of the drive unit (20) is blocked, and a rotational permission signal is applied only when all conditions are met.
[0116] Even during the conduction process, the sensing unit measures the center position and eccentricity state of the immersion tube (10) in real time, and if the measured eccentricity value exceeds the allowable eccentricity error range, the AI control unit (60) finely drives the electric cylinder (117) to correct the position of the guide pin (112). Subsequently, a closed-loop control method is applied in which a re-measurement is performed and the correction operation is repeated until it reaches within the allowable range. Accordingly, the rotation of the conduction rotary table (30) is performed while ensuring dynamic stability.
[0117] When the tilting rotary table (30) reaches a 180° position, a movable carriage (93) that can move along a rail (91) installed on a support surface (90) moves to the lower part of the tilting rotary table unit (70). A hydraulic cylinder (94) installed on the movable carriage (93) rises to support the tilted immersion tube (10) from below, and a load sensor checks whether a load greater than a preset ratio relative to the total load of the immersion tube (10) has been transferred to the movable carriage (93). When it is determined that the load transfer is complete, the AI control unit (60) operates the electric cylinder (117) in the opposite direction to release the pressure state of the guide pin (112) and fully loads the immersion tube (10) onto the movable carriage (93).
[0118] Thus, the present invention is an intelligent maintenance system implemented to perform 180° tilting maintenance work on a weight immersion tube (10) in a high-safety, high-precision, and high-reliability state by organically integrating the mechanical structure of the tilting rotary table (30), the fixing mechanism based on radially arranged elongated holes (110), the active pressurizing structure using an electric cylinder (117), real-time data collection through a plurality of sensing units, the determination of rotation permission and closed-loop eccentricity correction control by the AI control unit (60), and the stepwise load transfer procedure through the movable carriage (93).
[0120] In addition, in the “AI control unit (60)” of the present invention, AI refers to Artificial Intelligence. The AI control unit (60) of the present invention is distinguished from a general interlock controller that merely mechanically determines whether one or more sensor signals exceed a reference value. It is an intelligent judgment and control module that analyzes multiple types of status information acquired from multiple detection units in a correlated manner during the maintenance process of the immersion tube (10), and comprehensively determines whether to allow rotation of the immersion rotary table (30), whether to continue rotation, whether to adjust the rotation speed, whether to perform eccentric correction, and whether to allow release of the immersion tube fixing means (40) based on the analysis results.
[0121] More specifically, the AI control unit (60) collects input data such as information on the seating state of the immersion tube (10), information on the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30), center displacement information of the immersion tube (10), inclination information of the lower fastening flange (11), information on changes in load acting on the guide pin (112), and information on the transfer of load to the movable carriage (93), and analyzes the correlation between the plurality of input values, the trend of change over time, and whether they match a normal state pattern that is pre-set or learned, in order to determine whether the current operating state is normal, requires correction, or is in a dangerous state.
[0122] At this time, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention has a technical feature in that it does not simply determine independently whether the “sensor value is within the set range,” but rather estimates the current structural stability state by combining multiple input data. For example, even if the center displacement value of the immersion pipe (10) is within the allowable range at a specific point in time, if the change in inclination of the lower fastening flange (11) increases and the load deviation acting on the guide pin (112) increases at the same time, a state that may appear normal based on a single item standard can be judged as a precursor to an unstable state. Conversely, even if a specific sensor value temporarily deviates from the standard due to temporary vibration or momentary minute deviation, if the overall data pattern is judged to be within the fluctuation range of a normal state, it is not immediately concluded to be abnormal, but the final state can be determined through re-measurement and trend analysis. Therefore, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention functions as a judgment engine that interprets the interrelationship of multiple state quantities to more precisely determine the actual conduction possible state.
[0123] In addition, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention can learn the normal seating pattern, normal fastening pattern, normal eccentric change pattern, and normal load transfer pattern of the immersion tube (10) or store them as a reference model by using normal operation data, test operation data, simulation data, or work history data accumulated during the actual operation process that has been secured in advance.
[0124] Accordingly, the AI control unit (60) can determine whether rotation is permitted or whether correction is required by comparing and judging how much the data currently input in real time matches the normal pattern or approaches the dangerous pattern. That is, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention is not limited to a rule-based method that relies on a fixed single reference value, but may include a structure that recognizes and judges normal and abnormal patterns composed of multiple state variables. Here, learning is not necessarily limited to advanced neural network computation, but can be implemented by extracting and storing feature quantities of a normal state group and an abnormal state group, and calculating the similarity, deviation, or anomaly degree with the real-time acquired data. Therefore, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention substantially functions as a “complex state judgment unit” and a “prediction-based safety control unit.”
[0125] The operating mechanism of the AI control unit (60) of the present invention is described in more detail as follows. First, when the immersion tube (10) is loaded onto the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) or the conductive rotating table (30), the sensing unit detects the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the center alignment state, and the ready state for fastening the immersion tube fixing means (40).
[0126] The AI control unit (60) receives this data and determines in advance whether the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) aligns with the reference center to some extent, whether the planned connection position aligns with the radial elongated hole (110), and whether the basic safety conditions before rotation start are satisfied. Then, when the immersion tube fixing means (40) operates so that the guide pin (112) is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) and the immersion tube (10) is fixed by pressure in the radial direction, the AI control unit (60) again analyzes the connection state, contact pressure change, position displacement amount, and load change to determine whether the actual connection has been completed. At this time, not only is the presence or absence of a connection signal checked, but the AI control unit (60) also determines whether complex phenomena such as the fine position convergence of the immersion tube (10), stabilization of the load distribution, and reduction of the flange inclination that should appear upon connection correspond to a normal pattern.
[0127] Subsequently, when the AI control unit (60) determines that rotation is permitted, it applies a rotation drive signal to the drive unit (20) to start the rotation of the tilting rotary table (30). During the tilting process, the center displacement of the immersion tube (10), the inclination of the flange, the load change of the guide pin (112), the rotation speed, and the angle position are input to the AI control unit (60) in real time. The AI control unit (60) continuously analyzes these data in chronological order to determine whether the current eccentric state is a temporary vibration, an unstable state that is continuously expanding, or a deviation within a correctable range. If it is determined that the eccentricity exceeds the allowable range or that a combination of multiple state quantities corresponds to a dangerous pattern, the AI control unit (60) slows down or temporarily stops the rotation speed of the tilting rotary table (30) and controls the electric cylinder (117) to finely drive to correct the position of the guide pin (112). Then, after correction, it acquires real-time data again to determine whether the normal state has been restored. This process is repeatedly performed in a cyclic structure of eccentricity measurement, correction drive, re-measurement, and determination of normality, and can be determined as a return to normal only if a stable state is maintained for a certain period of time or longer. That is, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention is not merely a passive control means that blocks when an abnormality occurs, but operates as an active closed-loop control unit that analyzes abnormal signs, activates a correction means, and re-evaluates the correction results.
[0128] Additionally, after the transfer is completed, the position information of the movable carriage (93), the lifting status information of the hydraulic cylinder (94), and the load sensor information are input into the AI control unit (60). The AI control unit (60) analyzes whether the movable carriage (93) is properly positioned at the planned lower support position of the immersion tube (10), whether the load of the immersion tube (10) is actually transferred to the movable carriage (93) side as the hydraulic cylinder (94) rises, and whether a load exceeding a set ratio relative to the total load has been stably transferred. As a result, the release of the immersion tube fixing means (40) is permitted only when it is determined that the load transfer has been sufficiently achieved. Conversely, if a positional error of the movable carriage (93), insufficient load transfer, or an abnormal uneven load condition is detected, the release of the fixing is blocked to prevent the sudden drop or structural damage of the immersion tube (10). As such, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention is an overall process integrated control unit that performs step-by-step control decisions by comprehensively analyzing different state quantities at each stage before conduction starts, during conduction, and after conduction is completed.
[0129] The effects of the AI control unit (60) of the present invention are as follows. First, by analyzing multiple detection data in a correlated manner rather than processing them in simple parallel, complex abnormal conditions that are difficult to detect based on a single sensor can be determined early. Accordingly, dangerous conditions such as faulty fastening of the immersion tube (10), increased center deviation, load imbalance, and incomplete load transfer can be detected more accurately, thereby significantly improving safety during maintenance work on the tilting of the heavy immersion tube. Second, by adopting a judgment structure that compares normal patterns with abnormal patterns, false detection and excessive blocking can be reduced compared to a general interlock method that operates based only on whether a simple threshold is exceeded. In other words, while reducing unnecessary interruptions in work due to temporary vibrations or momentary measurement deviations, it is possible to respond more sensitively to actual dangerous conditions. Third, by analyzing the eccentricity state in real time during the tilting process and performing correction control in conjunction, the abnormal load acting on the tilting rotary table (30), horizontal rotation axis (102), bearing body (101), and immersion tube fixing means (40) can be reduced. Accordingly, the structural reliability of the rotary system is enhanced, and the lifespan of the equipment and the reduction of maintenance costs can be expected. Fourth, by allowing the release of the fixation only after quantitatively determining whether the load transfer is complete following the completion of the tipping, risks such as falling, sudden load transfer, and structural deformation that may occur in the post-tipping stage can be effectively prevented. Fifth, since judgments that relied on the operator's skill or experiential sense can be replaced with data-based, repeatable, and objective judgments, the uniformity of work quality is improved, and the level of standardization, automation, and intelligence of the RH equipment immersion pipe maintenance process is significantly enhanced.
[0130] Therefore, the AI control unit (60) of the present invention is not a simple electrical cutoff device or a general automatic control unit, but an artificial intelligence-based integrated control unit that determines, predicts, and corrects the entire process of alignment, connection, conduction, eccentricity correction, load transfer, and release of the immersion tube (10) step by step based on multiple state data, and can be considered a core technical component of the present invention.
[0132] Hereinafter, the invention is classified by claim, and embodiments of the invention are described in detail.
[0133] To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the invention, with reference to FIG. 5, the invention regarding an AI-based work method for immersion tube conduction maintenance according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described first.
[0135] The AI-based work method for maintaining the conduction of an immersion tube according to the seventh invention of the present invention is as described in (a) to (m) below.
[0136] In an AI-based work method for maintaining an immersion tube by tilting the immersion tube (10) which is respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1),
[0138] (a) A step of aligning the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) such that the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) and the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) are positioned on the same vertical line;
[0139] (b) A step of rotating the horizontal rotating disc (80) in a horizontal direction relative to the conductive rotating table (30), aligning the position of the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) and the arrangement position of the radial elongated hole (110) formed in the conductive rotating table (30) so that they are aligned on the same radial line with respect to the center (OC) of the disc, and forming a fastening preparation state of the immersion tube fixing means (40);
[0141] (c) A step in which, while the sliding ring (113) and the lower guide plate (114) are inserted and coupled to the lower portion of the guide pin (112) vertically inserted into the elongated hole (110) of the conductive rotary table (30), the electric cylinder (117) serially coupled to the lower guide plate (114) is operated to move the guide pin (112) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole (110), and the upper portion of the guide pin (112) is aligned and inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), and at the same time, the immersion tube (10) is fixed by applying pressure in a radial direction toward the conductive rotary table (30);
[0142] (d) a step of detecting the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30) through a plurality of sensing units that each detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the tilting rotating table (30);
[0143] (e) A step in which the AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyzes information collected from the plurality of detection units and determines whether to allow rotation of the drive unit (20) based on whether a pre-set safety condition is satisfied;
[0144] (f) A step of operating the driving unit (20) according to the rotation permission signal of the AI control unit (60) to rotate the tilting rotary table (30) from a 0° working position to a 180° tilting position around the horizontal rotation axis (102), wherein during the tilting process, the center position and eccentricity state of the immersion tube (10) are measured in real time by the plurality of sensing units, and if the measured eccentricity value exceeds a pre-set allowable eccentricity error range within a certain ratio relative to the diameter of the immersion tube or a set angle, the AI control unit (60) drives the electric cylinder (117) finely to correct the center and fixed connection of the immersion tube (10), and the tilting is performed in a closed-loop control method by re-measuring the correction result and repeating the process until it reaches within the allowable eccentricity error range;
[0145] (g) After the 180° rotation of the rotating table (30) is completed, the step of moving the movable carriage (93) to the lower position of the rotating table unit (70);
[0146] (h) a step of operating a hydraulic cylinder (94) installed on a movable carriage (93) to raise the height of the movable carriage (93) so that the movable carriage (93) supports the inverted immersion tube (10) from below;
[0147] (i) a load transfer completion confirmation step of measuring whether the load of the immersion tube (10) has been transferred to the movable cart (93) through a load sensor installed on the movable cart (93), and confirming that a load of 80% or more of the total load of the immersion tube (10) or a load of more than a pre-set standard ratio has been applied to the movable cart (93);
[0148] (j) A step of releasing the fixation of the immersion tube fixing means (40) by operating the electric cylinder (117) in the opposite direction to release the pressure state of the guide pin (112), and loading the immersion tube (10) onto the movable carriage (93);
[0149] (k) A step of moving the immersion tube (10) mounted on the movable cart (93) to a maintenance position;
[0150] (l) A step of performing maintenance and repair work on the immersion pipe (10) at the maintenance location;
[0151] (m) A step of reconnecting the immersion tube (10) that has been repaired to the suction tube (2) or discharge tube (3) of the vacuum chamber (1);
[0152] This relates to an AI-based work method for immersion tube conduction maintenance characterized by including
[0154] With reference to FIGS. 1a to 5 for a more detailed look, the seventh invention relates to an AI-based work method for safely tilting and maintaining an immersion tube (10) that is connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1). The technical feature is that the entire process is not merely tilted, but is integrated and controlled step-by-step, including the loading alignment of the immersion tube (10), preparation for connection, fixing in the radial direction, multi-sensor-based state detection, determination of rotation permission by an AI control unit (60), correction of eccentricity during tilting, confirmation of load transfer after completion of tilting, and re-connection after maintenance.
