A flexible self-locking cylinder

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of cylinders, and particularly relates to a flexible self-locking cylinder. The self-locking cylinder includes a cylinder, a slider, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a driving main body, and the driving main body is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the cylinder. It is characterized in that the driving mechanism further includes a linkage assembly for driving the slider to perform telescopic movement, and a locking member for abutting and locking the slider after it extends out. The driving main body and the slider are both connected to the linkage assembly, and the driving main body and the slider both correspond to the locking member. Compared with the prior art, this self-locking cylinder only needs to be provided with one cylinder, without the need to additionally arrange cylinders inside it. One cylinder can drive the slider and the driving main body at the same time, realizing the control of the extension and locking of the slider, making its structure simple, the production and assembly difficulty low, the cost lower, and the service life longer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of cylinders, and particularly relates to a self-locking cylinder structure. Background Art

[0002] Cylinders are components widely used in the mechanical field. Cylinders are often used to push components or achieve clamping actions. For the clamping process of thin parts, in order to prevent clamping deformation, it is desired that the force contacting the product is a flexible force. Based on contacting the product as a reference, generally, a self-locking cylinder is used for clamping. In order to ensure machining accuracy, the self-locking cylinder also needs to have reliable locking ability.

[0003] Currently, the self-locking cylinders widely used on the market have poor flexibility and small self-locking force. When locking the piston rod connecting block, it is easy to get stuck, resulting in low machining accuracy of workpieces and waste of costs. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the structure of the existing self-locking cylinders to improve the machining accuracy of workpieces and reduce machining costs.

[0004] For example, the comparative document with the patent application number "CN201921950606.6" discloses a flexible self-locking cylinder. The flexible self-locking cylinder includes a front cylinder body and a rear cylinder body. The front cylinder body is fixedly connected to the rear cylinder body through fastening screws. And a rectangular channel is provided on the front cylinder body. A piston rod connecting block is slidably arranged in the channel. One end of the piston rod connecting block close to the rear cylinder body is connected with a piston stroke mechanism. A first cavity for accommodating the piston stroke mechanism is opened on the rear cylinder body. And a second cavity is arranged below the first cavity on the rear cylinder body. A third cavity is opened below the channel on the front cylinder body. A self-locking mechanism is arranged in the third cavity. The self-locking mechanism is composed of a top position column fixing frame, a locking block, a locking base, a locking push block and a locking piston. Although this comparative document 1 solves the above-mentioned problems of the existing technology to a certain extent, in this comparative document 1, it is necessary to lock the top position column fixing frame through the locking base and then lock the locking block, and finally lock the piston rod connecting block. However, when this comparative document 1 is used, due to the vibration generated by the locking piece, it is easy to cause problems such as loosening of the locking base under the influence of vibration, resulting in insufficient reliability of the self-locking cylinder of this comparative document. And this comparative document needs to be realized by using two cylinder structures, which not only has a complex structure, is difficult to produce and assemble, has a high cost, but also is prone to damage problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a flexible self-locking cylinder, which has a simple structure, low production and assembly difficulty, lower cost, and longer service life.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible self-locking cylinder, which has better stability and stronger reliability.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows.

[0008] A flexible self-locking cylinder, characterized in that the self-locking cylinder includes a cylinder, a slider and a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism includes a driving body, and the driving body is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the cylinder; characterized in that the driving mechanism further includes a linkage assembly for driving the slider to perform telescopic movement, and a locking member for abutting and locking the slider after the slider extends out; both the driving body and the slider are connected to the linkage assembly, and both the driving body and the slider correspond to the locking member.

[0009] In this self-locking cylinder, the driving body is driven by the cylinder to move back and forth. When the driving body moves back and forth, the driving body drives the slider to move back and forth through the linkage assembly; wherein, when the driving body drives the slider to extend out, the driving body will also lock the slider through the locking member; specifically, after the slider extends out, the driving body abuts against the locking member, so that the locking member abuts and presses on the slider to lock the slider. Compared with the prior art, this self-locking cylinder only needs to be provided with one cylinder, without the need to additionally provide cylinders inside it. One cylinder can drive the slider and the driving body at the same time, realizing the control of the extension and locking of the slider, making its structure simple, the production and assembly difficulty low, the cost lower, and the service life longer.

