Tool for measuring deformation of connecting rod and use method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of connecting rod measurement, in particular to a tool for measuring deformation of a connecting rod and a using method thereof.The tool comprises a main rod piece, a plurality of sleeve rods are distributed on the periphery of the main rod piece, the end, away from the main rod piece, of each sleeve rod is in threaded connection with an adjusting rod, and a locking nut is arranged on each adjusting rod; the locking nut is used for locking the length of the portion, protruding out of the sleeve rod, of the adjusting rod, a top block is further fixedly arranged at the end, away from the sleeve rod, of the adjusting rod, and the top end of the top block is in an arc shape and is matched with an inner hole of the connecting rod. According to the large connecting rod for the ship, under the condition that disassembly is not convenient, the tool can be directly used for being matched with an angle measurer on site, measurement of the deformation amount of the connecting rod is simplified, and therefore production efficiency is improved, time for hoisting back and forth is saved, and meanwhile corresponding dangerousness is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of connecting rod measurement, and in particular to a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] During the repair of main and auxiliary engines, measuring connecting rod deformation is a critical and frequently performed process. The primary objective of this task is to accurately measure the parallelism deviation of the connecting rod's bearing bore axes at both ends, as well as the degree of bending deformation along the rod's centerline, providing data support for developing a scientifically sound repair plan. Traditional measurement methods present significant efficiency bottlenecks and cost issues. First, the bulky connecting rod assembly must be disassembled and hoisted from the confined engine room, undergoing complex transportation to the machining shop. Measurements then require the use of valuable boring machines, leading to unproductive waste and numerous inefficiencies. Specifically, the entire process presents three key pain points: First, the hoisting process takes at least an hour per unit, significantly slowing repair progress. Second, the hourly rate for the boring machine can reach hundreds of yuan, effectively preventing other machining tasks from being performed during the measurement period. Third, the multiple hoisting and transport operations increase the risk of component damage and can affect measurement accuracy due to factors such as vibration. This traditional measurement model has become a significant bottleneck hindering improved ship repair efficiency, necessitating the development of more efficient and cost-effective on-site measurement solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation. This device is specifically designed for large marine connecting rods. When disassembly is inconvenient, the tool can be used directly on-site with an angle measuring device, simplifying the measurement of connecting rod deformation. A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for using the tool for measuring connecting rod deformation. This method significantly improves production efficiency, saves time in back-and-forth lifting, and reduces associated risks.

[0004] The tool for measuring the deformation of a connecting rod described in the present invention includes a main rod member, and a plurality of sleeve rods are distributed around the main rod member. Each of the sleeve rods is threadedly connected to an adjusting rod at one end away from the main rod member. A locking nut is provided on the adjusting rod, and the locking nut is used to lock the length of the adjusting rod protruding from the sleeve rod. A top block is also fixed to the end of the adjusting rod away from the sleeve rod, and the top end of the top block is arc-shaped and adapted to the inner hole of the connecting rod.

[0005] In one embodiment, the main rod is cylindrical, and there are four sleeve rods that are evenly distributed in four directions of the main rod.

[0006] In one embodiment, a mounting piece is welded to one end of the sleeve rod close to the main rod, the mounting piece is arc-shaped and adapted to the side of the main rod, and the main rod is detachably connected to the mounting piece through fixing bolts correspondingly arranged on both sides of the sleeve rod.

[0007] In one embodiment, the main rod is provided with a plurality of bolt holes arranged along the length direction, and the bolt holes are adapted to the fixing bolts and are used to connect the mounting member.

[0008] In one embodiment, the top block is made of brass, and the length of each top block covers the arc length angle of the inner hole of the connecting rod by 15° to 25°.

[0009] In one embodiment, the length of the main rod is greater than the depth of the inner hole of the connecting rod, and the outer diameter of the main rod is at least 100 mm.

[0010] The method for using the tool for measuring connecting rod deformation of the present invention uses the above-mentioned tool for measuring connecting rod deformation and includes the following steps:

[0011] S1. Prepare two sets of the tooling, adjust the position of each adjusting rod relative to the sleeve rod, so that each top block is closely attached to the side walls of the two inner holes of the connecting rod;

[0012] S2. Measure and adjust the two sets of tooling so that the two main rods are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, and then tighten the locking nuts to lock the position of each adjusting rod relative to the sleeve rod;

[0013] S3. Place the connecting rod flat on the raising block, and then place two angle measuring instruments on the top sides of the two main rods respectively, so as to measure the inclination angles of the axes of the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively.

[0014] In one embodiment, in step S2, when the two main rods are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, the sleeve rods are arranged along the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the two inner holes of the connecting rod.

[0015] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps:

[0016] S4. Measure the distance L1 between the centers of the two main rods, find the center distance L2 between the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the manual, and calculate the degree of bending.

