An apparatus for synthesizing quartz tubes and a method for synthesizing them.

Abstract

This invention discloses an apparatus and method for preparing synthetic quartz tubes. The invention relates to the field of quartz tube synthesis and includes a hanging rod assembly. A first pneumatic chuck is rotatably connected to the center of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly. A heating furnace is disposed below the first pneumatic chuck. In-furnace diameter gauges are symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the left and right sides of the heating furnace. A drive assembly is symmetrically fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom of the heating furnace. A second pneumatic chuck is symmetrically rotatably connected to the center of the inner cavity of two mounting brackets. A base is fixedly connected to the bottom of the drive assembly, and a quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly is fixedly connected to the top of the base. The apparatus and method for synthesizing quartz tubes of this invention generate quartz tubes of desired dimensions by longitudinally drawing and rotating a heated mother tube. These quartz tubes have a low hydroxyl content and high dimensional accuracy, making them highly suitable as base tubes for processes such as MCVD and PCVD in the fabrication of G.654.E and special optical fibers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of quartz tube synthesis, and particularly to an apparatus for synthesizing quartz tubes and a synthesis method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] CN106316082A introduces a method for controlling the dimensional accuracy of quartz tubes to improve the stability of dimensional properties such as wall deviation and out-of-roundness. However, this method has more requirements for the size of the base material, the production process, and its control.

[0003] In US5026413, a non-contact quartz tube preparation device and method are introduced to control the pressure inside the tube in order to stabilize the size of the quartz tube. Three methods are designed: liquid sealing, plug sealing, and pressure chamber sealing. Each of these methods has some problems. For example, the plug sealing scheme is prone to scratches and contamination on the inner wall of the quartz tube. The pressure chamber and liquid sealing are not convenient for personnel to operate due to space limitations, which is not conducive to the realization of automated operation.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a device and a method for synthesizing quartz tubes to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for synthesizing quartz tubes, which can effectively solve the problems in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] A device for synthesizing quartz tubes includes a hanging rod assembly, a first pneumatic chuck rotatably connected to the center of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly, a heating furnace disposed at the lower part of the first pneumatic chuck, an in-furnace diameter measuring device symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the left and right sides of the heating furnace, and an external diameter measuring device fixedly connected to the front of the bottom of the heating furnace.

[0008] The bottom of the heating furnace is symmetrically and fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom. The top and bottom of the two drive components on opposite sides are symmetrically and movably connected to the mounting brackets. The inner cavity of the two mounting brackets is symmetrically and rotatably connected to the second pneumatic chuck.

[0009] The bottom of the drive assembly is fixedly connected to a base, the top of the base is fixedly connected to a quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly, the front of the bottom of the base is fixedly connected to a support block, the back of the support block is movably connected to a cutting blade, and a transfer trolley is provided at the bottom of the base.

[0010] Preferably, the outer wall of the hanging rod assembly is fixedly connected with three fixing columns, the bottoms of which are symmetrically fixedly connected to the top of the hanging rod assembly, and a gear ring is fixedly connected to the center of the outer wall of the first pneumatic chuck.

[0011] Preferably, a gear is rotatably connected to the front of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly, and a first servo motor is fixedly connected to the center of the top of the gear via a first rotating shaft. The first servo motor is fixedly connected in the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly, and the gear meshes with a gear ring. The two furnace diameter measuring instruments extend symmetrically into the inner cavity of the heating furnace from opposite sides.

[0012] Preferably, slots are symmetrically opened in the center of opposite sides of the two drive components, and lead screws are symmetrically rotatably connected in the inner cavity of the two slots. The tops of the two lead screws are symmetrically fixedly connected to second servo motors through a second rotating shaft, and the two second servo motors are symmetrically fixedly connected in the center of the top of the inner cavity of the two drive components.

[0013] Preferably, the center of the left side of the top mounting bracket is movably connected to the inner cavity of the left slot and threaded to the outer wall of the left lead screw, and the center of the right side of the bottom mounting bracket is movably connected to the inner cavity of the right slot and threaded to the outer wall of the right lead screw. Bearings are symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the inner cavities of the two mounting brackets, and the second pneumatic chuck is installed in the inner cavity of the bearing.

[0014] Preferably, limiting sliders are symmetrically fixedly connected to the front and back sides of the two mounting brackets, and guide grooves are symmetrically opened in the center of the front and back sides of the two driving components. A first guide post is symmetrically fixedly connected in the center of the inner cavity of the guide groove, and the limiting slider is movably connected to the inner cavity of the guide groove and is sleeved on the outer wall of the first guide post.

