A molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of automatic laying of composite blade skins, and specifically relates to a composite device for molding and wrinkle elimination. It includes a central vacuum suction cup, a side vacuum suction cup, a side suction cup driving cylinder, a guide shaft, an electric cylinder, a cam assembly, a molding die, a side wrinkle elimination plate, a fixing seat, a plate extension cylinder, a plate rotation cylinder, etc. The central vacuum suction cup and the side vacuum suction cup are distributed on the same plane, and are used to vacuum absorb fabric prepreg sheets. The electric cylinder drives the symmetrically distributed cam assemblies to drive the molding die to symmetrically expand and contract, thereby realizing the laying and compaction of the fabric prepreg sheets. The side wrinkle elimination assemblies distributed on both sides of the mold are driven by the plate extension cylinder and the plate rotation cylinder to realize the expansion and rotation of the side wrinkle elimination plate. Adjusting the pressure of the side wrinkle elimination plate combined with the lifting and lowering of the molding die can realize the molding and preforming of the fabric prepreg sheets and eliminate the wrinkles generated during the laying process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of automatic laying of composite material blade skins, and in particular relates to a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device. Background Art

[0002] Composite blade skins are made of multiple layers of prepreg. Temperature, pressure, and other factors during the placement process can easily lead to defects such as fiber buckling and wrinkling, which can affect the blade's molding accuracy and fatigue life. The root of the skin mold, in particular, has a large concave surface with limited operating space, making it difficult for conventional automated placement heads to access and prone to placement defects. Prepregs are difficult to fit and compact, and are prone to wrinkling and fiber buckling. Therefore, the design and manufacture of blade skins both domestically and internationally typically utilizes manual placement of fabric prepreg to accommodate the complex curvature of the blade. Currently, automated placement technology has not been used on helicopter blade skins abroad.

[0003] Currently, composite blade skins are typically laid up manually, with fabric prepreg placed on a mold with a large curvature variation. This limits the use of automated fiber placement equipment. Because blades often reach lengths exceeding 7 meters, manual layup requires the collaboration of multiple people over a long period of time. During mass production, manual layup errors, influenced by fatigue and skill levels, can quickly accumulate, leading to out-of-tolerance layups or incomplete compaction between layers. These defects can ultimately reappear within the cured part, severely weakening the blade's strength. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (1) Technical issues to be resolved

[0005] The present invention mainly addresses the above problems and proposes a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device, the purpose of which is to solve the technical problems of debonding and wrinkling easily occurring during the laying process of the root skin of the composite material blade in the existing technology, low manual laying efficiency and poor consistency.

[0006] (2) Technical solution

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a composite molding and wrinkle removal device, which includes: a suction cup assembly, an electric cylinder, a molding die, a side wrinkle removal assembly, a mounting plate and a cam assembly, wherein:

[0008] The suction cup assembly includes a central vacuum suction cup, which is distributed at multiple points and mounted on a slide rail having a spring buffer support rod, and the spring buffer support rod is fixed to the mounting plate;

[0009] The electric cylinder is mounted on the mounting plate, and its output end is connected to the cam assembly;

[0010] The cam assembly includes a cam groove block, a left cam, and a right cam. The two side walls of the cam groove block are respectively provided with a first cam groove and a second cam groove arranged obliquely upward from the bottom. The first cam groove and the second cam groove are arranged in a back-to-back mirror image on the cam groove block, and the upward inclination direction of the first cam groove is arranged in a mirror image with the upward inclination direction of the second cam groove. The cam groove block is connected to the output end of the electric cylinder, the left cam is arranged on the first cam groove, and the right cam is arranged on the second cam groove.

