Long-stroke air cylinder with intelligent positioner

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of air cylinders, and particularly relates to a long-stroke air cylinder with an intelligent positioner. The long-stroke air cylinder comprises a cylinder barrel and a piston, the piston is fixedly connected with a piston rod, the two ends of the cylinder barrel are fixedly connected with a first air port and a second air port respectively, the two ends of the cylinder barrel are fixedly connected with a front end cover and a rear end base respectively, and the positioner is installed on the rear end base; the positioner comprises a shell, a sensing assembly, a valve assembly and a controller. The sensing assembly comprises a bobbin, a force sensor and a lifting sleeve, the bobbin is driven to rotate when the piston moves, the lifting sleeve is driven to ascend and descend, and the pressure on the force sensor is changed; according to the embodiment, the stroke of the piston is converted into a pressure signal in an equal proportion mode through the structures such as the bobbin, the ball screw, the lifting base and the spring, the piston is accurately positioned by inputting the preset pressure, practicability is high, and control is convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of cylinders, and particularly to a long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner. Background Art

[0002] A cylinder is a cylindrical metal part that guides a piston to perform linear reciprocating motion in the cylinder. Its core function is to convert the pressure energy of compressed air into mechanical energy to drive the mechanism to complete linear motion, swinging or rotational motion. A cylinder mainly consists of components such as a cylinder barrel, end caps, a piston, a piston rod, and seals. To facilitate the control of the telescopic position of the cylinder, a positioner is usually installed on the cylinder to achieve precise movement of the cylinder.

[0003] The principle of positioning of existing cylinders on the market usually installs sensors inside or outside the cylinder. The piston is sensed by the sensors. When the piston moves to the sensing position, the piston stops moving to achieve the positioning of the piston. However, this method can only achieve the positioning of a single position of the piston. When it is necessary to position the piston at different positions, the position of the sensor needs to be changed and calibrated. Therefore, for each positioning of the piston at a different position, the position of the sensor needs to be changed again, and the positioning is rather troublesome. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner. By providing a sensing assembly to convert the position of the piston into the magnitude of a pressure signal, the positioning of different positions of the piston is realized, aiming to solve the problems in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above technical purpose, the specific technical solution of the present invention is as follows. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner proposed by the present invention includes a cylinder barrel and a piston. The piston is fixedly connected with a piston rod. The two ends of the cylinder barrel are respectively provided with a first air port and a second air port, and the two ends of the cylinder barrel are respectively fixedly connected with a front end cap and a rear end seat. A positioner is installed on the rear end seat. The positioner includes a housing, a sensing assembly, a valve assembly, and a controller. The sensing assembly includes a spool, a force sensor, and a lifting sleeve. When the piston moves, it drives the spool to rotate, drives the lifting sleeve to lift and lower, and changes the pressure on the force sensor.

[0006] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the spool is arranged inside the rear end seat, and a rope is wound on the surface of the spool. A support rod is fixedly connected to the piston, and one end of the rope is fixedly connected to the support rod.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a ball screw is rotatably connected inside the housing. The lifting sleeve is connected to the ball screw. When the spool rotates, it drives the ball screw to rotate. A lifting seat is fixedly connected to the lifting sleeve, and a spring is fixedly connected between the lifting seat and the force sensor.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the bobbin is coaxially connected with a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is rotationally and sealingly connected with the rear end seat, and a driving gear is fixedly installed on the rotating shaft, and a driven gear meshing with the driving gear is fixedly installed on the ball screw.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the bobbin rotates together with the rotating shaft, and the bobbin can axially move along the rotating shaft; a threaded rod is rotationally connected in the housing, a threaded sleeve is threadedly connected to the threaded rod, the threaded sleeve is fixedly connected with a base, the bobbin is rotationally connected with the base, and an incomplete gear is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and a complete gear meshing with the incomplete gear is fixedly connected to the threaded rod.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a spring seat is installed around the rotating shaft, and a clockwork spring is installed in the spring seat for driving the rotating shaft to reset, and one end of the clockwork spring is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the valve assembly includes a valve body, an air inlet and an air outlet are provided on the valve body, and an air vent is provided in the middle of the valve body, the air vent is connected to the second air port through a trachea, a first valve core and a second valve core which are connected to each other are sealingly and movably connected in the valve body, a sealed air flow channel is formed between the first valve core and the second valve core, and a sealing block is provided on the second valve core for sealing the air inlet.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the first valve core is fixedly connected with a push frame, a push rod is fixedly connected to the push frame, one end of the push rod is fixedly connected with a connecting seat, a rotatable track wheel is connected to the connecting seat, and the valve assembly further includes a rotating cylinder cooperating with the track wheel, and the rotating cylinder is rotationally connected to the surface of the support plate.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a spiral track cooperating with the track wheel is provided on the surface of the rotating cylinder, and three mutually parallel planar tracks are respectively provided on the spiral track; a rotating motor for driving the rotating cylinder to rotate is installed on the support plate.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0015] 1. When the cylinder piston moves, it can drive the bobbin to rotate. When the bobbin rotates, it drives the ball screw to rotate. When the ball screw rotates, it drives the lifting sleeve to lift and lower. The lifting sleeve compresses and deforms the spring, and the spring applies pressure to the pressure sensor, thereby converting the displacement stroke of the piston into the magnitude of the pressure, so as to accurately control the stroke of the cylinder and achieve the purpose of precise positioning.