[0015] Preferably, a magnetohydrodynamic levitation block is installed in the center of the quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly, support columns are symmetrically fixedly connected to the bottom of the base, casters are symmetrically fixedly connected to the bottom of the transfer trolley, and a circular groove is provided on the top of the transfer trolley.

[0016] Preferably, a blade holder is fixedly connected to the back of the cutting blade, and movable blocks are symmetrically fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the top of the blade holder. A linear motor is fixedly connected to the right side of the back of the base, and the linear motor is electrically connected to the right movable block. A second guide post is fixedly connected to the back of the left side of the bottom of the base, and the movable block on the left side is sleeved on the outer wall of the second guide post. A break-off device is fixedly connected to the back of the bottom of the base.

[0017] A method for synthesizing an apparatus for synthesizing quartz tubes, comprising the following steps:

[0018] S1: Prepare the mother tube for synthesizing the quartz tube. Place the top of the mother tube in the inner cavity of the first pneumatic chuck. Activate the first pneumatic chuck to clamp the top of the mother tube, and let its bottom enter the inner cavity of the gear ring. At the same time, activate the two second pneumatic chucks to clamp the bottom of the mother tube.

[0019] S2: Start the gear ring to clamp the mother tube, start the first servo motor to drive the gear to rotate. When the gear rotates, it meshes with the gear ring, which can drive the first pneumatic chuck to rotate. At this time, the mother tube rotates, and the two second pneumatic chucks at the bottom rotate in the inner cavity of the mounting bracket.

[0020] S3: Start the two second servo motors, which drive the two lead screws to rotate in the inner cavity of the two drive components. At this time, the two mounting brackets can move up and down on the opposite side of the two drive components. While the mother tube is rotating, it is stretched. During the stretching process, the pressure of the mother tube is controlled by the quartz tube inner hole sealing component and the first pneumatic chuck. During the stretching process, the first pneumatic chuck moves towards the heating furnace at a set speed.

[0021] S4: The outer diameter and wall thickness of the main tube are controlled by adjusting the moving speed and pressure of the first pneumatic chuck and the second pneumatic chuck, while the in-furnace diameter gauge and the out-of-furnace diameter gauge detect the size of the main tube.

[0022] S5: At this point, the finished quartz tube will extend to the bottom of the base. The linear motor will be started, which will cause the moving block to move the cutting blade forward. The finished quartz tube can then be cut by the cutting blade. The cut quartz tube will fall into the transfer trolley for subsequent transfer.

[0023] Beneficial effects

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for synthesizing quartz tubes, which have the following advantages:

[0025] 1. The equipment and preparation method for the synthetic quartz tube, which generates a quartz tube of the desired size by longitudinally drawing and rotating a heated mother tube. The quartz tube has a low hydroxyl content and high dimensional accuracy, and is very suitable for the base tube used in processes such as MCVD and PCVD in the preparation of G.654.E and special optical fibers.

[0026] 2. The equipment and synthesis method for this synthetic quartz tube, through a rotatable first pneumatic chuck and gear ring, puts the mother tube in a rotating and heated state, solving the problem of uneven radial heating of the mother tube. This can effectively reduce the wall deviation and out-of-roundness of the quartz tube. Through the set quartz tube inner hole sealing component, magnetic fluid sealing can be used to reduce the friction between the sealing device and the inner wall of the quartz tube. This can achieve pressure control without damaging the inner wall. At the same time, with the help of an automatic cutting and transfer device, the final product can be automatically cut and transferred. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first pneumatic chuck of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting bracket of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting blade of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly of the present invention.