[0011] The molding die is composed of a left die and a right die, the left cam is mounted on the left die, the right cam is mounted on the right die, and the left die and the right die are respectively slidably connected to the lower end of the mounting plate;

[0012] The side de-pleating assembly includes a side de-pleating pressure plate, a fixed seat, a pressure plate telescopic cylinder and a pressure plate rotating cylinder; the pressure plate telescopic cylinder is installed on the skin mold base, the output end of the pressure plate telescopic cylinder is connected to the fixed seat, the pressure plate rotating cylinder is installed on the fixed seat, the side de-pleating pressure plate is hinged to the fixed seat, the output end of the pressure plate rotating cylinder is inclined toward the side de-pleating pressure plate, and the end of the output end is hinged to the side de-pleating pressure plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the suction cup assembly also includes a side vacuum suction cup and a side suction cup cylinder, the side suction cup cylinder is installed on the mounting plate, the side vacuum suction cup is located at the lower end of the mounting plate, and is fixedly connected to the output end of the side suction cup cylinder, and the side vacuum suction cup and the side suction cup cylinder are located on the outside of the middle vacuum suction cup.

[0014] Furthermore, the side vacuum suction cups are installed in groups and are installed on the mounting plate through guide shafts.

[0015] Furthermore, the side vacuum suction cups and the middle vacuum suction cup are on the same horizontal plane.

[0016] Furthermore, the side suction cup cylinder is controlled by a pneumatic proportional valve.

[0017] Furthermore, when taking the material, the position of the middlemost group of suction cups of the central vacuum suction cup coincides with the reference line of the material sheet.

[0018] Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the left mold and the right mold are covered with a layer of soft film material.

[0019] Furthermore, the number of the electric cylinders and the cam assemblies is two, and they are arranged symmetrically around the center of the mounting plate, and the two electric cylinders synchronously control the two cam assemblies.

[0020] Furthermore, before the molding die moves downward, the lower surface of the molding die maintains a distance of a sheet thickness from the upper surface of the skin die.

[0021] (3) Beneficial effects

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a composite device for molded wrinkle elimination, which significantly improves the automatic laying process of the root skin of the composite blade. Specifically, the device is combined with a suction cup assembly that can accurately grasp and position the pre-cut composite material sheets to ensure that the sheets do not slide or deform during the movement and laying process. During the laying process, the side wrinkle elimination plate is driven by a plate telescopic cylinder and a plate rotary cylinder. The pressure and angle can be adjusted as needed to fit closely to the complex curved surface of the blade skin and effectively eliminate wrinkles on the edge of the sheet. In addition, the cam assembly driven by the electric cylinder controls the symmetrical displacement of the molding die to ensure that the sheet is evenly compacted and accurately positioned in high curvature areas. This integrated method not only improves the laying quality, but also greatly improves production efficiency and consistency, thereby solving the problems of debonding, wrinkling, etc. faced by traditional manual laying at the root of the blade. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device disclosed in this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a bottom view of a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device disclosed in this application.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a side view of the material removal of a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device disclosed in this application.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a side view of the material discharge of a molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device disclosed in this application.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a molded side view of a molded de-wrinkling composite device disclosed in this application.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a slightly lifted structure of a side wrinkle-eliminating pressure plate disclosed in this application.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of a side wrinkle-removing pressure plate pressing a sheet disclosed in this application.

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of a molding die disclosed in this application before being separated.

[0031] Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of a molding die separation process disclosed in this application.

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic structural diagram of a cam slot block disclosed in this application.

[0033] Figure 11 This is a schematic structural diagram of a molding die disclosed in this application for compacting a sheet onto the inner surface of a skin mold.

[0034] The reference numerals shown in the figure are: 1. Central vacuum suction cup; 2. Side vacuum suction cup; 3. Side suction cup cylinder; 4. Guide shaft; 5. Electric cylinder; 6. Molding mold; 7. Side de-wrinkling assembly; 8. Mounting plate; 9. Cam assembly; 10. Sheet; 11. Skin mold; 6-1. Left mold; 6-2. Right mold; 7-1. Side de-wrinkling pressure plate; 7-2. Fixed seat; 7-3. Pressure plate telescopic cylinder; 7-4. Pressure plate rotating cylinder; 9-1. Cam slot block; 9-2. Left cam; 901. First cam slot; 902. Second cam slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, clearly and completely describing the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" another component, it may be directly on the other component or there may also be a central component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it may be directly connected to the other component or there may also be a central component. When a component is considered to be "set on" another component, it may be directly set on the other component or there may also be a central component. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms used in this specification of the present invention are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 11 The composite molding and wrinkle-eliminating device shown includes a suction cup assembly, an electric cylinder 5, a molding die 6, a side wrinkle-eliminating assembly 7, a mounting plate 8 and a cam assembly 9.