[0016] 2. For each rotation of the bobbin of the present invention, the threaded rod is driven to rotate once by the incomplete gear, and then the threaded sleeve is driven to lift once, thereby driving the bobbin to lift once, avoiding the overlapping winding of the rope on the bobbin, ensuring that when the piston moves at equal intervals, the rotation angle of the driven bobbin is the same, the pressure variable applied to the force sensor is the same, and the positioning accuracy of the piston is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner proposed by the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 FIG. is a schematic sectional view of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a sensing assembly proposed by the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 FIG. is a schematic diagram of another angle of the sensing assembly proposed by the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a valve assembly proposed by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 FIG. is a schematic diagram of another angle of the valve assembly proposed by the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a valve body proposed by the present invention.

[0024] In the figure: 1, cylinder barrel; 2, rear end seat; 3, front end cover; 4, positioner; 41, air pipe; 42, housing; 43, controller; 44, sensing assembly; 441, bobbin; 442, rotating shaft; 443, incomplete gear; 444, threaded rod; 445, complete gear; 446, threaded sleeve; 447, base; 448, driving gear; 449, clockwork spring; 4410, spring seat; 4411, ball screw; 4412, lifting sleeve; 4413, driven gear; 4414, lifting seat; 4415, spring; 4416, force sensor; 45, valve assembly; 451, support plate; 452, valve body; 4521, air outlet; 4522, air inlet; 4523, ventilation port; 4524, first valve core; 4525, second valve core; 4526, sealing block; 4527, air flow channel; 453, push frame; 454, push rod; 455, rotating cylinder; 4551, spiral track; 4552, flat track; 456, connecting seat; 457, track wheel; 458, rotating motor; 5, piston rod; 6, piston; 7, support rod; 8, rope; 9, first air port; 10, second air port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0026] Embodiment: This embodiment discloses a long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent locator. As Figures 1-7 shown, it includes a cylinder barrel 1 and a piston 6. The piston 6 is fixedly connected to a piston rod 5. The piston 6 is hermetically and movably connected to the inside of the cylinder barrel 1. A sealing ring is installed on the piston 6, and buffer pads are connected to both ends of the piston 6 to protect the piston. The two ends of the cylinder barrel 1 are respectively provided with a first air port 9 and a second air port 10. When the cylinder extends, the second air port 10 intakes air and the first air port 9 exhausts air; when the cylinder contracts, the first air port 9 intakes air and the second air port 10 exhausts air; both ends of the piston and the cylinder barrel 1 are respectively fixedly connected to a front end cover 3 and a rear end seat 2. A locator 4 is installed on the rear end seat 2, and the locator 4 is used to locate the position of the piston 6; wherein, the locator 4 includes a housing 42, a sensing component 44, a valve component 45 and a controller 43. The sensing component 44 is used to sense the position of the piston 6, and the valve component 45 is used to control the intake and exhaust of air, thereby controlling the movement of the piston 6. The force sensor 4416 sends a pressure signal to the controller 43, and the controller 43 controls the valve component 45 to open or close, thereby controlling the movement of the piston 6.