[0155] That is, the seventh invention of the present invention is an invention that automates, refines, and makes safe the maintenance process of an immersion tube (10) for RH facilities by organically combining a mechanical conduction structure and an intelligent safety control structure within a single work procedure.
[0156] According to the seventh invention of the present invention, first, the immersion tube (10) is loaded onto the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and at this time, the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) and the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) are aligned so as to be placed on the same vertical line.
[0157] This step forms the reference alignment for the entire conduction process and directly affects the subsequent fastening precision and rotational stability. In particular, since the immersion tube (10) is a heavy structure prone to center deviation in the longitudinal direction, if the center axis alignment is insufficient during the initial loading stage, an abnormal eccentric load may be applied to the horizontal rotation axis (102), bearing body (101), or rotational support structure of the conduction rotary table (30). Therefore, the seventh invention ensures structural stability in subsequent stages by performing an alignment operation first to align the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) with the center of the horizontal rotation disc (OC) of the horizontal rotation disc (80), rather than simply loading.
[0158] In the next step, while rotating the horizontal rotating disc (80) horizontally relative to the conductive rotating table (30), the position of the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) and the arrangement position of the radial elongated hole (110) formed in the conductive rotating table (30) are adjusted so that they are aligned on the same radial plane with respect to the center of the disc (OC).
[0159] This step functions as a preparatory step for the actual fastening of the immersion tube fixing means (40), and beyond simply aligning the hole positions, it forms a reference point that allows multiple fastening points to be radially symmetrical with respect to the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10). Accordingly, multiple guide pins (112) can be inserted in a balanced manner during the subsequent fixing step, and the fixing load acting on the immersion tube (10) can also be more evenly distributed in the circumferential direction.
[0160] Subsequently, with the sliding ring (113) and the lower guide plate (114) inserted and coupled to the lower part of the guide pin (112) vertically inserted into the elongated hole (110) of the rotary table (30), the electric cylinder (117) coupled in series to the lower guide plate (114) is operated.
[0161] The electric cylinder (117) moves the lower guide plate (114) along the length direction of the elongated hole (110), and accordingly, the guide pin (112) also moves in tandem in the radial direction. As a result, the upper part of the guide pin (112) is aligned and inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), and at the same time, the immersion tube (10) is pressed and fixed in the radial direction toward the electric rotary table (30).
[0162] This structure has an important feature that distinguishes it from conventional simple bolt fastening or manual fixing methods. That is, in the seventh invention of the present invention, the elongated hole (110), guide pin (112), sliding ring (113), lower guide plate (114), and electric cylinder (117) interact with each other to perform "radial pressure fixing" rather than simple fastening, thereby ensuring fastening stability while maintaining the center position of the immersion tube (10) in an aligned state. In other words, the seventh invention of the present invention is of great technical significance in that it implements the fastening itself as a structure combined with a center correction function.
[0164] Next, a plurality of sensing units (not shown) are arranged on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) to detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the position information of the conductive rotating table (30), etc.
[0166] Specifically, a plurality of sensing units are installed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and these sensing units are configured to indirectly detect not only the seating state of the immersion tube (10) but also the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40) and the angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30).
[0167] The sensing unit does not directly measure the fastening mechanism itself, but rather determines whether the fastening is complete by detecting a change in the physical state occurring in the immersion tube (10) according to the fastening operation.
[0168] That is, when the guide pin (112) is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) of the lower fastening flange (11) and pressurized in the radial direction, the immersion tube (10) moves slightly toward the center or the reference position of the flange (11) converges to the set position. A displacement sensor, a load sensor, or a proximity sensor placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) detects such position change or contact pressure change to determine whether the fastening is complete.
[0170] In addition, since the horizontal rotating disc (80) tilts integrally with the tilting rotating table (30), if a gyroscope sensor or an inclination sensor is included in the upper sensing part, the angular position of the tilting rotating table (30) can be calculated by measuring the change in inclination relative to gravity. Therefore, both the fastening state and rotational position information can be reliably detected using only the sensing part on the upper surface.
[0172] In addition, if the sensing unit is integrated and placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the seating state of the immersion tube, the structural stability state resulting from the connection, and the information on the angle of rotation can be detected simultaneously on the same reference plane, which simplifies the structure, improves wiring and maintainability, and is advantageous for integrated data control.
[0174] An important aspect of the seventh invention is that, rather than fragmentary monitoring by a single sensor, multiple pieces of information regarding the seating state, fastening state, position state, angle state, eccentric state, and load state are acquired simultaneously and used as interconnected judgment data. That is, rotation is not permitted merely because the immersion tube (10) is placed on the table; instead, it is comprehensively verified whether the immersion tube (10) is accurately seated, whether the immersion tube fixing means (40) is sufficiently fastened, whether the position of the horizontal rotating disc (80) corresponds to the alignment standard, and whether the tilting rotating table (30) is in a permissible angle position.
[0175] Thus, the seventh invention of the present invention secures substantial operational safety based on data, which is difficult to ensure solely through the existence of a physical structure.
[0176] The AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyzes the information collected from the plurality of detection units and determines whether to permit rotation of the drive unit (20) based on whether pre-set safety conditions are satisfied. At this time, safety conditions may include, for example, the center alignment tolerance of the immersion tube (10), whether the fastening state is normal, whether the alignment of the horizontal rotating disc (80) is complete, the position where rotation can be started of the tilting rotating table (30), the allowable eccentricity value, the allowable load deviation, etc. The AI control unit (60) applies a rotation drive signal to the drive unit (20) only when all of these conditions are satisfied, and blocks the rotation drive signal if any of them are not satisfied. Therefore, the seventh invention of the present invention has a structure in which the decision to start rotation is determined based on sensor-based actual measurement data and judgment logic, rather than a method of performing rotation relying on the operator's visual inspection, skill level, and experiential sense as in the prior art. This is a very important differentiating factor in work involving heavy immersion tubes (10) and has key significance in terms of preventing safety accidents.
[0177] After the rotation is permitted, the drive unit (20) operates to rotate the tilting rotary table (30) from a 0° working position to a 180° tilting position around the horizontal rotation axis (102). However, the core of the seventh invention of the present invention lies not merely in performing a 180° rotation operation, but in applying a closed-loop control method that measures the center position and eccentricity state of the immersion tube (10) in real time even while the tilting process is in progress, and actively corrects them if necessary. That is, if the eccentricity value measured by multiple sensors during tilting exceeds a preset allowable eccentricity error range, the AI control unit (60) drives the electric cylinder (117) finely to correct the position of the guide pin (112), measures the result again, and repeats the correction operation until it reaches within the allowable range. This cyclic structure of eccentricity measurement → correction drive → re-measurement → normal determination corresponds to typical closed-loop control, which is essentially distinguished from the conventional open-loop simple rotation method. In conventional methods, alignment is only adjusted prior to rotation and it is not possible to actively respond to center shifts or tilting that occur during the actual rotation process; however, the seventh invention substantially secures the dynamic stability of a heavy structure by monitoring and correcting the state during rotation in real time.
[0178] After the tilting rotary table (30) reaches a 180° tilting position, the movable carriage (93) is moved to the lower position of the tilting rotary table unit (70), and the hydraulic cylinder (94) installed on the movable carriage (93) is operated to raise the height, thereby supporting the tilted immersion tube (10) from below. Subsequently, a load sensor installed on the movable carriage (93) is used to check whether a load of 80% or more of the total load of the immersion tube (10) or a load exceeding a set standard is applied to the movable carriage (93). This step is very important in that it is not merely a step of bringing the support closer, but a step of verifying whether the actual load transfer has been numerically completed. That is, in conventional technology, there was a possibility of proceeding with the release of the fixation based only on the external state that the immersion tube (10) has come into contact with the support structure, but in the seventh invention of the present invention, the next step is proceeded only after quantitatively determining through the load sensor whether the actual weight of the immersion tube (10) has been sufficiently transferred to the movable carriage (93). Accordingly, the risk of sudden load shifting, falling, and structural deformation when the fixation is released can be significantly reduced.
[0179] When the completion of the load transfer is confirmed, the electric cylinder (117) is operated in the opposite direction to release the pressure state of the guide pin (112), thereby releasing the fixation of the immersion tube fixing means (40) and stably loading the immersion tube (10) onto the movable trolley (93). Afterward, the immersion tube (10) is transported to a maintenance location using the movable trolley (93) or a crane, and at the maintenance location, repair or replacement work is performed on the refractory wear parts, cracks, peeling parts, deformed parts, etc. of the immersion tube (10). The immersion tube (10) that has been repaired is reconnected to the suction tube (2) or discharge tube (3) of the vacuum chamber (1). In this way, the seventh invention of the present invention systematizes the RH facility maintenance process by implementing the entire process from loading, alignment, fixing, tilting, eccentric correction, load transfer, repair, and reconnection of the immersion tube (10) as a series of integrated intelligent work processes.
[0180] The reason the seventh invention of the present invention possesses an inventive step is, firstly, that it does not remain merely a simple rotating mechanism or a conduction device, but rather combines the entire process of “alignment-fixing-detection-judgment-correction-transfer” into a single organic method invention by reflecting the characteristics of a heavy-weight, eccentric-sensitive structure called an immersion tube (10). Conventional technologies related to rotating structures mostly focus on the structure of the rotating table itself, the frame configuration, or the mechanical support method. It is difficult to easily derive the concept of acquiring the seating state, fastening state, position information, load state, and eccentric state of the immersion tube (10) in real time using multiple detection units, and having the AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyze this to automatically determine whether rotation is permitted. In particular, unlike simple sensor attachment in the field of heavy-weight rotating devices, the fact that the determination of permission before rotation begins, eccentric correction during rotation, and confirmation of load transfer after rotation are integrated into a single procedural system is a configuration that is difficult for a person skilled in the art to conceive directly from the prior art.
[0181] Second, the seventh invention of the present invention is highly likely to be recognized for its inventive step in that the structure and working method of the immersion tube fixing means (40) are combined. That is, a guide pin (112) moves along the elongated holes (110) arranged radially, and radial pressure is applied by an electric cylinder (117). The pressure state functions as a means that simultaneously performs center correction and stable fixation, rather than simple fastening. This method is distinguished from general bolt fastening or clamp fixing, and goes beyond the scope of a simple fixing structure in that it corrects the center state by finely re-driving the electric cylinder (117) while monitoring the eccentric value during the conduction process. In other words, the seventh invention of the present invention is characterized in that the fastening means operates not as a simple support means, but as an active fixing means that performs posture stabilization functions in response to sensor feedback.
[0182] Third, the seventh invention of the present invention is also distinguished from the prior art in that it performs release of fixation only after quantitatively confirming with a load sensor whether the load transfer to the movable cart (93) is completed after the tipping is completed. In conventional heavy object transfer or tipping technology, the next operation is often carried out based on the degree of approach to the support or physical contact, but the seventh invention of the present invention controls the safety procedure based on the actual transfer ratio of the load. This can be seen as not merely adding a subsequent process, but as redesigning the entire tipping process with a focus on safety, and has very practical technical significance, especially in the maintenance process of heavy refractory structures used in high-temperature equipment such as the RH facility immersion pipe (10).
[0183] Fourth, the seventh invention of the present invention is also distinguished in that the judgment structure by the AI control unit (60) is designed not merely to be at the level of a simple automation concept, but to be substantially linked to specific work steps. That is, the AI control unit (60) does not merely determine whether rotation starts, but also performs control intervention at each stage, such as whether to perform eccentric correction during conduction, whether to reduce or stop the rotation speed, and whether to permit release after the load transfer is completed. This step-by-step intervention structure differs from the general configuration of simply “installing sensors and automatically controlling,” and has a high degree of technical completeness in that it is designed specifically and organically to match the actual maintenance work flow of the immersion tube (10).
[0184] For this reason, the seventh invention of the present invention is difficult to evaluate as a simple mechanical conduction method or a parallel combination of general automation control technology, and can be evaluated as an invention in which each step is functionally combined to solve specific problems occurring in the maintenance process of the immersion tube (10), namely, the problem of center deviation, the problem of instability in fastening, the problem of dynamic eccentricity during conduction, and the problem of unconfirmed load transfer after conduction. Therefore, since the seventh invention of the present invention has a significant difference from the prior art not only in structural difference but also in terms of operational effect, there is sufficient core basis for the claim of inventive step.
