A flexible holding device for holding a shell plate and a method of holding a shell plate

Abstract

The application discloses a flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate, comprising a base and two vertical columns erected on the base, a clamping channel for the vertical passing of the shell plate is arranged between the two vertical columns, flexible clamping units are arranged on the inner side surfaces of the vertical columns on the two sides of the clamping channel, the flexible clamping unit comprises a telescopic rod mechanism with a telescopic rod being perpendicular to the inner side surface of the vertical column, and a rotating seat is fixed to the inner side surface of the vertical column. The application further provides a shell plate holding method. The device provided by the application can effectively inhibit the vibration of the shell plate generated in the machining process, thereby improving the welding quality of large workpieces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of large ship processing technology, and particularly relates to a flexible holding device and a method for holding shell plates. Background Technology

[0002] The main load-bearing structures of modern ships, heavy-duty vehicles, and other large equipment are typically constructed from welded, thick steel shell plates. In traditional welding processes, the shell plates are usually welded onto a fixed jig before welding. This process generates significant heat and stress. Because the shell plates are welded to the jig, this stress cannot be released. When the shell plates are removed from the jig, the residual stress releases, causing deformation and potentially cracks in the welded areas, rendering the product unusable.

[0003] If a flexible clamping fixture is designed that can both adjust the position, position, and clamp the thick steel shell plate during welding, and release the stress generated during welding, it can avoid stress concentration, deformation, and cracks after removal from the workpiece caused by traditional processes, thereby improving welding quality. However, the large volume and mass of the thick steel shell plate require stable and reliable holding, which poses a significant challenge to the structural design of the fixture and the precise position adjustment of the workpiece. Currently, the fixing and clamping of thick steel shell plates welded in China is primarily done by welding to a fixed jig, a process method with significant shortcomings.

[0004] Patent document CN212600272U discloses a novel large workpiece fixing fixture, which includes a positioning block (12), a slide groove (9), a fixture upper frame (14), and a tripod (16). The positioning block (12) is threaded with fastening screws (3) at both ends. A lifting rod (2) is installed on the fastening screws (3) through holes. A limit block (1) is installed at the top of the lifting rod (2), and a slider (5) is installed at the lower end of the lifting rod (2). The lifting rod (2) is fitted with fastening screws (3). The slide groove (9) is fitted with the slider (5). The right side of the slide groove (9) A threaded rod (8) is installed, with a threaded groove (9) in the middle. The workpiece (15) is fixed on both sides by the threaded rod (8). The front end of the fixture frame (14) is connected to a rear pressure rod (19) by a thread. A second handle (13) is installed at the top of the rear pressure rod (19). A fixture rear column (23) is installed at the bottom of the fixture frame (14). A rear fixture base (21) is installed at the top of the fixture rear column (23). A front storage box (17) is installed on the rear side of the tripod (16). A side storage box (22) is connected to the rear side of the front storage box (17). This device positions the workpiece by multiple pressure rods, but there is a problem of stress changes caused by welding heat during the processing.

[0005] Patent document CN219772193U discloses a fully automatic heat treatment device for large workpieces, comprising a base, a cylinder, a cage, a burner, and a top-fixing assembly. The cylinder is horizontally mounted on the base, and the cage is rotatably and concentrically mounted within the cylinder. The burner is mounted on the base and located on both sides of the cylinder, with its outlet extending into the cylinder and pointing towards the cage. Rollers are spaced apart at the bottom of the cage's inner cavity, and the workpiece is mounted on the rollers. The top-fixing assembly is located inside the cage and positioned on both sides and above the workpiece. The top-fixing assembly includes a support, a lead screw, and a top block. A nut pointing towards the workpiece is mounted on the support, the lead screw is housed within the nut, and the top block is located at the front end of the lead screw and contacts the workpiece. This device applies pressure to fix the workpiece using a multi-directional push rod, ensuring no displacement during the heat treatment process. However, it fails to consider the stress changes that may occur during workpiece heating. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible holding device and a shell plate holding method for fixing shell plates. This device can effectively suppress the vibration generated by the shell plate during processing, thereby improving the welding quality of large workpieces.

[0007] To achieve the first objective of this invention, a flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate is provided, comprising a base and two columns erected on the base. A clamping channel for the shell plate to pass vertically through is provided between the two columns. Flexible clamping units are provided on the inner sides of the columns on both sides of the clamping channel. Each flexible clamping unit includes a telescopic rod mechanism with a telescopic rod perpendicular to the inner side of the column, and a rotating seat fixed to the inner side of the column. The rotating seat is hinged to a first connecting rod. The first connecting rod and the telescopic rod are connected by a second connecting rod to form a four-bar linkage. One swing end of the first connecting rod is hinged to one end of the second connecting rod through a positioning roller. The other end of the second connecting rod is hinged to the extended end of the telescopic rod. The extended end of the telescopic rod is provided with an attitude-adjusting ball head and a ball socket seat used in conjunction with the attitude-adjusting ball head. The bottom surface of the ball socket seat and the circumferential surface of the positioning roller are both in contact with the side surface of the shell plate.