[0032] In the diagram: 1. Hanging rod assembly; 2. Fixed column; 3. First pneumatic chuck; 4. Gear ring; 5. Gear; 6. First servo motor; 7. Heating furnace; 8. In-furnace diameter gauge; 9. Out-of-furnace diameter gauge; 10. Drive assembly; 11. Mounting bracket; 12. Second pneumatic chuck; 13. Second servo motor; 14. Guide groove; 15. First guide column; 16. Limiting slider; 17. Base; 18. Quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly; 19. Magnetohydrodynamic levitation block; 20. Support block; 21. Cutting blade; 22. Blade holder; 23. Movable block; 24. Linear motor; 25. Second guide column; 26. Support column; 27. Transfer trolley; 28. Lead screw. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0034] like Figure 1-5As shown, a device for synthesizing quartz tubes includes a hanging rod assembly 1. A first pneumatic chuck 3 is rotatably connected to the center of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly 1. A heating furnace 7 is disposed below the first pneumatic chuck 3. In-furnace diameter gauges 8 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the left and right sides of the heating furnace 7. An external diameter gauge 9 is fixedly fixedly connected to the front of the bottom of the heating furnace 7. Drive assemblies 10 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom of the heating furnace 7. Mounting brackets 11 are symmetrically and movably connected to the top and bottom of opposite sides of the two drive assemblies 10. A second pneumatic chuck 12 is symmetrically rotatably connected to the center of the inner cavity of the two mounting brackets 11. A base 17 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the drive assembly 10. A quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly 18 is fixedly connected to the top of the base 17. A quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly 18 is fixedly connected to the front of the bottom of the base 17. A support block 20 is connected, and a cutting blade 21 is movably connected to the back of the support block 20. A transfer trolley 27 is provided at the bottom of the base 17. A fixing column 2 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the hanging rod assembly 1. There are three fixing columns 2, and the bottoms of the three fixing columns 2 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the top of the hanging rod assembly 1. A gear ring 4 is fixedly connected to the center of the outer wall of the first pneumatic chuck 3. A gear 5 is rotatably connected to the front of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly 1. A first servo motor 6 is fixedly connected to the center of the top of the gear 5 through a first rotating shaft. The first servo motor 6 is fixedly connected to the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly 1. The gear 5 meshes with the gear ring 4. Two furnace diameter gauges 8 extend symmetrically into the inner cavity of the heating furnace 7 on opposite sides. Slots are symmetrically opened in the center of opposite sides of the two drive components 10. Two lead screws 28 are symmetrically rotatably connected to the inner cavities of the two slots. The tops of the two lead screws 28 are symmetrically fixedly connected to second servo motors 13 via a second rotating shaft. The two second servo motors 13 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the top of the inner cavities of the two drive components 10. The center of the left side of the top mounting bracket 11 is movably connected to the inner cavity of the left slot and threaded to the outer wall of the left lead screw 28. The center of the right side of the bottom mounting bracket 11 is movably connected to the inner cavity of the right slot and threaded to the outer wall of the right lead screw 28. Bearings are symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the inner cavities of the two mounting brackets 11. A second pneumatic chuck 12 is installed in the inner cavity of the bearing. Limiting sliders 16 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the front and back sides of the left and right sides of the two mounting brackets 11. The two drive components 10 are... The front and back sides are symmetrically provided with guide grooves 14. A first guide post 15 is symmetrically fixedly connected to the center of the inner cavity of the guide groove 14. A limiting slider 16 is movably connected to the inner cavity of the guide groove 14 and is sleeved on the outer wall of the first guide post 15. A magnetohydrodynamic levitation block 19 is installed in the center of the quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly 18. Support columns 26 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the four sides of the bottom of the base 17. Universal wheels are symmetrically fixedly connected to the four sides of the bottom of the transfer trolley 27. A circular groove is provided on the top of the transfer trolley 27. A blade holder 22 is fixedly connected to the back of the cutting blade 21. Movable blocks 23 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the top of the blade holder 22. A linear motor 24 is fixedly connected to the right side of the back of the base 17. The linear motor 24 is electrically connected to the right movable block 23.A second guide post 25 is fixedly connected to the back of the left side of the bottom of the base 17. A movable block 23 on the left side is fitted onto the outer wall of the second guide post 25. A break-off device is fixedly connected to the back of the bottom of the base 17.

[0035] A quartz tube of the desired size is generated by longitudinally drawing and rotating the heated mother tube. This quartz tube has a low hydroxyl content, making it very suitable for use in processes such as MCVD and PCVD in the fabrication of G.654.E and special optical fibers. The mother tube is rotated and heated by a rotatable first pneumatic chuck 3 and gear ring 4, which solves the problem of uneven radial heating of the mother tube and can effectively reduce the wall deviation and out-of-roundness of the quartz tube. The quartz tube inner hole sealing component 18 can be used to seal the tube through magnetic fluid, reducing the friction between the sealing device and the inner wall of the quartz tube. This achieves pressure control without damaging the inner wall. At the same time, with the help of an automatic cutting and transfer device, the final product can be automatically cut and transferred.

[0036] A method for synthesizing an apparatus for synthesizing quartz tubes includes the following steps:

[0037] S1: Using OVD technology, a 156mm pure silicon quartz rod was prepared. The outer diameter of the quartz rod was then ground and drilled to produce a 150mm*80mm quartz mother tube. The inner wall roughness of the quartz mother tube was <1μm, and the wall deviation was ≤0.3mm.

