Universal fixture for machining engine block and clamping process
By designing a universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks, and utilizing a combination of split pads and components, the large internal combustion engine can be clamped in all directions, solving the problem of limited machining range for large engine blocks and improving machining efficiency and system flexibility.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA NAT PETROLEUM CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-24
Smart Images

Figure CN118768967B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of internal combustion engine machining technology, and in particular to a universal fixture and clamping process for machining internal combustion engine blocks. Background Technology
[0002] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance understanding of the overall background of the invention and is not necessarily to be construed as an admission or in any way implying that such information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art.
[0003] The engine block, as the basic framework of the internal combustion engine, is the most critical component, and its machining precision requirements are high. Especially for large engine blocks, the long and deep main oil passages and lubrication injector holes, along with the high-precision machining requirements, dictate that they can only be machined on large five-sided gantry machining centers equipped with jet-suction drilling machines.
[0004] Some machine tool models are limited by the size of their worktables, making it impossible to clamp large machine bodies, thus restricting the machining range and creating a bottleneck in the production capacity of large machine bodies. Large machine bodies weigh several tons, and adjusting the precision of their clamping and positioning before machining is also a major challenge. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide a universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks, thereby solving the problems of limited machining capabilities due to worktable limitations and difficulty in adjusting and positioning the engine block.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present invention provide the following technical solutions:
[0007] A universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks includes: a pad assembly, a side positioning assembly, a pushing assembly, and a clamping assembly; the pad assembly includes a first end pad, a middle pad, and a second end pad sequentially mounted on a worktable, the first end pad and the second end pad being located at opposite ends of the worktable and both protruding from the end face of the worktable; the side positioning assembly is mounted on each pad and located on a first side of the pad, and the pushing assembly is mounted on the worktable and located on a second side of the pad; the clamping assembly includes a side pressing assembly and an end pressing assembly, the side pressing assembly being disposed on both sides of the pad, and the end pressing assembly being disposed on the pad and the worktable.
[0008] Optionally, the pad assembly is installed on the T-slot of the worktable by bolts and T-nuts, and the first end pad and the second end pad are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the worktable; each pad is provided with a keyway at the bottom, and the keyway of the pad and the T-slot of the worktable are engaged by a positioning key. The bottom of the first end pad and the second end pad are detachably equipped with a stop block, and the stop blocks installed at the bottom of the first end pad and the second end pad are respectively engaged with the two end faces of the worktable.
[0009] Optionally, each pad is provided with multiple support blocks, which are detachably mounted on the pad, and the upper surfaces of all the support blocks are located on the same horizontal reference plane A.
[0010] Optionally, the side positioning assembly includes a side positioning support mounted on each pad. The side positioning support is L-shaped and includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate. The horizontal plate is detachably mounted on the pad, and the vertical plate is located on the side of the side positioning support near the side edge of the pad.
[0011] Optionally, a support plate is provided on the side of the vertical plate of the side positioning support facing the pushing assembly. The hardness of the support plate is greater than that of the side positioning support. The pad has a horizontal reference surface A. The outer surfaces of all support plates are located on the same reference surface B. The reference surface B is perpendicular to the reference surface A.
[0012] Optionally, the push assembly includes a fixed seat, a lead screw, a handle, and a push cap. The fixed seat is installed on the T-slot of the worktable, the lead screw is threadedly connected to the fixed seat, the handle is located at the end of the lead screw away from the pad, and the push cap is located at the end of the lead screw facing the pad.
[0013] Optionally, the side pressure assembly includes a pressure block pad, a U-shaped pressure plate, and a T-bolt. The pressure block pad is disposed on both sides of the pad, and the U-shaped pressure plate is installed on the top of the pressure block pad. The U-shaped pressure plate has an opening groove in the middle. The lower end of the T-bolt is installed in the T-groove of the workbench, and the upper end passes through the opening groove of the U-shaped pressure plate and is locked by a nut.
[0014] Optionally, the end-pressing assembly includes a first end-pressing assembly and a second end-pressing assembly. The first end-pressing assembly is disposed at the end of the first end pad away from the second end pad. The first end-pressing assembly includes an adjusting support rod and a movable pressure plate. The adjusting support rod is threaded onto the first end pad, and the movable pressure plate is mounted on the adjusting support rod. The movable pressure plate has a waist-shaped groove.
