Rear axle tilting device and method

Abstract

This invention provides a rear axle tilting device and method, relating to the field of vehicle assembly technology. The rear axle tilting device includes: a rear axle bracket for supporting the rear axle to be tilted; and two tilting actuators located on opposite sides of the rear axle bracket along a first preset direction. Each actuator includes at least a clamping assembly and a tilting drive. The clamping assembly includes multiple clamping sleeves for accommodating at least a portion of the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be tilted. The tilting drive can drive the clamping assembly to rotate, thereby tilting the rear axle to be tilted. Applying the technical solution of this application can reduce the frequency and intensity of manual operation, while also reducing the risk of rear axle damage due to improper operation, thus improving production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle assembly technology, and more specifically, to a rear axle tilting device and method. Background Technology

[0002] During the assembly of the rear axle of a commercial vehicle, the rear axle needs to be rotated and adjusted to meet assembly and hoisting requirements.

[0003] Existing technology discloses a multi-vehicle axle tilting device and its usage method, relating to the technical field of automotive axle tilting devices. It includes a tilting mechanism, an adjusting mechanism mounted on the upper part of the tilting mechanism, a clamping mechanism mounted on the surface of the adjusting mechanism, and a limiting plate. A driving plate is fixedly connected to one side of the limiting plate, and a first connecting plate is fixedly connected to one side of the driving plate. In this invention, based on the required axle length, a second geared motor drives a first adjusting screw to rotate. Under the rotation of the first adjusting screw, two sets of oppositely oriented threads on its surface drive a second slider to slide along a second slide rail, thereby adjusting the distance between two third connecting plates. This allows for the limiting and fixing of axles of different types or sizes.

[0004] The existing flipping device has the following problems: 1) The clamping and fixing method of the rear axle is unstable, and the surface of the axle housing is easily damaged during the flipping process; 2) There is no protection device when the clamping mechanism fails.

[0005] There is currently no effective solution to the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a rear axle flipping device and method to solve the problems of unstable rear axle flipping clamping, inconvenient adjustment, and lack of protection in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present invention, a rear axle flipping device is provided, comprising: a rear axle bracket for supporting the rear axle to be flipped; and two flipping actuators located on opposite sides of the rear axle bracket along a first preset direction. Each flipping actuator includes at least a clamping assembly and a flipping drive member. The clamping assembly includes a plurality of clamping sleeves for accommodating at least a portion of the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be flipped. The flipping drive member can drive the clamping assembly to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be flipped to flip.

[0008] Furthermore, the clamping assembly also includes a rotating chassis, which extends axially along a first preset direction. Multiple clamping sleeves are disposed on the rotating chassis and are movably connected to the rotating chassis to adjust the position of each clamping sleeve on the rotating chassis. A flipping drive is connected to the rotating chassis and drives the rotating chassis to rotate, thereby causing the clamping sleeves to rotate.

[0009] Furthermore, the distance between the tilting actuator and the rear axle bracket can be adjusted.

[0010] Furthermore, the clamping component is movably disposed along a second preset direction, and / or the clamping component is movably disposed along a third preset direction, wherein the first preset direction is the rear axle length direction, the second preset direction is the rear axle thickness direction, and the third preset direction is the rear axle width direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the flipping actuator also includes: a movable base, which is movably arranged along a first preset direction to adjust the distance between the flipping actuator and the rear axle bracket; a support assembly, which is provided with a clamping assembly and a flipping drive component, the support assembly is connected to the movable base, and the support assembly is movably arranged along a second preset direction to adjust the distance between the support assembly and the movable base.

[0012] Furthermore, the support assembly includes: a first support base, which is disposed on a movable base and is movably disposed along a second preset direction to adjust the distance between the first support base and the movable base; a second support base, which is disposed on the first support base and is movably disposed relative to the first support base along a third preset direction, and is provided with a rotating chassis, which is rotatably connected to the second support base; and a flipping drive component disposed on either the first support base or the second support base.

