Electric Flexible Locking Device

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric flexible locking device, including a supporting base, a guide sleeve, a telescopic slide rod, a compression spring, a locking pin guide seat, a locking pin, a locking hole seat, and a stepper motor. The stepper motor provides a driving torque to convert the rotary power of the threaded pair into a linear power, and then the compression spring is used to finally lock the locking pin and the locking hole. The output power is softer and more stable, and the rotating device is protected from damage. The locking pin and the locking hole are both spherical structural designs, which reduces the risk that the locked device cannot be disengaged after experiencing vibration, impact and other interference during transportation, and reduces the requirements for the accuracy of the stop position. In the case of forgetting to unlock, the rotating device is forcibly driven, and the locking pin is squeezed out of the locking hole, but under the pressure of the compression spring, it is still in a locked state and is difficult to rotate freely. The entire misoperation process will not cause any damage to the rotating device until the electric flexible locking device is completely unlocked.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mechanical locking devices, and particularly relates to an electric flexible locking device. Background Art

[0002] During the transportation or installation and adjustment of equipment with a rotating shaft system such as a turntable or a theodolite, it is necessary to temporarily lock the rotating part to protect the safety of the equipment. Currently, the electric locking devices for locking the rotating shaft system often adopt a rigid locking method, or an actuator powered by driving devices such as electromagnets and cylinders. The output power speed is too fast, which not only poses a risk of damaging the rotating shaft system during the locking process, but also causes serious damage to the equipment when forgetting to unlock and driving the rotating shaft system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and propose an electric flexible locking device, which not only causes no harm to the rotating shaft system during normal locking operations, but also does not damage the equipment when forgetting to unlock and driving the rotating shaft system.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following specific technical solutions:

[0005] An electric flexible locking device provided by the present invention includes a support base, a guide sleeve, a telescopic slide rod, a compression spring, a locking pin guide seat, a locking pin, a locking hole seat, and a stepping motor;

[0006] Preferably, the support base is a semi-closed structure, divided into upper, middle, and lower layers. The upper layer of the support base is provided with a guide sleeve mounting hole, the middle layer of the support base is provided with a stepping motor mounting hole, and the lower layer of the support base is provided with a stepping motor wiring hole; the guide sleeve is fixedly installed on the upper layer of the support base through the guide sleeve mounting hole; the stepping motor includes a motor body and a rotating screw; the motor body is fixedly installed on the middle layer of the support base through the stepping motor mounting hole, and the rotating screw passes through the middle and upper layers.

[0007] Preferably, the telescopic slide rod includes a square slide column and a limit flange. The limit flange is located at the bottom end of the square slide column and is used to limit the telescopic stroke of the telescopic slide rod; the square slide column reciprocates up and down in the guide sleeve, and the guide sleeve is used to limit the rotation of the square slide column. An internal thread is provided in the square slide column. After the rotating screw passes through the middle and upper layers of the support base, it is connected with the internal thread to form a thread pair; the rotation axis of the rotating screw, the central axis of the guide sleeve, and the central axis of the telescopic slide rod are coaxial.

[0008] Preferably, the locking pin guide seat is fixedly connected above the square slide column. The locking pin is located within the locking pin guide seat, and the outer cylindrical surface of the locking pin mates with the inner cylindrical surface of the locking pin guide seat to form a moving pair. A locking pin flange protrudes from the lower part of the locking pin. The locking pin guide seat limiting ring is located at the upper end of the locking pin guide seat. The locking pin flange faces the locking pin guide seat limiting ring, which is used to limit the stroke of the locking pin.

[0009] Preferably, the compression spring is located between the locking pin and the telescopic slide rod. The upper surface of the locking pin flange faces the lower surface of the locking pin guide seat limiting ring. The locking pin, the locking pin guide seat, and the locking hole seat are coaxial.

[0010] Preferably, the locking hole seat is fixedly connected to the rotor of the rotating device, and the support base is fixedly connected to the stator of the rotating device. The top of the locking pin and the locking hole of the locking hole seat are spherical surfaces with the same radius.

[0011] Preferably, when unlocking the rotor, the rotary screw is controlled to rotate clockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. The guide sleeve restricts the rotation of the square slide column. The telescopic slide rod drives the locking pin to move towards the direction close to the motor body. When the limit flange contacts the bottom of the middle layer of the support base and the locking pin completely disengages from the locking hole seat, the elastic force of the compression spring is minimized.