[0010] Further, the self-locking cylinder further includes a housing, a first cavity and a second cavity are provided in the housing, the front end of the first cavity penetrates through the housing, and the slider is movably arranged in the first cavity; the driving body is movably arranged in the second cavity, and the output shaft of the cylinder extends into the rear end of the second cavity to be fixedly connected to the driving body. The front end and the rear end of the slider respectively correspond to the front end and the rear end of the first cavity. Wherein the slider extends out of the housing through the front end of the first cavity.

[0011] Further, a driving through hole and a locking through hole are provided between the first cavity and the second cavity, the linkage assembly is arranged in the driving through hole, and the abutting member is arranged in the locking through hole.

[0012] Further, the driving body includes a driving portion and an abutting portion, and the abutting portion is arranged at the front end of the driving portion; the linkage assembly includes a driving block, a slider cavity is arranged on the slider, one end of the driving block is arranged on the driving portion, and the other end of the driving block passes through the driving through hole and extends into the slider cavity, so that the driving block controls the movement of the slider under the drive of the driving portion. The driving portion can be clamped on the abutting portion, or the two are directly fixed. And the driving block can be movably arranged on the driving portion.

[0013] Further, one side of the locking member abuts against the slider, an inclined surface is provided on the abutting portion, and the other side of the locking member abuts against the inclined surface of the abutting portion. The provision of the inclined surface of the abutting portion causes the force exerted by the abutting portion on the locking member to gradually increase when the abutting portion moves forward, and finally the locking member is locked on the slider, so that while the driving body drives the slider to extend forward, the slider is gradually locked.

[0014] Further, the inclined surface of the abutting portion against which the locking member abuts is an arc surface. The provision of the arc surface makes the contact between the locking member and the abutting portion smoother.

[0015] Further, the width of the slider cavity is greater than the width of the driving block, and the lower end of the driving block abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity. The linkage assembly further includes a spring, the spring is arranged at the rear end of the first cavity, one end of the spring abuts against the rear end of the slider, and the other end of the spring abuts against the housing.

[0016] Further, the width of the slider cavity is greater than the width of the driving block, and the lower end of the driving block abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity. The linkage assembly further includes a spring, the spring is arranged at the rear end of the first cavity, and both ends of the first cavity penetrate through the front and rear ends of the housing respectively. The front end of the cylinder is connected to the rear end of the housing. One end of the spring abuts against the rear end of the slider, and the other end of the spring passes through the first cavity and abuts against the front end of the cylinder. Specifically, the driving through hole and the second cavity also penetrate through the rear end of the housing, so that when the slider, the driving body and the driving block are installed, they can be directly installed into the housing from the rear end of the housing. Specifically, when the driving body extends forward, it drives the driving block to move forward. At this time, the driving block does not directly push the slider forward, but pushes the slider forward through the spring's resilience. At this stage, the driving block still abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity; when the driving body retracts backward, it drives the driving block to retract backward, and the driving block pushes the slider to retract backward. At this time, the slider compresses the spring.

[0017] Further, a limiting block is provided on the slider, a limiting cavity for restricting the extreme movement distance of the slider is provided on the housing, the limiting cavity penetrates into the first cavity, and the limiting block is movably arranged in the limiting cavity. The limiting cavity also penetrates through the rear end of the housing. That is, when the slider is pushed to a certain position, the front end of the limiting block will abut against the front end of the limiting cavity, so that the slider cannot continue to move forward to limit the movement distance of the slider. When the slider stops, at this time the driving body continues to extend forward, the driving block moves in the slider cavity, and at this time the driving body continues to abut against the locking member, so that the locking member can be more firmly locked on the slider, making the self-locking cylinder more stable and reliable.

[0018] Further, an installation groove is provided on the side of the slider, one side of the limit block is arranged in the installation groove, and the other side of the limit block is arranged in the limit cavity.