[0185] The effects resulting from the operation of the seventh invention of the present invention are also excellent. First, initial alignment is achieved based on the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) and the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and since the radial pressure fixation of the guide pin (112) is performed, the center alignment state is stably secured even before the start of rotation. Accordingly, the local eccentric load acting on the rotation rotating table (30), the horizontal rotating axis (102), and the bearing body (101) is significantly reduced, and the effects of extending the lifespan of the rotating part and reducing maintenance costs can be expected.
[0186] In addition, by using multiple sensing units and an AI control unit (60), the seating state, fastening state, position information, angle information, eccentricity state, and load state of the immersion tube (10) are comprehensively determined, thereby significantly reducing work deviations and the risk of safety accidents that may occur in the conventional visual centering method. In particular, since rotation permission is blocked in the case of poor fastening or insufficient center alignment, it is highly effective in preventing serious accidents such as detachment, falling, or collision of the immersion tube (10).
[0187] In addition, since the posture stability of the immersion tube (10) is continuously maintained by real-time eccentricity measurement and closed-loop correction control during tilting, the 180° tilting operation of the heavy structure can be performed more smoothly and precisely. This reduces shock and vibration during rotation and also improves posture stability at the maintenance position after tilting is completed, thus contributing to the improvement of the quality of subsequent maintenance work.
[0188] Furthermore, since the fixing is released only after confirming with a load sensor whether the load has been transferred to the movable cart (93), the safety of the entire process, including the transfer stage after the transfer is completed, is dramatically improved. This is significant in that it is not a simple transfer technology, but a process safety technology that covers the entire actual maintenance process.
[0189] Ultimately, the seventh invention of the present invention is an invention that simultaneously improves structural stability, control stability, work precision, safety, and process reliability required in the conduction maintenance work of the immersion tube (10), and has very high industrial applicability in the field of RH facility maintenance, and has distinct differentiation and superior effects compared to prior art. Therefore, since the seventh invention of the present invention includes advanced technical ideas that go beyond the level of simple design changes or automation substitution, it can be said that the necessity and validity of its registration are very high.
[0191] Next, the eighth invention of the present invention will be described.
[0192] The present invention relates to an AI-based work method for maintenance of an immersion tube, wherein the eccentricity measurement in step (f) includes the displacement of the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10), the inclination of the lower fastening flange (11), and the change in load acting on the guide pin (112), and wherein the displacement is quantitatively measured by a linear displacement sensor or an angle sensor.
[0194] Here, the tilt of the lower fastening flange (11) refers to the angle deviation (tilt angle) that the plane of the lower fastening flange (11) makes with respect to a reference horizontal plane or a reference rotation plane.
[0195] When the immersion tube (10) is properly aligned and fixed, it is ideal for the flange surface of the lower fastening flange (11) to be kept parallel to the reference plane of the horizontal rotating disc (80) or the reference plane of the conductive rotating table (30). At this time, the normal direction of the flange surface coincides with the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10).
[0196] If eccentricity, load imbalance, uneven fastening, or structural deformation occurs during the conduction process, one side of the lower fastening flange (11) may rise or fall relatively, and the flange surface may be slightly inclined relative to the reference plane.
[0197] The inclination angle formed at this time, that is, the difference in angle between the normal vector of the flange surface and the reference axis (VS or rotational reference axis), is the “slope.”
[0199] Furthermore, the eighth invention of the present invention has technical significance in that it is configured to quantitatively measure multiple physical quantities simultaneously, such as the displacement of the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10), the inclination of the lower fastening flange (11), and the change in load acting on the guide pin (112), rather than limiting the eccentricity judgment criteria to a simple deviation from the center position. In other words, by identifying structural imbalances occurring during the conduction process from multiple angles, including not only position information but also changes in posture and fastening stress distribution, it enables the eccentricity state to be judged more accurately and reliably. This complex data-based judgment structure significantly improves the closed-loop correction control precision of the AI control unit (60) and is recognized for its inventiveness in that it implements an active stabilization system that reflects structural behavior, going beyond the level of simply adding sensors.
[0201] Furthermore, the ninth invention relates to an AI-based work method for immersion tube conduction maintenance, characterized in that in step (f), the AI control unit (60) independently fine-drives the electric cylinder (117) while decelerating or stopping the rotation speed of the conduction rotary table (30) for eccentric correction.
[0203] The ninth invention of the present invention has a technical feature in that, in the AI-based work method for maintaining the immersion tube in the immersion tube described in claim 7, when the AI control unit (60) performs eccentric correction in step (f), the rotational speed of the immersion rotary table (30) is reduced or stopped while the electric cylinder (117) is independently finely driven.
[0204] That is, the ninth invention of the present invention is configured not to simply perform the conduction and correction operations in parallel, but to separately control the electric cylinder (117) while decelerating or temporarily stopping the rotational motion when eccentricity is detected, thereby precisely adjusting the position of the guide pin (112). Accordingly, instead of attempting to force correction while a dynamic rotational load is applied, the local fixed state can be precisely corrected after stabilizing the inertia and eccentric load of the rotational system.
[0205] With this configuration, it is possible to make more stable and accurate corrections to center deviations or changes in inclination of the lower fastening flange (11) that occur during the conduction process of the immersion tube (10).
[0206] In particular, by controllingly separating rotational motion and correction motion, unnecessary impact loads acting on the horizontal rotation axis (102) and the bearing body (101) can be suppressed, and an increase in local stress concentrated on the guide pin (112) can be prevented.
[0207] Conventional technology has mostly focused on simple position correction or maintaining a fixed state during rotation, and it is difficult to easily derive a configuration that achieves dynamic stabilization by linking rotational speed control with the fine actuation of a fixing means.
[0208] The ninth invention of the present invention has a technical differentiation from simple sensor feedback control by adopting a stepwise control structure that actively controls the dynamic state of the rotation system when eccentricity occurs and then independently fine-tunes the fixing means.
[0209] Accordingly, the ninth invention of the present invention is a dependent configuration that further stabilizes and refines the closed-loop eccentric correction control of the seventh invention of the present invention, and can be recognized for its inventive step in that it enables the 180° tilting operation of the immersion tube (10) to be performed more safely and precisely.
[0211] Furthermore, the tenth invention relates to an AI-based work method for maintaining an immersion tube, characterized in that the closed-loop control includes a cyclic process of eccentricity measurement → correction drive → re-measurement → normal determination, and the normal determination is confirmed when the eccentricity error is maintained continuously within the allowable range for a certain period of time or longer.
[0213] The present invention 10 has a technical feature in that, in the AI-based work method for maintaining the conduction of an immersion tube according to the present invention 7, the closed-loop control of step (f) includes a cyclic process of eccentricity measurement → correction drive → re-measurement → normal determination, and the normal determination is confirmed when a state within the allowable eccentricity error range is continuously maintained for a certain period of time or longer.
[0214] In other words, the tenth invention of the present invention is configured not to immediately determine a normal state merely because the eccentricity value measured at a single point in time exists within an allowable range, but to confirm a normal state only after verifying whether the state within the allowable eccentricity error range is maintained continuously for a certain period of time.
[0215] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent mistaking instantaneous vibrations, temporary inertial effects, and transient errors resulting from the elastic restoration of the structure for normal conditions.
[0216] In particular, since the immersion tube (10) is a heavy structure, micro-vibrations may occur due to inertia and load redistribution during the rotation of the conductive rotary table (30), so determining stability based on only a single measurement value is unreliable. The tenth invention of the present invention significantly improves the reliability of closed-loop control by adding a condition of persistence for a certain period of time, thereby determining only a structurally stable state as normal.
[0217] In conventional simple feedback control, control is often terminated based solely on whether the error range is satisfied; however, a configuration that includes "time continuity" as a normality determination condition, as in the tenth invention of the present application, corresponds to an advanced control concept that considers dynamic behavior characteristics. This is technically differentiated in that it goes beyond simple numerical comparison and reflects the physical continuity of the steady state in the determination criteria.
[0218] Therefore, the 10th invention of the present invention can be recognized as having an inventive step in that it is a dependent component that more reliably completes the closed-loop eccentric correction control of the 7th invention of the present invention, and enables the 180° tilting operation of the weight immersion tube (10) to be performed more stably and predictably.
[0220] Next, the first invention according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0221] The first invention relates to a system (1000) for maintaining immersion tubes (10) that are respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1);
[0222] The above system (1000) is equipped with a rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20);
[0223] An immersion tube fixing means (40) is provided to support and fix the immersion tube (10) so as to be detachably attached to the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0224] Each is provided with a sensing unit (50) that detects the seating state of the immersion tube (10) loaded on the upper surface (TL) of the above-mentioned rotary table (30), the fastening state of the above-mentioned immersion tube fixing means (40), and the position information of the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0225] It includes an AI control unit (60) that controls the system (1000) by synthesizing information collected from the plurality of sensing units to determine whether rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is permitted;
[0226] The above AI control unit (60) relates to an AI-based system for maintenance of immersion tube conduction, characterized by applying or blocking a rotational drive signal depending on whether a pre-set safety condition is met.
[0228] Specifically, the first invention relates to a system (1000) for maintaining an immersion tube (10) that is respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1). In particular, it relates to an intelligent tilting maintenance system that integrates a mechanical tilting structure, real-time status detection, and an AI-based rotation permission judgment structure in order to safely tilt and maintain a heavy immersion tube (10).
[0229] According to the first invention of the present invention, the system includes a tilting rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20). The tilting rotary table (30) is configured to be rotatable within a certain angle range, particularly up to a 180° tilting position while carrying an immersion tube (10), and forms a core structure that enables up and down reversal of the immersion tube (10).
[0230] Here, the drive unit (20) may be an electric motor, a reduction gear, a hydraulic drive unit, or a combination thereof, and provides stable and controllable rotational force to the tilting rotary table (30).
[0231] Additionally, the tilting rotary table (30) is equipped with a immersion tube fixing means (40-B) that supports and fixes the immersion tube (10) so that it can be detachably attached. Since the immersion tube (10) is a structure with a weight of several tons or more, it is difficult to ensure stability during the tilting process by simply stacking it. Accordingly, the immersion tube fixing means (40-B) mechanically restrains the immersion tube (10) to the tilting rotary table (30) to prevent detachment, slipping, or eccentric expansion during the tilting process.
[0232] The immersion tube fixing means (40-B) according to the first embodiment of the present invention may use a bolt and a nut.
[0233] That is, when a bolt is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube, the bolt penetrates the conductive rotating table (30) vertically and protrudes to the lower part of the conductive rotating table (30), and then a nut is fastened to the lower part of the bolt to fix the immersion tube.
[0235] These fixing means go beyond simple support functions and form a fundamental prerequisite for structurally ensuring the safety of tilting operations.
[0236] An important feature of the first invention of the present invention is that it does not merely remain a mechanical conduction structure, but includes a sensing unit that detects the seating state of the immersion tube (10) loaded on the upper surface (TL) of the conduction rotary table (30), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), and the position information of the conduction rotary table (30).
[0237] Here, the detection of the seating state is for determining whether the immersion tube (10) is properly supported on the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotary table (30), the detection of the fastening state is for determining whether the immersion tube fixing means (40) has sufficient fastening force, and the detection of position information is for checking whether the conductive rotary table (30) is in a position where rotation can be started or is within a specific angle range.
[0238] In this way, by acquiring state information of different characteristics through multiple sensing units, it becomes possible to make safety judgments based on multiple conditions rather than a single condition.
[0239] Information collected from the above-mentioned multiple sensing units (not shown) is transmitted to the AI control unit (60). The AI control unit (60) is not a simple signal relay device, but a core control unit that comprehensively analyzes the collected information to determine whether rotation of the tilting rotary table (30) is permitted. That is, the AI control unit (60) comprehensively considers whether the seating state of the immersion tube (10) is normal, whether the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40) is above a standard, and whether the position of the tilting rotary table (30) is within the rotatable range, and determines whether the pre-set safety conditions are satisfied.
[0240] And the AI control unit (60) applies or blocks a rotational drive signal to the drive unit (20) according to the result of this judgment. The drive unit (20) includes a first motor (20-1) and a reduction gear (20-2).
[0241] That is, rotation of the tilting rotary table (30) is permitted only when all safety conditions are met, and if any of the criteria are not met, the rotation drive is automatically blocked. Accordingly, unlike the conventional manual rotation method which relied on the operator's visual judgment or experience, the decision to start rotation is determined by objective judgment based on data.
[0242] The mechanism of action of the first invention of the present invention is summarized as follows.
[0243] Even after the immersion tube (10) is loaded onto the tilting rotary table (30) and fixed by the immersion tube fixing means (40), the system does not immediately begin to rotate. The sensing unit detects the seating state, fixing state, and position state of the immersion tube (10) and the tilting rotary table (30) in real time, respectively, and the AI control unit (60) integrates and analyzes these information to determine whether the “rotation is permitted state”.
[0244] The drive unit (20) operates to rotate the conductive rotary table (30) only when the permission conditions are met, and otherwise, the rotation is automatically blocked. Thus, the first invention of the present invention forms a four-stage safety structure of “structural fixation + real-time detection + intelligent judgment + conditional driving.”