[0013] Furthermore, a pressure detection element is provided at the bottom of the clamping sleeve.

[0014] Furthermore, the rotating chassis has multiple movable spaces, each corresponding to a different clamping sleeve. The clamping sleeves are movably positioned within the movable spaces to adjust their position on the rotating chassis.

[0015] Furthermore, the activity space is a strip-shaped hole, and the clamping assembly also includes multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies. The multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies are arranged one-to-one with multiple clamping sleeves. The sleeve adjustment assembly includes at least an electric push rod and an adjustment bracket connected to the output end of the electric push rod. The adjustment bracket is connected to the bottom of the clamping sleeve. The open end of the clamping sleeve extends through the strip-shaped hole to the side where the rear axle to be flipped is located. The electric push rod can drive the adjustment bracket to move, thereby driving the clamping sleeve to move within the activity space, thereby adjusting the position of the clamping sleeve on the rotating chassis.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a rear axle flipping method is provided. The method is based on the above-described rear axle flipping device and includes the following steps: placing the rear axle to be flipped on a rear axle bracket; adjusting the flipping actuator to a predetermined position, the predetermined position being a position close to the rear axle to be flipped; adjusting the clamping assembly to a pre-clamping state, in the pre-clamping state, each clamping sleeve is correspondingly arranged with respect to the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be flipped; driving the flipping actuator to move toward the rear axle to be flipped along a first predetermined direction until the clamping sleeves clamp the rear axle bolts; activating the flipping drive member to drive the clamping assembly to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be flipped to flip.

[0017] By applying the technical solution of this invention, multiple clamping sleeves are provided on the clamping assembly. During the rear axle tilting process, these sleeves can identify and adjust their positions corresponding to the rear axle bolts. Once aligned, the tilting actuator drives the clamping assembly to clamp and fix the rear axle. This multi-point clamping method more effectively secures the rear axle, ensuring its stability during tilting. After clamping, the tilting actuator drives the clamping assembly to rotate via the tilting drive component, automating the rear axle tilting process. This facilitates subsequent assembly and hoisting of the rear axle, reducing the frequency and intensity of manual operations and lowering the risk of damage due to improper operation, thus improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the rear axle bracket positioned between the two tilting actuators serves as a protective device in case of clamping assembly failure, providing support for the rear axle and preventing damage in the event of clamping failure. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a first embodiment of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 5 A logic structure diagram of the rear axle flipping device according to the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating the operation of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the rear axle tilting device according to the present invention is shown.

[0026] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0027] 1. Rear axle bracket;

[0028] 2. Tilting actuator;

[0029] 21. Clamping assembly;

[0030] 211. Clamping sleeve;

[0031] 212. Rotate the chassis;

[0032] 2120. Activity space;

[0033] 213. Sleeve adjusting assembly;

[0034] 2131. Electric linear actuator;

[0035] 2132. Adjustable bracket;

[0036] 214. Camera;

[0037] 215. Rotate the support;

[0038] 22. Tilting drive component;

[0039] 23. Movable base;

[0040] 24. Support components;

[0041] 241. First support seat;

[0042] 242. Second support seat;

[0043] 243. Slide rail;

[0044] 244. Slider. Detailed Implementation

[0045] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0046] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 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.

[0047] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0048] Exemplary embodiments according to this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, for clarity, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same devices, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0049] To facilitate the description of the technical effects of the technical solution of this application, the prior art is introduced as follows: The prior art discloses a multi-vehicle axle tilting device and its usage method, relating to the technical field of automotive axle tilting devices. It includes a tilting mechanism, an adjustment mechanism mounted on the upper part of the tilting mechanism, a clamping mechanism mounted on the surface of the adjustment mechanism, and a limiting plate. A driving plate is fixedly connected to one side of the limiting plate, and a first connecting plate is fixedly connected to one side of the driving plate. In this invention, based on the required axle length, a second reduction motor drives a first adjusting screw to rotate. Under the rotation of the first adjusting screw, two sets of oppositely oriented threads on its surface drive a second slider to slide along a second slide rail, thereby adjusting the distance between the two third connecting plates. This allows for the limiting and fixing of axles of different types or sizes.

