Drying agent automatic quantitative filling equipment of suspension air supply module

Abstract

The invention discloses a drying agent automatic quantitative filling device of a suspension air supply module, and belongs to the technical field of mechanical automation and automobile part manufacturing, the drying agent automatic quantitative filling device comprises a sliding platform used for bearing products and capable of moving along a preset path; the filling assembly comprises a distribution pipeline, two movable cavities, a driving mechanism, a filling position and a discharging position, the distribution pipeline is used for distributing the drying agent to at least one cavity, and the driving mechanism is used for switching the cavities between the filling position and the discharging position; and the guide pipe is arranged below the discharging position and used for quantitatively guiding the drying agent into the product, the guide pipe is provided with a weight detection assembly, the weight detection assembly is used for monitoring the filling amount of the drying agent in the guide pipe, the output end of the guide pipe is provided with a valve, the valve is connected with an executing mechanism, and the executing mechanism controls the valve to be opened and closed according to a signal of the weight detection assembly. According to the invention, automatic, continuous and quantitative filling of the drying agent can be realized, and the product processing precision is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of mechanical automation and automobile parts manufacturing, and particularly relates to an automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry toward intelligent and comfortable driving, air suspension systems, owing to their superior shock absorption and dynamic adjustment capabilities, have become standard equipment in mid- to high-end vehicles. As the core control unit of the air suspension system, the Air Supply Unit (ASU) undertakes critical functions such as air compression, distribution, and drying. Its performance directly impacts the overall vehicle's ride comfort and system reliability. During the ASU's long-term operation, desiccant, as a core functional material, primarily absorbs moisture from the compressed air, preventing icing and component corrosion within the system, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining stable system operation.

[0003] Currently, ASU desiccant filling mainly adopts the following technical solutions: manual filling method, in which the operator manually weighs the desiccant and pours it into the ASU cavity. This method has problems such as inaccurate measurement, low filling efficiency, susceptibility to human factors, and difficulty in ensuring product consistency; semi-automatic filling equipment, which uses a simple metering device in conjunction with manual operation, is an improvement over the manual method alone, but still has defects such as insufficient measurement accuracy and slow filling speed, and cannot meet the needs of large-scale production; automatic filling equipment has high filling efficiency, but still cannot solve the problem of insufficient desiccant measurement accuracy, and the desiccant is prone to gaps during rapid filling, affecting the final filling density.

[0004] US Patent Publication No. US11040787B2 discloses a dosing assembly comprising a valve assembly, a product hopper, a containment system, and a connecting bracket. The dosing assembly is connectable to a filler for dispensing a predetermined amount of filler material into a container. The filler material can include any number of different granular materials. This invention achieves quantitative filling of particles through valve control, ultimately completing the filling process into the container, eliminating the need to replace the filling equipment. However, it still fails to address the issue of insufficient metering accuracy in the field of desiccant filling. Therefore, it is necessary to design an automated, high-precision filling device that can accurately meter, automatically fill, and control the density of the desiccant. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic quantitative assembly device for assembling desiccant for a suspension air supply module (ASU) that can efficiently fill the desiccant and has high metering accuracy.

[0006] The technical solutions adopted by the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned purpose are: An automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module includes: a sliding platform for carrying products and capable of moving along a predetermined path; a filling assembly including a distribution pipeline, two movable cavities, a driving mechanism, a filling position, and a discharge position; the distribution pipeline is used to distribute desiccant to at least one cavity; the driving mechanism is used to switch the cavity between the filling position and the discharge position; a guide tube, provided below the discharge position, is used to quantitatively introduce desiccant into the product. The driving mechanism causes the cavity to be located at the filling position, and the distribution pipeline quantitatively distributes desiccant to the cavity located at the filling position; the sliding platform can carry the carried product and move along a predetermined path to the bottom of the guide tube; the driving mechanism causes the cavity filled with desiccant to move to the discharge position and release the desiccant to the guide tube below it; the guide tube guides the released desiccant into the product below it, completing the filling of the desiccant; the driving mechanism controls the cavity position to control the amount of desiccant filled in the cavity, thereby achieving quantitative filling of the desiccant into the product; The equipment realizes automatic product transportation through the sliding platform. Combined with the dual-cavity position switching design of the filling component, it realizes continuous filling and unloading of desiccant, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0007] Preferably, the guide tube is provided with a weight detection component, and the weight detection component is used to monitor the filling amount of the desiccant in the guide tube.