[0012] Preferably, when locking the rotor, the rotor rotates to the central axis of the locking hole seat, which coincides with the central axis of the locking pin. The rotary screw is controlled to rotate counterclockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. The telescopic slide rod together with the locking pin slides away from the direction of the motor body. It is completed after the locking pin is completely inserted into the locking hole seat and the upper surface of the limit flange of the telescopic slide rod contacts the lower surface of the guide sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the depth Y of the locking hole is less than the spherical radius by 1 - 2 mm, so that when forgetting to disengage the electric flexible locking device, the locking pin can still smoothly withdraw from the locking hole.

[0014] Preferably, the effective distance N between the locking pin and the locking hole seat is greater than the depth of the locking hole by 2 - 3 mm, and the maximum telescopic stroke M driven by the stepper motor is greater than 2 - 3 times the effective distance N, to ensure the reliable locking of the rotating device in the locked state and the complete release of the rotating device in the disengaged state.

[0015] Preferably, the increased compression amount P of the compression spring in the locked state is expressed as the difference between the maximum telescopic stroke M and the effective distance N, effectively ensuring the reliable locking of the electric flexible locking device.

[0016] Preferably, the telescopic stroke X of the locking pin in the locking pin guide seat is greater than the depth Y of the locking hole, to ensure that when forgetting to unlock and driving the rotating device, the locking pin can be smoothly extruded from the locking hole, thus avoiding serious damage to the device.

[0017] Preferably, the support base further includes a stepper motor wiring hole, and a drive cable of the stepper motor passes through the stepper motor wiring hole.

[0018] Preferably, a locking pin guide seat mounting hole is provided on the square slide column, and the locking pin guide seat is fixedly mounted on the square slide column through the locking pin guide seat mounting hole.

[0019] Preferably, the motor body is provided with threaded holes for installing and fixing the stepper motor.

[0020] Preferably, the electric flexible locking device further includes a dust cover, and the support base further includes a dust cover mounting hole, and the dust cover is fixedly mounted on the support base through the dust cover mounting hole.

[0021] The present invention can achieve the following technical effects:

[0022] 1. The present invention provides driving torque through a stepper motor, converts the rotary power of the threaded pair into linear power, and finally realizes reliable locking of the locking pin and the locking hole through a compression spring. The output power is softer, the locking action is smoother, and the rigid contact locking is more conducive to protecting the rotating equipment from damage; the output shaft of the stepper motor is directly a screw rod, and the coupling is omitted compared with the combination of a traditional stepper motor and a lead screw, and the structure is simpler and more compact.

[0023] 2. The spherical structure design of the locking pin and the locking hole reduces the risk of the locked equipment being unable to disengage after experiencing vibration, impact and other interference during transportation, and also reduces the requirements for the accuracy of the stop position when the equipment starts the locking action.

[0024] 3. By utilizing the stallable characteristic of the stepper motor, the time for the open-loop control of the forward and reverse rotation of the stepper motor is slightly longer than the time required for the electric flexible locking device to complete the stroke, so that the reliable control of the electric flexible locking device can be smoothly achieved without adding feedback sensors.

[0025] 4. The electric flexible locking device has a misoperation function. For example, if the unlocking is forgotten and the rotary device is forcibly driven, the locking pin will be forced out of the locking hole. However, under the pressure of the compression spring, the locking pin is still in contact with the rotating part of the rotary device and is in a locked state, making it difficult to rotate freely. It can be seen that the entire misoperation process will not cause any damage to the rotary device until the electric flexible locking device is completely unlocked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a top view of an electric flexible locking device provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2It is a cross-sectional view of the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention in the disengaged state.

[0028] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention in the locked state.

[0029] Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of the support base in the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the telescopic slide rod in the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of the stepping motor in the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view of the electric flexible locking device provided by an embodiment of the present invention after misoperation to drive the rotating device in the un-unlocked state.