[0017] In one embodiment, in step S4, the bending angle can also be calculated as

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the technical solution of the present invention are:

[0019] This invention addresses the practical challenges of measuring deformation of large marine connecting rods by innovatively proposing an efficient and convenient on-site measurement solution. Its core advantage lies in its ability to measure all key parameters directly within the confined space of the engine room using a specially designed adaptable fixture, combined with existing angle measuring instruments. The fixture's split design accommodates the installation requirements of connecting rods of varying specifications, while maintaining measurement accuracy that meets maintenance standards. During implementation, the fixture simply needs to be positioned and installed within the connecting rod's bearing hole. The angle measuring instrument collects multiple sets of spatial position data to calculate key parameters such as axis parallelism deviation and rod curvature. This measurement method reduces lifting time by over 80%, shortening a single measurement from 6-8 hours to less than one hour. It also avoids the safety risks associated with multiple lifting operations, significantly improving maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, this solution significantly reduces reliance on expensive boring machines, effectively saving maintenance costs and providing a safer, more economical, and more efficient measurement method for ship maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 This is a front view of a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a side sectional view of a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is the usage status of a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 4 This is the usage status of a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation of the present invention Figure 2 .

[0024] Explanation of the reference numerals: 1-main rod, 11-fixing bolt, 2-sleeve rod, 21-mounting piece, 3-adjusting rod, 4-locking nut, 5-top block, 6-spacer block, 7-angle measurer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limitations on this patent. To better illustrate this embodiment, some components of the accompanying drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced in size, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. For those skilled in the art, it is understandable that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted from the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium, which can be considered as internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances. The technical solution of the present invention is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0027] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention discloses a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation, comprising a main rod 1 surrounded by several sleeve rods 2. Each sleeve rod 2 is threadedly connected to an adjusting rod 3 at its end distal from the main rod 1. The adjusting rod 3 is provided with a locking nut 4, which locks the length of the adjusting rod 3 protruding from the sleeve rod 2. A top block 5 is also secured to the end distal from the sleeve rod 2. The top of the top block 5 is curved and fits within the inner hole of the connecting rod. This invention addresses the practical challenges of measuring deformation of large marine connecting rods by innovatively providing an efficient and convenient on-site measurement solution. This technology is primarily applicable during the maintenance of main and auxiliary engines on ships, particularly for large connecting rods that are bulky, heavy, and difficult to disassemble. Traditional methods require the connecting rod to be hoisted from the engine room and transported to a workshop for measurement. The core advantage of this invention lies in the ability to measure all key parameters directly within the confined space of the engine room through a specially designed tool that can be adapted to different models and combined with an existing angle measuring device 7. The tooling adopts a split structural design, which can adapt to the installation requirements of connecting rods of different specifications, and its measurement accuracy can meet the maintenance standard requirements. Specifically, since deformation of the inner hole rarely occurs, the tooling can be positioned based on the inner hole. The main rod 1 is fixed with sleeve rods 2 in different directions, and the sleeve rod 2 is connected to the top block 5 via an adjustment rod 3. The distance between the top block 5 and the main rod 1 can be adjusted so that the top block 5 is against the inner side of the two inner holes of the connecting rod. According to the measurement adjustment, the two main rods 1 can be arranged coaxially with the two inner holes respectively, and then each sleeve rod 2 is locked by a locking nut 4 to fix the position of the main rod 1, which is convenient for combining with the angle measuring device 7 to measure various data of the connecting rod.

[0028] Specifically, the main rod 1 is cylindrical, which is convenient for coaxial arrangement with the inner hole, and there are four sleeve rods 2 that are evenly distributed in the four directions of the main rod 1, that is, the four sleeve rods 2 correspond to each other in pairs, and when installed, they can just correspond to the longitudinal and lateral extensions of the connecting rod, which is convenient for rough measurement before using the angle measuring device 7. If it is obvious that the two main rods 1 cannot be aligned, or the extension directions of the sleeve rods 2 obviously do not form a corresponding relationship, then the connecting rod may need to be adjusted or replaced on a larger scale.

[0029] The connection between the sleeve rod 2 and the main rod 1 is removable, facilitating the selection of different sleeve rod 2 size combinations. A mounting member 21 is welded to the end of the sleeve rod 2, close to the main rod 1. The mounting member 21 is curved and mates with the side of the main rod 1. The main rod 1 is removably connected to the mounting member 21 via corresponding fixing bolts 11 located on either side of the sleeve rod 2. The mounting member 21 fits against the outside of the main rod 1. Tightening the fixing bolts 11 on the main rod 1 secures the sleeve rod 2 and ensures its stable radial extension, preventing deviation that could affect subsequent measurement accuracy. Furthermore, the main rod 1 has several bolt holes arranged along its length, which mate with the fixing bolts 11 and are used to connect the mounting member 21. In the same direction, different rows of bolt holes can be connected to the sleeve rod 2. Different positions can be selected for connection according to the depth of the inner hole of the connecting rod, or two sleeve rods 2 can be used to connect different bolt holes up and down, thereby strengthening the position connection of the main rod 1 relative to the inner hole, ensuring that the main rod 1 is not easily deviated from the coaxial position during subsequent measurements and movements.