[0008] Preferably, a valve is provided at the output end of the guide tube, and the valve is connected to an actuator, which controls the opening and closing of the valve according to the signal of the weight detection component. The valve is linked to the weight detection component. When the desiccant enters the guide tube, the valve remains closed, and the cavity releases the desiccant filled therein into the guide tube at the unloading position, so that the desiccant is trapped in the guide tube. After the cavity completes the action of releasing the desiccant, the weight detection component obtains the total amount of desiccant filled in the guide tube at this time, and the valve is opened. At the same time, the weight detection component monitors the desiccant filling amount in the guide tube in real time. When the weight detection component detects that the desiccant filling amount in the guide tube drops to a preset value, the valve is controlled to close, so that the amount of desiccant filled from the guide tube to the product is controlled to be within the preset value; the valve is linked to the weight detection component to achieve closed-loop control, and the quantitative filling of the cavity is linearly linked with the quantitative output of the guide tube, so as to achieve dual control of the final amount of desiccant released, further improving the control accuracy of filling, reducing manual intervention, and ensuring the process stability of quantitative filling of desiccant.

[0009] Preferably, the valve includes a cover hinged to the outside of the guide tube. The actuator includes a retractable rod movably connected to the cover. The actuator, through the extension and retraction of the rod, rotates the cover about the hinge point, thereby opening and closing the guide tube. The mechanical design of the hinged cover and rod simplifies the valve structure, ensuring reliable operation and easy maintenance. It also rapidly responds to weight signals, optimizing filling efficiency.

[0010] Preferably, the sliding platform includes a guide rail and a vibration table slidably connected to the guide rail, wherein the vibration table is configured to vibrate the product to reduce gaps in the desiccant. The vibration table reduces the gaps in the desiccant through vibration, improves packing density and uniformity, avoids voids, and enhances product performance reliability.

[0011] Preferably, the vibration table includes a base plate, a vibrator, and a product placement plate. The base plate is slidably connected to the guide rails, the vibrator is mounted on the base plate, a transition plate is mounted on the vibrator, and the product placement plate is mounted on the transition plate. The product placement plate has a groove for accommodating the product. The groove on the product placement plate helps stabilize the posture and position of the product, reducing the risk of product displacement during vibration and sliding on the sliding platform, which could lead to positional deviation in subsequent processing, thereby improving product process consistency.

[0012] Preferably, the distribution pipeline is connected to a desiccant storage tank, which is filled with desiccant via vacuum adsorption and equipped with a hot air circulation system. This vacuum adsorption filling combined with the hot air circulation system ensures the fluidity and moisture resistance of the desiccant within the tank, preventing agglomeration and ensuring a smooth filling process. The hot air circulation system maintains a low humidity environment within the tank, preventing the desiccant from absorbing moisture and agglomerating, and avoiding fill volume deviations due to particle adhesion. The stable flow characteristics of the desiccant enable the weight detection component to respond to weight signals more quickly and accurately, reducing delays or errors caused by poor material fluidity and further optimizing filling efficiency and accuracy.

[0013] Preferably, a housing is located between the guide tube and the distribution pipeline. The top of the housing has a filling hole connected to the distribution pipeline, and the bottom of the housing has a discharge hole connected to the guide tube. In the filling position, the top of the cavity communicates with the filling hole, and in the discharge position, the bottom of the cavity communicates with the discharge hole. The housing design optimizes the filling and discharge paths, ensuring good sealing when switching between cavities, reducing the possibility of desiccant leakage or contamination, and improving material utilization.

[0014] Preferably, the guide tube comprises an integrally connected vertical section and an inclined section. The vertical section is positioned below the discharge location and is funnel-shaped, expanding upward. The inclined section is a straight tube, tilted toward gravity, with the valve located at the end of the inclined section. The funnel-shaped vertical section expands the material receiving area, while the inclined section utilizes gravity to assist in material discharge, reducing the risk of blockage. The valve located at the end of the inclined section further controls the precise delivery of the desiccant to the product. Compared to placing a valve in the channel, this reduces the possibility of the valve squeezing the desiccant, generating debris that could contaminate the process environment, and also reduces the possibility of falling debris causing fill volume deviations.