[0050] The existing flipping device has the following problems: 1) The clamping and fixing method of the rear axle is unstable, and the surface of the axle housing is easily damaged during the flipping process; 2) There is no protection device when the clamping mechanism fails; 3) It is inconvenient to adjust when flipping different models of rear axles.

[0051] Combination Figures 1 to 7 As shown, according to a specific embodiment of this application, a rear axle tilting device is provided.

[0052] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the rear axle tilting device includes a rear axle support 1 and a tilting actuator 2. The rear axle support 1 is used to support the rear axle to be tilted. There are two tilting actuators 2, which are located on both sides of the rear axle support 1 along a first preset direction. The tilting actuator 2 includes at least a clamping assembly 21 and a tilting drive 22. The clamping assembly 21 includes multiple clamping sleeves 211. The clamping sleeves 211 are used to accommodate at least part of the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be tilted. The tilting drive 22 can drive the clamping assembly 21 to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be tilted to tilt.

[0053] By applying the technical solution of this embodiment, multiple clamping sleeves 211 are provided on the clamping assembly 21. During the rear axle tilting process, the multiple clamping sleeves 211 can identify and adjust their positions corresponding to the rear axle bolts. After the positions are aligned, the tilting actuator 2 drives the clamping assembly 21 to clamp and fix the rear axle. This multi-point clamping method can more effectively fix the rear axle and ensure its stability during tilting. After clamping the rear axle, the tilting actuator 2 drives the clamping assembly 21 to rotate through the tilting drive 22, realizing automated rear axle tilting. This facilitates subsequent assembly and hoisting of the rear axle, reduces the frequency and intensity of manual operation, and lowers the risk of damage to the rear axle due to improper operation, thereby improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the rear axle bracket 1 located between the two tilting actuators 2 can serve as a protective device in case of clamping assembly 21 failure, providing support for the rear axle and preventing damage to the rear axle in case of clamping failure.

[0054] It should be noted that the first preset direction is the direction in which the tilting actuator 2 is positioned relative to each other, and it is also the direction in which the length of the rear axle main structure is distributed. By tilting the rear axle along the first preset direction, the torque can be reduced to a minimum, thereby saving the power required to tilt the rear axle, while also enabling a fast and stable tilting operation of the rear axle. In this embodiment, there are multiple rear axle supports 1, and the multiple rear axle supports 1 are arranged at intervals along the first preset direction to improve the stability of the support for the vehicle's rear axle.

[0055] In one embodiment of this application, the flipping drive 22 can be a drive motor or other drive component.

[0056] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the clamping assembly 21 also includes a rotating base 212, which extends axially along a first preset direction. A plurality of clamping sleeves 211 are disposed on the rotating base 212 and are movably connected to the rotating base 212 to adjust the position of each clamping sleeve 211 on the rotating base 212. A flipping drive 22 is connected to the rotating base 212 and drives the rotating base 212 to rotate, thereby causing the clamping sleeves 211 to rotate. Multiple clamping sleeves 211 extend along a first preset direction, that is, the extension direction of the multiple clamping sleeves 211 is the same as the axial direction of the rotating chassis 212, so as to ensure that the multiple clamping sleeves 211 can rotate together with the rotating chassis 212. When the flipping drive 22 drives the clamping assembly 21 to rotate, the rotating chassis 212 rotates together with the clamping assembly 21, driving the multiple clamping sleeves 211 to rotate, thereby realizing the flipping operation of the rear axle. The multiple clamping sleeves 211 extend out of the holes along the axial direction of the rotating chassis 212 to clamp the rear axle bolts. Through the adjustable setting of the multiple clamping sleeves 211, the clamping assembly 21 can adapt to the rear axles of different sizes and models, improving the practicality and flexibility of the rear axle flipping device.