[0015] Optionally, the second end pressure assembly includes a pressure plate fixing plate, an elbow pressure plate, and an adjusting support rod. The second end pad has an installation groove. There are two pressure plate fixing plates. One pressure plate fixing plate is installed on the workbench and located at the end of the middle pad away from the first end pad. The other pressure plate fixing plate is embedded in the installation groove of the second end pad. The adjusting support rod is installed on the pressure plate fixing plate or the second end pad. The elbow pressure plate is installed on the adjusting support rod.
[0016] This invention also provides a clamping process using the general-purpose fixture for machining internal combustion engine bodies as described above, for machining the top and bottom surfaces of the internal combustion engine body, comprising: positioning and installing the assembled pad assembly on a worktable, wherein the first end pad and the second end pad extend beyond a predetermined length from the worktable; mounting the top surface of the engine body on the pad assembly, using the end-pressing assembly to press the grooves at both ends of the engine body to machine the bottom surface of the engine body; flipping the engine body, mounting the bottom surface of the engine body on the pad assembly, using the pushing assembly to push the engine body tightly against the side positioning assembly to complete the positioning, using the side-pressing assembly to press the observation cover holes on both sides of the engine body to machine the top surface of the engine body.
[0017] One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:
[0018] The universal fixture of this invention uses three separate pads as the bottom support of the machine body. The pushing component laterally pushes the machine body against the side positioning component to complete the positioning. Then, the side pressure component and the end pressure component are used to clamp the bottom and top of the machine body respectively, thereby completing the machining of the entire machine body. This expands the clamping size range of the gantry machining center's worktable, increases the machine tool's processing capacity, and improves the processing performance indicators of high-value machine tools within a certain range. Moreover, it can realize rapid positioning and clamping of machine bodies of various types and lengths. By only changing a few simple components, multi-process machining of multiple machine body models can be achieved, improving work efficiency and increasing the flexibility of the production system.
[0019] Advantages of additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description
[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0021] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a universal fixture of the present invention mounted on a workbench according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external protrusion of a general-purpose clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second end pad in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the jacking component according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the machining process for the bottom surface of an internal combustion engine block;
[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the machining of the top surface of an internal combustion engine block;
[0027] In the diagram: 1. First end pad; 2. Middle pad; 3. Second end pad; 4. Support block; 5. Pressure plate fixing plate; 6. Side positioning support; 7. Pushing assembly; 8. Stop block; 9. Elbow pressure plate; 10. Adjusting support rod; 11. Moving pressure plate; 12. Pressure plate pad; 13. T-bolt; 14. Eye bolt; 15. Support plate; 16. Positioning key; 17. U-shaped pressure plate; 18. Internal combustion engine body; 19. Engine body end face; 20. Camshaft hole; 21. Main shaft hole; 22. Engine body bottom surface; 23. Engine body cylinder bore surface; 24. Engine body top surface; 25. Engine body inclined side surface;
[0028] The distances or dimensions between parts have been exaggerated to show their positions; the diagram is for illustrative purposes only. Detailed Implementation
[0029] It should be noted that the following detailed description is illustrative and intended to provide further explanation of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.
[0030] To address the issues mentioned in the background art, such as the inability of certain machine tool models to clamp and process large machine bodies due to worktable size limitations, this invention provides a fixture solution that expands the machining range of machine tools, enabling comprehensive machining of multiple machine body models and multiple processes. This solves the production capacity bottleneck for large machine bodies, while simultaneously improving clamping efficiency, reducing operational difficulty, and enhancing the flexibility of the production system.
[0031] like Figure 1As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, a universal fixture for machining an internal combustion engine block 18 is proposed, comprising: a pad assembly, a side positioning assembly, a push assembly 7, and a clamping assembly.
[0032] The pad assembly includes a first end pad 1, a middle pad 2, and a second end pad 3, which are installed sequentially on the workbench. The three pads are the base of the fixture and are made of separate steel plates, which can reduce weight and facilitate the installation, disassembly, and adjustment of the fixture.
[0033] The first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3 are located at opposite ends of the worktable, and both protrude from the end face of the worktable; the side positioning assembly is mounted on each pad and is located on the first side of the pad (i.e., Figure 1 The push assembly 7 is mounted on the worktable and located on the second side of the pad (i.e., on the left side). Figure 1 (Right side of the middle); the clamping assembly includes a side clamping assembly and an end clamping assembly. The side clamping assembly is disposed on both sides of the pad, and the end clamping assembly is disposed on the pad and the worktable.