[0245] The inventive step of the first invention of the present invention is clear in the following respects.
[0246] First, conventional conduction devices generally focused on improving mechanical structures, and the determination of whether to rotate often relied on the operator's skill level or visual inspection. However, the first invention of the present invention separately detects the seating state, fastening state, and rotational position state of the immersion tube (10), and the AI control unit (60) makes a comprehensive judgment to automatically determine whether to permit rotation. This is a technical concept that is fundamentally different from a simple rotational structure.
[0247] Second, the first invention of the present invention determines safety conditions multidimensionally by adopting a structure that integrates and analyzes information from multiple or numerous detection units, rather than a single-sensor-based blocking structure. Such a multi-condition-based rotation permission judgment system goes beyond the level of a simple interlock circuit and corresponds to an intelligent judgment structure that considers the correlation between state information.
[0248] Third, the configuration in which the AI control unit (60) “applies or blocks” the rotational drive signal redefines the rotational device not as a simple drive device, but as a conditional permission system. This substantially integrates intelligent control logic into the mechanical rotational device and has technical features that distinguish it from simple automation.
[0249] The effects according to the first invention of the present invention are as follows.
[0250] First, since rotation can be fundamentally prevented from starting in an incorrect loading state or a poorly fastened state of the immersion tube (10), serious accidents such as falling, detachment, or collision of the immersion tube (10) can be prevented. In addition, by blocking rotation from occurring in an improper position of the tilting rotary table (30), mechanical structural damage can be prevented.
[0251] In addition, the data-driven judgment structure can reduce safety deviations caused by differences in worker proficiency and ensure the same level of safety based on repeatable standards. This has the effect of improving the standardization and automation levels of the RH facility maintenance process.
[0252] In conclusion, the first invention of the present invention is an invention that advances the immersion tube (10) conduction maintenance system from a simple mechanical rotation device to an “intelligent safety control system,” and provides an integrated technology that simultaneously secures structural stability and control stability. Therefore, the first invention of the present invention has a technical configuration that is clearly distinct from the prior art and is an invention that can be sufficiently recognized for its inventive step as it entails significant effects.
[0254] Hereinafter, the second invention according to the second embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0256] The second invention of the present invention relates to a system (1000) for maintaining immersion tubes (10) that are respectively connected to suction tubes (2) and discharge tubes (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1);
[0257] The above system (1000) is equipped with a conductive rotary table unit (70) that conducts the immersion tube (10);
[0258] The above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is equipped with a rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20);
[0259] A horizontally rotatable disc (80) capable of horizontal rotation is installed parallel to the conductive rotating table (30) at the center of the upper surface (TL) of the above-mentioned conductive rotating table (30);
[0260] A plurality of ball bearings (81) are inserted between the lower surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotating table (30), so that the horizontal rotating disc (80) can rotate smoothly in the horizontal direction;
[0261] The immersion tube (10) is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) such that the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) faces downward, and the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the immersion tube (10) is positioned on the same vertical line;
[0262] An immersion tube fixing means (40) capable of detachably supporting and fixing an immersion tube (10) to the horizontal rotating plate (80) and the rotating table (30) is installed on the rotating table (30);
[0263] A plurality of sensing units are provided to each detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the conductive rotating table (30);
[0264] It includes an AI control unit (60) that determines whether rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is permitted by synthesizing information collected from the plurality of sensing units and controls the system;
[0265] The above AI control unit (60) relates to an AI-based system for maintenance of immersion tube conduction, characterized by applying or blocking a rotational drive signal depending on whether a pre-set safety condition is met.
[0267] Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3f, the overall mechanism and technical significance of the AI-based system for immersion tube conduction maintenance according to the second invention of the present invention will be explained.
[0268] The second invention of the present invention relates to a system (1000) for maintaining an immersion tube (10) that is respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1), wherein the system (1000) includes a tilting rotary table unit (70) that tilts the immersion tube (10). The tilting rotary table unit (70) is equipped with a tilting rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20), and the tilting rotary table (30) is configured to stably rotate between a 0° working position and a 180° tilting position while the immersion tube (10) is mounted.
[0269] A horizontally rotatable disc (80) is installed parallel to the tilting table (30) at the center of the upper surface (TL) of the tilting table (30). A plurality of ball bearings (81) are inserted between the lower surface of the horizontal rotatable disc (80) and the upper surface (TL) of the tilting table (30) to enable the horizontal rotatable disc (80) to rotate smoothly in the horizontal direction. This structure is important in that it provides an independent rotation function for center alignment separate from the tilting rotation movement.
[0270] The immersion tube (10) is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) with the lower fastening flange (11) facing downward, and through the rotation of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) is precisely aligned so that it is positioned on the same vertical line as the center of the horizontal rotating disc (80). In particular, by rotating the horizontal rotating disc (80) in a horizontal direction relative to the conductive rotating table (30), the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) and the radial elongated hole (110) formed in the conductive rotating table (30) are adjusted so that they are aligned on the same radial line with respect to the center of the disc (OC). This is a step that goes beyond simple alignment of fastening positions and structurally minimizes center deviation by ensuring that the fastening points are symmetrically aligned according to the radial standard.
[0271] Subsequently, an immersion tube fixing means (40) capable of detachably supporting and fixing the immersion tube (10) is installed on the conductive rotary table (30), thereby firmly fixing the immersion tube (10) by applying pressure in a radial direction. As a result, the center state aligned by the horizontal rotating disc (80) is mechanically maintained.
[0273] A plurality of sensing units are installed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) to detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the tilting rotating table (30), respectively. These sensing units detect in real time whether the immersion tube (10) is properly supported, whether the fastening force is greater than a standard, whether alignment is complete, and whether the angle position of the tilting rotating table (30) is within the permitted range.
[0275] Specifically, a plurality of sensing units are installed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and these sensing units are configured to indirectly detect not only the seating state of the immersion tube (10) but also the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40) and the angle position information of the tilting rotating table (30).
[0276] The sensing unit does not directly measure the fastening mechanism itself, but rather determines whether the fastening is complete by detecting a change in the physical state occurring in the immersion tube (10) according to the fastening operation.
[0277] That is, when the guide pin (112) is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) of the lower fastening flange (11) and pressurized in the radial direction, the immersion tube (10) moves slightly toward the center or the reference position of the flange (11) converges to the set position. A displacement sensor, a load sensor, or a proximity sensor placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) detects such position change or contact pressure change to determine whether the fastening is complete.
[0279] In addition, since the horizontal rotating disc (80) tilts integrally with the tilting rotating table (30), if a gyroscope sensor or an inclination sensor is included in the upper sensing part, the angular position of the tilting rotating table (30) can be calculated by measuring the change in inclination relative to gravity. Therefore, both the fastening state and rotational position information can be reliably detected using only the sensing part on the upper surface.
[0281] In addition, if the sensing unit is integrated and placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the seating state of the immersion tube, the structural stability state resulting from the connection, and the information on the angle of rotation can be detected simultaneously on the same reference plane, which simplifies the structure, improves wiring and maintainability, and is advantageous for integrated data control.
[0283] Information collected from the above-mentioned multiple detection units is transmitted to the AI control unit (60), and the AI control unit (60) comprehensively analyzes this to determine whether pre-set safety conditions are satisfied. If conditions such as improper seating of the immersion tube (10), poor fastening, incomplete alignment, or unsuitable positioning are detected, the AI control unit (60) blocks the rotational drive signal to the drive unit (20) and applies the rotational signal only when all conditions are satisfied. Accordingly, the rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is always performed only when structural stability and alignment accuracy are secured.
[0284] The mechanism of the second invention of the present invention is configured such that a conduction function by a conduction rotary table (30), an independent center alignment function by a horizontal rotating disc (80), an active fixing function by an immersion tube fixing means (40), a state verification function by a plurality of sensing units, and a conditional rotation permission function by an AI control unit (60) operate as a single integrated system. Since rotation is initiated after center alignment and fastening stability are secured in advance and following a data-based safety judgment, the risk of eccentric load, vibration, structural damage, and safety accidents that may occur during the conduction process is significantly reduced.
[0285] The effect of the second invention of the present invention is excellent. First, because the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the immersion tube (10) is precisely aligned with the center of rotation by the radiation reference alignment structure using the horizontal rotating disc (80), the eccentric load acting on the rotation axis and bearing during rotation is reduced and the equipment lifespan is extended.
[0286] In addition, the radial alignment structure of the guide pin insertion hole (12) and the radial elongated hole (110) ensures fastening balance and prevents local stress concentration. Furthermore, the rotation permission judgment structure by multiple sensing units and an AI control unit (60) eliminates dependence on the operator's experience and enables the performance of work according to repeatable and objective safety standards.
[0287] In terms of inventive step, the second invention of the present invention goes beyond merely adding a horizontal rotating plate to a simple conduction device. The systemic configuration, which implements a center alignment function using an independent rotational structure, combines it with a radial reference fastening alignment structure, and integrates multi-sensing and AI-based conditional rotation control, is difficult for a person skilled in the art to easily derive from a conventional simple conduction device. In particular, the structural separation of conduction and alignment movements, and the design to minimize center error during the fastening preparation stage, clearly demonstrate a difference in technical concept.
[0288] In conclusion, the second invention of the present invention is a high-precision conduction maintenance system that simultaneously implements mechanical alignment stability and intelligent control stability, and has a significant effect of enabling the conduction of a heavy immersion tube (10) to be performed safely and precisely, and can be considered an invention that can be recognized as having sufficient inventive step in light of the structural and functional combination relationship.
[0290] Next, the third invention of the present invention is described.
[0291] The third invention of the present invention, in the second invention, comprises a pair of rails (91) spaced apart and parallel to each other on a support surface (90) on which the aforementioned rotary table unit (70) is installed, and a movable carriage (93) having a plurality of wheels (92) capable of driving by rolling contact on the pair of rails (91);
[0292] The present invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion pipe, characterized in that a hydraulic cylinder (94) is installed on the movable carriage (93), thereby enabling height adjustment of the movable carriage (93).
[0294] Specifically, the third invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3f. The third invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the second invention of the present invention, and it embodies the structure and operating mechanism of a movable trolley (93) for safely taking over the load of the immersion tube (10) after the completion of the inversion and transporting it to a maintenance position.
[0295] More specifically, the third invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion pipe by tilting, wherein a pair of rails (91) are installed on a support surface (90) on which a tilting rotary table unit (70) is installed and spaced apart from each other in parallel, and a movable carriage (93) is provided with a plurality of wheels (92) to enable movement by rolling contact on the pair of rails (91), and a hydraulic cylinder (94) is installed on the movable carriage (93) to enable height adjustment of the movable carriage (93).
[0296] That is, the third invention of the present invention is not merely limited to adding an auxiliary support structure that receives a tilted immersion tube, but is characterized by a configuration that completes the transfer of load after tilting is complete, posture stabilization, preparation for transfer, and linkage to subsequent maintenance processes as a single organic safety procedure. In that the third invention of the present invention includes all the configurations of the second invention of the present invention, it is basically based on a tilting rotary table unit (70), a driving unit (20), a tilting rotary table (30), a horizontal rotating disc (80), a ball bearing (81), an immersion tube fixing means (40), a plurality of sensing units and an AI control unit (60).
[0297] Accordingly, the movable cart (93) in the third invention of the present invention is not a simple means of transport existing independently, but functions as a system component that safely supports the immersion tube (10) that has been tilted 180° by the tilting rotary table unit (70), and receives the load in stages in conjunction with the control of the AI control unit (60) and the detection results of the detection unit. Specifically, the immersion tube (10) is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and is firmly fixed to the tilting rotary table (30) by the immersion tube fixing means (40). The seating state, the fastening state, the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the tilting rotary table (30) are detected by a plurality of detection units. The AI control unit (60) analyzes this to determine whether rotation is permitted, and then the tilting rotary table (30) rotates according to the operation of the driving unit (20). When such a conduction operation is completed and the immersion tube (10) reaches a 180° conduction position, the movable carriage (93) of the third invention of the present invention finally enters the operation stage.
[0298] According to the third invention of the present invention, a pair of rails (91) are installed parallel to each other on a support surface (90) on which a rotary table unit (70) is installed. This pair of rails (91) physically defines the travel path of the movable carriage (93) and simultaneously provides a reference structure that precisely guides the movable carriage (93) to the lower central position of the immersion tube (10). That is, the movable carriage (93) is not in a free movement method approaching in any direction, but by traveling along a straight path pre-set by the rails (91), it becomes possible to repeatedly and stably enter the lower alignment position of the rotary table unit (70).