[0057] Furthermore, the distance between the tilting actuator 2 and the rear axle bracket 1 is adjustable. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, two tilting actuators 2 are arranged opposite each other. The bottoms of the two tilting actuators 2 can be arranged relatively close to or far apart. The two tilting actuators 2 are connected to the control system by wired or wireless connection according to the specific working conditions. The control system controls the relative movement of the two tilting actuators 2 to achieve adjustable distance between them and the rear axle bracket 1, that is, to achieve adjustable distance from the rear axle. This allows for clamping the rear axle closer to it and releasing it further away. After the multiple clamping sleeves 211 of the tilting actuators 2 are adjusted to the positions corresponding to the rear axle bolts, the two tilting actuators 2 move relative to each other to clamp the rear axle. After clamping is confirmed, the control system controls the tilting actuators 2 to stop moving to ensure the stability of the clamping state of the rear axle.

[0058] To facilitate determining whether the clamping sleeve 211 has clamped the rear axle bolts, a detection element can be set up for corresponding detection. The detection element can be a sensor, an image detection element, or other types of detection elements.

[0059] Specifically, the clamping component 21 is movably configured along a second preset direction, and / or, the clamping component 21 is movably configured along a third preset direction, wherein the first preset direction is the rear axle length direction, the second preset direction is the rear axle thickness direction, and the third preset direction is the rear axle width direction. By configuring the clamping component 21 to be movable in three dimensions along the first, second, and third preset directions, it can be adjusted at various positions, allowing for more precise alignment of the clamping component 21 with the rear axle bolts. This also makes it suitable for situations with significant variations in rear axle dimensions, improving the practicality of the equipment and the accuracy of the operation. The multi-directional adjustable configuration of the clamping component 21 not only adapts to changes in the length, thickness, and width of the rear axle, but also ensures accurate clamping of the rear axle bolts even when the rear axle experiences slight deformation or wear during production. This further improves the practicality of the equipment, reduces turnover failures caused by mismatch between the size and the equipment, and increases production efficiency.

[0060] It should be noted that the second preset direction is the thickness direction of the rear axle, which is also the height direction of the rear axle tilting device, and the third preset direction is the width direction of the rear axle. When the tilting actuator 2 is clamping the rear axle, based on the omnidirectional adjustable function of the clamping component 21, the clamping sleeves 211 and the corresponding rear axle bolts can be calibrated and positioned, thereby achieving stable clamping of the rear axle.

[0061] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the flipping actuator 2 also includes a movable base 23 and a support component 24. The movable base 23 is movably arranged along a first preset direction to adjust the distance between the flipping actuator 2 and the rear axle bracket 1. The support component 24 is provided with a clamping component 21 and a flipping drive component 22. The support component 24 is connected to the movable base 23, and the support component 24 is movably arranged along a second preset direction to adjust the distance between the support component 24 and the movable base 23.

[0062] The movable base 23 can receive signals from the control system to drive the tilting actuator 2 to move along the first preset direction. The support component 24 is equipped with a lifting mechanism, which can drive the tilting actuator 2 to move along the second preset direction. The movable base 23 can be used to calibrate the clamping component 21 with the rear axle bolts in the height direction of the rear axle. The support component 24 can be used to calibrate the clamping component 21 with the rear axle bolts in the width direction of the rear axle. Based on this, combined with the movement of the tilting actuator 2 along the first preset direction, the tilting actuator 2 can achieve all-round calibration, positioning and clamping of the rear axle. This makes the equipment more flexible to meet the tilting requirements of different rear axles, improves the practicality and flexibility of the equipment, and reduces equipment debugging time and operation delay time, thereby improving efficiency.

[0063] It should be noted that the distance between the support component 24 and the movable base 23 can be adjusted by the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism can be a hydraulic cylinder or a lifting machine or other driving component. The movable base 23 can also be equipped with a driving component, which drives the movable base 23 to move along the first preset direction by receiving instructions sent by the control system.

