A flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit body, which includes an adjustment support foot, a Z-direction guide rail pair, a B-axis worm gear reducer, a B-axis drive motor, a left strong clamping cylinder, a left pressure plate, a Z-direction trapezoidal screw pair, a Z-axis worm gear reducer, an HMI human-machine interface, a right pressure plate, a right strong clamping cylinder, a drive button, a universal caster, a base, a column, a control cabinet, a Z-axis servo motor, a rotation-stop anti-torsion seat, a B-axis flip seat, a self-centering gripper, an adjustable hand wheel, a worm gear rotary reducer, a Z-direction slide plate, etc. During the assembly process of the power turbine unit body, the overall Z-axis up and down movement and the B-axis 0-180 degree flipping function of the product can be realized to solve the accessibility requirements of ergonomic operation during the assembly process, and the device has the characteristics of flexibility, automation, and multi-function, thereby improving assembly efficiency and quality and reducing manual labor intensity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit, and belongs to the field of automated, digital and intelligent manufacturing and assembly of aerospace engines. Background Art

[0002] The aircraft engine is the "heart" of the aircraft and is known as the "crown jewel of modern industry". Its manufacturing level is an important symbol of the level of science and technology industry and comprehensive national strength. In recent years, foreign engine manufacturers, such as SNECMA and Pratt & Whitney (PW), have transformed and upgraded from the traditional manual assembly mode to automated, digital, and intelligent advanced manufacturing technologies, especially in production lines and core equipment. The investment effect is obvious. At present, the domestic aircraft engine assembly still adopts the traditional fixed-station assembly mode and manual assembly method. The assembly accuracy and assembly quality stability are heavily dependent on the operating experience and proficiency of the assembly workers. The assembly quality is unstable, the assembly efficiency is low, the labor intensity of the workers is high, and the assembly operation management is difficult. The engine has a complex structure and a large number of parts. From sub-assembly to final assembly, a large amount of repeated assembly and measurement work is required in the assembly process. The ergonomic accessibility is poor, and it is often necessary to repeatedly flip the engine up and down or in the circumferential direction to facilitate the assembly and dimension measurement of the engine. In various domestic aero-engine manufacturing plants, the assembly of unit parts all uses traditional welded simple assembly racks, which have low automation and low efficiency, seriously restricting the short delivery cycle, high reliability and long life requirements of contemporary aircraft manufacturers for engines. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device that can automatically complete the unit assembly task. This is the development trend of the transformation from the traditional fixed assembly mode to the flexible, digital and intelligent assembly technology, and has broad application prospects in the field of digital and intelligent assembly of aerospace engines. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and propose a flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit. According to the operational requirements during the unit assembly process, the device can automatically complete the Z-up and down movement and B-axis flipping functions within the stroke range during the engine assembly process, thereby improving the assembly efficiency. The device has high flexibility, automation, and digitization, low investment cost, good accessibility for workers, and high assembly efficiency.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device comprises a base, a column, a clamping and positioning mechanism, a Z-axis lifting mechanism, a B-axis rotating mechanism and a control cabinet; the control cabinet and the column are fixed on the base, an HMI human-machine interface is provided on the control cabinet, a Z-axis lifting mechanism and a Z-guide rail pair are provided on the column, a slider of the Z-guide rail pair is connected to a Z-direction slide plate; the B-axis rotating mechanism is installed on the Z-direction slide plate, the clamping and positioning mechanism is connected to the output end of the B-axis rotating mechanism; the control ends of the Z-axis lifting mechanism and the B-axis rotating mechanism are both connected to the control cabinet;

[0006] The clamping and positioning mechanism includes a B-axis flip seat for fixing the power turbine unit casing, and a self-centering gripper for clamping the power turbine unit rotor. The axis of the self-centering gripper is provided with a through hole for installing the turbine unit rotor, and the through hole is located on the axis of the power turbine unit casing; the bottom of the self-centering gripper is also provided with an adjustable handwheel for adjusting the position of the power turbine unit rotor.

