Low expansion alloy thin-walled ring production system

Abstract

The application provides a low-expansion alloy thin-wall ring production system, and relates to the technical field of low-expansion alloy thin-wall ring production equipment, and aims to solve the problem of low production efficiency of a connecting ring in the prior art. The production system comprises a vacuum smelting device, a vacuum pouring device, a vacuum forging device, a heat treatment device and a cooling device arranged in sequence along the direction of a production line. Raw materials placed in the vacuum smelting device are introduced into the vacuum pouring device after being heated and smelted, and are poured into connecting rings by the vacuum pouring device. The connecting rings can be transported to the vacuum forging device. The connecting rings are sequentially transported into the heat treatment device and the cooling device after being forged by the vacuum forging device. The temperature of the connecting rings is always within a reasonable range, and the connecting rings do not need to be cooled before the next step. The devices of each section work continuously, solving the problem that the original equipment needs to consume energy to increase the temperature from room temperature to working temperature, effectively reducing the loss and improving the production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring parts production equipment, and in particular to a low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring parts production system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of my country's aerospace and defense industries, the demand for missile connecting rings is increasing.

[0003] Connecting rings, also known as indium steel rings, are a type of iron-nickel alloy. They are characterized by a low coefficient of linear expansion and high mechanical strength. This material is currently the best choice for combining metallic and non-metallic materials. Military products have very high performance requirements for this material, but the performance indicators of this type of material on the market are unstable and it is difficult to meet the needs of aerospace products.

[0004] The main existing processes for manufacturing and producing connecting rings (blanks) are material smelting, forging, heat treatment, rough machining, etc.

[0005] This application finds that the existing process has at least the following technical problems: low production efficiency, serious material loss, energy waste, and unstable billet quality, which cannot meet the needs of the growing industry. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring production system to solve the technical problem of low production efficiency of connecting rings in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a production system for thin-walled ring parts made of low-expansion alloys, comprising a vacuum smelting device, a vacuum casting device, a vacuum forging device, a heat treatment device, and a cooling device arranged sequentially along the production line direction. The raw material placed in the vacuum smelting device is heated and smelted before being introduced into the vacuum casting device. The vacuum casting device casts the ring into a connecting ring, and the connecting ring can be transported to the vacuum forging device. After the connecting ring is forged by the vacuum forging device, it is sequentially transported to the heat treatment device and the cooling device.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the vacuum smelting apparatus includes a smelting furnace and a vacuum unit. The smelting furnace has a receiving cavity for placing raw materials. The vacuum unit is connected to the receiving cavity to perform a vacuuming operation inside the smelting furnace. The smelting furnace is provided with a feed port and a discharge port. The discharge port is connected to the vacuum casting device through a conveying pipe.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the conveying pipe is inclined, and the conveying pipe has a conveying inlet and a conveying outlet. The conveying inlet is connected to the discharge port on the smelting furnace, and the conveying outlet is connected to the vacuum casting device. The position of the conveying outlet is lower than the position of the conveying inlet.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the vacuum casting device includes a vacuum casting machine and an intermediate ladle. The intermediate ladle is disposed above the vacuum casting machine and is connected to the smelting furnace through the material conveying pipe. A control valve is provided at the bottom of the intermediate ladle.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the vacuum forging device includes a vacuum forging press and a first heating furnace. The connecting ring cast by the vacuum casting device is transported to the first heating furnace. After being heated to a preset temperature by the first heating furnace, the connecting ring is transported to the position to be forged, so that the connecting ring can be forged by the vacuum forging press.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the heat treatment apparatus includes a second heating furnace and a conveyor line. The second heating furnace and the conveyor line are disposed inside a sealed cover. The connecting ring forged by the vacuum forging device is sent to the conveyor line and heated in the second heating furnace inside the sealed cover. The heated connecting ring can be conveyed to the cooling device through the conveyor line.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the cooling device includes a cooling housing and a cooling component disposed within the cooling housing, wherein the connecting ring after being heat-treated by the heat treatment device can be transported to the cooling component for cooling.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the cooling assembly includes a cooling vehicle, the cooling vehicle being provided with a coolant reservoir for holding coolant.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the heat treatment apparatus further includes a gas source storage unit, which is connected to the sealing shell and can supply inert gas to the sealing shell through the gas source storage unit.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, thermocouple temperature measurement modules are provided in the vacuum smelting device, the vacuum casting device, the vacuum forging device, the heat treatment device and the cooling device.

