A device and method for powder filling

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of powder filling, and particularly relates to a powder filling device and method. The powder filling device is mainly composed of a powder filling tank, a powder conveying mechanism and a support frame. The powder filling tank is composed of a tank body, an end cover, a soft cover, a powder filling tank air extraction valve and a powder filling tank air charging valve. The powder conveying mechanism is composed of a pneumatic vibrating block, a powder conveying pipe, a powder conveying pipe switch valve, a hose and a powder conveying pipe air extraction valve. The powder filling method introduces a pressure difference between the powder storage tank and the container to be filled, combines mechanical vibration, and uses the flowability of the powder to achieve rapid and sufficient filling of the powder into the container. The technical scheme of the present application alleviates the technical problem that the prior art is difficult to achieve sufficient filling of powder in a container with a complex structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of powder filling technology, specifically relating to a powder filling device and method. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of aerospace equipment technology, the design of its components tends towards thin walls, irregular shapes, and integral construction, demanding increasingly higher performance, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality. Typical components, such as multi-ring structure casings, have thin walls and high dimensional accuracy requirements, posing significant challenges to corresponding forming technologies. The near-net-shape powder thermal isostatic pressing (HTIP) method can achieve high-quality integral forming of such complex structures, offering significant technological advantages and broad application prospects. Before HTIP forming, the powder to be formed needs to be transferred from the powder storage tank into a casing, completing the powder filling process. The sufficiency and uniformity of powder filling directly affect the integrity and quality performance of the formed component. However, in many cases, due to the highly complex shape and structure of the cavity within the casing, achieving good powder filling is extremely difficult.

[0003] In the prior art, patent document CN 111001817 A discloses a powder collection tank for vacuum atomization powder production. This collection tank has a double-layer conical structure and is mainly used for rapid cooling of powder collected during atomization. Patent document CN203997842U discloses a vibratory powder filling device, which designs a needle-like filling mechanism using motor vibration to achieve the transfer and filling of small amounts of materials in daily life. Patent document CN206732123U discloses an ultrasonic vibration device for improving powder filling during molding powder filling. The powder filling problem of complex containers in this patent is not mentioned in the existing reported technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems mentioned in the background art, this application provides an apparatus and method for powder filling.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] On one hand, the present invention proposes a powder filling device, including a powder filling tank, a powder conveying mechanism, and a support frame; the powder filling tank includes a tank body, an end cap, and a flexible cap, the flexible cap being located inside the tank body; the tank body is provided with a powder filling tank exhaust valve, and the end cap is provided with a powder filling tank inflation valve; the flexible cap is fixedly sealed by bolts on the tank body and the end cap, and the tank body is also provided with a gauge for measuring the air pressure inside the tank; the powder conveying mechanism includes a pneumatic vibrating block and a powder conveying pipe; the top of the powder conveying pipe is provided with a powder conveying pipe on / off valve, the powder conveying pipe is provided with a powder conveying pipe exhaust valve, and the bottom of the powder conveying pipe is connected to a flexible hose; the bottom of the tank body is connected to the powder conveying pipe.

[0007] Furthermore, the tank body has a funnel-shaped structure.

[0008] Furthermore, the support frame has a triangular structure.

[0009] On the other hand, a powder filling method, using the powder filling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, specifically includes the following steps:

[0010] S1: Add the powder to be filled into the powder filling tank;

[0011] S2: Cover and seal the soft lid and end cap of the powder container;

[0012] S3: Open the vacuum valve of the powder filling tank to remove the air from the powder filling tank until the vacuum degree reaches 1×10⁻⁶. -1 If Pa is or below, close the exhaust valve of the powder tank.

[0013] S4: Connect the container to be filled to the container using a hose;

[0014] S5: Open the air extraction valve on the powder conveying pipe to remove the air from the pipe, achieving a vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶. -1 Once the pressure is below Pa, close the air extraction valve on the powder conveying pipe.

[0015] S6: Open the powder conveying pipe switch valve, start the pneumatic vibrator block, apply mechanical vibration to the container to be filled, and convey the powder to the container to be filled.

[0016] Furthermore, step S6 also includes: opening the air filling valve of the powder filling tank, controlling the air filling pressure between 0.1MPa and 1MPa, and applying downward pressure to the powder in the tank, which helps to transport the powder to the container to be filled.