[0015] Preferably, the system also includes a control system that coordinates the operation of the drive mechanism, guide tube, and sliding platform to achieve fully automatic quantitative filling of the desiccant. The control system integrates and coordinates the actions of each component to achieve fully automated production, reduce labor costs, and improve overall equipment accuracy and production efficiency.

[0016] Compared with the existing technology, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the driving mechanism controls the position of the cavity to realize quantitative filling of the desiccant in the cavity, and improves the precision control of the product filling amount; the automatic conveying of the product, combined with the dual-cavity position switching design of the filling process, realizes continuous filling and unloading of the desiccant, and improves production efficiency; the valve and the weight detection component are linked to realize closed-loop dual control, reduce manual intervention, ensure the precision of quantitative filling, and improve process stability; the vibration table reduces the desiccant gap through vibration, improves the filling density and uniformity, avoids the void problem, and enhances the reliability of product performance; the hot air circulation system improves the smoothness of desiccant conveying, reduces delays or errors caused by poor material fluidity, and further optimizes the filling efficiency and precision; the control system coordinates the actions of each component to realize fully automated production, reduce labor costs, and improve the overall equipment precision and production efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is the overall schematic diagram of the assembly equipment; Figure 2 It is a side view schematic diagram of the assembly equipment; Figure 3 This is a forward schematic diagram of the assembly equipment; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the filling component and the distribution pipe; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the driving mechanism and cavity structure; Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the cross-section of the moving mechanism and the cavity; Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the position of the guide tube and the shell; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the guide tube and the actuator.

[0018] Figure numbers: sliding platform 1; guide rail 11; vibration table 12; base plate 121; vibrator 122; product placement plate 123; transition plate 124; distribution pipeline 2; cavity 3; drive mechanism 4; guide tube 5; gravity detection component 50; vertical section 51; inclined section 52; support rod 53, connecting rod 54; valve 6; cover body 61; rotating head 62; actuator 7; rod body 71; shell 8; filling hole 81; discharge hole 82; detection mechanism 9; oiling mechanism 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings: Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] See also Figure 1 - Figure 4 An automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspended air supply module includes: a sliding platform 1, used to carry products and can move along a predetermined path; a filling component, including a distribution pipeline 2, two movable cavities 3, a drive mechanism 4, a filling position and a discharge position, the distribution pipeline 2 is used to distribute desiccant to at least one cavity 3, and the drive mechanism 4 is used to switch the cavity 3 between the filling position and the discharge position; a guide tube 5, located below the discharge position, is used to quantitatively introduce the desiccant into the product.

[0021] The driving mechanism 4 positions the cavity 3 at the filling position. The distribution pipeline 2 quantitatively distributes the desiccant into the cavity 3 at the filling position. The sliding platform 1 can carry the carried product along a predetermined path to the bottom of the guide tube 5. The driving mechanism 4 moves the cavity 3 filled with desiccant to the unloading position and releases the desiccant into the guide tube 5 below it. The guide tube 5 guides the released desiccant into the product below it, completing the desiccant filling. The driving mechanism 4 controls the position of the cavity 3 to control the desiccant filling amount in the cavity 3, thereby achieving quantitative filling of the desiccant into the product. The equipment realizes automatic conveying of products through the sliding platform 1. Combined with the dual-cavity 3-position switching design of the filling component, it realizes continuous filling and unloading of desiccant, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0022] The guide tube 5 is provided with a weight detection component 50 , which is used to monitor the filling amount of the desiccant in the guide tube 5 .

[0023] A bracket is provided above the sliding platform 1 , and a weight detection assembly 50 is provided on the bracket. The weight detection assembly 50 is connected to a weighing rod, and the weighing rod is connected to the guide tube 5 , and the guide tube 5 is supported only by the weighing rod.

[0024] A valve 6 is provided at the output end of the guide tube 5 , and the valve 6 is connected to an actuator 7 . The actuator 7 controls the opening and closing of the valve 6 according to the signal of the weight detection component 50 . The valve 6 is linked to the weight detection component 50. When the desiccant enters the guide tube 5, the valve 6 remains closed. The cavity 3 releases the desiccant filled therein into the guide tube 5 at the unloading position, so that the desiccant is trapped in the guide tube 5. After the cavity 3 completes the action of releasing the desiccant, the weight detection component 50 obtains the total amount of desiccant filled in the guide tube 5 at this time. At this time, the valve 6 is opened. At the same time, the weight detection component 50 monitors the desiccant filling amount in the guide tube 5 in real time. When the weight detection component 50 detects that the desiccant filling amount in the guide tube 5 drops to a preset value, the valve 6 is controlled to close, so that the amount of desiccant filled from the guide tube 5 to the product is controlled to be within the preset value; the valve 6 is linked to the weight detection component 50 to achieve closed-loop control, and the quantitative filling of the cavity 3 is linearly linked to the quantitative output of the guide tube 5, so as to achieve dual control of the final release amount of the desiccant, further improving the control accuracy of the filling, reducing manual intervention, and ensuring the process stability of the quantitative filling of the desiccant.