[0034] In use, first, the assembled pad assembly is positioned and installed on the workbench, with the first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3 extending a predetermined length beyond the workbench. Then, the top surface 24 of the machine body is installed on the pad assembly, and the end pressing assembly is used to press the grooves at both ends of the machine body to process the bottom surface 22 of the machine body. Finally, the machine body is flipped over, and the bottom surface 22 of the machine body is installed on the pad assembly. The push assembly 7 is used to push the machine body tightly against the side positioning assembly to complete the positioning. The side pressing assembly is used to press the observation cover holes on both sides of the machine body to process the top surface 24 of the machine body.
[0035] The universal fixture of this invention uses three separate pads as the bottom support of the machine body. The push assembly 7 laterally pushes the machine body against the side positioning assembly to complete the positioning. Then, the side pressure assembly and end pressure assembly are used to clamp the bottom and top of the machine body, thereby completing the machining of the entire machine body. This expands the clamping size range of the gantry machining center's worktable, increases the machine tool's processing capacity, and improves the processing performance indicators of high-value machine tools within a certain range. Moreover, it can achieve rapid positioning and clamping of machine bodies of various types and lengths. By simply changing some components, multi-process machining of multiple machine body models can be achieved, improving work efficiency and increasing the flexibility of the production system.
[0036] The pad assembly is mounted on the T-slot of the worktable using bolts and T-nuts. The first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3 are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the worktable. Each pad has a keyway at its bottom, and the keyway of the pad and the T-slot of the worktable are engaged by a positioning key 16. A stop block 8 is detachably mounted on the bottom of the first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3, and the stop blocks 8 are respectively engaged with the two end faces of the worktable. Furthermore, each pad has multiple support blocks, which are detachably mounted on the pad. The upper surfaces of all the support blocks are located on the same horizontal reference plane A.
[0037] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, each pad has a keyway and threaded hole at its bottom, allowing for accurate positioning via the locating key 16 and stop 8. It is then fixed to the machine tool worktable with screws and T-nuts. The two end pads extend beyond the machine tool worktable by a certain length to extend its working dimension. The stop 8 is installed on the lower surface of the pad and fixed with two screws, providing coarse positioning so that the first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3 extend 200mm beyond both sides of the machine tool worktable, achieving symmetrical balance. Since the total clamping length is fixed, the stop 8 prevents one side from extending too much and the other too little, facilitating installation. The upper surfaces of the three pads are on the same horizontal plane, with appropriate threaded holes and pin holes provided as needed for placing and fixing other auxiliary parts. Eye bolts 14 are also installed on the pads. Support blocks 4 are placed on the upper surfaces of the three pads, with all support blocks 4 on the same horizontal plane A, used for positioning the top surface 24 or bottom surface of the machine body.
[0038] The side positioning assembly includes a side positioning support 6 mounted on each pad. The side positioning support 6 is L-shaped and includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate. The horizontal plate is detachably mounted on the pad, and the vertical plate is located on the side of the side positioning support 6 closest to the pad. Furthermore, a support plate 15 is provided on the side of the vertical plate of the side positioning support 6 facing the pushing assembly 7. The hardness of the support plate 15 is greater than the hardness of the side positioning support 6. The outer surfaces of all support plates 15 are located on the same reference plane B, which is perpendicular to the reference plane A.
[0039] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, three side positioning supports 6 are fixed to the pad plate by screws and cylindrical pins. A support plate 15 is fixed to the upper inner vertical surface of each side positioning support 6 by screws. The right side planes of the three support plates 15 are on the same vertical plane B. The perpendicularity of plane B to plane A and the parallelism to the center line CD of the keyway have high precision requirements. Surface B is used for positioning the bottom side of the machine body.
[0040] Because the side positioning support 6 requires pin holes during installation, its hardness cannot be too high, making it not wear-resistant. If the positioning surface is directly used, it will wear out quickly, have a short lifespan, and be difficult to adjust and repair. By adding a support plate 15 with higher hardness, it becomes more wear-resistant and has a longer lifespan. After wear, it can be removed and ground to restore accuracy. At the same time, a thin copper plate can be placed between the support plate 15 and the side positioning support 6 to adjust accuracy.
[0041] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 As shown, the push assembly 7 includes a fixed base, a lead screw, a handle, and a push cap. The fixed base is installed on the T-slot of the worktable. The lead screw is threadedly connected to the fixed base. The handle is located at the end of the lead screw away from the pad, and the push cap is located at the end of the lead screw facing the pad. The two push assemblies 7 are fixed to the machine tool worktable by screws and T-nuts. By rotating the handle, the push cap pushes the machine body so that its bottom side is tightly against the B positioning surface to eliminate gaps and ensure accurate positioning.