[0017] Furthermore, step S6 also includes: measuring the gas flow rate and gas pressure entering the tank through the gas filling valve of the powder filling tank using a meter, calculating the volume change inside the tank, obtaining the volume of powder flowing out, and realizing accurate measurement and control of the amount of powder filled.

[0018] The powder filling apparatus and method proposed in this invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0019] By introducing a pressure difference between the powder storage tank and the container, combined with mechanical vibration, the powder's flowability is utilized to achieve rapid and complete filling of the container with powder; this alleviates the technical problems that existing technologies cannot be used for processing multi-ring structure casings and cannot achieve the processing and forming of thin-walled support plates in parts. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of a powder filling device proposed in this invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of a powder filling device proposed in this invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the powder filling tank of the present invention.

[0023] 1. Powder filling tank; 2. Powder conveying pipe; 3. Support frame; 4. Tank body; 5. Soft cover; 6. Powder filling tank air extraction valve; 7. Powder filling tank air filling valve; 8. Powder conveying pipe air extraction valve; 9. Powder conveying pipe switch valve; 10. Hose; 11. Pneumatic vibrator; 12. End cap. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] This embodiment proposes an apparatus and method for powder filling.

[0027] The powder filling device proposed in this embodiment includes a powder filling tank 1, a powder conveying mechanism, and a triangular support frame 3. The powder filling tank 1 includes a funnel-shaped tank body 4, an end cap 12, and a soft cap 5, with the soft cap 5 located inside the tank body 4. The tank body 4 is equipped with a powder filling tank exhaust valve 6, and the end cap 12 is equipped with a powder filling tank inflation valve 7. The soft cap 5 is sealed tightly by bolts on the tank body 4 and the end cap 12. The tank body 4 is also equipped with a meter for measuring the air pressure inside the tank. The powder conveying mechanism includes a pneumatic vibration block 11 and a powder conveying pipe 2. The top of the powder conveying pipe 2 is equipped with a powder conveying pipe on / off valve 9, and the powder conveying pipe is equipped with a powder conveying pipe exhaust valve 8. The bottom of the powder conveying pipe 2 is connected to a flexible hose 10. The bottom of the tank body 4 is connected to the powder conveying pipe 2.

[0028] The powder filling method and the powder filling device proposed in this embodiment specifically include the following steps:

[0029] S1: Add the powder to be filled into the tank 4 of the powder filling tank 1;

[0030] S2: Cover and seal the soft cap 5 and end cap 12 of the powder container 1;

[0031] S3: Open the air extraction valve 6 of the powder filling tank to remove the air from the powder filling tank until the vacuum degree reaches 1×10⁻⁶. -1 If Pa or below, close the air extraction valve of the powder tank 6;

[0032] S4: Connect the container to be filled to the container through the hose 10;

[0033] S5: Open the air extraction valve 8 on the powder conveying pipe to remove the air from the powder conveying pipe, achieving a vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶. -1 Once the pressure is within 8 Pa, close the air extraction valve on the powder conveying pipe.

[0034] S6: Open the powder conveying pipe switch valve 9, start the pneumatic vibration block 11, apply mechanical vibration to the container to be filled, and convey the powder to the container to be filled.

[0035] A comparison of the effects of titanium alloy powder filling with conventional powder filling methods revealed that titanium alloy powder filling efficiency was increased by 23 times, as shown in the table below:

[0036] Table 1 Comparison of powder filling effect with conventional powder filling methods

[0037] 1 Atmospheric pressure none No addition 0.1 kg / min 2 0.1MPa none No addition 0.5 kg / min 3 Atmospheric pressure 0.2MPa No addition 0.2 kg / min 4 Atmospheric pressure none add 0.4 kg / min 5 0.1MPa 0.2MPa add 2.3 kg / min

[0038] Example 2

[0039] This embodiment proposes a powder filling method, using the same apparatus as the powder filling apparatus described in Example 1, specifically including the following steps:

[0040] S1: Add the powder to be filled into the tank 4 of the powder filling tank 1;

[0041] S2: Cover and seal the soft cap 5 and end cap 12 of the powder container 1;

[0042] S3: Open the air extraction valve 6 of the powder filling tank to remove the air from the powder filling tank until the vacuum degree reaches 1×10⁻⁶. -1 If Pa or below, close the air extraction valve of the powder tank 6;

[0043] S4: Connect the container to be filled to the container through the hose 10;

[0044] S5: Open the air extraction valve 8 on the powder conveying pipe to remove the air from the powder conveying pipe, achieving a vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶. -1 Once the pressure is within 8 Pa, close the air extraction valve on the powder conveying pipe.