[0039] In this composite molded de-wrinkling device, the suction cup assembly includes a central vacuum cup 1, evenly distributed on a slide rail (not shown) equipped with spring-loaded buffer struts. This design allows the central vacuum cup 1 to adapt to variations in the thickness of the sheet 10 during the pick-up and placement processes. The spring-loaded buffer struts also reduce vibration during operation, protecting the complex pre-cut material from damage. These spring-loaded buffer struts are secured to a mounting plate 8, ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire assembly.

[0040] The electric cylinder 5 is installed on the mounting plate 8 as a power source and drives the cam assembly 9 through its output end. Figures 8-10 As shown, the cam assembly 9 consists of a cam slot block 9-1 and two left and right cams. The design of the cam slot block 9-1 allows the left cam 9-2 and the right cam (not shown) to tilt and move in opposite directions in their respective cam slots; specifically, the two side walls of the cam slot block 9-1 are respectively provided with a first cam slot 901 and a second cam slot 902 that are tilted upward from the bottom. The first cam slot 901 and the second cam slot 902 are mirror-arranged back to back on the cam slot block 9-1, and the upward tilt direction of the first cam slot 901 is mirror-arranged with the upward tilt direction of the second cam slot 902, one tilted to the left and the other tilted to the right. The cam slot block 9-1 is connected to the output end of the electric cylinder 5, and the left cam 9-2 is arranged on the first cam slot 901, and the right cam is arranged on the second cam slot 902; this symmetrical layout and movement mode enable the mold to open and close smoothly, providing uniform pressure distribution.

[0041] like Figure 11 As shown, the molding die 6 consists of two parts, a left die 6-1 and a right die 6-2, which are slidably connected to the lower end of the mounting plate 8 via a left cam 9-2 and a right cam, and can slide relative to the mounting plate 8. The left die 6-1 and the right die 6-2 are allowed to move precisely and symmetrically with the cams, allowing the composite material sheet 10 to be accurately and evenly laid and compacted within the skin mold 6, greatly improving the placement quality. Specifically, the left cam 9-2 is installed on the left mold 6-1, and the right cam is installed on the right mold 6-2. The left mold 6-1 and the right mold 6-2 are respectively slidably connected to the lower end of the mounting plate 8. The cam groove block 9-1 is driven by the electric cylinder 5 above to move up and down. Due to the setting of the first cam groove 901 and the second cam groove 902, the cam groove block 9-1 drives the left cam 9-2 to move to the left and drives the right cam to move to the right. The left cam 9-2 moving to the left and the right cam moving to the right respectively drive the left mold 6-1 and the right mold 6-2 to separate to both sides, completing the left and right opening and closing of the mold, and the composite material sheet 10 is molded on the inner surface of the skin mold 11 with the reference line as the center.

[0042] like Figure 6 、 Figure 7As shown, the side depletion assembly 7 includes a side depletion pressure plate 7-1, a fixing seat 7-2, and a pressure plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 and a pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 that drive the side depletion pressure plate 7-1 to move and rotate. The pressure plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 is fixed on the base of the skin mold 11, and the output end of the pressure plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 is connected to the fixed seat 7-2, and the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 is installed on the fixed seat 7-2; the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 is hinged to the fixed seat 7-2, and the output end of the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 is tilted toward the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1, and the end of the output end is hinged to the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 through the ear plate; the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 is responsible for adjusting the angle of the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1, and the pressure plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 is used to push the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 to move so that it reaches the top of the sheet 10; through this dynamic adjustment, the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 can effectively compact the edge of the sheet 10 tightly on the skin mold 11, eliminate wrinkles, and ensure the perfect fit and surface quality of the sheet 10.

[0043] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2 As shown, in the molded de-wrinkling composite device, the function of the suction cup assembly is enhanced by including a side vacuum suction cup 2 and a side suction cup cylinder 3. The side suction cup cylinder 3 is installed on the mounting plate 8 and is responsible for driving the side vacuum suction cup 2. The side vacuum suction cup 2 is located at the lower end of the mounting plate 8 and is fixedly connected to the output end of the side suction cup cylinder 3; the side vacuum suction cup 2 and the side suction cup cylinder 3 are located on the peripheral side of the middle vacuum suction cup 1.