[0019] In the present invention, the driving body is driven by a cylinder to move back and forth. When the driving body moves back and forth, the driving body drives the slider to move back and forth through a linkage assembly. Among them, when the driving body drives the slider to extend, the driving body will also lock the slider through a locking member. Specifically, after the slider extends, the driving body presses against the locking member so that the locking member presses against the slider to lock the slider. Compared with the prior art, this self-locking cylinder only needs to be provided with one cylinder, and there is no need to additionally provide a cylinder inside it. One cylinder can drive the slider and the driving body at the same time to realize the control of the extension and locking of the slider, making its structure simple, the production and assembly difficulty low, the cost lower, and the service life longer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the present invention with the housing hidden. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0025] See Figures 1-4 , a flexible self-locking cylinder, characterized in that the self-locking cylinder includes a cylinder 1, a slider 2 and a driving mechanism 3. The driving mechanism 3 includes a driving body 31, and the driving body 31 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the cylinder 1. It is characterized in that the driving mechanism 3 further includes a linkage assembly for driving the slider 2 to perform telescopic movement, and a locking member 32 for holding and locking the slider 2 after it extends; the driving body 31 and the slider 2 are both connected to the linkage assembly, and the driving body 31 and the slider 2 both correspond to the locking member 32. Here, the correspondence means that when the cylinder drives the driving body to extend forward so that the driving body drives the slider to extend forward, the driving body presses against the locking member so that the locking member presses against and locks the slider.

[0026] Further, the self-locking cylinder further includes a housing 4. A first cavity 41 and a second cavity 42 are provided in the housing 4. The front end of the first cavity 41 penetrates through the housing 4. The slider 2 is movably arranged in the first cavity 41. The driving body 31 is movably arranged in the second cavity 42. The output shaft of the cylinder 1 extends into the rear end of the second cavity 42 to be fixedly connected with the driving body 31. The front end and the rear end of the slider 2 respectively correspond to the front end and the rear end of the first cavity 41.

[0027] Further, a driving through hole 43 and a locking through hole 44 are provided between the first cavity 41 and the second cavity 42. The linkage assembly is arranged in the driving through hole 43, and the abutting member is arranged in the locking through hole 44.

[0028] Further, the driving body 31 includes a driving part 311 and an abutting part 312. The abutting part 312 is arranged at the front end of the driving part 311. The linkage assembly includes a driving block 33. A slider cavity 21 is provided on the slider 2. One end of the driving block 33 is arranged on the driving part 311, and the other end of the driving block 33 passes through the driving through hole 43 and extends into the slider cavity 21, so that the driving block 33 controls the movement of the slider 2 under the drive of the driving part 311.

[0029] Further, one side of the locking member 32 abuts against the slider 2, and an inclined surface is provided on the abutting part 312. The other side of the locking member 32 abuts against the inclined surface of the abutting part 312.

[0030] Further, the inclined surface of the locking member 32 abutting against the abutting part 312 is an arc surface.

[0031] Further, the width of the slider cavity 21 is greater than the width of the driving block 33, and the lower end of the driving block abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity. The linkage assembly further includes a spring 34. The spring 34 is arranged at the rear end of the first cavity 41. Both ends of the first cavity 41 penetrate through the front and rear ends of the housing 4 respectively. The front end of the cylinder 1 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the housing 4. One end of the spring abuts against the rear end of the slider, and the other end of the spring 34 passes through the first cavity 41 and abuts against the front end of the cylinder 1. Specifically, the driving through hole and the second cavity also penetrate through the rear end of the housing, so that when the slider, the driving body, and the driving block are installed, they can be directly installed into the housing from the rear end of the housing.

[0032] Further, a limiting block 5 is provided on the slider 2. A limiting cavity 45 for limiting the extreme movement distance of the slider 2 is provided on the housing 4. The limiting cavity 45 penetrates into the first cavity 41, and the limiting block 5 is movably arranged in the limiting cavity 45. The limiting cavity 45 also penetrates through the rear end of the housing 4.

[0033] Further, an installation groove 22 is provided on the side surface of the slider 2, one side of the limiting block 5 is arranged in the installation groove 22, and the other side of the limiting block 5 is arranged in the limiting cavity 45. The locking member can be made of an elastic material, such as rubber or silica gel material.