[0045] S6: Open the powder conveying pipe switch valve 9, start the pneumatic vibration block 11, apply mechanical vibration to the container to be filled, and convey the powder to the container to be filled; open the powder filling tank inflation valve, control the inflation pressure between 0.1MPa and 1MPa, and apply downward pressure to the powder in the tank.

[0046] Example 3

[0047] This embodiment proposes a powder filling method, using the same apparatus as described in Embodiments 1 and 2, specifically including the following steps:

[0048] S1: Add the powder to be filled into the tank 4 of the powder filling tank 1;

[0049] S2: Cover and seal the soft cap 5 and end cap 12 of the powder container 1;

[0050] S3: Open the air extraction valve 6 of the powder filling tank to remove the air from the powder filling tank until the vacuum degree reaches 1×10⁻⁶. -1 If Pa or below, close the air extraction valve of the powder tank 6;

[0051] S4: Connect the container to be filled to the container through the hose 10;

[0052] S5: Open the air extraction valve 8 on the powder conveying pipe to remove the air from the powder conveying pipe, achieving a vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶. -1 Once the pressure is within 8 Pa, close the air extraction valve on the powder conveying pipe.

[0053] S6: Open the powder conveying pipe switch valve 9, start the pneumatic vibration block 11, apply mechanical vibration to the container to be filled, and convey the powder to the container to be filled; open the powder filling tank inflation valve, control the inflation pressure between 0.1MPa and 1MPa, and apply downward pressure to the powder in the tank; at the same time, measure the gas flow rate and gas pressure entering the tank through the powder filling tank inflation valve through the meter, calculate the volume change in the tank, and obtain the volume of powder flowing out.

[0054] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for powder filling, characterized in that, The system includes a powder filling tank, a powder conveying mechanism, and a support frame. The powder filling tank comprises a tank body, an end cap, and a flexible cap, with the flexible cap located inside the tank body. The tank body is equipped with a powder filling tank exhaust valve, and the end cap is equipped with a powder filling tank inflation valve. The flexible cap is securely sealed by bolts on the tank body and the end cap. The tank body is also equipped with a meter for measuring the gas flow rate and gas pressure entering the tank body through the powder filling tank inflation valve. The powder conveying mechanism includes a pneumatic vibrating block and a powder conveying pipe. The top of the powder conveying pipe is equipped with a powder conveying pipe on / off valve, and the powder conveying pipe is equipped with a powder conveying pipe exhaust valve. A flexible hose is connected to the bottom of the powder conveying pipe. The bottom of the tank body is connected to the powder conveying pipe. The flexible hose is connected to the container to be filled. The pneumatic vibrating block is mounted on the tank body and applies mechanical vibration to the tank body and the container to be filled. The method includes: S1: Add the powder to be filled into the powder filling tank; S2: Cover and seal the soft lid and end cap of the powder container; S3: Open the air extraction valve of the powder tank to remove the air from the powder tank until the vacuum degree reaches 1×10-1 Pa or below, then close the air extraction valve of the powder tank. S4: Connect the container to be filled to the powder conveying mechanism via a hose; S5: Open the air extraction valve of the powder conveying pipe to remove the air from the powder conveying pipe. After the vacuum degree reaches within 1×10-1Pa, close the air extraction valve of the powder conveying pipe. S6: Open the powder conveying pipe switch valve, start the pneumatic vibration block, apply mechanical vibration to the powder tank body, and convey the powder to the container to be filled; Step S6 further includes: opening the air filling valve of the powder filling tank, controlling the air filling pressure between 0.1MPa and 1MPa, and applying downward pressure to the powder in the tank.

2. The powder filling method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank has a funnel-shaped structure.

3. The powder filling method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame has a triangular structure.

4. The powder filling method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S6 further includes: measuring the gas flow rate and gas pressure entering the tank through the gas filling valve of the powder filling tank using a meter, calculating the volume change inside the tank, and obtaining the volume of powder flowing out.

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