[0017] The low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring component production system provided by this invention includes a vacuum smelting device, a vacuum casting device, a vacuum forging device, a heat treatment device, and a cooling device arranged sequentially along the production line. The required raw materials are placed in the vacuum smelting device and heated and smelted in a vacuum environment. When the temperature is reached, the molten liquid is introduced into the vacuum casting device to complete the casting of a connecting ring. The cast connecting ring is then transported to the vacuum forging device, where it is heated and held at a specific temperature during transport. When it reaches the designated position on the forging press, the connecting ring is forged. The forged connecting ring is then transported to a heat treatment furnace, where it undergoes solution treatment in the cooling device. After cooling, the connecting ring is removed and stacked in the required position, thus completing the processing of the connecting ring (blank). This low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring component production system ensures that the temperature of the connecting ring remains within a reasonable range, eliminating the need for cooling before proceeding to the next step. The equipment in each section operates continuously, eliminating the energy-consuming process of raising the temperature from room temperature to operating temperature, as was previously required for other equipment, effectively reducing energy consumption. It improves production efficiency, reduces the impact of external factors, allows for continuous operation according to production needs, and reduces human intervention, thereby improving product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring-shaped part production system provided by the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a top view of the low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring-shaped part production system provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the ceramic crucible provided by the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals: 1. Vacuum smelting device; 11. Smelting furnace; 12. Vacuum unit; 13. Material conveying pipeline; 2. Vacuum casting device; 21. Vacuum casting machine; 22. Tundish; 221. Control valve; 3. Vacuum forging device; 31. Vacuum forging press; 32. First heating furnace; 4. Heat treatment device; 41. Conveyor line; 42. Second heating furnace; 5. Cooling device; 51. Cooling shell; 52. Cooling assembly; 6. Gas source storage unit; 7. Robotic arm; 8. Ceramic crucible. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] See Figures 1-3 This invention provides a production system for low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring parts. The connecting ring in this embodiment, also called an indium steel ring, is a type of iron-nickel alloy. Its characteristics include a low coefficient of linear expansion and high mechanical strength, making it the preferred material for combining metallic and non-metallic materials. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring part production system in this embodiment includes a vacuum smelting device 1, a vacuum casting device 2, a vacuum forging device 3, a heat treatment device 4, and a cooling device 5, arranged sequentially along the production line. The raw material placed in the vacuum smelting device 1 is heated and smelted before being introduced into the vacuum casting device 2. The connecting ring is cast in the vacuum casting device 2 and can be transported to the vacuum forging device 3. After forging in the vacuum forging device 3, the connecting ring is sequentially transported to the heat treatment device 4 and the cooling device 5. This production system minimizes energy loss in each stage of connecting ring (bulk) production. Through intelligent management, energy is fully utilized, reducing waste and thus lowering production costs.

[0027] The required raw materials are placed in the vacuum smelting device 1 and smelted under vacuum. When the temperature is reached, the molten liquid is introduced into the vacuum casting device 2 to complete the casting of the connecting ring. Then, the cast connecting ring is transported to the vacuum forging device 3. During the transport of the connecting ring, it is heated and kept at a constant temperature. When it reaches the designated position of the forging press, the connecting ring is forged. The forged connecting ring is then transported to the heat treatment furnace. After heat treatment, the connecting ring is sent to the cooling device 5 for solution treatment. The cooled connecting ring is then removed and stacked in the required position. At this point, the processing of the connecting ring (blank) is completed.

[0028] The vacuum smelting apparatus 1 includes a smelting furnace 11 and a vacuum unit 12. The smelting furnace 11 has a cavity for holding raw materials. The vacuum unit 12 is connected to the cavity to perform a vacuum evacuation operation inside the smelting furnace 11. The smelting furnace 11 is equipped with an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is connected to the vacuum casting apparatus 2 via a conveying pipe 13. The vacuum smelting furnace 11 is equipped with a thermocouple temperature measuring module. The required raw materials are placed inside the vacuum smelting furnace 11 and smelted under vacuum. When the temperature is reached, after passing the tests (temperature and composition), the molten liquid is introduced into the vacuum casting apparatus 2.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the conveying pipe 13 is inclined and has a conveying inlet and a conveying outlet. The conveying inlet is connected to the discharge port on the smelting furnace 11, and the conveying outlet is connected to the vacuum casting device 2. The height of the conveying outlet is lower than that of the conveying inlet, so that the material in the smelting furnace 11 can be smoothly conveyed to the vacuum casting device 2.