[0033] The reference numerals therein include: 1 - support base, 11 - guide sleeve mounting hole, 12 - dust cover mounting hole, 13 - stepping motor mounting hole, 14 - stepping motor wire hole, 2 - guide sleeve, 3 - telescopic slide rod, 31 - square slide column, 32 - locking pin guide seat mounting hole, 33 - internal thread, 34 - limit flange, 4 - compression spring, 5 - locking pin guide seat, 51 - locking pin guide seat limit ring, 6 - locking pin, 61 - locking pin flange, 7 - locking hole seat, 8 - stepping motor, 81 - rotating screw, 82 - threaded hole, 83 - motor body, 9 - dust cover, 10 - rotor of the rotating device, M - maximum stroke of the electric flexible locking device, N - effective distance between the locking pin and the locking hole seat in the completely disengaged state, P - movement stroke of the locking pin in the locking pin guide seat in the locked state, i.e., the increased compression amount of the compression spring, X - maximum telescopic stroke of the locking pin in the locking pin guide seat, Y - depth of the locking hole in the locking hole seat, R - radius of the spherical surface at the top of the locking pin and the spherical surface of the locking hole. Detailed Embodiment

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same modules are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the case of the same reference numerals, their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, their detailed descriptions will not be repeated.

[0035] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation to the present invention.

[0036] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0037] As Figures 1 - 7 shown, the electric flexible locking device provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The electric flexible locking device includes a support base 1, a guide sleeve 2, a telescopic slide rod 3, a compression spring 4, a locking pin guide seat 5, a locking pin 6, a locking hole seat 7, a stepping motor 8, and a dust cover 9. Among them, the support base 1 is a semi-closed structure, including upper, middle, and lower layers. The upper layer of the support base 1 has a guide sleeve mounting hole 11, the middle layer of the support base 1 has a stepping motor mounting hole 13, the lower layer of the support base 1 has a stepping motor cable routing hole 14, and the side of the support base 1 has a dust cover mounting hole 12. The dust cover 9 is fixedly connected to the support base 1 through the dust cover mounting hole 12 on the support base 1 for dust prevention of the locking device and each kinematic pair.

[0039] The stepping motor 8 includes two parts: a motor body 83 and a rotary screw 81. The motor body 83 is fixedly installed in the middle layer of the support base 1 through the stepping motor mounting hole 13, and the rotary screw 81 passes through the middle layer and the upper layer. A threaded hole 82 is provided on the motor body 83 for the installation and fixation of the stepping motor 8. The stepping motor 8 is used to provide driving force for the telescopic movement of the telescopic slide rod 3, and the drive cable of the stepping motor 8 passes through the stepping motor cable routing hole 14 in the lower layer of the support base 1.

[0040] The guide sleeve 2 is fixed to the upper layer of the support base 1 through the guide sleeve mounting hole 11 on the support base 1 for providing linear motion guidance for the telescopic slide rod 3. The telescopic slide rod 3 includes a square slide column 31, a locking pin guide seat mounting hole 32, a limit flange 34, and an internal thread 33. The limit flange 34 is located at the bottom of the square slide column 31, and the limit flange 34 is used to limit the telescopic stroke of the telescopic slide rod 3. The square slide column 31 is located inside the guide sleeve 2, and the outer surface of the square slide column 31 cooperates with the inner surface of the guide sleeve 2 to form a moving pair. The square slide column 31 reciprocates up and down inside the guide sleeve 2, and the guide sleeve 2 is used to limit the rotation of the square slide column 31.

[0041] An internal thread 33 is provided in the square slide column 31. After the rotary screw 81 passes through the middle and upper layers of the support base 1, it is threadedly connected with the internal thread 33 of the square slide column to form a thread pair; the rotary axis of the rotary screw 81, the central axis of the guide sleeve 2 and the central axis of the telescopic slide 3 are coaxial. The locking pin guide seat 5 is fixedly installed above the square slide column 31 through the locking pin guide seat mounting hole 32 on the square slide column 31. The locking pin 6 is located in the locking pin guide seat 5. The outer cylindrical surface of the locking pin 6 matches the inner cylindrical surface of the locking pin guide seat 5 to form a moving pair; the locking pin flange 61 is located at the protruding end of the lower part of the locking pin, and the locking pin guide seat limit ring 51 is located at the upper end of the guide seat. The locking pin flange 61 is used to limit the travel of the locking pin.

[0042] The compression spring 4 is located between the locking pin 6 and the telescopic slide rod 3. In the unlocked state, the limiting flange 34 of the telescopic slide rod 3 contacts the middle bottom of the support base 1, and the upper surface of the locking pin flange 61 contacts the lower surface of the locking pin guide seat limiting ring 51. The mover of the rotating device can rotate freely, and the locking pin 6 is completely separated from the locking hole seat 7.

[0043] The locking hole seat 7 is located above the locking pin 6, the supporting base 1 is fixedly connected to the stator of the rotating device, and the locking hole seat 7 is fixedly connected to the rotor 10 of the rotating device; the locking pin 6, the locking pin guide seat 5 and the locking hole seat 7 are coaxial.