[0025] See also Figure 7 - Figure 8 Valve 6 includes a cover 61 hinged on the outside of guide tube 5. Actuator 7 includes a retractable rod 71 movably connected to cover 61. The actuator 7 drives cover 61 to rotate about the hinge point through the expansion and contraction of rod 71, thereby opening and closing guide tube 5. The mechanical design of the hinged cover 61 and rod 71 simplifies the structure of valve 6, ensuring reliable operation and easy maintenance. It also quickly responds to weight signals, optimizing filling efficiency.

[0026] A support rod 53 is provided on the guide tube 5, and the support rod 53 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 54. The end of the rod body 71 is connected to the rotating head 62. One end of the connecting rod 54 is hinged to the rotating head 62, and the other end of the connecting rod 54 is hinged to the cover body 61. The middle part of the connecting rod 54 is hinged to the support rod 53. The rod body 71 is extended and retracted to drive the rotating head 62 to move, so that the connecting rod 54 swings at the hinge with the support rod 53, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the cover body 61 at the discharge end of the guide tube 5.

[0027] Sliding platform 1 includes guide rails 11 and a vibration platform 12 slidably connected to guide rails 11. Vibration platform 12 is configured to vibrate the product to reduce desiccant gaps. Vibration platform 12 reduces desiccant gaps through vibration, improves packing density and uniformity, avoids voids, and enhances product performance reliability.

[0028] The vibration platform 12 includes a base plate 121, a vibrator 122, and a product placement plate 123. The base plate 121 is slidably connected to the guide rail 11. The vibrator 122 is mounted on the base plate 121. A transition plate 124 is mounted on the vibrator 122. The product placement plate 123 is mounted on the transition plate 124 and has a groove for accommodating products. The groove on the product placement plate 123 stabilizes the posture and position of the product, reducing product displacement during the vibration and sliding of the sliding platform 1, which could lead to positional deviation in subsequent processing, thereby improving product process consistency.

[0029] Distribution line 2 is connected to a desiccant storage tank, which is filled with desiccant via vacuum adsorption and equipped with a hot air circulation system. This vacuum adsorption filling combined with the hot air circulation system ensures the fluidity and moisture resistance of the desiccant within the tank, preventing agglomeration and ensuring a smooth filling process. The hot air circulation system maintains a low humidity environment within the tank, preventing the desiccant from absorbing moisture and agglomerating, and avoiding fill volume deviations due to particle adhesion. The stable flow characteristics of the desiccant enable the weight detection assembly 50 to respond to weight signals more quickly and accurately, reducing delays or errors caused by poor material fluidity and further optimizing filling efficiency and accuracy.

[0030] See also Figure 5 - Figure 6 A housing 8 is located between the guide tube 5 and the distribution line 2. The top of the housing 8 has a filling hole 81 connected to the distribution line 2, and the bottom of the housing 8 has a discharge hole 82 connected to the guide tube 5. In the filling position, the top of the cavity 3 communicates with the filling hole 81. In the discharge position, the bottom of the cavity 3 communicates with the discharge hole 82. The design of the housing 8 optimizes the filling and discharge paths, ensuring good sealing when switching between the cavity 3, reducing the possibility of desiccant leakage or contamination, and improving material utilization.

[0031] Guide tube 5 comprises an integrally connected vertical section 51 and an inclined section 52. The vertical section 51 is positioned below the discharge position and is funnel-shaped, expanding upward. The inclined section 52 is a straight tube, tilted toward gravity. Valve 6 is located at the end of the inclined section 52. The funnel-shaped vertical section 51 expands the material receiving area, while the inclined section 52 utilizes gravity to assist in material discharge, reducing the risk of blockage. Valve 6, located at the end of the inclined section 52, further controls the precise delivery of the desiccant to the product. Compared to placing the valve 6 in the channel, this reduces the possibility of the valve 6 squeezing the desiccant and generating debris that could contaminate the process environment, and also reduces the possibility of falling debris causing fill volume deviations.