[0042] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the side pressure assembly includes a pressure block pad, a U-shaped pressure plate 17, and a T-bolt 13. The pressure block pad is disposed on both sides of the pad. The U-shaped pressure plate 17 is installed on the top of the pressure block pad and has an opening groove in the middle. The lower end of the T-bolt 13 is installed in the T-groove of the workbench, and the upper end passes through the opening groove of the U-shaped pressure plate 17 and is locked by a nut, clamping from both sides of the machine body.
[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, the end-pressing assembly includes a first end-pressing assembly and a second end-pressing assembly. The first end-pressing assembly and the second end-pressing assembly are respectively pressed on both ends of the machine body. There is one set of the first end-pressing assembly and three sets of the second end-pressing assembly. One set of the first end-pressing assembly and the three sets of end-pressing assemblies are respectively used to form three combinations.
[0044] The first end pressure assembly is disposed on the first end pad 1 at the end away from the second end pad 3. The first end pressure assembly includes an adjusting support rod and a movable pressure plate 11. The adjusting support rod is threaded on the first end pad 1, and the movable pressure plate 11 is mounted on the adjusting support rod. The movable pressure plate 11 has a waist-shaped groove for adjusting the position of the movable pressure plate 11.
[0045] Each set of second end pressure components includes an elbow pressure plate 9 and an adjusting support rod. One set of second end pressure components is installed on the second end pad 3, and the other two sets of second end pressure components are installed on the pressure plate fixing plate 5.
[0046] The second end pad 3 has an installation groove. There are two pressure plate fixing plates 5. One pressure plate fixing plate 5 is installed on the workbench and located at the end of the middle pad 2 away from the first end pad 1. The other pressure plate fixing plate 5 is embedded in the installation groove of the second end pad 3. The adjusting support rod is installed on the pressure plate fixing plate 5 or the second end pad 3. The elbow pressure plate 9 is installed on the adjusting support rod.
[0047] Two pressure plate fixing plates 5 are fixed to the machine tool worktable by screws and T-nuts. The upper surface of the pressure plate fixing plate 5 is provided with threaded holes. The pressure plate fixing plate 5 is embedded in the mounting groove of the second end pad 3, and there is a 5mm gap between the two so that they do not contact each other.
[0048] Two movable pressure plates 11 and six bent pressure plates 9 are divided into four groups to be fitted with bolts and adjusting support rods 10. They are placed on two end pads and two pressure plate fixing plates 5. They are used to press the machine body at both ends when machining the bottom surface, main shaft hole 21 and camshaft hole 20 of various models and lengths.
[0049] Six sets of side pressure components, consisting of U-shaped pressure plates 17, pressure plate pads 12, bolts, nuts, and washers, are placed on the machine tool worktable on both sides of the pad. When processing the top surface 24 of the machine body, the cover holes on both sides of the machine body are observed to press the machine body tightly.
[0050] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the internal combustion engine block 18 includes a block end face 19, a camshaft hole 20, a main shaft hole 21, a block bottom face 22, a block cylinder bore face 23, a block top face 24, and a block inclined side face 25. The clamping process of the aforementioned general-purpose machining fixture includes:
[0051] First, the three assembled pads are positioned and installed on the worktable of the gantry machining center using positioning key 16 and stop block 8. The first end pad 1 and the second end pad 3 extend a certain length out of the machine tool worktable and are fixed to the worktable with screws and T-nuts.
[0052] Then the internal combustion engine block 18 is placed on the fixture, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the top surface 24 of the machine body is positioned on the horizontal plane A formed by the upper planes of each support block 4. The position of the machine body in the Y-axis direction in the machine tool coordinate system is adjusted, and then the two end movable pressure plates 11 are used to press one end groove of the machine body, and the two bent pressure plates 9 in appropriate positions are used to press the other end groove of the machine body. The bottom surface machining, spindle hole 21 machining, and camshaft hole 20 machining of the machine body are then started.
[0053] After processing is complete, flip the machine over, as follows: Figure 6As shown, the bottom surface 22 of the engine body is positioned on the plane A of the support block 4. Then, the handle of the push assembly 7 is rotated to push the internal combustion engine body 18 from one side, so that the other side of the internal combustion engine body 18 is in close contact with the vertical surface B of the support plate 15 on the three side positioning supports 6 to complete the positioning. The side pressing assembly composed of parts such as U-shaped pressure plates 17 on both sides of the engine body is used to press the engine body tightly through the observation cover holes on both sides of the engine body. Then, the two end faces, cylinder bore faces, inclined observation covers, top observation covers and other parts of the engine body are comprehensively machined.