[0007] Preferably, the Z-axis lifting mechanism includes a Z-axis servo motor, a Z-axis worm gear reducer and a Z-axis trapezoidal lead screw pair. The Z-axis servo motor is transmission-connected to the Z-axis trapezoidal lead screw pair through the Z-axis worm gear reducer, and the Z-axis trapezoidal lead screw pair is connected to the Z-axis guide rail pair.

[0008] Preferably, the B-axis rotation mechanism includes a B-axis drive motor, a B-axis worm gear reducer and a worm gear rotary reducer, and the B-axis drive motor is transmission-connected to the worm gear rotary reducer via the B-axis worm gear reducer; the worm gear rotary reducer is installed on the Z-axis slide, and the output end of the worm gear rotary reducer is fixedly connected to the B-axis flip seat of the clamping and positioning mechanism.

[0009] Preferably, the B-axis flip seat includes a horizontal mounting plate and a vertical connecting plate, the vertical connecting plate is connected to the output end of the B-axis rotation mechanism, the horizontal mounting plate is provided with a positioning hole coaxial with the power turbine unit casing, the positioning hole is symmetrically provided with a left pressure plate and a right pressure plate for clamping the power turbine unit casing, the left pressure plate and the right pressure plate are driven by a left strong clamping cylinder and a right strong clamping cylinder respectively.

[0010] Preferably, the self-centering gripper is coaxially mounted at the positioning hole on the horizontal mounting plate through a bracket, and the self-centering gripper is moved in the axial direction of the positioning hole by rotating an adjustable hand wheel.

[0011] Preferably, the base is provided with a rotation-stopping and torsion-proof seat with a spline hole, the spline hole is coaxial with the positioning hole when in the horizontal direction, and the size of the spline hole matches the spline size of the rotor shaft end of the power turbine unit.

[0012] Preferably, universal casters and height-adjustable feet are installed on the base.

[0013] Preferably, a driving button for controlling the Z-axis servo motor is provided on the base.

[0014] Preferably, the angular travel range of the B-axis flip seat is 0 to 180 degrees.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1) The Z-axis of the power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device of the present invention adopts a worm gear reducer + trapezoidal screw auxiliary drive structure, and the B-axis adopts a worm gear reducer + worm gear rotary reducer drive structure. The structure is compact and can automatically complete the Z-axis upward and downward movement and B-axis flipping functions within the stroke range during the engine assembly process according to the ergonomic requirements of the unit assembly process. The automation degree is high and the assembly efficiency is high, which meets the urgent need for the improvement of the assembly process equipment technology of a large number of unit parts of aircraft engines;

[0017] 2) The present invention only needs to control the two strong clamping cylinders on the left and right to adjust the clamping force on the casing of the power turbine unit, which can adapt to various sizes and specifications of power turbine units and has the characteristics of flexibility; the B-axis flip seat is directly fixed to the output end of the worm gear rotary reducer, and the B-axis flip angle can reach 180 degrees. The self-centering gripper installed on the B-axis flip seat cooperates with the adjustable hand wheel at the bottom to realize the automatic centering of the power turbine unit rotor and the adjustment of the relative assembly position between the rotor end face and the casing, which is convenient for realizing relevant dimensional measurement, and the worker's operation and adjustment are simple, and the accessibility and adaptability are good;

[0018] 3) The Z-axis and B-axis drives of the present invention all adopt dual mechanical self-locking structural measures of worm gear or trapezoidal screw combination to ensure absolute safety of products and personnel during assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a front view of the flexible positioning device for assembling the power turbine unit;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a left view of the flexible positioning device for assembling the power turbine unit;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a right view of the flexible positioning device for assembling the power turbine unit;

[0022] Figure 4 It is a partial view of the clamping and positioning unit of the flexible positioning device for assembling the power turbine unit body;

[0023] Figure 5It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the flexible positioning device for assembling the power turbine unit;