[0008] This invention uses a four-bar linkage consisting of a first link, a second link, and a telescopic rod to adaptively fix and hold the workpiece, while using the telescopic rod mechanism to adjust the extension of the telescopic rod to release thermal deformation and stress during the shell welding process.

[0009] Specifically, there are multiple flexible clamping units, which are arranged at equal intervals along the vertical direction of the column to provide a flexible fixing effect.

[0010] Specifically, the telescopic rod mechanism includes a first lead screw embedded in the column as a telescopic rod, and a servo motor that provides power for the self-rotation of the first lead screw.

[0011] Specifically, the bottom surface of the ball socket that contacts the shell plate is provided with an anti-slip sleeve to prevent slippage when clamping the shell plate.

[0012] Specifically, the bottom surface of the ball socket is equipped with a pressure sensor, which adjusts the extension and retraction of the telescopic rod by pressure changes to release thermal deformation and stress during the shell welding process.

[0013] Specifically, the rotating seat includes a bracket fixed to the inner side of the column, a flipping platform disposed on the bracket with the rotation axis parallel to the inner side of the column, and the flipping platform is provided with a mounting hole for the first connecting rod to pass through and an adjusting nut for adjusting the length ratio of the first connecting rod on both sides of the mounting hole.

[0014] Specifically, the adjusting nut is an external hexagonal nut, which reduces the turning radius when adjusting the nut, thereby reducing the difficulty of the adjustment process.

[0015] To achieve the second objective of this invention, a shell plate holding method is provided, which is implemented by the aforementioned flexible holding device for fixing the shell plate, comprising:

[0016] Adjust the relative position of the flexible holding device on the processing platform according to the processing dimensions of the shell plate;

[0017] The shell plate is transferred to the processing platform using a crane, and then lowered into place by a flexible holding device.

[0018] By adjusting the adjusting nut, the positioning roller is pressed tightly against the side of the shell plate, thus completing the initial fixation;

[0019] The ball socket is pressed tightly against the side of the shell plate by pushing the telescopic rod, and the output power of the servo motor is adjusted according to the pressure data returned by the pressure sensor to complete the secondary fixing.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] The workpiece is adaptively fixed and held by a four-bar linkage consisting of a first link, a second link, and a telescopic link, thereby effectively and stably holding the entire shell plate during the sewing process. The extension of the telescopic link is adjusted by the telescopic link mechanism to achieve the shell plate position and sewing accuracy, while suppressing shell plate processing vibration and releasing welding stress to control welding deformation. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the flexible holding device provided in this embodiment;

[0023] Figure 2 Provided for this embodiment Figure 1Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the diagram;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible clamping unit provided in this embodiment;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ball-and-socket seat provided in this embodiment;

[0026] In the diagram, 1 is the rotating seat; 2 is the first connecting rod; 3 is the positioning roller; 4 is the second connecting rod; 5 is the ball socket; 6 is the telescopic rod; 7 is the servo motor; 8 is the rotating shaft; 9 is the shell plate; and 10 is the column. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1 and 2 The diagram shows a working schematic of a flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate provided in this embodiment. It includes a base and two columns 10 erected on the base. A clamping channel for the shell plate 9 to pass vertically is provided between the two columns 10. Flexible clamping units are provided on the inner sides of the columns on both sides of the clamping channel. There are multiple flexible clamping units, which are arranged at equal intervals along the vertical direction of the columns 9, so as to uniformly hold the shell plate 9 and improve the stability of the holding.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, this is a schematic diagram of the flexible clamping unit provided in this embodiment. The flexible clamping unit includes a telescopic rod mechanism with a telescopic rod 6 perpendicular to the inner side of the column, and a rotating seat 1 fixed to the inner side of the column. The rotating seat 1 is hinged to a first connecting rod 2. The first connecting rod 2 and the telescopic rod 6 are connected by a second connecting rod 4 to form a four-bar linkage structure. One swing end of the first connecting rod 2 is hinged to one end of the second connecting rod 4 through a positioning roller 3. The other end of the second connecting rod 4 is hinged to the extended end of the telescopic rod 6. The extended end of the telescopic rod 6 is provided with an attitude adjustment ball head and a ball socket seat 5 used in conjunction with the attitude adjustment ball head.

[0030] In addition, the telescopic rod mechanism includes a first lead screw embedded in the column as the telescopic rod 6, and a servo motor 7 that provides power for the self-rotation of the first lead screw, so that the telescopic rod 6, driven by the servo motor 7, applies a corresponding thrust to achieve precise alignment between the shell plates. At the same time, using the first lead screw as the telescopic rod 6 can better control its telescopic length.

[0031] The rotating base 1 includes a bracket fixed to the inner side of the column, a flipping platform set on the bracket with the rotating shaft 8 parallel to the inner side of the column, and the flipping platform is provided with a mounting hole for the first connecting rod to pass through and an adjusting nut for adjusting the length ratio of the first connecting rod 2 on both sides of the mounting hole.

