Propeller thrust testing apparatus and method

Abstract

The application discloses a propeller thrust testing device and method, wherein the device comprises a middle part of a mounting base provided with an opening; two bearing seats are arranged on a bearing surface of the mounting base and are fixed to opposite sides of the opening respectively; two ends of a rotating shaft are connected with the two bearing seats respectively; an adapter block is fixed to the middle part of the rotating shaft and is opposite to the opening in the bottom; a connecting assembly is fixed to the bottom of the adapter block and passes through the opening, and an end part is used for being connected with a propeller to be tested; a sensor fixing beam is located on the bottom side of the mounting base and is horizontally fixed to the side of the connecting assembly, the extension direction of the sensor fixing beam is the same as the thrust direction of the propeller to be tested; a pressure sensor is fixed to the bearing surface of the sensor fixing beam, and a measuring surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting base; an adjusting assembly is connected with the adapter block and the mounting base respectively and is located in the opposite direction of the pressure sensor and is used for adjusting the position of the pressure sensor. The device has the advantages of simple structure, flexible use and high measurement accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of propeller testing, and more particularly to a propeller thrust testing device and method. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing application of underwater vehicles, more and more fields are using them for exploration, such as dam detection, terrain surveying, hydrological measurement, and submarine fiber optic cable inspection. These environments require underwater vehicles to be fully actuated, meaning each of the six degrees of freedom has a propulsion device. Therefore, more and more underwater vehicles are adopting external propeller drives, where the drive motor and propeller are assembled as a single unit and mounted on the outside of the product. After the propeller is designed and manufactured, its thrust characteristics need to be tested, including thrust and torque tests. Existing testing devices mostly perform measurements in air using force gauges and torque meters, which are unsuitable for direct underwater measurements. Furthermore, the propeller's axial movement cannot be fully limited during operation, posing a safety risk. Other methods use circulating water tanks for measurement. This method uses external drives, couplings, commutators, and other mechanisms to rotate the propeller, measuring the optical axis movement with a force gauge and torque with a torque sensor. However, this method is complex and cumbersome to operate and install, making it unsuitable for testing external propellers.

[0003] There is currently no effective solution to the problem of inconvenient propeller testing in existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a propeller thrust testing device. Using a pressure sensor and based on the lever principle, the propeller thrust is fed back to the sensor to obtain the thrust value. Based on the voltage and current values ​​obtained when the propeller is operating underwater, a specific load torque value is applied to the motor, making its power equivalent to that when operating underwater. This allows for the acquisition of the torque value at the corresponding speed, thus solving the problem of inconvenient propeller testing in existing technologies.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a propeller thrust testing device, comprising: a mounting base having an opening in the middle; two bearing seats disposed on the bearing surface of the mounting base and fixed to opposite sides of the opening; a rotating shaft with its two ends connected to the two bearing seats; an adapter block fixed to the middle of the rotating shaft with its bottom facing the opening; a connecting assembly fixed to the bottom of the adapter block and passing through the opening, with its end for connecting to the propeller under test; a sensor fixing beam located on the bottom side of the mounting base and horizontally fixed to the side of the connecting assembly, the extension direction of the sensor fixing beam being the same as the thrust direction of the propeller under test; a pressure sensor fixed to the bearing surface of the sensor fixing beam, with its measuring surface in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting base; and an adjustment assembly connected to the adapter block and the mounting base, located in the opposite direction to the pressure sensor, for adjusting the position of the pressure sensor.

[0006] Further optionally, the adjustment assembly includes: a limiting plate, one end of which is connected to the adapter block, and the other end of which is connected to the mounting base plate via an adjusting bolt; and an elastic element, which is sleeved on the outside of the adjusting bolt.

[0007] Optionally, two levels are orthogonally mounted on the bearing surface of the mounting base corresponding to the pressure sensor; a level is also mounted on the upper surface of the limiting plate.

[0008] Alternatively, the elastic element may be a spring.