[0038] S2: Weld the above-mentioned quartz mother tube to the transition tube. Place the top of the transition tube in the inner cavity of the first pneumatic chuck 3. Start the first pneumatic chuck 3 to clamp the top of the mother tube and let its bottom enter the inner cavity of the gear ring 4. At the same time, start the two second pneumatic chucks 12 to clamp the bottom of the mother tube.

[0039] S3: Start the gear ring 4 to clamp the mother tube, start the first servo motor 6 to drive the gear 5 to rotate. When the gear 5 rotates, it meshes with the gear ring 4, which can drive the first pneumatic chuck 3 to rotate. At this time, the mother tube rotates, and the two second pneumatic chucks 12 at the bottom rotate in the inner cavity of the mounting bracket 11.

[0040] S4: Start the two second servo motors 13, which drive the two lead screws 28 to rotate in the inner cavity of the two drive components 10. At this time, the two mounting brackets 11 can move up and down on the opposite side of the two drive components 10. While the mother tube is rotating, it is stretched. During the stretching process, the pressure of the mother tube is controlled by the quartz tube inner hole sealing component 18 and the first pneumatic chuck 3. During the stretching process, the first pneumatic chuck 3 moves towards the heating furnace 7 at a set speed.

[0041] S5: The outer diameter and wall thickness of the mother tube are controlled by adjusting the moving speed and pressure of the first pneumatic chuck 3 and the second pneumatic chuck 12. At the same time, the furnace in-furnace diameter gauge 8 and the furnace out-of-furnace diameter gauge 9 detect the size of the mother tube. Typical parameters are shown in Parameter Table 1.

[0042] S6: At this time, the finished quartz tube will extend to the bottom of the base 17. The linear motor 24 will be started, so that the movable block 23 can drive the cutting blade 21 to move forward. In this way, the finished quartz tube can be cut by the cutting blade 21. The cut quartz tube will fall into the transfer trolley 27 for subsequent transfer. Specific Implementation Example 1:

[0044] The cutting blade 21 can be replaced by a laser cutting machine to fix the hollow mother tube in the first pneumatic chuck 3. The typical outer diameter of the mother tube is 150 mm and the inner diameter is 80 mm. The first pneumatic chuck 3 drives the mother tube to rotate at a speed of 30 r / min and heat it in the heating furnace 4. At the same time, it is fed at a speed of 10 mm / min. The rotary stretching system, composed of the drive assembly 10, the mounting bracket 11 and the second pneumatic chuck 12, rotates at a speed of 30 r / min. The rotary stretching system can also alternately pull the mother tube downward. When the production length reaches the specified size, the quartz tube is cut off by the cutting blade 21. In the above production process, the outer diameter and wall thickness of the quartz tube are controlled by adjusting the pressure control system by controlling the speed of the first pneumatic chuck 3 and the second pneumatic chuck 12. The dimensions of the quartz tube are measured online by the furnace diameter gauge 8 and the furnace diameter gauge 9. Typical parameters for preparing different specifications and sizes are shown in Table 1.

[0045]

[0046]

[0047] The typical dimensions of the prepared quartz tubes are shown in Table 2:

[0048]

[0049] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for synthesizing quartz tube comprising a hanging rod assembly (1), characterized in that: The first pneumatic chuck (3) is rotationally connected in the middle of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly (1), the lower part of the first pneumatic chuck (3) is provided with a heating furnace (7), the left and right sides of the heating furnace (7) are symmetrically and fixedly connected with in-furnace diameter gauges (8), and the front of the bottom of the heating furnace (7) is fixedly connected with an out-furnace diameter gauge (9); The left and right sides of the bottom of the heating furnace (7) are symmetrically and fixedly connected with driving assemblies (10), the top and bottom of the opposite side of the two driving assemblies (10) are symmetrically and movably connected with mounting racks (11), and the middle of the inner cavity of the two mounting racks (11) is rotationally connected with a second pneumatic chuck (12); The bottom of the driving assembly (10) is fixedly connected with a base (17), the top of the base (17) is fixedly connected with a quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly (18), the front of the bottom of the base (17) is fixedly connected with a supporting block (20), the back of the supporting block (20) is movably connected with a cutting knife (21), and the bottom of the base (17) is provided with a transfer trolley (27); The outer wall of the hanging rod assembly (1) is fixedly connected with fixed columns (2), there are three fixed columns (2), the bottoms of the three fixed columns (2) are symmetrically fixedly connected to the top of the hanging rod assembly (1), and the middle of the outer wall of the first pneumatic chuck (3) is fixedly connected with a gear ring (4); The front of the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly (1) is rotationally connected with a gear (5), the middle of the top of the gear (5) is fixedly connected with a first servo motor (6) through a first rotating shaft, the first servo motor (6) is fixedly connected in the inner cavity of the hanging rod assembly (1), the gear (5) is engaged with the gear ring (4), and the opposite side of the two in-furnace diameter gauges (8) extends into the inner cavity of the heating furnace (7) symmetrically; The middle of the opposite side of the two driving assemblies (10) is symmetrically provided with notches, the inner cavities of the two notches are symmetrically and rotationally connected with lead screws (28), the tops of the two lead screws (28) are symmetrically and fixedly connected with second servo motors (13) through second rotating shafts, and the two second servo motors (13) are symmetrically and fixedly connected to the middle of the top of the inner cavities of the two driving assemblies (10); The middle of the left side of the top mounting rack (11) is movably connected in the inner cavity of the left notch and is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the left lead screw (28), the middle of the right side of the bottom mounting rack (11) is movably connected in the inner cavity of the right notch and is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the right lead screw (28), the inner cavities of the two mounting racks (11) are symmetrically and fixedly connected with bearings, and the second pneumatic chuck (12) is mounted in the inner cavities of the bearings.