[0027] As Figures 3-4As shown, the sensing component 44 includes a bobbin 441, a force sensor 4416, and a lifting sleeve 4412. Among them, the force sensor 4416 is fixedly installed on the housing 42. The bobbin 441 is arranged inside the rear end seat 2, and a rope 8 is wound around the surface of the bobbin 441. The rope 8 is made of steel wire rope. A support rod 7 is fixedly connected to the piston 6. One end of the rope 8 is fixedly connected to the support rod 7. When the piston 6 moves, it drives the bobbin 441 to rotate. A ball screw 4411 is rotatably connected inside the housing 42. The lifting sleeve 4412 is threadedly connected to the ball screw 4411. The lifting sleeve 4412 is a screw sleeve. When the ball screw 4411 rotates, it can drive the lifting sleeve 4412 to move up and down. The bobbin 441 is coaxially connected to a rotating shaft 442. The rotating shaft 442 is in sealed rotational connection with the rear end seat 2, and a driving gear 448 is fixedly installed on the rotating shaft 442. A driven gear 4413 meshing with the driving gear 448 is fixedly installed on the ball screw 4411. Among them, the diameter of the driving gear 448 is much larger than the diameter of the driven gear 4413, so that a slight rotation of the bobbin 441 can drive the ball screw 4411 to rotate, changing the pressure received by the force sensor 4416. When the bobbin 441 rotates, it drives the ball screw 4411 to rotate. A lifting seat 4414 is fixedly connected to the lifting sleeve 4412. A spring 4415 is fixedly connected between the lifting seat 4414 and the force sensor 4416. The force sensor 4416 is used to sense the elastic force of the spring 4415. Among them, the elastic force of the spring 4415 follows Hooke's law, and the magnitude of the elastic force is proportional to the deformation of the spring. The compression amount of the spring 4415 is proportional to the displacement of the piston 6, so as to convert the displacement of the piston 6 into the deformation of the spring 4415. When the piston 6 is in the position of the rear end seat 2, the spring 4415 is in a natural state at this time, and the force sensor 4416 detects that the pressure magnitude is zero. Specifically in implementation: when the cylinder extends, the piston 6 drives the bobbin 441 to rotate, the bobbin 441 drives the rotating shaft 442 and the driving gear 448 to rotate, drives the ball screw 4411 to rotate, and further drives the lifting seat 4414 to rise. The spring 4415 is compressed by the force, applying pressure to the force sensor 4416. The force sensor 4416 converts the pressure signal into an electrical signal and sends it to the controller 43. When the force sensor 4416 detects that the pressure reaches the preset pressure, the controller 43 controls the valve assembly 45 to close, stops supplying air into the cylinder barrel 1, and the piston stops moving. In this embodiment, through structures such as the bobbin 441, the ball screw 4411, the lifting seat 4414, and the spring 4415, when positioning the piston 6, the stroke of the piston 6 can be proportionally converted into the pressure magnitude through calculation. By inputting the preset pressure magnitude, the piston 6 can be accurately positioned, and the control is convenient.

[0028] Preferably, to improve the accuracy of the sensing component 44, a limiting rib is provided on the surface of the rotating shaft 442, so that the wire reel 441 rotates together with the rotating shaft 442, and the wire reel 441 can axially move along the rotating shaft 442; a threaded rod 444 is rotatably connected in the housing 42, the lower half of the threaded rod 444 is provided with threads, a threaded sleeve 446 is threadedly connected to the threaded rod 444, the threaded sleeve 446 is fixedly connected to a base 447, the wire reel 441 is rotatably connected to the base 447, and the rotating shaft 442 is fixedly connected to an incomplete gear 443, and the threaded rod 444 is fixedly connected to a complete gear 445 meshing with the incomplete gear 443; through the arrangement of the incomplete gear 443 and the complete gear 445, every time the wire reel 441 rotates one circle, the threaded rod 444 is driven to rotate once, and then the wire reel 441 is driven to lift once through the threaded sleeve 446, and the distance of each lift of the wire reel 441 is the same as the diameter of the rope 8, so that the rope 8 is evenly wound on the surface of the wire reel 441, avoiding the rope 8 from overlapping and winding on the wire reel 441. Therefore, when the piston 6 moves at equal distances, the wire reel 441 rotates at the same angle, and the pressure variable applied to the force sensor 4416 is the same, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the sensing component 44.