[0009] Further optionally, each bearing housing includes: a bearing bracket connected to the mounting base plate, with a central opening for accommodating a bearing; and a bearing cover fixed to the side of the bearing bracket for accommodating the end of the rotating shaft to pass through and connect with the bearing.

[0010] Alternatively, the bearing may be a deep groove ball bearing.

[0011] Further optionally, the connecting assembly includes: a transition beam, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the transition block, and the other end of which passes through the opening and is connected to the transition plate; and a fastener, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the transition plate, and the other end of which is used to mount the propeller to be tested.

[0012] Alternatively, the fastener is a clamp, and the size of the clamp's mounting hole is adjustable.

[0013] Alternatively, the pressure sensor can be connected to the sensor mounting beam via a force transmission adapter.

[0014] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a propeller thrust testing method, which uses the above-mentioned propeller thrust testing device to perform thrust testing, including: supplying power to the propeller under test with an external power supply; monitoring the operating current, operating voltage and rotational speed of the propeller under test in real time; reading the current pressure of the pressure sensor after the propeller under test is operating stably; calculating the thrust of the propeller under test based on the current pressure, a first vertical distance and a second vertical distance; wherein the first vertical distance and the second vertical distance are pre-measured, the first vertical distance is the vertical distance between the center of the pressure sensor and the center of the shaft, and the second vertical distance is the vertical distance between the centers of the shafts of the propeller under test.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] (1) Simple structure, easy to use and maintain;

[0017] (2) It has strong versatility and can adjust the clamps to adapt to the measurement of propellers of different sizes;

[0018] (3) It has high measurement accuracy and structural position adjustment function, which can ensure that the sensor is parallel to the propulsion direction;

[0019] (4) It has strong environmental adaptability and can generate propeller thrust in water and air;

[0020] (5) High safety, each structural component is relatively fixed during operation and will not move relative to each other. Attached Figure Description

[0021] 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.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the propeller thrust testing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the propeller thrust testing method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Reference numerals: 1-Mounting base plate; 2-Bearing seat; 201-Bearing bracket; 202-Bearing; 203-Bearing cover; 3-Rotating shaft; 4-Adapter block; 5-Connecting assembly; 501-Adapter beam; 502-Adapter plate; 503-Fixing component; 6-Sensor fixing beam; 7-Pressure sensor; 8-Adjusting assembly; 801-Limiting plate; 802-Adjusting bolt; 803-Elastic component; 9-Level; 10-Force transmission adapter; 11-Positioning bolt. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 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 skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] To address the inconvenience of propeller testing mentioned above, this invention provides a propeller thrust testing device. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the propeller thrust testing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the device includes: a mounting base 1 with an opening in the middle; two bearing seats 2, which are located on the bearing surface of the mounting base 1 and fixed to opposite sides of the opening; a rotating shaft 3, whose two ends are connected to the two bearing seats 2; a transition block 4, which is fixed to the middle of the rotating shaft 3 with its bottom facing the opening; a connecting assembly 5, which is fixed to the bottom of the transition block 4 and passes through the opening, with its end used to connect to the propeller under test; a sensor fixing beam 6, which is located on the bottom side of the mounting base 1 and horizontally fixed to the side of the connecting assembly 5, with the extension direction of the sensor fixing beam 6 being the same as the thrust direction of the propeller under test; a pressure sensor 7, which is fixed to the bearing surface of the sensor fixing beam 6, with its measuring surface in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting base 1; and an adjustment assembly 8, which is connected to the transition block 4 and the mounting base 1 respectively, located in the opposite direction of the pressure sensor 7, and used to adjust the position of the pressure sensor 7.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the mounting base 1 has an opening in the middle, which is roughly square.

[0028] Two bearing seats 2 are fixed to opposite sides of the opening of the mounting base plate 1, and the two bearing seats 2 are arranged symmetrically about the central axis of the opening. Specifically, each bearing seat 2 is fixed to the mounting base plate 1 with screws, which allows for disassembly.