[0024] In the figure: adjustment support 1, Z-axis guide pair 2, B-axis worm gear reducer 3, B-axis drive motor 4, left strong clamping cylinder 5, left pressure plate 6, Z-axis trapezoidal lead screw pair 7, Z-axis worm gear reducer 8, HMI human-machine interface 9, right pressure plate 10, right strong clamping cylinder 11, drive button 12, universal caster 13, base 14, column 15, control cabinet 16, Z-axis servo motor 17, anti-rotation and anti-torsion seat 18, B-axis flip seat 19, self-centering gripper 20, adjustable handwheel 21, worm gear rotary reducer 22, Z-axis slide plate 23. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0026] like Figure 1 , 2 , 3, 4, and 5, a flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit body includes an adjustment support 1, a Z-axis guide rail pair 2, a B-axis worm gear reducer 3, a B-axis drive motor 4, a left strong clamping cylinder 5, a left pressure plate 6, a Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair 7, a Z-axis worm gear reducer 8, an HMI human-machine interface 9, a right pressure plate 10, a right strong clamping cylinder 11, a drive button 12, a universal caster 13, a base 14, a column 15, a control cabinet 16, and a Z-axis servo The servo motor 17, the anti-torsion seat 18, the B-axis turning seat 19, the self-centering gripper 20, the adjustable handwheel 21, the worm gear rotary reducer 22, and the Z-axis slide plate 23 together constitute the three main components of the clamping and positioning mechanism, the Z-axis lifting mechanism, and the B-axis rotation mechanism. The Z-axis adopts a worm gear reducer + trapezoidal screw auxiliary drive structure, and the B-axis adopts a worm gear reducer + worm gear rotary reducer drive structure, and has a dual mechanical self-locking function.

[0027] In a specific implementation of the present invention, universal casters 13 and adjustable feet 1 are installed on the base 14 to achieve the overall free movement of the flexible positioning device and stable support during the working process; the control cabinet 16 and the column 15 are fixed on the base 14, and the control ends of the Z-axis lifting mechanism and the B-axis rotation mechanism are connected to the control cabinet 16. The control cabinet 16 is provided with an HMI human-machine interface 9, which is fixed by a movable bracket for easy position adjustment; the column 15 is provided with a Z-guide rail pair 2 and a Z-axis servo motor 17 and a Z-axis worm gear The Z-axis lifting mechanism is composed of a worm reducer 8 and a Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair 7, wherein the Z-axis servo motor 17 is connected to the Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair 7 through the Z-axis worm gear reducer 8, and the Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair 7 is connected to the Z-direction guide rail pair 2; the Z-direction slide plate 23 is connected to the column 15 through the Z-direction guide rail pair 2, and the Z-axis servo motor 17 can be controlled to drive the Z-axis worm gear reducer 8 and the Z-direction trapezoidal screw pair 7 by using the HMI human-machine interface 9 or the drive button 12 set on the base 14 to realize the up and down movement of the Z-direction slide plate 23 in the Z direction.

[0028] The B-axis rotation mechanism is installed on the Z-direction slide 23 to realize the Z-direction up and down movement, and the Z-direction up and down can be adjusted to any position within the range of movement. The B-axis rotation mechanism is composed of a B-axis drive motor 4, a B-axis worm gear reducer 3 and a worm gear rotary reducer 22; the B-axis drive motor 4 is connected to the worm gear rotary reducer 22 through the B-axis worm gear reducer 3, and the worm gear rotary reducer 22 is installed on the Z-direction slide 23. The output end of the worm gear rotary reducer 22 is connected to the clamping and positioning mechanism, so that the clamping and positioning mechanism can simultaneously realize the functions of Z-direction up and down movement and B-axis flipping, and the B-axis flipping angle can be adjusted to any angle within the range of the angular stroke, and the adjustment range is 0 to 180 degrees.