[0044] The top of the locking pin 6 and the locking hole of the locking hole seat 7 are spherical surfaces with the same radius, which reduces the requirement for the accuracy of the stop position of the rotating equipment rotor 10 when the equipment starts the locking action.

[0045] The depth Y of the locking hole is smaller than the radius of the spherical surface by 1 to 2 mm, so that when the electric flexible locking device is forgotten to be disengaged, the locking pin 6 can still be smoothly withdrawn from the locking hole.

[0046] The effective spacing N between the locking pin 6 and the locking hole seat 7 is slightly larger than the depth of the locking hole by 2 to 3 mm, and the maximum telescopic stroke M driven by the motor of the electric flexible locking device is slightly larger than the effective spacing N between the locking pin 6 and the locking hole seat 7 by 2 to 3 mm, so as to ensure the reliable locking of the rotating equipment in the locked state and the complete release of the rotating equipment in the disengaged state.

[0047] The difference between the maximum stroke M driven by the electric flexible locking device motor and the effective spacing N between the locking pin 6 and the locking hole seat 7 is the increased compression amount P of the compression spring 4 in the locked state, and the telescopic stroke X of the locking pin 6 in the locking pin guide seat 5 is slightly greater than the depth Y of the locking hole on the locking hole seat 7. This ensures that when the device forgets to unlock and drives the rotating equipment rotor 10, the locking pin 6 can be smoothly squeezed out of the locking hole, thereby avoiding serious damage to the equipment.

[0048] When the rotor 10 of the slewing device is to be released, the rotary screw 81 of the stepper motor 8 is controlled to rotate clockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. Since the guiding sliding sleeve 2 restricts the rotation of the square sliding column 31, the telescopic sliding rod 3 drives the locking pin 6 to move towards the direction close to the motor main body 83. After the limiting flange 34 contacts the bottom of the middle layer of the support base 1 and the locking pin 6 completely disengages from the locking hole seat 7, the stepper motor 8 continues to stall for a short period of time (such as 1 - 5 seconds) to ensure that the rotor 10 of the slewing device is completely released. At this time, the upper surface of the locking pin flange 61 contacts the lower surface of the limiting ring 51 of the locking pin guiding seat under the action of the compression spring 4, the elastic force of the compression spring 4 drops to the minimum, the locking pin 6 completely disengages from the locking hole seat 7, and the rotor of the slewing device can rotate freely.

[0049] When the slewing device is to be locked, first, the servo system of the slewing device controls its rotor 10 to rotate until the central axis of the locking hole seat 7 coincides or is close to coinciding with the central axis of the locking pin 6 of the electric flexible locking device. The rotary screw 81 of the stepper motor 8 is controlled to rotate counterclockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. The guiding sliding sleeve 2 restricts the rotation of the square sliding column 31, and the telescopic sliding rod 3 together with the locking pin 6 slides along the guiding sliding sleeve 2 away from the stepper motor 8 under the drive of the central thread pair.

[0050] After the locking pin 6 is inserted into the locking hole seat 7, the stepper motor 8 continues to rotate. At this time, the locking pin 6 does not move, the telescopic sliding rod 3 and the locking pin guiding seat 5 continue to rise, the upper surface of the locking pin flange 61 gradually disengages from the lower surface of the limiting ring 51 of the locking pin guiding seat, thereby increasing the elastic force of the compression spring 4 to ensure the reliable locking of the electric flexible locking device until the limiting flange 34 of the telescopic sliding rod 3 contacts the bottom of the middle layer of the support base 1, the elastic force of the compression spring 4 increases to the maximum, and the stepper motor 8 stalls for a short period of time (such as 1 - 5 seconds) to ensure that the telescopic sliding rod 3 rises to the maximum stroke and the locking pin 6 reaches the maximum movement distance.

[0051] The locking pin 6 is completely inserted into the locking hole seat 7, and the rotor 10 of the slewing device is locked and cannot rotate freely.