[0299] In particular, since the immersion tube (10) is a structure with a weight of several tons or more, even a slight deviation in the approach position of the movable trolley (93) during the load transfer stage can cause uneven loading, torsional loading, or local impact. However, the third invention of the present invention structurally restricts the path of the movable trolley (93) through a pair of rails (91), thereby increasing the precision of approach to the planned lower support position of the immersion tube (10) and significantly reducing positional errors that may occur during load transfer. In addition, the movable trolley (93) is equipped with a plurality of wheels (92) and travels on a pair of rails (91) in a rolling contact manner. Here, the plurality of wheels (92) are not merely configured for simple movement, but form a multi-point support structure to maintain the stability of the movable trolley (93) that supports the heavy-weight immersion tube (10). That is, by distributing and supporting the load with the plurality of wheels (92), the concentration of the load on a specific wheel or a specific rail section is mitigated, and shaking or twisting during movement is suppressed. This structure is significant not only during the process in which the movable trolley (93) enters the lower section while the immersion tube (10) is still fixed by the immersion tube fixing means (40) after the completion of the transfer, but also during the process of transporting the immersion tube (10) loaded to the maintenance position after the load transfer.
[0300] In other words, the plurality of wheels (92) of the third invention of the present invention are not merely driving parts, but functional components that ensure stable straightness, load distribution, and low-vibration transport when carrying heavy loads. Furthermore, one of the core components of the third invention of the present invention is a hydraulic cylinder (94) installed on a movable trolley (93).
[0301] The hydraulic cylinder (94) enables the height of the movable carriage (93) to be adjusted, thereby performing the function of precisely adjusting the support height for the lower part of the tilted immersion tube (10). That is, the movable carriage (93) moves along the rail (91) to the lower part of the tilting rotary table unit (70), and then the upper support part is raised by the operation of the hydraulic cylinder (94) to contact and support the lower surface or load-bearing part of the tilted immersion tube (10).
[0302] In this process, the hydraulic cylinder (94) goes beyond a simple lifting function and plays a key role in the load transfer mechanism that allows the actual load of the immersion tube (10) to be gradually transferred from the side of the tilting rotary table (30) to the side of the movable carriage (93). In a conventional simple support structure, there may be cases where the fixing means is released after only visually checking whether the support has reached the bottom of the immersion tube, but in this case, if the fixing is released before the actual load transfer is sufficient, it may result in sudden sagging of the immersion tube (10), impact load, structural damage, and the risk of falling.
[0303] In contrast, the third invention of the present invention is equipped with a hydraulic cylinder (94) on the movable carriage (93) so that the height can be finely adjusted, thereby allowing the lower support force for the immersion tube (10) to be increased stepwise, and as a result, the load transfer is carried out more smoothly and safely.
[0304] In particular, the third invention of the present invention has greater technical significance by being combined with the AI control unit (60) and the sensing unit of the second invention of the present invention. That is, when the hydraulic cylinder (94) rises after the movable carriage (93) moves along the rail (91) to the lower position of the tilting rotary table unit (70), the amount of the total load of the immersion tube (10) transferred to the movable carriage (93) side can be quantitatively determined by the sensing unit or a separate load detection means. The AI control unit (60) determines this load transfer state and allows the release of the immersion tube fixing means (40) only when a load exceeding 80% of the total load or a set standard ratio is applied to the movable carriage (93), according to a pre-set standard. Thus, the third invention of the present invention can be said to implement the load transfer process after the completion of tilting as a step-by-step safety process of “approach-lift-support-load transfer confirmation-fixing release” rather than simply adding a transport carriage.
[0305] The operating mechanism of the third invention of the present invention is described more comprehensively as follows. First, the immersion tube (10) is fixed to the tilting rotary table (30) by the immersion tube fixing means (40) while aligned and placed on the horizontal rotating disc (80). Subsequently, a plurality of sensing units detect the seating state, fastening state, position state, etc., and when the AI control unit (60) determines whether safety conditions are satisfied and permits rotation, the driving unit (20) operates to rotate the tilting rotary table (30) to a 180° tilting position.
[0306] In this state, the movable carriage (93) moves along a pair of rails (91) installed on the support surface (90) to the lower position of the tilting rotary table unit (70). Then, a hydraulic cylinder (94) equipped on the movable carriage (93) operates to raise the height of the movable carriage (93) and forms a close or near support state on the lower part of the immersion tube (10).
[0307] Afterward, when the load transfer state is detected, the AI control unit (60) determines whether the setting criteria are met and then allows the release of the immersion tube fixing means (40). Accordingly, the immersion tube (10) is released from the fixed state on the side of the tilting rotary table (30) while maintaining a state of being stably supported by the movable trolley (93), and can then be safely transported to the maintenance location.
[0308] In other words, the third invention of the present invention has great technical significance in that it simultaneously solves the problem of “release of fixation in an incomplete load transfer state,” which is the greatest risk that may occur in the stage after overturning, both structurally and control-wise.
[0309] The effects of the third invention of the present invention can be specifically explained as follows. First, since the approach path of the movable carriage (93) is determined by a pair of rails (91), the movable carriage (93) can be repeatedly and precisely positioned relative to the lower center position of the immersion tube (10) that has been completed.
[0310] Accordingly, the risk of uneven loads or collisions caused by positional errors during the load transfer process is reduced. Additionally, since the movable trolley (93) travels stably on the rail (91) via multiple wheels (92), there is less shaking and transfer stability is improved even when a heavy-weight immersion tube (10) is loaded. Furthermore, since the height can be adjusted by a hydraulic cylinder (94), the support height can be finely adjusted according to the tipping position height of the immersion tube (10), differences in the shape of the lower section, and the state of the load transfer stage, thereby enabling precise support and load transfer control that is difficult to achieve with a simple fixed-height support. As a result, impact loads, sudden sagging, structural twisting, and falling accidents that may occur during the process of transferring the immersion tube (10) to the movable trolley (93) after tipping are completed can be prevented.
[0311] In addition, this structure continuously supports subsequent transfer to the maintenance location after the tip-off, thereby simultaneously improving the efficiency and safety of the entire work process.
[0312] The inventive step of the third invention of the present invention cannot be evaluated merely as “a trolley moving on rails and a hydraulic cylinder have been added.” First, the third invention of the present invention is essentially distinguished from a simple transport trolley in that it is functionally combined with the tilting rotary table unit (70), horizontal rotating disc (80), immersion tube fixing means (40), a plurality of sensing units, and an AI control unit (60) of the second invention of the present invention.
[0313] That is, the movable trolley (93) is not an independent transport device, but a systemic component for safely transferring the load after the completion of the tilting process, and is integrally integrated into the subsequent stages of the tilting device and the control device. Second, the third invention of the present invention structurally limits the position control of the movable trolley (93) to a pair of rails (91) and precisely controls the height using a hydraulic cylinder (94), thereby enabling the transfer of the load of the heavy-weight immersion tube (10) to be performed in a stepwise and quantitative manner. This is not merely a design change involving the addition of a trolley, but corresponds to a process-centered design philosophy aimed at resolving risk factors in the latter part of the tilting process. Third, the third invention of the present invention can be understood as a structure that allows for the release of the fixed state after confirming the load transfer state in conjunction with the AI control unit (60) and the detection unit; thus, it functions as a safety system combining “support structure + detection judgment + conditional release” rather than a simple mechanical support structure. Such a stepwise safety procedure is difficult for a person of ordinary skill to derive directly from a simple tilting device or general movable trolley technology. Fourth, since the immersion pipe (10) for RH equipment has the characteristics of being a high-temperature, heavy-weight, and eccentrically sensitive structure, the load transfer process after the completion of tipping cannot be treated the same as general heavy-weight transport. The third invention of the present invention reflects these structural and operational problems unique to the immersion pipe by combining a rail guidance structure that accurately approaches the lower part of the tipping position, a multi-point support driving structure, and a hydraulic height correction structure. The combination of these configurations is not merely a parallel arrangement, but can be described as an organic combination that functionally cooperates with one another around the common purpose of ensuring safety during load transfer. Ultimately, the third invention of the present invention is an invention that integrates a mobile trolley (93), a rail (91), a wheel (92), and a hydraulic cylinder (94) with the tipping, alignment, detection, and control system of the second invention of the present invention in order to resolve actual risks occurring during the transition stage from the tipping operation of the immersion pipe (10) to the maintenance process.Therefore, the third invention of the present invention cannot be viewed as merely an addition of a subsequent transport means, and has independent technical significance in significantly improving the safety and precision of the load transfer and transport stages after overturning.
[0314] As a result, the third invention of the present invention provides a significant effect of simultaneously improving structural stability, load transfer reliability, worker safety, and process continuity, and can be considered an invention that demonstrates sufficient inventive step compared to prior art.
[0316] Next, the fourth invention of the present invention is described. The above-described conductive rotary table unit (70) of the fourth invention of the present invention comprises a pair of vertical supports (100) installed spaced apart from each other on a support surface (90), and the pair of vertical supports (100) are installed parallel to each other and facing each other;
[0317] A bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of each of the above pair of vertical supports (100);
[0318] In each of the above bearing bodies (101), a horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed so as to be rotatably supported by a bearing;
[0319] A conductive rotary table (30) connecting the above horizontal rotation shafts (102) is installed;
[0320] The present invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube by tilting, characterized in that vertical downward support panels (104) are installed at the left and right ends of the above-mentioned rotary table (30).
[0323] The fourth invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube, wherein the invention specifies the support and rotation structure of a rotational rotating table unit (70), and comprises a pair of vertical supports (100) installed spaced apart from each other on a support surface (90), wherein the pair of vertical supports (100) are installed parallel to each other and facing each other, wherein a bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of each of the pair of vertical supports (100), wherein a horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed in each of the bearing bodies (101) so as to be rotatably supported by a bearing, wherein a rotational rotating table (30) connecting the horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed, and a vertical downward support panel (104) is installed at each of the left and right ends of the rotational rotating table (30).
[0324] The structure and mechanism of operation of the fourth invention of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3f.
[0325] The fourth invention of the present invention has technical significance in that it not only specifies that the tilting rotary table (30) is rotatably installed, but specifically defines the configuration of a structural support frame, a rotation axis support structure, a load transfer structure, and a rotational rigidity securing structure so that the tilting rotary table (30) can be stably tilted 180° while carrying a heavy immersion tube (10).
[0326] That is, the fourth invention of the present invention is an invention that forms the basic framework of a conduction rotary table unit (70) suitable for conduction work of an immersion tube (10), and provides a core mechanical structure that secures structural safety and rotational precision throughout the conduction process.
[0327] According to the fourth invention of the present invention, the conductive rotary table unit (70) first has a pair of vertical supports (100) installed spaced apart from each other on a support surface (90).
[0328] The above pair of vertical supports (100) are installed facing each other and parallel, and such an arrangement forms the basic prerequisite structure for supporting the tilting rotary table (30) in a balanced manner from both sides. Since the immersion tube (10) is a heavy-weight structure prone to eccentricity in the longitudinal direction, if the tilting rotary table (30) is installed with one-sided support or a simple stationary support method, sagging, twisting, or uneven load concentration of the rotation axis may easily occur.
[0329] However, the fourth invention of the present invention symmetrically arranges a pair of vertical supports (100) on both sides with a gap between them, thereby distributing the load acting on the tilting rotary table (30) in the left and right directions and significantly improving the stability of the entire rotary structure. In addition, by installing the vertical supports (100) in parallel and facing each other, the degree of axial alignment between the two rotation axis support points is secured, and bearing wear or increased rotational resistance due to axial misalignment during rotation can be prevented.
[0330] A bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of each of the pair of vertical supports (100). This bearing body (101) functions as a bearing structure that supports the horizontal rotation axis (102), and is not merely a simple connecting part, but a core component that stably supports the reaction force and moment load generated during rotation while accurately maintaining the axis center of the rotation axis. In particular, when the immersion tube (10) is mounted on the tilting rotating table (30), not only its own weight but also the center deviation, the inertial force during tilting, and the impact load during stopping and restarting are all transmitted to the support structures on both sides through the horizontal rotation axis (102).
[0331] At this time, if the bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of the vertical support (100), it can directly receive and support the rotation axis load at a relatively high position, and the rotation center of the entire tilting rotary table (30) is clearly set.
[0332] Accordingly, the fourth invention of the present invention structurally clarifies the rotation center of the conductive rotary table (30) and forms a stable rotary frame structure capable of securing axial support rigidity.
[0333] Additionally, a horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed in each bearing body (101) so that it can rotate and be supported by a bearing. Here, the horizontal rotation axis (102) functions as the actual rotational center axis of the tilting rotary table (30) and is a central mechanical element that supports the entire process of the tilting rotary table (30) rotating from a 0° working position to a 180° tilting position.
[0334] In the fourth invention of the present invention, the horizontal rotation shaft (102) is configured to be rotatably supported by a bearing rather than simply being fitted into the frame, thereby enabling friction reduction, rotational precision, improved driving efficiency, and rotational stability even when a heavy-duty immersion tube (10) is mounted. In particular, when the shaft is supported by a bearing, it is possible to respond more stably to axial and radial loads that occur during rotation, and uneven wear or play on the shaft can be reduced even during repetitive tilting operations. This leads to improved durability and maintainability of the tilting rotary table unit (70).
