Rocket engine production line inter-process rapid flow system and method

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of rocket engine production line process fast flow system and method, including single machine bracket, double machine bracket, annular conveying device, AGV logistics vehicle;Rocket engine is carried on single machine bracket or double machine bracket, and AGV logistics vehicle is sent to the whole body of rocket engine+single machine bracket or double machine bracket to the station where annular conveying device is arranged;Annular conveying device is equipped with detection station and assembly station, and each station is equipped with liftable hanger tool, for separating rocket engine from single machine bracket or double machine bracket and fixed to station, and realize the automatic flow of single double machine engine between detection station and assembly station of double machine engine.The present application meets the task demand of launch vehicle mass production, improves single double machine rocket engine production efficiency and overall assembly efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of hydrogen-oxygen engine assembly for launch vehicles, and relates to a rapid transfer system and method between processes in a rocket engine production line. Background Technology

[0002] In the assembly of single / dual rocket engines, after the single engine assembly is completed, testing and parallel assembly of the two engines are required. Currently, both single and dual engine assembly adopts a single-station assembly method. Assembly personnel use single or dual engine frames to move the engine between testing and parallel assembly processes using methods such as hoisting and handcarts. The engine's movement between assembly stations in different processes on the production line requires repeated hoisting, handling, and manual turnover, resulting in unnecessary logistics and a large amount of manual labor. The single-station assembly flow consumes assembly and testing resources, involves a large amount of manual operation, and restricts the improvement of assembly efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem solved by this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and propose a rapid flow system and method between processes in a rocket engine production line to meet the mission requirements of mass production of launch vehicles and improve the production efficiency and overall assembly efficiency of rocket engines.

[0004] The solution of the present invention is: a rapid transfer system between processes in a rocket engine production line, including a single-machine bracket, a double-machine bracket, a ring conveyor device, and an AGV logistics vehicle;

[0005] The rocket engine is carried on a single-engine or double-engine bracket. The AGV logistics vehicle transports the rocket engine and the single-engine or double-engine bracket as a whole to the workstation set up by the circular conveyor device. The circular conveyor device is equipped with inspection station and assembly station. Each station is equipped with a liftable hanging fixture to separate the rocket engine from the single-engine or double-engine bracket and fix it to the station, so as to realize the automatic flow of single engine or two engines between the inspection station and the assembly station.

[0006] Furthermore, quick-connect interfaces are designed on single-machine brackets, double-machine brackets, and circular conveyor devices.

[0007] Furthermore, the single-unit bracket includes a slewing bearing, an airtightness testing fixture, a single-unit bracket frame, a limit block, and a limit pin;

[0008] The slewing bearing is fixed on the single-engine bracket frame to enable the single engine to rotate 360°; the airtightness testing fixture is fixed on the slewing bearing to enable the single engine to quickly detect leaks at the testing station; the single engine is fixed on the airtightness testing fixture, and several limit blocks are evenly distributed along the circumference of the slewing bearing. The limit pins are inserted into the limit blocks to achieve the positioning of the single engine.

[0009] Furthermore, the slewing bearing is fixed to the single-unit bracket frame by multiple inclined columns, leaving room for operation.

[0010] Furthermore, the air tightness testing fixture includes a sealing ring seat, a sealing ring, a lead screw, a guide sleeve, a pad, a handwheel, and an air pipe connector. The pad is used to integrate the air tightness testing fixture onto the slewing bearing. The handwheel is connected to the lead screw through the guide sleeve. Rotating the handwheel causes the lead screw to rotate, which in turn causes the sealing ring seat to rise and fall, causing the sealing ring to press against the throat of the engine thrust chamber, thus sealing the engine thrust chamber. Gas is then introduced through the air pipe connector to check the engine's air tightness.

[0011] Furthermore, the dual-machine bracket includes two mounting platforms, two adjusting support columns, four AGV docking guide sleeves, and a dual-machine bracket frame;

[0012] Two mounting platforms are installed side by side on the dual-engine bracket frame for mounting two single-engine units; two adjusting support columns are set in the middle of the dual-engine bracket frame to maintain the balance of the dual engines and facilitate rapid docking between the dual engines and the circular conveyor; four AGV docking guide sleeves are respectively set on the dual-engine bracket frame on both sides of each mounting platform to ensure the docking accuracy between the dual-engine bracket and the AGV logistics vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, each mounting platform has an inward θ angle. ° The included angle θ is consistent with the angle of the engine thrust chamber, ensuring the stability of the dual-engine placement; the distance between the two mounting platforms is adjustable, with an adjustment range of 1161mm to 1366mm, to meet the transportation needs of different engine models.