[0064] Those skilled in the art should understand that the flipping actuator 2, the control system, and the sensing elements can transmit data wirelessly or via wired connection depending on the working scenario. Specifically, the aforementioned lifting mechanism, drive motor, and other driving components, as well as the flipping drive component 22, can transmit signals with the same control system and be controlled by the control system to achieve the calibration, positioning, and clamping of the rear axle by the flipping actuator 2.

[0065] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the support assembly 24 includes a first support base 241 and a second support base 242. The first support base 241 is disposed on the movable base 23 and is movably disposed along a second preset direction to adjust the distance between the first support base 241 and the movable base 23. The second support base 242 is disposed on the first support base 241 and is movably disposed relative to the first support base 241 along a third preset direction. A rotating base 212 is disposed on the second support base 242 and is rotatably connected to the second support base 242. A flipping drive 22 is disposed on either the first support base 241 or the second support base 242.

[0066] By dividing the support assembly 24 into a first support base 241 and a second support base 242, the first support base 241 can drive the tilting actuator 2 to move along a second preset direction, and the second support base 242 can drive the tilting actuator 2 to move along a third preset direction. The combination of the first support base 241 and the second support base 242 can realize the all-round calibration of the rear axle by the tilting actuator 2. On this basis, after the clamping sleeve 211 is finely adjusted, the clamping sleeve 211 and the rear axle bolt are precisely aligned, which facilitates the clamping of the rear axle. At the same time, a rotating bracket 215 is provided on the second support base 242, and a rotating base 212 is provided on the rotating bracket 215. The rotating base 212 can rotate on the rotating bracket 215 in its circumference, thereby driving the clamping sleeve 211 and the rear axle to rotate and realize the tilting operation of the rear axle.

[0067] In one embodiment of this application, a slide rail 243 and a slider 244 are also included. The slide rail 243 is disposed on the second support base 242 along a third preset direction. The bottom end of the slider 244 is disposed on the slide rail 243 and the slider 244 can slide along the slide rail 243. The top end of the slider 244 is connected to the flipping actuator 2. The sliding of the slider 244 can drive the flipping actuator 2 to move along the third preset direction to realize the calibration and positioning of the rear axle by the flipping actuator 2 along the third preset direction.

[0068] Furthermore, a pressure detection element is provided at the bottom of the clamping sleeve 211. The pressure detection element is a pressure sensor that can monitor the clamping force on the rear axle in real time and upload the real-time monitoring data to the terminal for analysis. This can avoid damage to the rear axle or failure to flip due to excessive or insufficient clamping, further improving the stability and reliability of the flipping process. At the same time, by monitoring the data, it can ensure stable and reliable flipping without damage to the rear axle, reducing rework and additional costs caused by damage to the rear axle, and improving the automation level of the production line.

[0069] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the rotating chassis 212 has multiple movable spaces 2120, each corresponding to a different clamping sleeve 211. The clamping sleeves 211 are movably positioned within the movable spaces 2120 to adjust their position on the rotating chassis 212. The multiple movable spaces 2120 enable the clamping sleeves 211 to move, allowing adjustment of rear axles of different sizes. This ensures the clamping sleeves 211 are aligned with the rear axle bolts, guaranteeing stable clamping of the rear axle. It also allows the clamping assembly 21 to adjust for minor vibrations or misalignments during clamping or flipping of the rear axle, preventing damage. Furthermore, this design facilitates easier adjustment of the clamping sleeves 211's position, improving operational efficiency.

[0070] Specifically, the activity space 2120 is a strip-shaped hole, and the clamping assembly 21 also includes multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies 213. The multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies 213 are arranged one-to-one with multiple clamping sleeves 211. The sleeve adjustment assembly 213 includes at least an electric push rod 2131 and an adjustment bracket 2132 connected to the output end of the electric push rod 2131. The adjustment bracket 2132 is connected to the bottom of the clamping sleeve 211. The open end of the clamping sleeve 211 extends through the strip-shaped hole to the side where the rear axle to be flipped is located. The electric push rod 2131 can drive the adjustment bracket 2132 to move, thereby driving the clamping sleeve 211 to move within the activity space 2120, thereby adjusting the position of the clamping sleeve 211 on the rotating chassis 212. The sleeve adjustment assembly 213 adjusts the adjustment bracket 2132 via the electric push rod 2131. The adjustment bracket 2132 drives the clamping sleeve 211 to move within the movable space 2120, which can realize the alignment of the clamping sleeve 211 with the rear axle bolt, facilitating the next step of clamping and flipping the rear axle.