[0054] The universal fixture and machining process for machining the top and bottom surfaces of the large internal combustion engine block 18 of this invention can expand the clamping size range of the gantry machining center's worktable, increase the machine tool's machining capabilities, and realize comprehensive machining of multiple types of engine blocks and multiple processes. It can also be extended to the machining of large parts with similar structures on machine tools with limited dimensions.
[0055] While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort based on the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks, characterized in that, include: Pad assembly, side positioning assembly, push assembly, and clamping assembly; The pad assembly includes a first end pad, a middle pad, and a second end pad that are sequentially installed on the workbench. The first end pad and the second end pad are located at opposite ends of the workbench and both extend beyond the end face of the workbench. The side positioning assembly is mounted on each pad and located on the first side of the pad, and the push assembly is mounted on the worktable and located on the second side of the pad; The side positioning assembly includes a side positioning support mounted on each pad, the side positioning support being L-shaped; the side positioning support includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate, the horizontal plate being detachably mounted on the pad, and the vertical plate being located on the side of the side positioning support near the side edge of the pad; The side positioning support has a support plate on the side facing the push assembly. The hardness of the support plate is greater than that of the side positioning support. The pad has a horizontal reference surface A. The outer surfaces of all support plates are located on the same reference surface B. The reference surface B is perpendicular to the reference surface A. The clamping assembly includes a side clamping assembly and an end clamping assembly. The side clamping assembly is disposed on both sides of the pad, and the end clamping assembly is disposed on the pad and the worktable. Each pad is provided with multiple support blocks, which are detachably installed on the pad. The upper surfaces of all the support blocks are located on the same horizontal reference plane A.
2. The universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pad assembly is installed on the T-slot of the worktable by bolts and T-nuts. The first end pad and the second end pad are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the worktable. Each pad has a keyway at its bottom. The keyway of the pad and the T-slot of the worktable are engaged by a positioning key. The bottom of the first end pad and the second end pad are detachably equipped with a stop block. The stop blocks installed at the bottom of the first end pad and the second end pad are respectively engaged with the two end faces of the worktable.
3. The universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The push assembly includes a fixed base, a lead screw, a handle, and a push cap. The fixed base is installed on the T-slot of the worktable. The lead screw is threadedly connected to the fixed base. The handle is located at the end of the lead screw away from the pad. The push cap is located at the end of the lead screw facing the pad.
4. The universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side pressure assembly includes a pressure block pad, a U-shaped pressure plate, and a T-bolt. The pressure block pad is disposed on both sides of the pad, and the U-shaped pressure plate is installed on the top of the pressure block pad. The U-shaped pressure plate has an opening groove in the middle. The lower end of the T-bolt is installed in the T-groove of the workbench, and the upper end passes through the opening groove of the U-shaped pressure plate and is locked by a nut.
5. The universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end-pressing assembly includes a first end-pressing assembly and a second end-pressing assembly. The first end-pressing assembly is disposed at the end of the first end pad away from the second end pad. The first end-pressing assembly includes an adjusting support rod and a movable pressure plate. The adjusting support rod is threaded onto the first end pad, and the movable pressure plate is mounted on the adjusting support rod. The movable pressure plate has a waist-shaped groove.
6. The universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The second end pressure assembly includes a pressure plate fixing plate, an elbow pressure plate, and an adjusting support rod. The second end pad has an installation groove. There are two pressure plate fixing plates. One pressure plate fixing plate is installed on the workbench and located at the end of the middle pad away from the first end pad. The other pressure plate fixing plate is embedded in the installation groove of the second end pad. The adjusting support rod is installed on the pressure plate fixing plate or the second end pad. The elbow pressure plate is installed on the adjusting support rod.
7. A clamping process using a universal fixture for machining internal combustion engine blocks as described in any one of claims 1-6, for machining the top and bottom surfaces of an internal combustion engine block, characterized in that, include: The assembled pad assembly is positioned and installed on the workbench, wherein the first end pad and the second end pad extend beyond the workbench by a predetermined length. The top surface of the machine body is mounted on the pad assembly, and the grooves at both ends of the machine body are pressed by the end pressure assembly to process the bottom surface of the machine body; Flip the machine body over and mount the bottom of the machine body onto the pad assembly. Use the push assembly to push the machine body tightly against the side positioning assembly to complete the positioning. Use the side pressing assembly to press the observation cover holes on both sides of the machine body and process the top surface of the machine body.