[0335] An important feature of the fourth invention of the present invention is that a conductive rotating table (30) is installed to connect the horizontal rotation shafts (102) above. That is, the conductive rotating table (30) is integrally connected to the horizontal rotation shafts (102) arranged on both sides and is installed across the rotation support structures on both sides. This structure means that the conductive rotating table (30) is configured to rotate as a whole while receiving support from the rotation shafts (102) on both sides, rather than rotating as a single plate. Therefore, when the immersion tube (10) is loaded on the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotating table (30) and rotates, the load of the immersion tube (10) is distributed and transmitted to the horizontal rotation shafts (102) on both sides through the conductive rotating table (30), and then stably transmitted to the support surface (90) via the bearing body (101) and the vertical support (100).
[0336] Thus, the fourth invention of the present invention has the effect of clearly and stably forming the load transfer path of the immersion tube (10) to suppress local stress concentration or structural deformation that occurs during rotation.
[0337] Furthermore, in the fourth invention of the present invention, vertical downward support panels (104) are installed at the left and right ends of the tilting rotary table (30). These vertical downward support panels (104) can be understood as reinforcing structures that extend downward relative to the plate body or upper support structure of the tilting rotary table (30), and they play an important role in improving the bending rigidity and torsional rigidity of the tilting rotary table (30), rather than merely serving as a simple external configuration. Since the immersion tube (10) is a heavy body weighing several tons or more, if the load is concentrated at the center or one side of the tilting rotary table (30), there is a possibility that bending deformation or torsional deformation may occur with the plate body structure alone. However, if vertical downward support panels (104) are installed at the left and right ends as in the fourth invention of the present invention, the second moment of area of the tilting rotary table (30) increases, thereby improving bending resistance and increasing resistance to torsional deformation during rotation.
[0339] With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the stabilization mechanism of the conductive rotary table unit (70) according to the change in posture of the vertical downward support panel (104) and the mounting and separation process of the immersion tube (10) will be explained in more detail.
[0340] First, as shown in FIG. 3a, when the conductive rotary table (30) is in the 0° working position, the vertical downward support panels (104) formed at the left and right ends of the conductive rotary table (30) assume a downward position toward the support surface (90).
[0341] At this time, the vertical downward support panel (104) is extended downward from the end of the tilting rotary table (30) and comes into close contact with or contacts the support surface (90) or a separate stopper structure, and functions as a kind of auxiliary support point against the self-weight and external force of the tilting rotary table (30).
[0342] That is, while the conductive rotary table (30) maintains a horizontal position, the moment load acting on the rotation axis (102) may be relatively uneven when the immersion tube (10) is not yet mounted or during the mounting process.
[0343] However, if the vertical downward support panel (104) is positioned downward, the end of the tilting rotary table (30) receives additional support in the downward direction, and the overturning moment of the entire unit is reduced compared to a single support structure at the center of the rotation axis (102).
[0345] As a result, when lifting the immersion tube (10) with a crane or the like and mounting it on the upper part of the horizontal rotating plate (80), the tilting rotating table unit (70) can maintain a stable horizontal position and prevent unnecessary impact loads or instantaneous eccentric moments from being excessively transmitted to the rotation axis (102).
[0346] In particular, since the immersion tube (10) is a heavy body weighing several tons or more, there is a possibility of local impact or asymmetric load occurring at the moment of loading. In this configuration, the vertical downward support panel (104) performs the role of lower auxiliary support, thereby suppressing tilting or fine rotation of the conductive rotating table (30) when the immersion tube (10) is loaded, and stably maintaining the reference plane of the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0347] In addition, since the upper part of the horizontal rotating disc (80) forms a flat surface that is completely open upward in this state, it is easy to align and seat the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) at an accurate center position. That is, the 0° working position in which the vertical downward support panel (104) takes a downward posture can be considered a stable posture optimized for the loading, alignment, and fixing of the immersion tube (10).
[0349] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3b, when the tilting rotary table (30) is rotated to a 180° tilting position, the vertical downward support panel (104) rotates together around the rotation axis (102) to assume an upward position.
[0350] At this time, the vertical downward support panel (104) no longer contacts or approaches the support surface (90) and is spaced apart in the upward direction.
[0351] In this upward position, the lower part of the rotary table (30) forms an open space, and the lower part is exposed with the direction of gravity of the immersion tube (10) reversed. That is, the immersion tube (10) that was mounted on the upper part of the horizontal rotating disc (80) is positioned in a downward direction by rotating 180°, and sufficient space is secured in the lower part for a support means such as a movable carriage (93) to enter.
[0352] Therefore, in the 180° tilted position where the vertical downward support panel (104) is positioned in an upward posture, it is possible to separate the load of the immersion tube (10) from the tilted rotary table (30) and transfer it to the movable cart (93).
[0353] At this time, the end of the conductive rotary table (30) no longer performs the lower support function, and the conductive structure is converted to a support state centered purely on the rotation axis (102). As a result, mechanical conditions are formed such that the load can be naturally transferred to the lower support means of the immersion tube (10) simultaneously with the release of the immersion tube fixing means (40).
[0354] In summary, the vertical downward support panel (104) is not a simple reinforcing plate, but acts as a “posture stabilization and load conversion assisting structure” whose function changes depending on the angle position of the tilting rotary table (30).
[0355] At the 0° working position (Fig. 3a), the vertical downward support panel (104) assumes a downward position to assist in supporting the end of the conductive rotary table (30), thereby ensuring the stability of the rotary unit during the mounting and alignment of the immersion tube (10).
[0356] At the 180° inversion position (Fig. 3b), the vertical downward support panel (104) is switched to an upward position to open the lower space and form a structural clearance space to enable the separation of the immersion tube (10) and the transfer of load.
[0357] As such, this structure is designed so that the support conditions naturally switch according to the angle of inclination, and thus has great technical significance in that it provides a mechanical environment optimized for each of the loading and separating stages of the immersion tube (10). In particular, it can be said to be a mechanism that significantly improves the stability of the tilting rotary table unit (70) in that it structurally mitigates the most dangerous “instability during loading” and “instability of load transfer during separation” during the handling of heavy-weight immersion tubes.
[0359] Also, when the direction of gravity changes as the tilting rotary table (30) rotates, the direction of the load acting on each part of the structure also changes. At this time, the vertical downward support panel (104) maintains the end rigidity of the tilting rotary table (30) and has the effect of increasing the shape stability of the entire rotary structure.
[0361] The operating mechanism of the fourth invention of the present invention is summarized as follows. The immersion tube (10) is mounted in an aligned and fixed state through the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotary table (30) or the horizontal rotary disc (80). In this state, the load of the immersion tube (10) acts on the conductive rotary table (30), and since the conductive rotary table (30) is connected to the horizontal rotation axis (102) on both the left and right sides, the load is distributed to both sides. The horizontal rotation axis (102) is rotatably supported by a bearing body (101), and the bearing body (101) is further supported by a vertical support (100).
[0362] As a result, the center of rotation of the conductive rotary table (30) is stably maintained, and when the rotational force of the drive unit (20) is applied, the conductive rotary table (30) can rotate smoothly and stably while carrying the immersion tube (10). At this time, the vertical downward support panels (104) installed at the left and right ends of the conductive rotary table (30) suppress deformation of the plate body and make the stress distribution acting on the two rotation axis connection parts more even, thereby increasing the structural reliability of the entire conductive rotary table unit (70).
[0363] The effect of the fourth invention of the present invention is very significant. First, by installing a pair of vertical supports (100) in parallel facing each other and installing a bearing body (101) on the upper part of these supports, the support structure on both sides of the tilting rotary table (30) is stably formed. Accordingly, even when a heavy-weight immersion tube (10) is mounted, shaking of the center of rotation or axial misalignment can be reduced, and the precision of the rotational operation is improved. Second, by ensuring that the horizontal rotation axis (102) is supported by a bearing, rotational resistance is reduced, durability for repeated use is improved, and the rotational force transmission efficiency of the drive unit (20) is also increased. Third, by installing vertical downward support panels (104) on the left and right ends of the tilting rotary table (30), the bending rigidity and torsional rigidity of the tilting rotary table (30) are improved, allowing for a more stable response to center deviation of the immersion tube (10) or dynamic loads during the tilting process. Fourth, overall, the fourth invention of the present invention forms the basic structure of the conductive rotary table unit (70) as a high-rigidity and high-stability structure, thereby enabling subsequent detection, AI control, eccentricity correction, and load transfer procedures to be performed on a more stable mechanical basis.
[0364] The reason the fourth invention of the present invention possesses an inventive step is as follows. First, conventional simple rotating devices often focus only on ensuring the rotational capability of the object to be rotated, and the rotation axis support structure or frame rigidity structure is often not precisely designed to match the characteristics of a heavy-weight, eccentric-sensitive structure such as an immersion tube (10). However, the fourth invention of the present invention is configured to simultaneously secure rotation axis alignment, load distribution, structural rigidity, and rotational stability by functionally combining a vertical support (100), a bearing body (101), a horizontal rotation axis (102), a tilting rotation table (30), and a vertical downward support panel (104) to be suitable for the tilting operation of the immersion tube (10). This goes beyond the level of simply adding a frame or reinforcing plate.
[0365] Furthermore, the fourth invention of the present invention is not merely a structure that supports a rotatable table, but is a structure designed based on the premise of how the load of the immersion tube (10) mounted on the tilting rotary table (30) is transmitted and what structural stability must be ensured during rotation. That is, the vertical support (100) functions functionally to distribute load symmetrically on both sides, the bearing body (101) functions to provide accurate shaft support and rotational precision, the horizontal rotation axis (102) functions to form a stable center of rotation, and the vertical downward support panel (104) functions to reinforce the rigidity of the tilting rotary table (30), while cooperating with one another. Such an organically combined structure is difficult for a person of ordinary skill to easily derive by simply combining individual mechanical elements in parallel.
[0366] Furthermore, the fourth invention of the present invention is an invention that forms the foundational structure of the entire system, in that the structural stability of the tilting rotary table (30) is directly linked to detection accuracy, reliability of AI control, effectiveness of eccentricity correction control, and safety of load transfer after tilting. In other words, if the structure of the fourth invention of the present invention is unstable, the errors in the seating detection, fastening detection, position detection, and eccentricity correction performed at the top will inevitably increase; therefore, the fourth invention of the present invention can be viewed not merely as a design change of a simple machine frame, but as a core component that forms the mechanical reference plane of the entire intelligent tilting maintenance system. In this regard, the fourth invention of the present invention has high technical significance from a systemic perspective.
[0367] In conclusion, the fourth invention of the present invention provides a specific structure of a tilting rotary table unit (70) suitable for tilting maintenance work on an immersion tube (10), thereby providing a significant effect of stably supporting the load of a heavy-weight immersion tube (10), precisely maintaining the center of rotation, improving the structural rigidity of the tilting rotary table (30), and increasing the overall mechanical reliability of the tilting operation. Furthermore, in that each component performs different functions such as load distribution, shaft support, securing rotational precision, and structural reinforcement while being organically combined with one another, it can be said that the invention possesses sufficient distinctiveness and inventive step compared to the prior art.
[0369] Meanwhile, the area indicated by reference numeral 11-B in Fig. 3c is the area where the lower fastening flange of the immersion pipe is loaded.
[0371] Next, the fifth invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3b.
[0372] The fifth invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube, characterized in that the height (H) from the support surface (90) where the above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is installed to the axis of the horizontal rotation axis (102) of the rotary table unit (70) is 1.1 to 1.6 times the sum of the height (H1) of the immersion tube (10) and the minimum height (H2) of the movable carriage (93).
[0374] The fifth invention of the present invention is an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube by tilting, wherein the height (H) from the support surface (90) on which the tilting rotary table unit (70) is installed to the axis of the horizontal rotation axis (102) of the tilting rotary table unit (70) is limited to a specific ratio range, and the height (H) is characterized in that it is 1.1 to 1.6 times the sum of the height (H1) of the immersion tube (10) and the minimum height (H2) of the movable carriage (93).
[0375] The technical significance of the fifth invention of the present invention lies in the fact that structural dimensions were not merely determined for design convenience, but numerically specified the optimal center of rotation height to simultaneously satisfy the prevention of geometric interference during the overturning process, securing space for load transfer, maintaining rotational stability, and ensuring work safety.
[0376] First, the axis height (H) of the horizontal rotation axis (102) is a reference value for determining the rotation radius of the tilting rotation table (30). Since the immersion tube (10) rotates 180° around the horizontal rotation axis (102) while mounted on the upper part of the horizontal rotation disc (80), the outermost end of the immersion tube (10) traces an arc trajectory during the rotation process.
[0377] In order for the bottom or top of the immersion tube (10) not to interfere with the support surface (90) or surrounding structures during rotation, the axis height (H) of the horizontal rotation axis (102) must be set by taking into account at least the total height (H1) of the immersion tube (10) and the structural minimum height (H2) of the movable carriage (93).
[0378] In particular, since the system is structured such that after the 180° tilt is completed, the movable carriage (93) enters the lower part of the tilting rotary table (30) to take over the load of the immersion tube (10), sufficient geometric space must be secured between the lower part of the immersion tube (10) and the movable carriage (93) at the time the tilt is completed. If the axis height (H) of the horizontal rotation axis (102) is nearly equal to or smaller than the sum of the height of the immersion tube (H1) and the minimum height of the movable carriage (H2), the lower part of the immersion tube (10) interferes with the upper part of the movable carriage (93) at the time the tilt is completed, or there is insufficient space for the movable carriage to enter, making normal load transfer impossible.