[0071] It should be noted that the active space 2120 can also be an arc-shaped hole distributed around the circumference of the rotating chassis 212. A camera 214 is also provided on the axial center line of the rotating chassis 212. The camera 214 is electrically connected to the sleeve adjustment assembly 213. The camera 214 can collect the position of the rear axle bolt in real time and feed it back to the sleeve adjustment assembly 213. According to the position of the rear axle bolt, the sleeve adjustment assembly 213 controls the electric push rod 2131 to push the adjustment bracket 2132 to move to the position opposite to the corresponding rear axle bolt, so that the clamping sleeve 211 is aligned with the rear axle bolt.

[0072] In this embodiment, camera 214 may be a 3D vision camera to locate the position of the rear axle and the rear axle bolts.

[0073] According to another specific embodiment of this application, a rear axle flipping method is also provided. The method is based on the rear axle flipping device in the above embodiment and includes the following steps: placing the rear axle to be flipped on the rear axle bracket 1; adjusting the flipping actuator 2 to a predetermined position, which is a position close to the rear axle to be flipped; adjusting the clamping assembly 21 to a pre-clamping state, in which each clamping sleeve 211 is correspondingly set with the rear axle bolt of the rear axle to be flipped; driving the flipping actuator 2 to move toward the rear axle to be flipped along a first preset direction until the clamping sleeve 211 clamps the rear axle bolt; activating the flipping drive 22 so that the flipping drive 22 drives the clamping assembly 21 to rotate, thereby driving the rear axle to be flipped to flip.

[0074] Using the technical solution of this embodiment, the rear axle to be flipped is placed on the rear axle bracket 1; the flipping actuator 2 is adjusted to a predetermined position, which is close to the rear axle to be flipped; the clamping assembly 21 is adjusted to a pre-clamping state, in which each clamping sleeve 211 is correspondingly set with the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be flipped; the flipping actuator 2 is driven to move towards the rear axle to be flipped along a first predetermined direction until the clamping sleeves 211 clamp the rear axle bolts; the flipping drive 22 is activated so that it drives the clamping assembly 21 to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be flipped to flip. The rear axle flipping operation performed by the method in this embodiment uses an automated device, which not only simplifies the operation process and improves work efficiency, but also ensures the safety and stability of the flipping process without reducing the labor intensity of personnel, and has strong practicality.

[0075] Optionally, before activating the tilting drive 22, the method further includes: driving the clamping assembly 21 to move in a direction away from the rear axle bracket 1 in a second preset direction, so that the rear axle to be tilted has reserved tilting space. By reserving tilting space, the smooth and safe operation of the rear axle during the tilting process can be ensured, collisions and friction during the tilting process can be avoided, the service life of the equipment can be extended, and maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0076] This application also provides a preferred embodiment of a rear axle tilting device, which can automate the rear axle tilting process during rear axle assembly, ensuring the stability of the rear axle tilting and the accuracy of the rear axle tilting angle. It can be used in the rear axle assembly of commercial vehicles in the vehicle production line, or in the trial production process of commercial vehicles with a variety of rear axle types.