2. An apparatus for synthesizing a quartz tube as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The front and back of the left and right sides of the two mounting racks (11) are symmetrically and fixedly connected with limiting sliding blocks (16), the middle of the front and back of the two driving assemblies (10) is symmetrically provided with guide grooves (14), the middle of the inner cavities of the guide grooves (14) is symmetrically and fixedly connected with first guide columns (15), and the limiting sliding blocks (16) are movably connected in the inner cavities of the guide grooves (14) and are sleeved on the outer walls of the first guide columns (15).

3. An apparatus for synthesizing a quartz tube as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the base (17) is fixedly connected with support columns (26) symmetrically around, the bottom of the transfer trolley (27) is fixedly connected with universal wheels symmetrically around, the top of the transfer trolley (27) is provided with a circular groove, and the quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly (18) is centrally provided with a magnetic fluid suspension block (19).

4. An apparatus for synthesizing a quartz tube as defined in claim 3, wherein: The back of the cutting knife (21) is fixedly connected with a knife rest (22), the left and right sides of the top of the knife rest (22) are fixedly connected with movable blocks (23) symmetrically, the back of the right side of the base (17) is fixedly connected with a linear motor (24), the linear motor (24) is electrically connected with the right movable block (23), the back of the left side of the bottom of the base (17) is fixedly connected with a second guide column (25), the left movable block (23) is sleeved on the outer wall of the second guide column (25), and the back of the bottom of the base (17) is fixedly connected with a breaking device.

5. A method of synthesizing quartz tubes according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The following operation steps are included: S1: a mother pipe for synthesizing a quartz pipe is prepared, the top of the mother pipe is placed in the inner cavity of the first pneumatic chuck (3), the first pneumatic chuck (3) is started, the top of the mother pipe is clamped, the bottom of the mother pipe enters the inner cavity of the gear ring (4), and meanwhile two second pneumatic chucks (12) are started to clamp the bottom of the mother pipe; S2: the gear ring (4) is started to clamp the mother pipe, the first servo motor (6) is started to drive the gear (5) to rotate, the gear (5) is engaged with the gear ring (4) during rotation, at this time, the first pneumatic chuck (3) can be driven to rotate, and the mother pipe is rotated, and the two second pneumatic chucks (12) at the bottom are rotated in the inner cavity of the mounting frame (11); S3: two second servo motors (13) are started to drive two lead screws (28) to rotate in the inner cavities of two drive assemblies (10), at this time, two mounting frames (11) can move up and down on the opposite side of the two drive assemblies (10), the mother pipe is stretched while rotating, during the stretching process, the pressure of the mother pipe is controlled through the quartz tube inner hole sealing assembly (18) and the first pneumatic chuck (3), and the first pneumatic chuck (3) moves towards the heating furnace (7) at a set speed during the stretching process; S4: the moving speed and pressure control of the first pneumatic chuck (3) and the second pneumatic chuck (12) are adjusted to control the outer diameter and wall thickness of the mother pipe, and meanwhile, the size of the mother pipe is detected through the furnace inner diameter gauge (8) and the furnace outer diameter gauge (9); S5: at this time, the finished quartz pipe extends to the bottom of the base (17), the linear motor (24) is started to make the movable block (23) drive the cutting knife (21) to move forward, so that the finished quartz pipe can be cut through the cutting knife (21), and the cut quartz pipe falls into the transfer trolley (27) for subsequent transfer work.

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