[0030] The vacuum casting device 2 includes a vacuum casting machine 21 and a tundish 22 (molten steel pool). The vacuum casting machine 21 and the tundish 22 (molten steel pool) are located in a sealable space. The tundish 22 is located above the vacuum casting machine 21. The tundish 22 is connected to the smelting furnace 11 through a material conveying pipe 13. A control valve 221 is provided at the bottom of the tundish 22.

[0031] A thermocouple temperature measurement module is installed in the molten steel pool (tundish 22). When the temperature of the molten steel in the tundish 22 reaches the required temperature, the tundish 22 opens the control valve 221 to pour the molten steel into the ceramic crucible 8 below the prepared vacuum casting machine 21. When the molten steel volume meets the requirements, the control valve 221 of the tundish 22 is closed to complete one casting connection ring.

[0032] The conveying system in vacuum casting device 2 is activated, moving the cast connecting ring out of its position via a conveyor. The next ceramic crucible is then transported to the casting port. When the ceramic crucible reaches the preset position, control valve 221 opens for casting. Once the molten steel volume meets the requirements, control valve 221 of the tundish 22 is closed, completing one casting of the connecting ring. This process is repeated cyclically. When the molten steel volume of the tundish 22 is lower than the production requirement, the smelting furnace 11 continues to supply molten steel. The connecting ring mold crucible is made using the principle of ceramic insulation. Molten steel is poured into the ceramic crucible, and once the molten steel cools and forms a connecting ring blank, an electromagnet is used to pull the connecting ring out.

[0033] When the cast connecting ring (inside the ceramic crucible) in the vacuum casting device 2 is transported to the designated position, the sealing doors on the vacuum casting device 2 and the vacuum forging device 3 open, and the robot arm 7 starts working. The robot arm 7 uses an electromagnet to pull out the connecting ring from inside the ceramic crucible, lifts it to the required position, extends its arm above the tray of the conveyor in the vacuum forging device 3, moves the robot arm 7 down to the required position on the tray, cuts off the electromagnetic power, places the connecting ring in the tray, the robot arm 7 returns to its initial state, the sealing door closes, and the next procedure begins.

[0034] The vacuum forging device 3 includes a vacuum forging press 31 and a first heating furnace 32. Both the vacuum forging press 31 and the heating furnace are located in a sealed environment. The connecting ring, which is cast by the vacuum casting device 2, is transported to the first heating furnace 32. After being heated to a preset temperature by the first heating furnace 32, the connecting ring is transported to the position to be forged, so that the connecting ring can be forged by the vacuum forging press 31.

[0035] After the connecting ring is received by the conveying section of the vacuum forging device 3, it is transported to the vacuum forging press 31. According to the technical requirements, the conveying section heats and maintains the temperature (900-1100℃) through the first heating furnace 32 during the conveying process of the connecting ring. When it reaches the designated position of the vacuum forging press 31, the robot arm 7 starts working and transports the connecting ring to the forging position. After forging is completed, the robot arm 7 takes the connecting ring out of the vacuum forging device 3 and transports it to the heat treatment device 4 for the next process.

[0036] The heat treatment device 4 includes a second heating furnace 42 and a conveyor line 41, which are located inside a sealed enclosure. The connecting ring, forged by the vacuum forging device 3, is fed onto the conveyor line 41 and heated in the second heating furnace 42 within the sealed enclosure. After heating, the connecting ring is conveyed to the cooling device 5 via the conveyor line 41. The heat treatment device 4 also includes a gas source storage section 6, which contains inert gas and is connected to the sealed enclosure, providing inert gas to the enclosure. During the conveying process, the temperature of the connecting ring is adjusted by the second heating furnace 42 according to technical requirements, while maintaining the inert gas environment in the connecting ring at 860–1100°C. When the device reaches the outlet position of the heat treatment device 4, the sealing door of the sealed enclosure opens, and the robotic arm 7 starts working, grabbing the connecting ring and quickly placing it into the cooling device 5 for solution treatment.

[0037] The cooling device 5 in this embodiment includes a cooling housing 51 and a cooling assembly 52 disposed within the cooling housing 51. The connecting ring, after being heat-treated by the heat treatment device 4, can be transported to the cooling assembly 52 for cooling. The cooling assembly 52 includes a vehicle cooling section, which is provided with a coolant container for holding coolant.