[0077] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, the rear axle tilting device mainly consists of three parts: a tilting actuator 2, a sensing mechanism, and a tilting control mechanism. The tilting actuator 2 consists of three parts: a movable base 23 and a support component 24 for omnidirectional adjustment, a rotating chassis 212 for adjusting the pitch circle and driving the rear axle to tilt, and a clamping component 21 for preliminary positioning of the rear axle and providing rear axle fall protection. The sensing mechanism consists of three parts: a camera 214 for identifying bolt positions, a distance measuring component for measuring the distance between the rear axle and the tilting actuator 2, and a pressure monitoring and detection component for detecting the contact pressure between the bottom of the clamping sleeve 211 and the rear axle bolts. The tilting control mechanism mainly receives input information from two parts: the rear axle's own model information (including the pitch circle diameter of the rear axle bolts and the rear axle track) and the real-time position information of the rear axle. The control system analyzes the above information, plans the adjustment amount required by the actuator, helps the clamping sleeve 211 in the actuator to clamp and fix the rear axle bolts, and completes the rear axle tilting at the angle required by the operator.

[0078] The principle and operation steps of the rear axle tilting device for positioning, clamping, and tilting the rear axle are explained in this application as follows:

[0079] like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, firstly, the wheelbase of the rear axle to be flipped and the pitch circle diameter of the rear axle bolts are input into the control system. The control system sends a signal to the flipping actuator 2, the support assembly 24, and the moving base 23 to start operating. The electric push rod 2131 in the sleeve adjustment assembly 213 starts working synchronously, thereby adjusting the position of the clamping sleeve 211 to match the diameter of the rear axle bolt group. The rear axle is hoisted onto the rear axle bracket 1 for initial approximate positioning to reduce subsequent system adjustments. First, the laser ranging system is activated to determine the distance between the flipping actuator 2 and the rear axle. The control system sends a signal to the flipping actuator 2, driving it to move along the length of the rear axle body, moving the flipping actuator 2 to a position close to the rear axle bolts.

[0080] In this state, the 3D vision cameras on both sides are activated to photograph the rear axle bolts, confirming the existing axial angular deviations between the multiple clamping sleeves 211 and the rear axle bolt assembly, as well as the positional deviations on the width and height planes of the rear axle. Based on the visual recognition results, the control system directs the chassis 212 to rotate, adjusting the angle of the clamping sleeves 211 to match the angle of the rear axle bolts. Simultaneously, it drives the electric lifting cylinder on the support assembly 24 and the electric push rod on the moving base 23 to make fine adjustments in the width and height directions of the rear axle, ensuring that the clamping sleeves 211 and the rear axle bolts are perfectly aligned.

[0081] After adjustment, the drive motor drives the tilting actuator 2 to clamp and move. The clamping sleeve 211 with a protective layer covers the rear axle bolts for limiting movement. At the same time, the tilting actuator 2 continues to clamp and move until the pressure value of the pressure sensor at the bottom of the clamping sleeve 211 reaches the preset value, thus clamping and fixing the rear axle. After fixing, the control system drives the electric lifting cylinder to move forward along the height direction of the rear axle, leaving space for the rear axle to tilt. After reaching a safe position, the reduction motor in the rotation mechanism works, driving the rear axle to tilt. When the desired angle is reached, the operator inputs a stop command, and the tilting stops.

[0082] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0083] In addition to the above, it should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "another embodiment," and "embodiment" used in this specification refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment, which are included in at least one embodiment described in the general description of this application. The appearance of the same expression in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, the intention is to suggest that implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of this invention.