[0379] Accordingly, in the fifth invention of the present invention, the shaft height (H) is not limited to simply being H1+H2 or greater, but is limited to a range of 1.1 to 1.6 times (H1+H2).
[0380] The lower limit value of 1.1 times is intended to secure a minimum clearance space by taking into account tolerances occurring in the actual structural design, eccentricity error of the immersion tube (10), elastic deformation of the tilting rotary table (30), and lifting error of the movable carriage (93). That is, at the 1.0 time level, only theoretical interference is prevented, and there is insufficient safety clearance in the actual operating environment. By setting it to 1.1 times or more, a working clearance space and safety gap can be secured so that the movable carriage (93) can enter without difficulty after tilting is completed.
[0381] On the other hand, the upper limit of 1.6 times is a limit value set in terms of structural stability and driving efficiency. If the axis height (H) of the horizontal rotation axis (102) becomes excessively high, the following problems occur.
[0382] First, as the structural height of the tilting rotary table (30) and the vertical support (100) increases, the center of gravity of the entire unit rises, and accordingly, the overturning moment increases.
[0383] Second, the rotational moment that the drive unit (20) must overcome increases, so the driving torque requirement increases and the equipment size expands unnecessarily.
[0384] Third, the installation and alignment of the immersion tube (10) is performed at a height, which reduces the safety of the worker.
[0385] Fourth, the overall height of the facility may increase excessively, potentially causing interference with the surrounding space of the existing RH facility.
[0386] Therefore, a design exceeding 1.6 times (H1+H2) is highly likely to result in structural inefficiency and reduced safety. Reflecting these engineering constraints, the fifth invention of the present invention specifies a range of 1.1 to 1.6 times as a balance point between preventing rotational interference and structural stability.
[0387] The effects of the fifth invention of the present invention are summarized as follows.
[0388] First, geometric interference with the support surface (90) and the movable carriage (93) can be prevented during the conduction process of the immersion tube (10).
[0389] Second, after the transfer is completed, the entry of the movable cart (93) and the transfer of the lifting load by the hydraulic cylinder (94) can be carried out smoothly.
[0390] Third, sufficient safety margin can be secured without excessively increasing the structural height of the conductive rotary table unit (70).
[0391] Fourth, by limiting the height of the center of rotation to an appropriate range, the rotational moment and overturning moment generated during overturning can be maintained at a reasonable level.
[0392] Fifth, it can simultaneously ensure worker accessibility and maintenance convenience.
[0393] Ultimately, the fifth invention of the present invention is not merely a simple dimensional limitation, but an invention that specifies an optimal engineering range derived by comprehensively considering the geometric size of the immersion tube (10), the structural height of the movable carriage (93), the turning radius of the tilting rotary table (30), the load transfer mechanism, structural stability, and operational safety. The specification of such a numerical range is difficult to regard as a simple design change, and as it is based on a system design philosophy that ensures the tilting process and the load transfer process are carried out continuously and safely, it has sufficient technical significance.
[0395] Next, the sixth invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3c.
[0396] The sixth invention of the present invention is such that the above-described conductive rotating table (30) has a plurality of elongated holes (110) formed radially based on the center of the plate (OC) of the horizontal rotating plate (80);
[0397] The present invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube, characterized in that the plurality of elongated holes (110) are formed at a radius position larger than the outer radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and are positioned in an area outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0399] The sixth invention of the present invention is an invention that specifies the arrangement structure of elongated holes (110) formed in a conductive rotating table (30) in an AI-based system for maintaining a immersion tube, wherein a plurality of elongated holes (110) are formed radially with respect to the center (OC) of a horizontal rotating disc (80) in the conductive rotating table (30), and the plurality of elongated holes (110) are formed at a radius position larger than the outer radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and are arranged in an area outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0400] The technical core of the sixth invention of the present invention is that the position and direction of the elongated hole (110) formed in the conductive rotary table (30) are not merely defined as a “slot formation” level, but are systematically defined so as to perform the functions of fixing, reinforcing, and auxiliary fastening of the immersion tube (10) without geometrically interfering with the rotational movement of the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0401] First, according to the sixth invention of the present invention, the elongated hole (110) is formed radially with respect to the center of the disc (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80). Here, "radial" means a structure arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole (110) substantially coincides with the radial direction extending from the center of the disc (OC) toward the outer circumference. Such a radial arrangement has the following technical effects.
[0402] First, it supports a center alignment correction function for the immersion tube (10). When the immersion tube (10) is seated on the upper part of the horizontal rotating disc (80), a slight eccentricity may occur. If the elongated hole (110) is formed radially, position adjustment in the radial direction becomes possible when fastening a fixing pin, bolt, clamp, or auxiliary support member through the elongated hole (110). Accordingly, fine adjustment is possible to more precisely align the center of the immersion tube (10) with the center of the disc (OC).
[0403] Second, it can effectively respond to centrifugal loads acting during conduction. When the conduction rotary table (30) rotates, the self-weight and inertial force of the immersion tube (10) have an outward component relative to the center of rotation. When the elongated holes (110) are arranged radially, the direction of this outward load coincides with the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes, so the fastening member forms a structure aligned with the direction of load transfer. As a result, unnecessary torsional stress or shear stress in the fastening part is reduced, and structural stability is improved.
[0404] In addition, in the sixth invention of the present invention, it is important that the elongated hole (110) is formed at a radius position larger than the outer radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80). This means that the elongated hole (110) is positioned in an area outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and has the following combined effects.
[0405] First, physical interference with the rotational movement of the horizontal rotating disc (80) is prevented. The horizontal rotating disc (80) is configured to be able to rotate independently on the upper surface of the tilting rotating table (30). If the elongated hole (110) is formed inside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80), a problem may occur in which the fastening member collides with the rotational trajectory of the horizontal rotating disc (80) or restricts the rotational movement. The sixth invention of the present invention fully guarantees the degree of rotational freedom of the horizontal rotating disc (80) by placing the elongated hole (110) at a radius position larger than the outer radius.
[0406] Second, by placing the elongated hole (110) in an outer area with relatively high structural rigidity, the reduction in rigidity of the central part of the tilting rotary table (30) is prevented. The central part of the tilting rotary table (30) is the area where the horizontal rotating disc (80) is installed, and is a structural core part directly related to the center of rotation. If a number of elongated holes are formed in this area, the cross-sectional rigidity is weakened, and bending deformation or torsional deformation may increase.
[0407] The sixth invention of the present invention can secure a fastening function while maintaining structural rigidity of the central part by placing the elongated hole (110) in the outer region.
[0408] Third, the external arrangement facilitates connection with the lower fastening flange (11) or auxiliary ring of the immersion pipe (10). Since the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion pipe (10) is typically located on the outer side, placing the elongated hole (110) in the outer radius area allows it to correspond directly with the flange fastening part. Accordingly, the length of the fastening member can be minimized, and the load transfer path is shortened, thereby improving structural efficiency.
[0409] Fourth, depending on the rotation angle position of the tilting rotary table (30), it is easy to control the maintenance or release of the fixed state using the elongated hole (110). For example, after auxiliaryly fixing the immersion tube (10) through the elongated hole (110) at the 0° working position, a load transfer procedure can be performed based on a specific elongated hole position at the 180° tilting position. Since the radial arrangement has a clear correspondence with the angle position, it is also advantageous for interlocking control with the detection unit and the AI control unit.
[0410] The operating mechanism of the sixth invention of the present invention is summarized as follows. When the immersion tube (10) is seated on the horizontal rotating disc (80), an auxiliary fixing means is fastened through the outer radial elongated hole (110) of the conductive rotating table (30). At this time, since the position of the elongated hole (110) can be adjusted in the radial direction, the center alignment of the immersion tube (10) can be finely corrected. Subsequently, even during the process of the conductive rotating table (30) rotating, the fastening structure through the elongated hole (110) effectively supports the load in the outer direction and does not interfere with the rotational movement of the horizontal rotating disc (80). Even during the load transfer stage after the completion of the tilt, the elongated hole (110) can be utilized as an auxiliary support or position fixing reference point.
[0411] The inventive step of the 6th invention of the present invention can be recognized in the following respects. First, rather than merely "forming a slot," it simultaneously defines specific geometric conditions, such as a radial arrangement based on the center (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and a radius position larger than the outer radius. This is a design that comprehensively considers rotational motion, load direction, structural rigidity, and interference prevention. Second, by specifying the position of the elongated hole (110) outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the problem of interference between the dual rotation structure (overturning rotation + horizontal rotation) is fundamentally blocked. Third, the radial arrangement has higher structural rationality in terms of load transfer efficiency and center alignment correction function compared to a simple random direction arrangement.
[0412] In conclusion, the sixth invention of the present invention is an invention that simultaneously solves multiple technical problems, such as ensuring the rotational freedom of the horizontal rotating disc (80), correcting the center alignment of the immersion tube (10), improving load-supporting efficiency during tilting, and maintaining structural rigidity, by systematically specifying the arrangement direction and radial position of the elongated hole (110) formed in the tilting rotary table (30). This is not a simple structural change, but is based on a design concept that reflects the geometric and mechanical characteristics of the immersion tube tilting system having a double rotation structure, and thus has sufficient technical significance.
[0415] The 11th invention of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0416] The above-described immersion tube fixing means (40) of the present invention vertically inserts a guide pin (112) having a bolt head (111) integrally formed in the above-described elongated hole (110);
[0417] A sliding ring (113) is fitted onto a guide pin (112) that protrudes downward through an elongated hole (110) formed in the above-mentioned rotary table (30);
[0418] A lower guide plate (114) is fitted onto a guide pin (112) at the lower part of the sliding ring (113);
[0419] A screw thread is formed on the lower outer surface of the guide pin (112), and a fastening nut (116) is fastened to the screw thread;
[0420] An electric cylinder (117) is installed on one end of the lower guide plate (114), and the shaft of the electric cylinder (117) is coupled to one end of the lower guide plate (114);
[0421] The lower guide plate (114) and the electric cylinder (117) are connected in series and arranged on a virtual same horizontal line;
[0422] The above-mentioned elongated hole (110) and electric cylinder (117) are characterized by being installed parallel to each other based on the length direction of the elongated hole (110), and the invention relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube.
[0424] The present invention, the 11th invention, is an invention that defines a specific driving structure of an immersion tube fixing means (40) that directly presses and fixes the lower fastening flange (11) of an immersion tube (10) using a radial elongated hole (110) formed in a conductive rotary table (30) in an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube.
[0425] According to the 11th invention of the present invention, the immersion tube fixing means (40) has a guide pin (112) with a bolt head (111) integrally formed in the elongated hole (110) and is vertically inserted, and the guide pin (112) has a structure that penetrates the conductive rotating table (30) and protrudes upward and downward, respectively.
[0426] At this time, the bolt head (111) is not structured to be fixed by being hooked onto the upper surface of the tilting rotary table (30), but is positioned to be able to reciprocate along the length of the elongated hole (110) while protruding together with the guide pin (112) above the tilting rotary table (30). (See FIG. 4)
[0427] That is, the guide pin (112) can move radially along the elongated hole (110), and accordingly, the bolt head (111) also moves horizontally along the length direction of the elongated hole (110). When the immersion tube (10) is seated on the upper part of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) is positioned at a position corresponding to the elongated hole (110), the guide pin (112) is moved radially so that the lower surface of the bolt head (111) is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12).
[0428] At this time, the bolt head (111) is inserted into the upper opening of the guide pin insertion hole (12) and is positioned so that its lower surface is in close contact with or pressed against the upper surface of the lower fastening flange (11).
[0429] That is, the bolt head (111) functions as a pressure member that directly presses the lower fastening flange (11) from the upper side through the guide pin insertion hole (12), and the immersion tube (10) is fixed in a structure that prevents upward detachment from the conductive rotating table (30).
[0430] Meanwhile, a sliding ring (113) is fitted onto a guide pin (112) that passes through the conductive rotary table (30) and protrudes downward. The sliding ring (113) is positioned to move up and down along the guide pin (112) and serves to relieve friction with the lower guide plate (114) and maintain alignment of linear motion. A lower guide plate (114) is fitted onto the guide pin (112) at the bottom of the sliding ring (113), and a fastening nut (116) is fastened to the threads formed on the lower outer surface of the guide pin (112).
[0431] By tightening the fastening nut (116), the lower guide plate (114) is fixed in a certain position, and the bolt head (111) is pressed more strongly against the lower fastening flange (11) through the guide pin (112), and accordingly, the lower surface of the bolt head (111) is pressed against the upper part of the guide pin insertion hole (12), thereby securely fixing the immersion tube (10).
[0433] Additionally, an electric cylinder (117) is installed at one end of the lower guide plate (114), and the shaft of the electric cylinder (117) is connected to one end of the lower guide plate (114). The lower guide plate (114) and the electric cylinder (117) are connected in series and arranged on a virtual same horizontal line, and the elongated hole (110) and the electric cylinder (117) are installed parallel to each other based on the length direction of the elongated hole (110).