[0029] Two bearing seats 2 are connected to each end of the rotating shaft 3. After the rotating shaft 3 is connected, it is set horizontally and can rotate without being restricted.

[0030] The adapter block 4 is fixed to the middle of the rotating shaft 3 by the positioning screw 11, and the adjustment component 8 is fixed on its side and the connecting component 5 is connected to its bottom surface.

[0031] The connecting component 5 passes through the opening of the mounting base plate 1 and connects to the propeller to be tested. The free end of the connecting component 5 is provided with a mounting hole for fixing the propeller to be tested. When the propeller to be tested is fixed, it is in a horizontal state.

[0032] The sensor fixing beam 6 is horizontally positioned on the side of the connecting component 5 at the bottom of the mounting base plate 1. Its extension direction is opposite to the extension direction of the propeller under test and consistent with the thrust direction of the propeller under test.

[0033] The pressure sensor 7 is fixed to the bearing surface of the sensor fixing beam 6, and its top surface (measuring surface) is in contact with the mounting base plate 1 in the initial state.

[0034] The setting position of the adjustment component 8 corresponds to the propeller under test and is used to connect the adapter block 4 and the mounting base plate 1. When it is adjusted, it can drive the rotating shaft 3 to rotate to adjust the position of the pressure sensor 7 so that it contacts the mounting base plate 1 in the initial state.

[0035] During thrust testing, the propeller under test rotates, generating thrust. Based on the lever principle, this sequentially drives the connecting component 5, the sensor, and the pressure sensor 7, causing the measuring surface of the pressure sensor 7 to press tightly against the bottom surface of the mounting base plate 1, thus producing a pressure reading. The thrust of the propeller under test can be obtained from this pressure reading. Furthermore, based on the voltage and current values ​​obtained when the propeller is operating underwater, a specific load torque value is applied to the motor to match its power output during underwater operation, thus obtaining the torque value at the corresponding speed.

[0036] As an optional implementation, the adjustment assembly 8 includes: a limiting plate 801, one end of which is connected to the adapter block 4, and the other end of which is connected to the mounting base plate 1 via an adjusting bolt 802; and an elastic element 803, which is sleeved on the outside of the adjusting bolt 802.

[0037] The limiting plate 801 is set horizontally, with one end connected to the adapter block 4 and the other end connected to the mounting base plate 1 through the adjusting bolt 802.

[0038] The adjusting bolt 802 is set perpendicular to the mounting base plate 1. The relative position of the limiting plate 801 and the mounting base plate 1 can be controlled by rotating the adjusting bolt 802.

[0039] An elastic element 803 is sleeved on the outside of the adjusting bolt 802 to ensure the relative position of the adjusting bolt 802 and the limiting plate 801.

[0040] Specifically, when the adjusting bolt 802 is screwed into the mounting base plate 1, the limiting plate 801 moves toward the mounting base plate 1; conversely, when the adjusting bolt 802 moves away from the mounting base plate 1, the limiting plate 801 moves away from the mounting base plate 1.

[0041] As an optional implementation, two levels 9 are orthogonally mounted on the bearing surface of the mounting base 1 at the position corresponding to the pressure sensor 7; and the levels 9 are mounted on the upper surface of the limiting plate 801.

[0042] To ensure precise levelness, this embodiment includes two orthogonal levels 9 on the mounting base plate 1, one of which extends in the same direction as the sensor fixing beam 6, both corresponding to the thrust direction of the propeller to be tested. Additionally, a level 9 is also provided on the upper surface of the limiting plate 801, ensuring the level 9 remains level when the limiting plate 801 is adjusted using the control adjusting bolt 802.

[0043] As an alternative implementation, the elastic element 803 is a spring.