[0014] Furthermore, the testing station includes a test station, an engine test setup station, and an engine final inspection station; the test station is used to complete the electric and pneumatic tests of the engine solenoid valve, the exhaust effect test, and the valve sealing inspection; the engine test setup station is used to complete the test setup of the engine nozzle extension section; and the engine final inspection station is used to complete the overall engine inspection.

[0015] Furthermore, the assembly station includes a first dual-engine assembly station, a second dual-engine assembly station, and a third dual-engine assembly station; the first dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the installation of the engine main structure and pipelines; the second dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the sealing inspection, blow out the ducts and install the nameplates; and the third dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the installation of the electronic control system.

[0016] A method for rapid inter-process flow in a rocket engine production line includes the following steps:

[0017] AGV logistics vehicles are used to transport single-unit brackets and single-unit engines to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The single-unit engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between three stations: the test station, the engine trial placement station, and the engine final inspection station using the circular conveyor. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the single-unit engine is taken off the line.

[0018] The AGV logistics vehicle transports the dual-engine bracket and dual-engine to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The dual-engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between six stations: the first dual-engine assembly station, the second dual-engine assembly station, the third dual-engine assembly station, the airtightness test station, the engine test placement station, and the engine final inspection station. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the dual-engine is removed from the line.

[0019] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are:

[0020] (1) The present invention can realize the shared testing, trial placement and final inspection station for single and dual engines by adopting a ring conveyor device, thereby improving engine assembly efficiency and saving production resources;

[0021] (2) The single and double machine bracket design interface realizes the standardization of product clamping, and with the ring conveyor device, it realizes the rapid clamping, loading and unloading and automated circulation of engine products, which significantly improves the circulation efficiency of engines between various workstations and greatly reduces the labor intensity of personnel.

[0022] (3) The single engine bracket integrates air tightness testing fixtures, which can realize rapid air tightness testing of single engines in the production line;

[0023] (4) After the single and double engines are connected to the ring conveyor, the ring conveyor can lift, lower and move back and forth along the ring conveyor chain; meet the needs of air tightness testing, trial placement, final inspection and circulation of single and double engines in the production line, as well as the low and high position operation and circulation needs of the three workstations of double engine assembly, and greatly improve the overall assembly efficiency of single and double engines. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a single-unit bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a dual-machine bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the hanging fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] In the diagram, 1-slewing bearing, 2-airtightness testing fixture, 3-single machine bracket frame, 4-limit pin, 5-mounting platform, 6-adjusting support column, 7-AGV docking guide sleeve, 8-double machine bracket frame, 9-carrying trolley, 10-carrying lifting bracket, 11-scissor fork bracket, 12-speed differential fall arrestor, 13-servo chain hoist, 14-interface frame. Detailed Implementation

[0028] This invention designs a set of brackets to meet the needs of single / dual rocket engine transport, and in conjunction with a circular conveyor device, realizes the automatic flow of single and dual engines between the testing station and the assembly station, thereby reducing the transfer time of engine products during assembly and testing. It replaces the current manual transfer of single and dual engines using cranes and handcarts with a bracket and a circular conveyor device to realize the rapid flow of engines within the production line.

[0029] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] This embodiment proposes a rapid transfer system between processes in a rocket engine production line, including a single-machine bracket, a double-machine bracket, a ring conveyor device, and an AGV logistics vehicle.

[0032] The rocket engine is carried on a single-engine or double-engine bracket. The AGV logistics vehicle transports the rocket engine and the single-engine or double-engine bracket as a whole to the workstation set up by the circular conveyor device. The circular conveyor device is equipped with inspection station and assembly station. Each station is equipped with a liftable hanging fixture to separate the rocket engine from the single-engine or double-engine bracket and fix it to the station, so as to realize the automatic flow of single engine or two engines between the inspection station and the assembly station.

[0033] Quick-connect interfaces are designed on single-machine brackets, double-machine brackets, and circular conveyor devices.