[0434] Accordingly, when the electric cylinder (117) is operated, the lower guide plate (114) moves in a straight line in a direction parallel to the length direction of the elongated hole (110), and the guide pin (112) moves back and forth in a radial direction along the elongated hole (110).
[0435] This radial movement leads to the horizontal position adjustment of the guide pin (112), and the operation of precisely inserting or removing the guide pin (112) from the guide pin insertion hole (12) is actively controlled.
[0436] Ultimately, the fixing mechanism of the present invention has the following structural features.
[0437] First, the bolt head (111) is not structured to be fixed by being caught on the rotary table (30), but acts as a pressure member that is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole (12) and directly compresses the upper part of the lower fastening flange (11).
[0438] Second, since the guide pin (112) can reciprocate radially along the elongated hole (110), active fixation linked to the position alignment of the immersion tube (10) is possible.
[0439] Third, the lower guide plate (114) and the electric cylinder (117) are arranged in series on the same horizontal line and installed parallel to the elongated hole (110), thereby enabling precise and efficient radial linear motion.
[0440] Fourth, the axial pressure applied by the fastening nut (116) and the radial movement control by the electric cylinder (117) are combined, so that the immersion tube (10) can be structurally and stably fixed while also being automatically released.
[0441] Therefore, the present invention 11 is not a simple bolt fastening structure, but rather an invention that implements a radial active pressure type fixing structure in which a bolt head (111) is compressed and positioned on the upper part of a lower fastening flange (11) using a guide pin insertion hole (12), and has technical significance in that it can simultaneously secure stable fixing force and precise release control even during the process of immersion tube conduction.
[0443] The present invention, the 12th invention, relates to an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube by tilting, characterized in that the upper portion of the guide pin (112) of the immersion tube fixing means (40) is inserted into a guide pin insertion hole (12) formed in the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), thereby fixing the immersion tube (10) to a horizontal rotating disc (80) and a tilting rotating table (30).
[0445] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3d.
[0446] The third embodiment of the present invention makes the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80) larger than the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80) disclosed in FIG. 3c, so that the diameter of the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube and the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80) are the same.
[0447] Only two elongated holes (110) can be installed diagonally from the horizontal rotating disc (80) based on the horizontal rotating disc (80).
[0448] And, a cut portion (CTP) is formed on the horizontal rotating disc (80) corresponding to where the immersion tube fixing means (40) is fastened.
[0449] A plurality of protrusions (PGF) are installed on the upper inner surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) to support the immersion tube loaded on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), so that the immersion tube (10) does not come into direct contact with the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the immersion tube is placed slightly elevated.
[0450] This is to prevent the various pipes (BP) provided in the immersion pipe (10) from coming into contact with the upper surface of the conductive rotating table (30) and being damaged.
[0451] Additionally, a pair of guide rods (GPB) are installed protruding from the upper surface of the conductive rotary table (30). When placing the immersion tube (10) on the conductive rotary table (30), these guide the immersion tube so that it can be easily placed.
[0453] More specifically, the third embodiment of the present invention is an invention characterized by a structure in which, in an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube, the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80) is enlarged to be substantially the same as the diameter of the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10), and the arrangement of the elongated hole (110), the cut portion (CTP), the protrusion portion (PGF), and the guide rod (GPB) is reconfigured accordingly.
[0454] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80) is formed to be the same as the diameter of the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10). Accordingly, the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube (10) is supported over the entire circumference of the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and forms a structure in which the entire flange is contained within the support radius rather than a structure in which a part of the outer circumference of the flange protrudes outward. As a result, the self-weight of the immersion tube (10) is uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction, the eccentric moment generated during tilting is reduced, and bending deformation and torsional deformation during the rotation process are suppressed. In particular, since the load transfer path forms a center-symmetric structure during the process of tilting a heavy-weight immersion tube 180°, rotational stability is significantly improved.
[0455] In addition, in the third embodiment of the present invention, only two elongated holes (110) are formed so as to correspond to the diagonal direction relative to the horizontal rotating disc (80). This is intended to maintain the cross-sectional rigidity of the central part of the tilting rotating table (30) by minimizing the number of elongated holes. If the elongated holes are excessively formed, the second moment of area of the rotating disc decreases, which may lower the bending rigidity; however, in this structure, only two elongated holes are arranged in symmetrical positions to ensure balanced radial fixing force while preventing a decrease in structural rigidity. Therefore, the fixing function and structural stability are maintained simultaneously.
[0456] In addition, a cut portion (CTP) is formed in the horizontal rotating disc (80) corresponding to the position where the immersion tube fixing means (40) is fastened. The cut portion (CTP) provides space to accommodate the radial movement trajectory of the guide pin (112) and the bolt head (111), and prevents interference between the fixing means and the disc structure. That is, the cut portion is not a simple opening, but acts as a functional structure to secure the operating range of the fixing mechanism. This allows the insertion, pressurization, and release operations of the immersion tube fixing means (40) to be performed smoothly.
[0457] Additionally, a plurality of protrusions (PGF) are formed on the upper inner surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80). The protrusions (PGF) support the immersion tube (10) in a point contact manner, preventing the immersion tube (10) from making direct surface contact with the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80). Accordingly, the immersion tube (10) is positioned in a slightly elevated state, preventing the various pipes (BP) provided in the immersion tube (10) from coming into contact with the upper surface of the tilting rotating table (30) and being damaged. In particular, since there is a section where the pipes are positioned in a downward direction during the tilting process, the gap formed by the protrusions (PGF) functions as a pipe protection space. This is a structural protection mechanism that goes beyond simple support protrusions and integrates a pipe protection function.
[0458] Furthermore, a pair of guide rods (GPB) are installed protruding from the upper surface of the tilting rotary table (30). The guide rods (GPB) guide the position of the immersion tube (10) during the process of placing the immersion tube (10) on the tilting rotary table (30), thereby guiding the center of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the center of the lower fastening flange (11) of the immersion tube to be aligned. Accordingly, the center error is reduced during the lifting and placement process using a crane, and the placement of the immersion tube is carried out quickly and accurately. In addition, since the initial position alignment is precise, the subsequent process of fastening the fixing means also proceeds smoothly.
[0459] The effects of the third embodiment of the present invention can be summarized as follows.
[0460] First, as the entire area of the lower connecting flange (11) of the immersion tube is supported by the expansion of the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the load distribution becomes uniform and the conductivity stability is improved.
[0461] Second, by minimizing the number of elongated holes (110) to two in the diagonal direction, the fixing function can be secured while maintaining structural rigidity.
[0462] Third, the operating space of the fixing means is secured by the incision (CTP), so that the radial pressure mechanism is implemented without interference.
[0463] Fourth, the immersion tube is supported by the protrusion (PGF), preventing damage to the piping (BP).
[0464] Fifth, the guide rod (GPB) facilitates the alignment of the immersion tubes, thereby improving work efficiency and safety.
[0465] The inventive step of the third embodiment of the present invention lies not merely in increasing the diameter of the horizontal rotating disc, but in organically combining the minimization of the number of elongated holes, the formation of cut sections, the floating support structure, and the guide alignment structure, based on structural changes resulting from the diameter increase. In other words, it is based on a design philosophy that integrates load stability, fixing mechanism compatibility, pipe protection, and placement alignment functions within a single rotating structure, which is difficult for a person skilled in the art to easily derive merely by modifying conventional tilting devices. Therefore, the third embodiment of the present invention possesses technical features that simultaneously improve structural stability and protection functions, and is an invention in which sufficient inventive step can be recognized. Explanation of the symbols
[0468] 1 : Vacuum chamber 2 : Suction tube 3: Discharge pipe 10 : Immersion tube 11 : Bottom fastening flange 11-B: Bottom fastening flange loading area 12: Guide pin insertion hole 20 : Drive unit 20-1 : 1st motor 20-2 : Reducer 30: Conductive rotary table 40: Means for fixing the immersion tube 40-B: Means for fixing the immersion tube 60 : AI Control Unit 70 : Conductive rotary table unit 80 : Horizontal rotating disc 80-M: Motor for rotating the horizontal rotating disc 80-S: Motor shaft for horizontal rotating disc 81 : Ball bearing 90 : Support surface 91 : Rail 92 : Wheel 93 : Mobile Trolley 94 : Hydraulic cylinder 100 : Vertical support 101 : Bearing body 102 : Horizontal rotation axis 104 : Vertical downward support panel 110 : Long hole 111 : Bolt head 112 : Guide pin 113 : Sliding ring 114 : Lower guide plate 116 : Fastening nut 117 : Electric cylinder BP: Piping CTP: Incision GPB: Guide rod PGF: protrusion H: Height of the horizontal rotation axis axis center H1: Height of immersion tube H2 : Minimum height of movable trolley TL: Top surface VS : Virtual vertical axis OC: Center of the disc OC-2 : Center of the disc
Claims
Claim 1 delete Claim 2 In a system (1000) for maintaining an immersion tube (10) that is respectively connected to a suction tube (2) and a discharge tube (3) formed at the bottom of a vacuum chamber (1); the system (1000) is equipped with a conductive rotary table unit (70) that conducts the immersion tube (10); the conductive rotary table unit (70) is equipped with a conductive rotary table (30) that can be rotated by driving a driving unit (20); a horizontal rotary disc (80) that can be rotated horizontally is installed parallel to the conductive rotary table (30) at the center of the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotary table (30); a plurality of ball bearings (81) are inserted between the lower surface of the horizontal rotary disc (80) and the upper surface (TL) of the conductive rotary table (30) so that the horizontal rotary disc (80) can rotate smoothly in the horizontal direction; and on the upper surface of the horizontal rotary disc (80), the lower connection of the immersion tube (10) The immersion tube (10) is positioned so that the flange (11) faces downward, and the virtual vertical center axis (VS) of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the immersion tube (10) is positioned on the same vertical line; an immersion tube fixing means (40) capable of detachably supporting and fixing the immersion tube (10) to the horizontal rotating disc (80) and the tilting rotating table (30) is installed on the tilting rotating table (30); a plurality of sensing units are provided to each detect the seating state of the immersion tube (10) on the upper surface of the horizontal rotating disc (80), the fastening state of the immersion tube fixing means (40), the position information of the horizontal rotating disc (80), and the position information of the tilting rotating table (30); and an AI control unit (60) is included to determine whether rotation of the tilting rotating table (30) is permitted by synthesizing the information collected from the plurality of sensing units and to control the system (1000); the AI control unit (60) is, Applying or blocking a rotational drive signal depending on whether a preset safety condition is met;A supporting surface (90) on which the above-mentioned rotary table unit (70) is installed has a pair of rails (91) spaced apart and parallel to each other, and includes a movable trolley (93) equipped with a plurality of wheels (92) to enable movement by rolling contact on the pair of rails (91); a hydraulic cylinder (94) is installed on the movable trolley (93) to enable height adjustment of the movable trolley (93); the tilted immersion tube (10) can be mounted on the movable trolley (93) and moved to a maintenance position; a plurality of elongated holes (110) are formed radially on the horizontal rotating disc (80) based on the center (OC) of the horizontal rotating disc (80); the plurality of elongated holes (110) are formed at a radius position larger than the outer radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80) and are positioned in an area outside the rotation radius of the horizontal rotating disc (80); and the immersion tube fixing means (40) is the A guide pin (112) having a bolt head (111) integrally formed in the elongated hole (110) is vertically inserted; a sliding ring (113) is fitted onto the guide pin (112) that protrudes downward through the elongated hole (110) formed in the above-mentioned rotary table (30); a lower guide plate (114) is fitted onto the guide pin (112) at the bottom of the sliding ring (113); a screw thread is formed on the lower outer surface of the guide pin (112), and a fastening nut (116) is fastened to the screw thread; an electric cylinder (117) is installed on one end of the lower guide plate (114), and the shaft of the electric cylinder (117) is coupled to one end of the lower guide plate (114); the lower guide plate (114) and the electric cylinder (117) are coupled in series and arranged on a virtual same horizontal line; the elongated hole (110) and The electric cylinder (117) is characterized by being installed parallel to the length direction of the elongated hole (110) in an AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube.; Claim 3 delete Claim 4 In claim 2, the conductive rotary table unit (70) comprises a pair of vertical supports (100) installed spaced apart from each other on a support surface (90), wherein the pair of vertical supports (100) are installed parallel to each other; a bearing body (101) is installed at the upper end of each of the pair of vertical supports (100); a horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed in each of the bearing bodies (101) so as to be rotatably supported by a bearing; a conductive rotary table (30) connecting the horizontal rotation axis (102) is installed; and a vertical downward support panel (104) is installed at each of the left and right ends of the conductive rotary table (30), characterized in that it is an AI-based system for conductive maintenance of an immersion tube. Claim 5 The AI-based system for maintaining an immersion tube, characterized in that, in claim 2, the height (H) from the support surface (90) where the tilting rotary table unit (70) is installed to the axis of the horizontal rotation axis (102) of the tilting rotary table unit (70) is 1.1 to 1.6 times the sum of the height (H1) of the immersion tube (10) and the minimum height (H2) of the movable carriage (93). Claim 6 delete
Citation Information
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