[0044] This layout allows the side vacuum cups 2 to move vertically precisely under the control of the side cup cylinders 3. The design and positioning of the side vacuum cups 2 ensure that they can assist the central vacuum cup 1 to complete the grasping, movement, and precise placement of the composite material sheet 10, especially in edge processing.

[0045] The side vacuum cups 2 work in conjunction with the central vacuum cup 1. First, the central vacuum cup 1 is responsible for grabbing the pre-cut composite material sheet 10 from the tray and positioning it in the center of the molding and wrinkle removal device. Subsequently, under the control of the side vacuum cup cylinder 3, the side vacuum cups 2 and the central vacuum cup 1 are placed on the same horizontal plane to ensure that the edge of the sheet 10 remains flat and does not shift or twist during the movement to the skin mold 11. The central vacuum cup 1 and the side vacuum cups 2 together suck up the pre-cut composite material sheet 10 from the tray. When taking the material, the position of the middle group of suction cups of the central vacuum cup 1 must coincide with the reference line of the sheet 10 to ensure accurate positioning of the sheet 10 when it is laid.

[0046] When the composite material sheet 10 is moved to the upper surface of the skin mold 11, the side vacuum suction cup 2 releases the sheet 10, and the side suction cup cylinder 3 drives the side vacuum suction cup 2 to retreat to the original point, and the pressure plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 extends, driving the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 to move under the side vacuum suction cup 2, and the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 drives the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 to rotate to compact the sheet 10, completing the placement and positioning of the sheet 10; during the descending process of the molding mold 6, the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 always presses the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 on the side of the sheet 10, and the pressure plate rotating cylinder 7-4 is controlled by a pneumatic proportional valve to adjust the pressure of the side de-wrinkling pressure plate 7-1 in real time to ensure that the sheet 10 can slide along with the descending of the molding mold 6 during the molding process, and can also apply a certain tensile tension to the sheet 10 to ensure that the sheet 10 does not wrinkle during the molding process.

[0047] In the above embodiment, during unloading, only the side vacuum cups 2 release the sheet 10, while the central vacuum cup 1 constantly grips the sheet 10, ensuring precise positioning of the sheet 10. Furthermore, a distance of one sheet 10 thickness must be maintained between the lower surface of the molding die 6 and the upper surface of the skin die 11 to ensure that the sheet 10 remains flat.

[0048] In actual processing, Figure 5 As shown, the mounting plate 8 drives the molding mold 6 to move downward until the composite material sheet 10 contacts the bottom surface of the skin mold 11. At this time, under the action of the spring buffer support rod, the middle vacuum suction cup 1 retreats into the molding mold 6 and releases the sheet 10. The electric cylinder 5 drives the cam assembly 9 to drive the left mold 6-1 and the right mold 6-2 to expand, pressing the sheet 10 on the inner surface of the skin mold 11.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the side vacuum suction cups 2 are grouped into multiple points and mounted on the mounting plate 8 through the guide shaft 4. The side suction cup cylinders 3 are mounted on the mounting plate 8 to drive the grouped side vacuum suction cups 2 to move up and down.

[0050] Preferably, the side suction cup cylinder 3 is controlled by a pneumatic proportional valve, which can accurately control the pressure when the side vacuum suction cup 2 takes the material.

[0051] Because the compression mold 6 is too long, two sets of electric cylinders 5 and cam assemblies 9 are designed to drive the opening and closing of the compression mold 6. These are arranged symmetrically around the center of the mounting plate 8. The two electric cylinders 5 synchronously control the two cam assemblies 9, ensuring smooth and symmetrical opening and closing of the compression mold 6. Furthermore, the outer surface of the compression mold 6 is covered with a layer of soft film material. This protects the surface quality of the composite material sheet 10 during the compression process while firmly pressing the sheet 10 against the inner surface of the skin mold 11.