[0034] like Figure 1As shown, the single-unit bracket includes a slewing bearing 1, an airtightness testing fixture 2, a single-unit bracket frame 3, limiting blocks, and limiting pins 4. The slewing bearing 1 is bolted to the single-unit bracket frame 3, enabling 360° rotation of the single-unit engine. This, combined with a ring conveyor, ensures rapid loading and assembly of the single-unit engine. The airtightness testing fixture 2 is bolted to the slewing bearing 1, enabling rapid leak detection of the single-unit engine at the testing station. The single-unit engine is bolted to the airtightness testing fixture 2. Eight limiting blocks are evenly distributed around the circumference of the slewing bearing 1 (one every 45°). Limiting pins 4 are inserted into the limiting blocks to position the single-unit engine. When the single-unit engine needs to rotate, the limiting pins 4 are removed; after rotation, they are reinserted into the corresponding limiting blocks. The single-unit bracket frame 3 has four high-strength support feet, providing stable support on the ground. The slewing bearing 1 is fixed to the single-machine bracket frame 3 by four inclined columns, leaving space for the operator to manually turn the handwheel.

[0035] The airtightness testing fixture 2 is integrated with the single-unit bracket. It features an engine thrust chamber throat sealing function, allowing for a single clamping operation to meet the sealing requirements throughout the entire single-unit assembly process. Specifically, the airtightness testing fixture 2 mainly consists of a sealing ring seat, a sealing ring, a lead screw, a guide sleeve, a pad, a handwheel, and an air pipe connector. The principle of the airtightness testing fixture is as follows: the pad integrates the airtightness testing fixture 2 onto the slewing bearing 1. The handwheel is connected to the lead screw via the guide sleeve. Rotating the handwheel rotates the lead screw, causing it to rise and fall, pressing the sealing ring against the engine thrust chamber throat to achieve a seal. Finally, gas is introduced through the air pipe connector to check the engine's airtightness.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the dual-engine bracket includes two mounting platforms 5, two adjusting support columns 6, four AGV docking guide sleeves 7, and a dual-engine bracket frame 8. The two mounting platforms 5 are installed side-by-side on the dual-engine bracket frame 8 for mounting two single-engine units. Each mounting platform 5 has an inward angle of 2.5° to ensure engine placement stability. The distance between the two mounting platforms is adjustable, ranging from 1161mm to 1366mm, to meet the transfer requirements of different engine models. The two adjusting support columns 6 are located in the middle of the dual-engine bracket frame 8 to maintain the balance of the two engines and facilitate rapid docking between the engines and the circular conveyor. The four AGV docking guide sleeves 7 are respectively located on both sides of each mounting platform 5 on the dual-engine bracket frame 8 to ensure the docking accuracy between the dual-engine bracket and the AGV logistics vehicle.

[0037] The inspection stations of the circular conveyor system include a test station, an engine trial setup station, and an engine final inspection station. The test station is used for testing the engine's solenoid valves (electric and pneumatic), exhaust effect testing, and valve sealing. The engine trial setup station is used for trial assembly of the engine nozzle extension section, engine trial setup, and securing of connection points. The engine final inspection station is used for overall engine inspection, including securing, sealing, multimedia recording, and affixing test points.

[0038] The assembly stations for the circular conveyor system include a first dual-machine assembly station, a second dual-machine assembly station, and a third dual-machine assembly station. The first dual-machine assembly station is used for installing the frame and thrust chamber, the hydrogen / oxygen pump pre-system, the insulation and fireproof layer, the hydrogen / oxygen system hoses, the metal hoses, and the hydrogen / oxygen venting system. The second dual-machine assembly station is used for installing the purging duct, checking the overall airtightness, wrapping the venting system, and installing nameplates. The third dual-machine assembly station is used for installing the pressure reducing valve and solenoid valve, the control box, the reversing system, and the cables.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the lifting fixture at each workstation consists of a carrying trolley 9, a carrying lifting bracket 10, a scissor fork bracket 11, a speed differential fall arrester 12, a servo chain hoist 13, and a docking interface frame 14. The carrying trolley 9 is connected to the track of the circular conveyor device, and the lifting fixture is transported between various workstations through the circular track drive device. The four corner screw holes of the docking interface frame at the lower end of the lifting fixture are connected to the engine frame. The servo chain hoist 13 is used to control the lifting and lowering of the lifting fixture, realizing the lifting and lowering action of the engine product at the workstation.

[0040] According to a rocket engine production line rapid process flow system of this embodiment, a method for rapid process flow between rocket engine production lines is proposed, including the following steps:

[0041] AGV logistics vehicles are used to transport single-unit brackets and single-unit engines to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The single-unit engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between three stations: the air tightness test station, the engine trial placement station, and the engine final inspection station using the circular conveyor. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the single-unit engine is taken off the line.