[0029] Preferably, a spring seat 4410 is installed around the rotating shaft 442, and a clockwork spring 449 is installed in the spring seat 4410 for driving the rotating shaft 442 to reset. One end of the clockwork spring 449 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 442. When the air cylinder extends, the wire reel 441 is driven to rotate forward, driving the clockwork spring 449 to tighten and store energy; when the air cylinder contracts, the wire reel 441 is driven to rotate backward by the elastic force of the clockwork spring 449, so as to wind the rope 8 on the surface of the wire reel 441.

[0030] As Figures 4-6As shown, the valve assembly 45 includes a valve body 452. The valve body 452 is installed on the support plate 451. An air inlet 4522 and an air outlet 4521 are provided on the valve body 452. The air inlet 4522 is communicated with an external air source. A ventilation port 4523 is provided in the middle of the valve body 452. The ventilation port 4523 is connected to the second air port 10 through an air pipe 41. A first valve core 4524 and a second valve core 4525 which are connected to each other are hermetically and movably connected in the valve body 452. The first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525 move simultaneously. A sealed air flow channel 4527 is formed between the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525. A sealing block 4526 is provided on the second valve core 4525 for sealing the air inlet 4522. By moving the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525, the opening and closing of the valve assembly 45 are controlled. In this embodiment, the valve body 452 has three states in total: Intake state: When the air inlet 4522 and the ventilation port 4523 are both between the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525, the air inlet 4522 is communicated with the ventilation port 4523 through the air flow channel 4527, and the gas can enter the inside of the cylinder through the ventilation port 4523, and the cylinder extends; Locked state: When only the ventilation port 4523 is between the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525, the air inlet 4522 is closed, the valve body 452 is in a closed state, and the cylinder is locked; Exhaust state: When the air outlet 4521 and the ventilation port 4523 are both between the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525, the first air port 9 intakes air, driving the cylinder to contract, and the gas in the cylinder is discharged through the air outlet 4521; Among them, when the valve body 452 is in the locked state and the exhaust state, the sealing block 4526 closes the air inlet 4522.

[0031] Preferably, for the convenience of controlling the movement of the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525, the first valve core 4524 is fixedly connected with a push frame 453, the push frame 453 is fixedly connected with a push rod 454, one end of the push rod 454 is fixedly connected with a connecting seat 456, and a rotatable track wheel 457 is connected to the connecting seat 456. Among them, the valve assembly 45 further includes a rotating cylinder 455 that cooperates with the track wheel 457. The rotating cylinder 455 is rotatably connected to the surface of the support plate 451. A spiral track 4551 that cooperates with the track wheel 457 is provided on the surface of the rotating cylinder 455. A limiting groove that cooperates with the spiral track 4551 is provided on the surface of the track wheel 457 to prevent the track wheel 457 from derailing. Three mutually parallel flat tracks 4552 are respectively provided on the spiral track 4551. The three flat tracks 4552 correspond to the three states of the valve body 452 one by one; a rotating motor 458 for driving the rotating cylinder 455 to rotate is installed on the support plate 451. The rotating motor 458 drives the rotating cylinder 455 to rotate through a gear assembly. The controller 43 controls the rotating motor 458 to drive the rotating cylinder 455 to rotate forward or backward, thereby driving the push frame 453 to move, and then driving the first valve core 4524 and the second valve core 4525 to move, controlling the valve body 452 to switch among the three states, and further controlling the expansion and contraction of the cylinder.

[0032] Working principle: When the cylinder extends, the controller 43 controls the valve body 452 to be in the air intake state. Gas enters the cylinder and drives the piston 6 to move. When the piston 6 moves, it drives the wire drum 441 to rotate. When the wire drum 441 rotates, it drives the rotating shaft 442 and the driving gear 448 to rotate, driving the ball screw 4411 to rotate, and then driving the lifting seat 4414 to rise. The spring 4415 is compressed under force and deforms, applying pressure to the force sensor 4416. The force sensor 4416 converts the pressure signal into an electrical signal and sends it to the controller 43. When the force sensor 4416 detects that the pressure reaches the preset pressure, the controller 43 controls the valve body 452 to switch to the locked state, stops admitting air into the cylinder barrel 1, and the piston 6 stops moving, thereby accurately positioning the piston 6; when the cylinder contracts, the controller 43 controls the valve body 452 to switch to the air outlet state, and the gas is discharged through the air outlet 4521. The piston 6 moves back, the wire drum 441 rotates in the reverse direction, and the rope is rewound on its surface. At the same time, the lifting seat 4414 descends to the original position, and the spring 4415 returns to its original shape.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that: In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "vertical", "upper", "lower", "horizontal", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