[0029] like Figure 4As shown, the clamping and positioning mechanism includes a B-axis flip seat 19 for fixing the power turbine unit casing, and a self-centering gripper 20 for clamping the power turbine unit rotor. The axis of the self-centering gripper 20 is provided with a through hole for installing the turbine unit rotor, and the through hole is located on the axis of the power turbine unit casing. The self-centering gripper 20 is installed on the B-axis flip seat 19, so that after the power turbine unit rotor is clamped by the self-centering gripper 20, it is also located on the axis of the power turbine unit casing, realizing the automatic centering of the power turbine unit rotor; the bottom of the self-centering gripper 20 is also provided with an adjustable hand wheel 21 for adjusting the position of the power turbine unit rotor, which can realize the automatic centering of the power turbine unit rotor and the adjustment of the relative assembly position between the rotor end face and the casing, and facilitate the relevant dimensional measurement. A left strong clamping cylinder 5, a left pressure plate 6, a right pressure plate 10 and a right strong clamping cylinder 11 are also installed on the B-axis turning seat 19. The left strong clamping cylinder 5 and the right strong clamping cylinder 11 provide driving force for the left pressure plate 6 and the right pressure plate 10 respectively. The casing of the aircraft engine power turbine unit is clamped on the B-axis turning seat 19 by two pairs of left and right pressure plates and strong clamping cylinders.

[0030] In a specific implementation of the present invention, the B-axis flip seat 19 includes a horizontal mounting plate and a vertical connecting plate. The vertical connecting plate is connected to the output end of the B-axis rotation mechanism. The horizontal mounting plate is provided with a positioning hole coaxial with the power turbine unit casing. The left pressure plate 6 and the right pressure plate 10 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the positioning hole. The left pressure plate 6 and the right pressure plate 10 are two arc-shaped plates, and the centers of the two arc-shaped plates are in the same straight line as the center of the positioning hole. The self-centering gripper 20 is coaxially mounted at the positioning hole on the horizontal mounting plate through a bracket. The self-centering gripper 20 can be moved in the axial direction of the positioning hole by rotating the adjustable handwheel 21. Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the base 14 of the present invention is provided with a rotation-stopping and torsion-proof seat 18 with a spline hole, the spline hole is coaxial with the positioning hole in the horizontal direction, and the size of the spline hole matches the spline size of the shaft end of the power turbine unit body rotor. The power turbine unit body rotor can be accurately controlled to move downward by driving the button 12. When it moves downward to a certain extent, the spline of the shaft end of the power turbine unit body rotor is inserted into the spline hole of the rotation-stopping and torsion-proof seat 18. The spline and the spline hole cooperate, and when a torque is applied during the assembly of the power turbine unit body rotor, it can play a rotation-stopping and torsion-proof role.

[0031] The flexible positioning device used for assembling the power turbine unit has the following working steps:

[0032] 1) Place the turbine unit casing on the horizontal mounting plate of the B-axis turning seat 19, and control the left strong clamping cylinder 5 and the right strong clamping cylinder 11 through the control cabinet 16 to push the left pressure plate 6 and the right pressure plate 10 to clamp the turbine unit casing;

[0033] 2) placing the turbine unit rotor on the self-centering gripper 20, with the shaft of the turbine unit rotor passing through the through hole on the self-centering gripper 20, and the blades of the turbine unit rotor being clamped by the self-centering gripper 20, thereby completing the automatic centering of the turbine unit;

[0034] 3) The relative assembly position between the end face of the power turbine unit rotor and the casing of the power turbine unit is adjusted through the adjustable hand wheel 21 at the bottom of the self-centering gripper 20 to achieve measurement of relevant dimensions; during the measurement process, the B-axis rotation system can also be controlled through the HMI human-machine interface 9 to drive the B-axis flip seat 19 to rotate, so as to achieve coaxial flipping of the power turbine unit casing and the power turbine unit rotor, and keep the relative position of the two unchanged, which is convenient for the measurement work during the assembly process;

[0035] 4) When torque needs to be applied during the power turbine unit rotor assembly process, the Z-axis slide 23 is controlled to move downward through the HMI human-machine interface 9 or the drive button 12 on the base 14, driving the power turbine unit rotor to move downward until the spline at the shaft end of the power turbine unit rotor is inserted into the spline hole of the anti-torsion seat 18, and the assembly operation is continued.