[0038] In this embodiment, the cooling vehicle can be an intelligent vehicle, such as an existing unmanned transport vehicle. When the outlet furnace door of the cooling shell 51 is opened, the intelligent vehicle drives out. When the outlet furnace door is closed, the inlet furnace door is opened, another intelligent vehicle is moved to the designated position, the inlet furnace door is closed, the initial state is restored, and the next procedure is performed. The connecting ring on the outgoing vehicle is taken out by the robotic arm 7 and stacked in the required position. At this point, the processing of the connecting ring (bill) is completed, and it is coded and stored.

[0039] In addition, thermocouple temperature measurement modules are installed in the vacuum smelting device 1, vacuum casting device 2, vacuum forging device 3, heat treatment device 4, and cooling device 5 in this embodiment. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled ring part production system also includes a PLC module, wherein the thermocouple temperature measurement modules are connected to the PLC module to better detect the ambient temperature within each device, ensuring smooth processing of the connecting rings.

[0040] Vacuuming is performed at every stage of the production system. Except for the second heat treatment furnace, which is evacuated before inert gas is added, all other working areas operate in a vacuum environment. This prevents the workpieces from being exposed to air and thus avoids oxidation. Inert gas is used in the heat treatment furnace area, and the workpieces are more stable under the protection of the inert gas, preventing surface oxidation in air.

[0041] Existing technologies suffer from significant raw material waste. They first cast the raw materials into steel ingots, then forge them to enlarge the inner hole, resulting in a loss of raw materials. In contrast, this production system directly casts the raw materials into steel rings (allowing for forging ratio), allowing for controllable billet dimensions and minimizing waste.

[0042] In addition, because the various devices in the system operate continuously, the temperature of the connecting ring is always within a reasonable range, eliminating the need for the connecting ring to cool down before proceeding to the next step. The equipment in each section also operates continuously, solving the energy-consuming process of raising the original equipment from room temperature to operating temperature, and effectively reducing losses.

[0043] Because this production line system enables continuous production of missile connecting rings, the quality has been greatly improved, overcoming the defects of unstable quality and high scrap rate caused by the original production units being independent and unrelated to each other.

[0044] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A production system for thin-walled ring-shaped parts made of low-expansion alloys, characterized in that, The equipment includes a vacuum smelting device, a vacuum casting device, a vacuum forging device, a heat treatment device, and a cooling device arranged sequentially along the production line direction. The raw material placed in the vacuum smelting device is heated and smelted before being introduced into the vacuum casting device. The vacuum casting device casts the raw material into a connecting ring, which can be transported to the vacuum forging device. After the connecting ring is forged by the vacuum forging device, it is sequentially transported to the heat treatment device and the cooling device. The vacuum forging device includes a vacuum forging press and a first heating furnace. The connecting ring cast by the vacuum casting device is transported to the first heating furnace. After being heated to a preset temperature by the first heating furnace, the connecting ring is transported to the position to be forged, so that the connecting ring can be forged by the vacuum forging press. The heat treatment device includes a second heating furnace and a conveyor line. The second heating furnace and the conveyor line are arranged inside a sealed cover. The connecting ring forged by the vacuum forging device is sent to the conveyor line and heated in the second heating furnace inside the sealed cover. The heated connecting ring can be conveyed to the cooling device through the conveyor line. The heat treatment apparatus further includes a gas source storage unit, which is connected to the sealing shell and can supply inert gas to the sealing shell through the gas source storage unit.

2. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum smelting apparatus includes a smelting furnace and a vacuum unit. The smelting furnace has a cavity for placing raw materials. The vacuum unit is connected to the cavity to perform a vacuuming operation inside the smelting furnace. The smelting furnace is provided with an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is connected to the vacuum casting device through a conveying pipe.

3. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The conveying pipe is inclined and has a conveying inlet and a conveying outlet. The conveying inlet is connected to the discharge port on the smelting furnace, and the conveying outlet is connected to the vacuum casting device. The height of the conveying outlet is lower than that of the conveying inlet.

4. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vacuum casting device includes a vacuum casting machine and an intermediate ladle. The intermediate ladle is located above the vacuum casting machine and is connected to the smelting furnace through the material conveying pipe. A control valve is provided at the bottom of the intermediate ladle.

5. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling device includes a cooling housing and a cooling component disposed within the cooling housing. The connecting ring, after being heat-treated by the heat treatment device, can be transported to the cooling component for cooling.

6. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cooling assembly includes a cooling vehicle, which is provided with a coolant reservoir for holding coolant.

7. The low-expansion alloy thin-walled annular part production system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Thermocouple temperature measurement modules are all installed in the vacuum smelting device, the vacuum casting device, the vacuum forging device, the heat treatment device, and the cooling device.

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