[0042] The AGV logistics vehicle transports the dual-engine bracket and dual-engine to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The dual-engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between six stations: the first dual-engine assembly station, the second dual-engine assembly station, the third dual-engine assembly station, the airtightness test station, the engine test placement station, and the engine final inspection station. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the dual-engine is removed from the line.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention by utilizing the methods and techniques disclosed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0044] The contents not described in detail in this specification are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A rapid transfer system between processes in a rocket engine production line, characterized in that, Includes single-unit brackets, double-unit brackets, circular conveyor systems, and AGV logistics vehicles; The rocket engine is carried on a single-engine or double-engine bracket. The AGV logistics vehicle transports the single-engine or double-engine bracket carrying the rocket engine to the workstation set up by the circular conveyor device. The circular conveyor device is equipped with an inspection station and an assembly station. Each station is equipped with a liftable hanging fixture, which is used to separate the rocket engine from the single-engine or double-engine bracket and fix it to the station, so as to realize the automatic flow of one or two engines between the inspection station and the assembly station. The single-unit bracket includes a slewing bearing, an airtightness testing fixture, a single-unit bracket frame, a limit block, and a limit pin; The slewing bearing is fixed on the single-engine bracket frame to enable the single engine to rotate 360°; the air tightness testing fixture is fixed on the slewing bearing to enable the single engine to quickly detect leaks at the testing station; the single engine is fixed on the air tightness testing fixture, and several limit blocks are evenly distributed along the circumference of the slewing bearing. Limit pins are inserted into the limit blocks to achieve the positioning of the single engine. The dual-machine bracket includes two mounting platforms, two adjusting support columns, four AGV docking guide sleeves, and a dual-machine bracket frame; Two mounting platforms are installed side by side on the double-machine bracket frame for mounting two single-machine engines; two adjusting support columns are set in the middle of the double-machine bracket frame to maintain the balance of the double-machine engines and to facilitate the rapid docking of the double-machine engines with the circular conveyor; four AGV docking guide sleeves are respectively set on the double-machine bracket frame on both sides of each mounting platform to ensure the docking accuracy between the double-machine bracket and the AGV logistics vehicle. The testing station includes a test station, an engine test setup station, and an engine final inspection station. The test station is used to complete the electro-pneumatic test of the engine solenoid valve, the exhaust effect test, and the valve sealing inspection. The engine test setup station is used to complete the test setup of the engine nozzle extension section. The engine final inspection station is used to complete the overall inspection of the engine. The assembly station includes a first dual-engine assembly station, a second dual-engine assembly station, and a third dual-engine assembly station; the first dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the installation of the main engine structure and pipelines; the second dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the sealing inspection, blow out the ducts and install the nameplates; and the third dual-engine assembly station is used to complete the installation of the electronic control system.

2. The rapid inter-process transfer system for a rocket engine production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, Quick-connect interfaces are designed on single-machine brackets, double-machine brackets, and circular conveyor devices.

3. The rapid inter-process transfer system for a rocket engine production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slewing bearing is fixed to the single-machine bracket frame by multiple inclined columns, leaving room for operation.

4. The rapid inter-process transfer system for a rocket engine production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air tightness testing fixture includes a sealing ring seat, a sealing ring, a lead screw, a guide sleeve, a pad, a handwheel, and an air pipe connector. The pad is used to integrate the air tightness testing fixture onto the slewing bearing. The handwheel is connected to the lead screw through the guide sleeve. Rotating the handwheel causes the lead screw to rotate, which in turn causes the sealing ring seat to rise and fall, pressing the sealing ring against the throat of the engine thrust chamber to achieve a seal. Gas is then introduced through the air pipe connector to check the engine's air tightness.

5. The rapid inter-process transfer system for a rocket engine production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each mounting platform has an inward facing direction. The included angle, The angle is aligned with the engine thrust chamber to ensure the stability of the dual-engine placement; the distance between the two mounting platforms is adjustable, with an adjustment range of 1161mm~1366mm, to meet the transportation needs of different engine models.

6. A rapid inter-process flow method for a rocket engine production line based on the system described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: AGV logistics vehicles are used to transport single-unit brackets and single-unit engines to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The single-unit engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between three stations: the test station, the engine trial placement station, and the engine final inspection station using the circular conveyor. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the single-unit engine is taken off the line. The AGV logistics vehicle transports the dual-engine bracket and dual-engine to the online area of ​​the circular conveyor. The dual-engine is hoisted onto the line and then flows sequentially between six stations: the first dual-engine assembly station, the second dual-engine assembly station, the third dual-engine assembly station, the airtightness test station, the engine test placement station, and the engine final inspection station. After completing the testing and final inspection processes, the dual-engine is taken off the line.

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