[0044] As an optional implementation, each bearing housing 2 includes: a bearing bracket 201, which is connected to the mounting base plate 1 and has a central opening for accommodating a bearing 202; and a bearing cover 203, which is fixed to the side of the bearing bracket 201 and is used to accommodate the end of the rotating shaft 3 to be connected to the bearing 202.

[0045] The bearing bracket 201 is arched and fixed to the mounting base plate 1 on both sides with screws, with an opening in the middle. The openings in the middle of the two bearing brackets 201 are coaxial.

[0046] Each bearing bracket 201 has a hole that houses a bearing 202 for connection to the end of the rotating shaft 3.

[0047] The bearing cover 203 is fixed to the side of the bearing bracket 201 by screws, and the rotating shaft 3 passes through the bearing cover 203 and is connected to the bearing 202.

[0048] As an optional implementation, bearing 202 is a deep groove ball bearing 202.

[0049] As an optional implementation, the connecting assembly 5 includes: a transition beam 501, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the transition block 4, and the other end which passes through the opening and is connected to the transition plate 502; and a fixing member 503, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the transition plate 502, and the other end which is used to mount the propeller to be tested.

[0050] The two sides of the adapter plate 502 are respectively connected to the adapter beam 501 and the fixing component 503. The adapter beam 501 is connected to the adapter block 4. The fixing component 503 is used to mount the propeller to be tested.

[0051] As an optional implementation, the fastener 503 is a clamp, and the size of the clamp's mounting hole is adjustable.

[0052] As an optional implementation, the pressure sensor 7 is connected to the sensor fixing beam 6 via the force transmission adapter 10.

[0053] As a specific implementation method, the installation process of the above-mentioned propeller thrust testing device is as follows:

[0054] First, install the deep groove ball bearing 202 into the bearing bracket 201 and tighten the bearing cover 203 with screws. Then, install the adapter block 4 into the middle of the rotating shaft 3 and position it with positioning bolts. After installing the rotating shaft 3 into the inner ring of the deep groove ball bearing 202, tighten the entire assembly, including the bearing seat 2, onto the mounting base 1. Screws are used to sequentially connect the adapter beam 501, adapter plate 502, and clamp below the adapter block 4. Install the sensor fixing beam 6 on the lower left side of the mounting base 1. The pressure sensor 7 is connected to the inner side of the sensor fixing beam 6 with screws. Install the force transmission adapter 10 at the middle left side of the adapter beam 501. Install two levels 9 orthogonally on the upper left side of the mounting base 1. Install the level 9 on the upper side of the limiting plate 801. Connect the limiting plate 801 and the mounting base 1 with adjusting bolts 802. An adjusting spring is provided on the outer side of the adjusting bolts 802. Finally, tighten the propeller with clamps and adjust the limiting plate 801 with adjusting bolts 802 to keep the level 9 level.

[0055] As an optional implementation, this embodiment of the invention provides a propeller thrust testing method, which uses the aforementioned propeller thrust testing device to perform thrust testing. Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the propeller thrust testing method provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0056] S1. An external power supply is used to power the propeller under test;

[0057] S2. Real-time monitoring of the operating current, operating voltage, and rotational speed of the propeller under test;

[0058] S3. After the propeller under test has been operating stably, read the current pressure from the pressure sensor;

[0059] S4. Calculate the thrust of the propeller under test based on the current pressure, the first vertical distance, and the second vertical distance; wherein the first vertical distance and the second vertical distance are obtained by pre-measurement, the first vertical distance is the vertical distance between the center of the pressure sensor and the center of the shaft, and the second vertical distance is the vertical distance between the centers of the shafts of the propeller under test.

[0060] Powering the propeller motor with an external power source, while simultaneously monitoring the propeller's operating current, voltage, and speed, once operation stabilizes, the pressure F is measured via a pressure sensor. Therefore, the propeller thrust T = F * L1 / L2. For example... Figure 1 As shown, L1 is the vertical distance between the center of the compressive stress sensor and the center of the shaft, and L2 is the vertical distance between the centers of the propeller shafts. Once the operating voltage is determined, different operating currents can be adjusted and the corresponding rotational speeds monitored to obtain propeller thrust characteristic curves under different operating conditions.