[0034] Working principle: Initial state: The output shaft of the cylinder does not extend out, and the driving block abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity of the slider, so that the rear end of the slider compresses the spring, and the abutting portion does not tightly press on the locking member, and the locking member does not lock the slider;

[0035] Slider extension: The output shaft of the cylinder extends forward to drive the driving body to extend forward. When the driving body extends forward, it drives the driving block to move forward. At this time, the driving block does not directly push the slider forward, but pushes the slider forward through the spring rebound. At this stage, the driving block still abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity; and at this time, the abutting portion gradually increases the force on the locking member, so that the locking member assembly locks on the slider, but does not lock it;

[0036] Slider locking: When the front end of the limiting block abuts against the front end of the limiting cavity, the slider has extended and completed at this time; at this time, the output shaft of the cylinder drives the driving body to continue to extend forward, and the driving block no longer abuts in the slider cavity, and the driving block moves in the slider cavity. At this time, the abutting portion gradually increases the force on the locking member until the locking member completely abuts and locks the slider under the action of the abutting portion.

[0037] In the present invention, the driving body is driven by a cylinder to move back and forth. When the driving body moves back and forth, the driving body drives the slider to move back and forth through the linkage assembly; wherein, when the driving body drives the slider to extend, the driving body will also lock the slider through the locking member; specifically, after the slider extends, the driving body abuts against the locking member so that the locking member abuts and presses tightly on the slider to lock the slider. Compared with the prior art, this self-locking cylinder only needs to be provided with one cylinder, and there is no need to additionally provide a cylinder inside it. One cylinder can drive the slider and the driving body at the same time to realize the control of the extension and locking of the slider, making its structure simple, the production and assembly difficulty low, the cost lower, and the service life longer.

[0038] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible self-locking cylinder, characterized in that, This self-locking cylinder includes a cylinder, a slider and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a driving body which is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the cylinder. It is characterized in that the driving mechanism further includes a linkage component for driving the slider to expand and contract, and a locking component for abutting and locking the slider after it extends out. The driving body and the slider are both connected to the linkage component, and the driving body and the slider are both corresponding to the locking component. This self-locking cylinder further includes a housing. A first cavity and a second cavity are arranged in the housing. The front end of the first cavity penetrates through the housing, and the slider is movably arranged in the first cavity. The driving body is movably arranged in the second cavity, and the output shaft of the cylinder extends into the rear end of the second cavity to be fixedly connected to the driving body. A driving through-hole and a locking through-hole are arranged between the first cavity and the second cavity. The linkage component is arranged in the driving through-hole, and the abutting component is arranged in the locking through-hole. The driving body includes a driving part and an abutting part. The abutting part is arranged at the front end of the driving part. The linkage component includes a driving block. A slider cavity is arranged on the slider. One end of the driving block is arranged on the driving part, and the other end of the driving block passes through the driving through-hole and extends into the slider cavity, so that the driving block controls the movement of the slider under the drive of the driving part. One side of the locking component abuts against the slider, an inclined surface is arranged on the abutting part, and the other side of the locking component abuts against the inclined surface of the abutting part. A limiting block is arranged on the slider, and a limiting cavity for restricting the extreme movement distance of the slider is arranged on the housing. The limiting cavity penetrates into the first cavity, and the limiting block is movably arranged in the limiting cavity.

2. The flexible self-locking cylinder according to claim 1, wherein, The inclined surface of the locking component abutting against the abutting part is an arc surface.

3. A flexible self-locking cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the slider cavity is greater than the width of the driving block, and the lower end of the driving block abuts against the rear end of the slider cavity. The linkage component further includes a spring. The spring is arranged at the rear end of the first cavity. Both ends of the first cavity penetrate through the front and rear ends of the housing respectively. The front end of the cylinder is connected to the rear end of the housing. One end of the spring abuts against the rear end of the slider, and the other end of the spring passes through the first cavity and abuts against the front end of the cylinder.

4. A flexible self-locking cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, An installation groove is arranged on the side surface of the slider. One side of the limiting block is arranged in the installation groove, and the other side of the limiting block is arranged in the limiting cavity.

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