[0036] During the assembly process of the power turbine unit, the Z-axis and B-axis positions of the clamping and positioning mechanism can be adjusted at any time according to ergonomic requirements, which is easy to operate and has good accessibility.

[0037] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. All technical solutions belonging to the principle of the present invention belong to the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, some improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of the present invention should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible positioning device for assembling a power turbine unit, characterized in that: It comprises a base (14), a column (15), a clamping and positioning mechanism, a Z-axis lifting mechanism, a B-axis rotating mechanism and a control cabinet (16); the control cabinet (16) and the column (15) are fixed on the base (14); an HMI human-machine interface (9) is provided on the control cabinet (16); a Z-axis lifting mechanism and a Z-direction guide rail pair (2) are provided on the column (15); a slider of the Z-direction guide rail pair (2) is connected to a Z-direction slide plate (23); the B-direction rotating mechanism is installed on the Z-direction slide plate (23); the clamping and positioning mechanism is connected to the output end of the B-axis rotating mechanism; and the control ends of the Z-axis lifting mechanism and the B-axis rotating mechanism are both connected to the control cabinet (16); The clamping and positioning mechanism comprises a B-axis turning seat (19) for fixing the power turbine unit casing, and a self-centering gripper (20) for clamping the power turbine unit rotor, wherein the axis of the self-centering gripper (20) is provided with a through hole for installing the turbine unit rotor, and the through hole is located on the axis of the power turbine unit casing; the bottom of the self-centering gripper (20) is also provided with an adjustable hand wheel (21) for adjusting the position of the power turbine unit rotor; The Z-axis lifting mechanism comprises a Z-axis servo motor (17), a Z-axis worm gear reducer (8) and a Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair (7); the Z-axis servo motor (17) is connected to the Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair (7) through the Z-axis worm gear reducer (8); and the Z-axis trapezoidal screw pair (7) is connected to the Z-axis guide rail pair (2); The B-axis rotation mechanism comprises a B-axis drive motor (4), a B-axis worm gear reducer (3) and a worm gear rotary reducer (22); the B-axis drive motor (4) is connected to the worm gear rotary reducer (22) through the B-axis worm gear reducer (3); the worm gear rotary reducer (22) is mounted on a Z-direction slide plate (23); the output end of the worm gear rotary reducer (22) is fixedly connected to a B-axis flip seat (19) of the clamping and positioning mechanism.

2. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The B-axis turning seat (19) comprises a horizontal mounting plate and a vertical connecting plate, wherein the vertical connecting plate is connected to the output end of the B-axis rotating mechanism, and the horizontal mounting plate is provided with a positioning hole coaxial with the power turbine unit casing, and the positioning hole is symmetrically provided with a left pressure plate (6) and a right pressure plate (10) for clamping the power turbine unit casing, and the left pressure plate (6) and the right pressure plate (10) are driven by a left strong clamping cylinder (5) and a right strong clamping cylinder (11) respectively.

3. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The self-centering gripper (20) is coaxially mounted at a positioning hole on the horizontal mounting plate via a bracket, and the self-centering gripper (20) is moved in the axial direction of the positioning hole by rotating an adjustable hand wheel (21).

4. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base (14) is provided with a rotation-stopping and torsion-proof seat (18) with a spline hole, the spline hole being coaxial with the positioning hole when in a horizontal direction, and the size of the spline hole matching the spline size of the rotor shaft end of the power turbine unit.

5. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (14) is provided with a universal caster (13) and a height-adjustable support foot (1).

6. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (14) is provided with a driving button (12) for controlling the Z-axis servo motor (17).

7. The power turbine unit assembly flexible positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angular travel range of the B-axis turning seat (19) is 0 to 180 degrees.

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