[0084] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0085] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rear axle tilting device, characterized in that, include: Rear axle bracket (1), the rear axle bracket (1) is used to support the rear axle to be overturned; The flipping actuator (2) consists of two parts, located on both sides of the rear axle bracket (1) along a first preset direction. The flipping actuator (2) includes at least a clamping assembly (21) and a flipping drive (22). The clamping assembly (21) includes multiple clamping sleeves (211), which are used to accommodate at least a portion of the rear axle bolts of the rear axle to be flipped. The flipping drive (22) can drive the clamping assembly (21) to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be flipped to flip. The clamping assembly (21) further includes a rotating base (212), the axial direction of which extends along the first preset direction. A plurality of clamping sleeves (211) are disposed on the rotating base (212), and the plurality of clamping sleeves (211) are movably connected to the rotating base (212) to adjust the position of each clamping sleeve (211) on the rotating base (212). The flipping drive (22) is connected to the rotating base (212), and the flipping drive (22) drives the rotating base (212) to rotate, thereby driving the clamping sleeves (211) to rotate. The flipping actuator (2) also includes: A movable base (23) is movably disposed along the first preset direction to adjust the distance between the flipping actuator (2) and the rear axle bracket (1); A support component (24) is provided with the clamping component (21) and the flipping drive component (22). The support component (24) is connected to the movable base (23). The support component (24) is movably arranged along a second preset direction to adjust the distance between the support component (24) and the movable base (23). The rotating chassis (212) has multiple movable spaces (2120), and the multiple movable spaces (2120) are respectively arranged in correspondence with the multiple clamping sleeves (211). The clamping sleeves (211) are movably arranged in the movable spaces (2120) to adjust the position of the clamping sleeves (211) on the rotating chassis (212). The active space (2120) is a strip-shaped hole. The clamping assembly (21) also includes multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies (213). The multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies (213) are arranged one-to-one with the multiple clamping sleeves (211). The sleeve adjustment assembly (213) includes at least an electric push rod (2131) and an adjustment bracket (2132) connected to the output end of the electric push rod (2131). The adjustment bracket (2132) is connected to the bottom of the clamping sleeve (211). The open end of the clamping sleeve (211) extends through the strip-shaped hole to the side where the rear axle to be flipped is located. The electric push rod (2131) can drive the adjustment bracket (2132) to move, thereby driving the clamping sleeve (211) to move in the active space (2120), thereby adjusting the position of the clamping sleeve (211) on the rotating chassis (212).

2. The rear axle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the flipping actuator (2) and the rear axle bracket (1) is adjustable.

3. The rear axle tilting device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping component (21) is movably disposed along a second preset direction, and / or the clamping component (21) is movably disposed along a third preset direction, wherein the first preset direction is the rear axle length direction, the second preset direction is the rear axle thickness direction, and the third preset direction is the rear axle width direction.

4. The rear axle tilting device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The support component (24) includes: The first support base (241) is disposed on the movable base (23) and is movably disposed along the second preset direction to adjust the distance between the first support base (241) and the movable base (23); The second support base (242) is disposed on the first support base (241) and is movably disposed relative to the first support base (241) along the third preset direction. The second support base (242) is provided with the rotating chassis (212) and the rotating chassis (212) is rotatably connected to the second support base (242). The flipping drive (22) is disposed on either the first support (241) or the second support (242).

5. The rear axle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The active space (2120) is a strip-shaped hole. The clamping assembly (21) also includes multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies (213). The multiple sleeve adjustment assemblies (213) are arranged one-to-one with the multiple clamping sleeves (211). The sleeve adjustment assembly (213) includes at least an electric push rod (2131) and an adjustment bracket (2132) connected to the output end of the electric push rod (2131). The adjustment bracket (2132) is connected to the bottom of the clamping sleeve (211). The open end of the clamping sleeve (211) extends through the strip-shaped hole to the side where the rear axle to be flipped is located. The electric push rod (2131) can drive the adjustment bracket (2132) to move, thereby driving the clamping sleeve (211) to move in the active space (2120), thereby adjusting the position of the clamping sleeve (211) on the rotating chassis (212).

6. A rear axle flipping method, said method being performed based on the rear axle flipping device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: Place the rear axle to be flipped on the rear axle bracket (1); Adjust the flipping actuator (2) to a predetermined position, which is a position close to the rear axle to be flipped; Adjust the clamping assembly (21) to the pre-clamping state, in which each clamping sleeve (211) is set corresponding to the rear axle bolt of the rear axle to be flipped; Drive the flipping actuator (2) to move toward the rear axle to be flipped along the first preset direction until the clamping sleeve (211) clamps the rear axle bolts; The flipping drive (22) is activated so that the flipping drive (22) drives the clamping assembly (21) to rotate, thereby causing the rear axle to be flipped to flip.

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