[0052] The automatic placement method of the molded wrinkle-reducing composite device for automatic placement of the composite blade root skin comprises the following steps:

[0053] Step 1: The middle vacuum cup 1 and the side vacuum cup 2 together suck up the pre-cut composite material sheet 10 from the tray;

[0054] Step 2: Move the composite material sheet 10 to the upper surface of the skin mold 11, discharge the material from the side vacuum suction cup 2, and return it to the upper part of the molding mold 6;

[0055] Step 3: The pressing plate telescopic cylinder 7-3 drives the side wrinkle-removing pressing plate 7-1 to extend, and the pressing plate rotating cylinder 7-4 drives the side wrinkle-removing pressing plate 7-1 to press the edge of the composite material sheet 10;

[0056] Step 4: The entire device is lowered until the molding die 6 contacts the inner surface of the skin mold 11;

[0057] Step 5: The electric cylinder 5 drives the cam assembly 9 to drive the molding die 6 to move to both sides, pressing the composite material sheet 10 onto the inner surface of the skin mold 11.

[0058] Therefore, from any point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the application is limited by the appended claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are included in this application. Any figure mark in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the claim involved. In addition, it is obvious that the word "comprising" does not exclude other units or steps, and the singular does not exclude the plural. Multiple units or devices stated in the device claim may also be implemented by the same unit or device through software or hardware. The words first, second, etc. are used to indicate names and do not indicate any particular order.

[0059] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

1. A molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device, characterized in that: The device includes: a suction cup assembly, an electric cylinder, a molding die, a side wrinkle elimination assembly, a mounting plate and a cam assembly, wherein: The suction cup assembly includes a central vacuum suction cup, which is distributed at multiple points and mounted on a slide rail having a spring buffer support rod, and the spring buffer support rod is fixed to the mounting plate; The electric cylinder is mounted on the mounting plate, and its output end is connected to the cam assembly; The cam assembly includes a cam groove block, a left cam, and a right cam. The two side walls of the cam groove block are respectively provided with a first cam groove and a second cam groove arranged obliquely upward from the bottom. The first cam groove and the second cam groove are arranged in a back-to-back mirror image on the cam groove block, and the upward inclination direction of the first cam groove is arranged in a mirror image with the upward inclination direction of the second cam groove. The cam groove block is connected to the output end of the electric cylinder, the left cam is arranged on the first cam groove, and the right cam is arranged on the second cam groove. The molding die is composed of a left die and a right die, the left cam is mounted on the left die, the right cam is mounted on the right die, and the left die and the right die are respectively slidably connected to the lower end of the mounting plate; The side de-pleating assembly includes a side de-pleating pressure plate, a fixed seat, a pressure plate telescopic cylinder and a pressure plate rotating cylinder; the pressure plate telescopic cylinder is installed on the skin mold base, the output end of the pressure plate telescopic cylinder is connected to the fixed seat, the pressure plate rotating cylinder is installed on the fixed seat, the side de-pleating pressure plate is hinged to the fixed seat, the output end of the pressure plate rotating cylinder is inclined toward the side de-pleating pressure plate, and the end of the output end is hinged to the side de-pleating pressure plate.

2. A molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction cup assembly also includes a side vacuum suction cup and a side suction cup cylinder. The side suction cup cylinder is installed on the mounting plate. The side vacuum suction cup is located at the lower end of the mounting plate and is fixedly connected to the output end of the side suction cup cylinder. The side vacuum suction cup and the side suction cup cylinder are located on the outside of the middle vacuum suction cup.

3. A molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The side vacuum suction cups are installed in groups and are mounted on the mounting plate via guide shafts.

4. A composite molded wrinkle removal device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The side vacuum suction cups and the middle vacuum suction cup are on the same horizontal plane.

5. A composite molded wrinkle removal device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The side suction cup cylinder is controlled by a pneumatic proportional valve.

6. A composite molded wrinkle removal device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: When taking the material, the position of the middlemost group of suction cups of the middle vacuum suction cup coincides with the reference line of the material sheet.

7. The molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surfaces of the left mold and the right mold are covered with a layer of soft film material.

8. The molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two electric cylinders and two cam assemblies, which are arranged symmetrically around the center of the mounting plate. The two electric cylinders synchronously control the two cam assemblies.

9. The molded wrinkle-eliminating composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the molding die moves downward, the lower surface of the molding die maintains a distance of a sheet thickness from the upper surface of the skin die.

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