[0061] Torque testing can also be performed: a motor dynamometer is connected to the output shaft of the propeller drive motor. A certain torque load is applied to the dynamometer, and the voltage obtained during the propeller thrust test is applied to drive the propeller drive motor. The drive current is gradually increased, and when the drive current and speed are the same as the test values ​​in water, the torque load of the dynamometer at this point is the propeller torque. By measuring the dynamometer torque values ​​under different operating conditions, the propeller torque characteristic curve can be obtained.

[0062] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0063] (1) Simple structure, easy to use and maintain;

[0064] (2) It has strong versatility and can adjust the clamps to adapt to the measurement of propellers of different sizes;

[0065] (3) It has high measurement accuracy and structural position adjustment function, which can ensure that the sensor is parallel to the propulsion direction;

[0066] (4) It has strong environmental adaptability and can generate propeller thrust in water and air;

[0067] (5) High safety, each structural component is relatively fixed during operation and will not move relative to each other.

[0068] The above-described specific embodiments of the invention further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the invention. It should be understood that the above content is only for specific embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the invention should be included within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A propeller thrust testing device, characterized in that, include: The mounting substrate has an opening in the middle. Two bearing seats are disposed on the bearing surface of the mounting base plate and are respectively fixed to the opposite sides of the opening; A rotating shaft, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the two bearing seats; An adapter block, fixed in the middle of the rotating shaft, with its bottom facing the opening; A connecting component, which is fixed to the bottom of the adapter block and passes through the opening, with its end for connection to the propeller under test; A sensor fixing beam is located on the bottom side of the mounting base plate and is horizontally fixed to the side of the connecting assembly. The extension direction of the sensor fixing beam is the same as the thrust direction of the propeller under test. A pressure sensor is fixed to the bearing surface of the sensor fixing beam, and the measuring surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting base plate. An adjustment component, which is connected to the adapter block and the mounting base plate respectively, is located in the opposite direction of the pressure sensor and is used to adjust the position of the pressure sensor; The adjustment component includes: A limiting plate, one end of which is connected to the adapter block, and the other end of which is connected to the mounting base plate via an adjusting bolt; An elastic element is sleeved on the outside of the adjusting bolt.

2. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two levels are orthogonally mounted on the bearing surface of the mounting base at the position corresponding to the pressure sensor; A level is installed on the upper surface of the limiting plate.

3. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic element is a spring.

4. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each bearing housing includes: A bearing bracket, which is connected to the mounting base plate, has a central opening for accommodating the bearing; A bearing cover, fixed to the side of the bearing bracket, is used to allow the end of the rotating shaft to pass through and connect to the bearing.

5. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bearing is a deep groove ball bearing.

6. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connection component includes: A transition beam, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the transition block, and the other end of which passes through the opening and is connected to the transition plate; A fixing component, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the adapter plate, and the other end of which is used to mount the propeller to be tested.

7. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fastener is a clamp, and the size of the clamp's mounting hole is adjustable.

8. The propeller thrust testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure sensor is connected to the sensor fixing beam via a force transmission adapter.

9. A propeller thrust testing method, comprising using the propeller thrust testing device as described in any one of claims 1-8 to perform thrust testing, characterized in that, include: An external power supply is used to power the propeller under test. Real-time monitoring of the operating current, operating voltage, and rotational speed of the propeller under test; Once the propeller under test is operating stably, read the current pressure from the pressure sensor. The thrust of the propeller under test is calculated based on the current pressure, the first vertical distance, and the second vertical distance; wherein the first vertical distance and the second vertical distance are obtained by pre-measurement, the first vertical distance is the vertical distance between the center of the pressure sensor and the center of the shaft, and the second vertical distance is the vertical distance between the centers of the shafts of the propeller under test.

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