[0034] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner, comprising a cylinder barrel (1) and a piston (6), wherein the piston (6) is fixedly connected to a piston rod (5), characterized in that: The two ends of the cylinder barrel (1) are respectively provided with a first air port (9) and a second air port (10), and the two ends of the cylinder barrel (1) are respectively fixedly connected with a front end cover (3) and a rear end seat (2), and a positioner (4) is installed on the rear end seat (2); The positioner (4) comprises a housing (42), a sensor assembly (44), a valve assembly (45) and a controller (43); The sensing assembly (44) comprises a bobbin (441), a force sensor (4416) and a lifting sleeve (4412); when the piston (6) moves, the bobbin (441) is driven to rotate, and the lifting sleeve (4412) is driven to move up and down, thereby changing the pressure on the force sensor (4416).

2. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wire drum (441) is disposed in the rear end seat (2), and a rope (8) is wound on the surface of the wire drum (441). A support rod (7) is fixedly connected to the piston (6), and one end of the rope (8) is fixedly connected to the support rod (7).

3. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 2, characterized in that: A ball screw (4411) is rotatably connected inside the housing (42), a lifting sleeve (4412) is connected to the ball screw (4411), and when the bobbin (441) rotates, the ball screw (4411) is driven to rotate, and a lifting seat (4414) is fixedly connected to the lifting sleeve (4412), and a spring (4415) is fixedly connected between the lifting seat (4414) and the force sensor (4416).

4. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bobbin (441) is coaxially connected to a rotating shaft (442), the rotating shaft (442) is sealingly rotatably connected to the rear end seat (2), a driving gear (448) is fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft (442), and a driven gear (4413) meshing with the driving gear (448) is fixedly mounted on the ball screw (4411).

5. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bobbin (441) rotates together with the rotating shaft (442), and the bobbin (441) can move axially along the rotating shaft (442); a threaded rod (444) is rotatably connected inside the housing (42); a threaded sleeve (446) is threadedly connected to the threaded rod (444); the threaded sleeve (446) is fixedly connected to a base (447); the bobbin (441) is rotatably connected to the base (447); the rotating shaft (442) is fixedly connected to an incomplete gear (443); and the threaded rod (444) is fixedly connected to a complete gear (445) meshing with the incomplete gear (443).

6. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 5, characterized in that: A spring seat (4410) is installed on the periphery of the rotating shaft (442), and a spring (449) is installed in the spring seat (4410) for driving the rotating shaft (442) to reset. One end of the spring (449) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (442).

7. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 6, characterized in that: The valve assembly (45) comprises a valve body (452), the valve body (452) being provided with an air inlet (4522) and an air outlet (4521), and a vent (4523) being provided in the middle of the valve body (452), the vent (4523) being connected to the second air port (10) via an air pipe (41), a first valve core (4524) and a second valve core (4525) being connected to each other in a sealing and movable manner in the valve body (452), a sealed air flow channel (4527) being formed between the first valve core (4524) and the second valve core (4525), and a sealing block (4526) being provided on the second valve core (4525) for sealing the air inlet (4522).

8. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first valve core (4524) is fixedly connected to a push frame (453), a push rod (454) is fixedly connected to the push frame (453), one end of the push rod (454) is fixedly connected to a connecting seat (456), a rotatable track wheel (457) is connected to the connecting seat (456), and the valve assembly (45) further comprises a rotating cylinder (455) cooperating with the track wheel (457), and the rotating cylinder (455) is rotatably connected to the surface of the support plate (451).

9. A long-stroke cylinder with an intelligent positioner according to claim 8, characterized in that: The surface of the rotating cylinder (455) is provided with a spiral track (4551) that cooperates with the track wheel (457), and the spiral track (4551) is respectively provided with three mutually parallel planar tracks (4552); and a rotating motor (458) for driving the rotating cylinder (455) to rotate is installed on the support plate (451).

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