[0032] The adjusting nut is rotated manually to adjust the length of the lead screw extension as needed, and can also be rotated around the rotating shaft 8 to adjust the angle, so that the positioning roller 3 connected to it presses against the shell plate 9.

[0033] like Figure 4 As shown, the bottom surface of the ball socket 5 and the circumferential surface of the positioning roller are in contact with the side of the shell plate 9. The direction of the applied pressure can be changed by adjusting the structure of the ball head and the ball socket 5 to adapt to different curvatures of the shell plate 9, and can closely fit the shell plate 9 during the pushing stroke of the telescopic rod 6.

[0034] The specific working process of the flexible holding device is as follows: The shell plate is hoisted by a special lifting tool. First, the flexible holding device is initialized by retracting the inner and outer telescopic rods to provide a passage for the shell plate. The servo motor of the inner column drives the telescopic rod to move to the theoretical position. The servo motor of the inner column drives the telescopic rod to move inward until the ball socket abuts against the shell plate. When the load or pressure of the ball socket suddenly increases, the current of the servo motor is controlled until the requirements for fixing are met, and the motor stops working. The shell plate is pressed by the inner and outer column holding units. Then, the adjusting nut of the rotating seat is manually tightened until the positioning roller presses the shell plate, and the shell plate is manually fine-tuned. When it is necessary to adjust the holding degree of the shell plate, the entire flexible holding device can control the position of the shell plate, and the outer column can perform force / position control.

[0035] In summary, the device provided by this invention can effectively and stably hold the entire shell plate during the system's seam fitting process, while simultaneously fine-tuning the shell plate's position and seam fitting accuracy, suppressing shell plate processing vibration, releasing welding stress, and controlling welding deformation. During the operation of the holding unit, the push rod can achieve a stroke of 200mm, with positioning accuracy and repeatability reaching 0.4mm and 0.2mm respectively, perfectly meeting the system's shell plate seam fitting requirements.

[0036] In addition, during the precise alignment of the two shell plates, the thrust applied by the telescopic rod is controlled by the servo motor; the vibration phenomenon is mainly eliminated by multi-point contact pressing of the shell plate by the positioning rollers and ball sockets to fix it, thereby suppressing the vibration phenomenon of the shell plate during processing; the servo motor can also effectively suppress the shell plate vibration caused by the entire system operation; the deformation caused by welding can also be adjusted by the servo motor.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front," and "rear" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative steps, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0038] Of course, the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made to the structure, features and principles described in the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0039] Finally, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely specific implementations of the present invention, used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit it. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can still modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications, changes, or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be covered 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 flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate, characterized in that, The device includes a base and two uprights on the base. A clamping channel for the vertical passage of the shell plate is provided between the two uprights. Flexible clamping units are provided on the inner surfaces of the uprights on both sides of the clamping channel. Each flexible clamping unit includes a telescopic rod mechanism with a telescopic rod perpendicular to the inner surface of the upright, and a rotating seat fixed to the inner surface of the upright. The rotating seat is hinged to a first connecting rod. The first connecting rod and the telescopic rod are connected by a second connecting rod to form a four-bar linkage. One swinging end of the first connecting rod is hinged to one end of the second connecting rod via a positioning roller. The other end is hinged to the extended end of the telescopic rod. The extended end of the telescopic rod is provided with an attitude-adjusting ball head and a ball socket seat used in conjunction with the attitude-adjusting ball head. The bottom surface of the ball socket seat and the circumferential surface of the positioning roller are in contact with the side surface of the shell plate. The rotating seat includes a bracket fixed to the inner side of the column, and a flipping platform set on the bracket with the rotation axis parallel to the inner side of the column. The flipping platform is provided with a mounting hole for the first connecting rod to pass through and an adjusting nut for adjusting the length ratio of the first connecting rod on both sides of the mounting hole. The adjusting nut is an external hexagonal nut.

2. The flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple flexible clamping units, which are arranged at equal intervals along the vertical direction of the column.

3. The flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic rod mechanism includes a first lead screw embedded in the column as a telescopic rod, and a servo motor that provides power for the self-rotation of the first lead screw.

4. The flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the ball socket that contacts the shell plate is provided with an anti-slip sleeve.

5. The flexible holding device for fixing a shell plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, A pressure sensor is provided on the bottom surface of the ball socket.

6. A method for holding a shell plate, characterized in that, This is achieved through the flexible holding device for fixing the shell plate as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: Adjust the relative position of the flexible holding device on the processing platform according to the processing dimensions of the shell plate; The shell plate is transferred to the processing platform using a crane, and then lowered into place by a flexible holding device. By adjusting the adjusting nut, the positioning roller is pressed tightly against the side of the shell plate, thus completing the initial fixation; The ball socket is pressed tightly against the side of the shell plate by pushing the telescopic rod, and the output power of the servo motor is adjusted according to the pressure data returned by the pressure sensor to complete the secondary fixing.

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