[0052] In the description of this specification, the descriptions referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0053] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0054] The specific implementation manners of the present invention above do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and deformations made according to the technical concept of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electric flexible locking device, characterized in that, it includes a support base, a guide sliding sleeve, a telescopic sliding rod, a compression spring, a locking pin guide seat, a locking pin, a locking hole seat, and a stepper motor; The support base is a semi-closed structure, divided into upper, middle, and lower layers. The upper layer of the support base is provided with a guide sliding sleeve mounting hole, the middle layer of the support base is provided with a stepper motor mounting hole, and the lower layer of the support base is provided with a stepper motor wire routing hole; the guide sliding sleeve is fixedly installed on the upper layer of the support base through the guide sliding sleeve mounting hole; the stepper motor includes a motor body and a rotary screw; the motor body is fixedly installed on the middle layer of the support base through the stepper motor mounting hole, and the rotary screw passes through the middle and upper layers; The telescopic sliding rod includes a square sliding column and a limit flange. The limit flange is located at the bottom end of the square sliding column and is used to limit the telescopic stroke of the telescopic sliding rod; the square sliding column reciprocates up and down within the guide sliding sleeve, and the guide sliding sleeve is used to limit the rotation of the square sliding column. An internal thread is provided in the square sliding column. After the rotary screw passes through the middle and upper layers of the support base, it is connected to the internal thread to form a screw pair; the rotation axis of the rotary screw, the central axis of the guide sliding sleeve, and the central axis of the telescopic sliding rod are coaxial; The locking pin guide seat is fixedly connected above the square sliding column. The locking pin is located within the locking pin guide seat. The outer cylindrical surface of the locking pin cooperates with the inner cylindrical surface of the locking pin guide seat to form a moving pair; a locking pin flange protrudes from the lower part of the locking pin. The locking pin guide seat limit ring is located at the upper end of the locking pin guide seat, and the locking pin flange faces the locking pin guide seat limit ring and is used to limit the progress of the locking pin; The compression spring is located between the locking pin and the telescopic sliding rod. The upper surface of the locking pin flange faces the lower surface of the locking pin guide seat limit ring. The locking pin, the locking pin guide seat, and the locking hole seat are coaxial; The locking hole seat is fixedly connected to the rotor of the rotating device, the support base is fixedly connected to the stator of the rotating device, and the top of the locking pin and the locking hole of the locking hole seat are set as spherical surfaces with the same radius; When unlocking the rotor, the rotary screw is controlled to rotate clockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. The guide sliding sleeve limits the rotation of the square sliding column. The telescopic sliding rod drives the locking pin to move in the direction close to the motor body. The limit flange contacts the bottom of the middle layer of the support base. After the locking pin completely disengages from the locking hole seat, the elastic force of the compression spring drops to the minimum; When locking the rotor, the rotor rotates to the central axis of the locking hole seat, which coincides with the central axis of the locking pin. The rotary screw is controlled to rotate counterclockwise at a fixed speed in an open-loop manner. The telescopic sliding rod together with the locking pin slides in the direction away from the motor body. Wait until the locking pin is completely inserted into the locking hole seat, and after the upper surface of the limit flange contacts the lower surface of the guide sliding sleeve, the locking is completed.

2. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the depth Y of the locking hole is less than the spherical radius by 1-2 mm, so that when forgetting to disengage the electric flexible locking device, the locking pin can still smoothly withdraw from the locking hole.

3. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the effective spacing N between the locking pin and the locking hole seat is greater than the depth of the locking hole by 2-3 mm, and the maximum telescopic stroke M driven by the stepper motor is greater than the effective spacing N by 2-3 mm, so as to ensure the reliable locking of the rotary equipment in the locked state and the complete release of the rotary equipment in the disengaged state.

4. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the increased compression amount P of the compression spring in the locked state is expressed as the difference between the maximum telescopic stroke M and the effective spacing N, effectively ensuring the reliable locking of the electric flexible locking device.

5. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the telescopic stroke X of the locking pin in the locking pin guide seat is greater than the depth Y of the locking hole, so as to ensure that when forgetting to unlock and driving the rotary equipment, the locking pin can be smoothly extruded from the locking hole, thereby avoiding serious damage to the equipment.

6. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the support base further includes a wire hole for the stepper motor, and the drive cable of the stepper motor passes through the wire hole for the stepper motor.

7. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the square sliding column is provided with a mounting hole for the locking pin guide seat, and the locking pin guide seat is fixedly mounted on the square sliding column through the mounting hole for the locking pin guide seat.

8. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the motor body is provided with a threaded hole for the installation and fixation of the stepper motor.

9. The electric flexible locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the electric flexible locking device further includes a dust cover, the support base further includes a dust cover mounting hole, and the dust cover is fixedly mounted on the support base through the dust cover mounting hole.

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