[0032] The system also includes a control system that coordinates the operation of the drive mechanism 4, guide tube 5, and sliding platform 1 to achieve fully automatic quantitative filling of the desiccant. This control system integrates and coordinates the actions of each component, enabling fully automated production, reducing labor costs, and improving overall equipment accuracy and production efficiency.

[0033] An automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module further comprises: The inspection station is equipped with an inspection mechanism to inspect the desiccant filling status of the product; The oiling station has an oiling mechanism, which oils the cavity where the product is filled with desiccant; The detection mechanism and the oiling mechanism are both arranged above the moving path of the sliding platform 1 .

[0034] The detection mechanism includes a detection head and a driver. The driver can drive the detection head into the cavity filled with desiccant in the product for detection; The oiling mechanism includes an oiling head that can be raised and lowered, and the oiling head is used to extend into the cavity filled with desiccant in the product to perform oiling treatment.

[0035] Sliding platform 1 is configured as follows: First, move it under the guide tube 5 so that the product receives the desiccant; Then it moves to the inspection station, where the product is inspected by the inspection agency; Finally, it moves to the oiling station, where the oiling mechanism performs oiling on the product.

[0036] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, not the foregoing description, and all variations within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included therein. Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim to which it relates.

Claims

1. An automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module, characterized in that: include: A sliding platform (1) is used to carry products and can move along a predetermined path; A filling assembly comprises a distribution pipeline (2), two movable chambers (3), a drive mechanism (4), a filling position and a discharge position, wherein the distribution pipeline (2) is used to distribute desiccant to at least one chamber (3), and the drive mechanism (4) is used to switch the chamber (3) between the filling position and the discharge position; A guide tube (5) is provided below the material discharge position and is used to quantitatively introduce the desiccant into the product.

2. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide tube (5) is provided with a weight detection component (50), and the weight detection component (50) is used to monitor the filling amount of the desiccant in the guide tube (5).

3. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The output end of the guide tube (5) is provided with a valve (6), and the valve (6) is connected to an actuator (7). The actuator (7) controls the opening and closing of the valve (6) according to the signal of the weight detection component (50).

4. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The valve (6) includes a cover body (61), the cover body (61) is hinged on the outside of the guide tube (5), the actuator (7) has a telescopic rod body (71), the rod body (71) is movably connected to the cover body (61), and the actuator (7) drives the cover body (61) to rotate around the hinge point through the telescopic movement of the rod body (71), thereby realizing the opening and closing of the guide tube (5).

5. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sliding platform (1) comprises a guide rail (11) and a vibration table (12) slidably connected to the guide rail (11), wherein the vibration table (12) is configured to vibrate the product to reduce the gap of the desiccant.

6. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The vibration table (12) includes a bottom plate (121), a vibrator (122), and a product placement plate (123). The bottom plate (121) is slidably connected to the guide rail (11). The vibrator (122) is arranged on the bottom plate (121). A transition plate (124) is provided on the vibrator (122). The product placement plate (123) is arranged on the transition plate (124). The product placement plate (123) has a groove for accommodating products.

7. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distribution pipeline (2) is connected to a desiccant storage tank, which is filled with desiccant by vacuum adsorption. The desiccant storage tank is provided with a hot air circulation system.

8. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A shell (8) is provided between the guide tube (5) and the distribution pipeline (2). The top of the shell (8) is provided with a filling hole (81) communicating with the distribution pipeline (2), and the bottom of the shell (8) is provided with a discharge hole (82) communicating with the guide tube (5). When in the filling position, the top of the cavity (3) is communicated with the filling hole (81), and when in the discharge position, the bottom of the cavity (3) is communicated with the discharge hole (82).

9. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide tube (5) has an integrally connected vertical section (51) and an inclined section (52); the vertical section (51) is arranged below the material discharge position; the vertical section (51) is in the shape of a funnel that expands upward; the inclined section (52) is a straight tube and is arranged inclined in the direction of gravity; and the valve (6) is arranged at the end of the inclined section (52).

10. The automatic quantitative desiccant filling device for a suspension air supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a control system, which is used to coordinate the operation of the driving mechanism (4), the guide tube (5) and the sliding platform (1) to achieve fully automatic quantitative filling of the desiccant.

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