[0030] Furthermore, the top block 5 is made of brass to prevent damage to the connecting rod's inner bore. Each top block 5 covers the connecting rod's inner bore at an angle of 15° to 25°, limiting the maximum and minimum lengths of the sleeve rod 2 and adjustment rod 3. This prevents deviation under reasonable load conditions. The main rod 1 is longer than the depth of the connecting rod's inner bore, and its outer diameter is at least 100mm, facilitating installation and measurement.

[0031] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a method for using a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation of the present invention uses the above-mentioned tool for measuring connecting rod deformation and includes the following steps:

[0032] S1. Prepare two sets of tooling and adjust the position of each adjusting rod 3 relative to the sleeve rod 2 so that each top block 5 is close to the side walls of the two inner holes of the connecting rod;

[0033] S2. Measure and adjust the two sets of fixtures so that the two main rods 1 are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, and then tighten the locking nuts 4 to lock the position of each adjusting rod 3 relative to the sleeve rod 2;

[0034] S3. Place the connecting rod flat on the raising block 6, and then place two angle measuring instruments 7 on the top sides of the two main rods 1 respectively. Measure in two different directions, longitudinal and transverse, to measure the inclination angles of the axes of the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively.

[0035] During implementation, the method of the present invention simply requires positioning the tooling within the connecting rod bearing hole. By collecting multiple sets of spatial position data using the angle measuring device 7, key parameters such as axis parallelism deviation and rod curvature can be calculated. This measurement method can save over 80% of lifting time, reducing the time required for a single measurement from 6-8 hours to less than 1 hour. It also avoids the safety risks associated with multiple lifting operations, significantly improving maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, this solution significantly reduces reliance on expensive boring machine equipment, effectively saving maintenance costs and providing a safer, more economical, and more efficient new measurement method for the ship maintenance industry.

[0036] Specifically, in step S2, when the two main rods 1 are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, the sleeve rods 2 are arranged longitudinally and transversely along the two inner holes of the connecting rod. This allows for direct observation to determine whether adjacent sleeve rods 2 in the same bearing hole remain perpendicular, and whether corresponding sleeve rods 2 in different bearing holes are aligned in the same longitudinal direction. If there is a significant discrepancy, a crane must be used to remove the sleeve rods for replacement or major repairs.

[0037] Furthermore, the method further comprises the following steps:

[0038] S4. Measure the distance L1 between the centers of the two main rods 1, find the center distance L2 between the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the manual, and calculate the degree of bending. The smaller the value of the bending degree, the smaller the offset of the two bearing holes is, and no repair is required within a reasonable error range. In addition, in step S4, the bending angle can also be calculated as If there is an offset, in step S3, only the inclination values ​​of the two inner holes in the vertical direction can be measured, that is, the height difference between the longitudinal and transverse directions, and the horizontal bending angle cannot be reflected. The calculation of the bending angle simulates the horizontal bending of the connecting rod. The position where the connecting rod is most likely to bend is the midpoint of the two longitudinal holes. Generally, this point is taken as the center O, and a circle is drawn with the length of the center distance between the two holes as the diameter. Assuming that the connecting rod is horizontally bent, the center point of the hole at one end will produce a certain arc along the circle, that is, the measured distance L1 is no longer the diameter of the circle but is shortened. Therefore, according to the manual, the center distance L2 of the two inner holes of the connecting rod at the time of leaving the factory is the actual diameter of the circle, and the diameter can be regarded as the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and the above L1 can be regarded as a right-angled side of a right triangle. The bending angle is calculated according to the above formula, that is, the angle at which the center of one of the bearing holes offsets the midpoint of the two longitudinal holes of the connecting rod.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] In the figure, the description of the positional relationship is only for illustrative purposes and should not be understood as a limitation on this patent; obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are only examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not limitations on the implementation methods of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in the relevant field, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made on the basis of the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the implementation methods here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tool for measuring connecting rod deformation, characterized in that: The invention comprises a main rod (1), a plurality of sleeve rods (2) are distributed around the main rod (1), and each sleeve rod (2) is threadedly connected to an adjusting rod (3) at one end away from the main rod (1), and a locking nut (4) is provided on the adjusting rod (3), and the locking nut (4) is used to lock the length of the adjusting rod (3) protruding from the sleeve rod (2). A top block (5) is fixedly provided at one end of the adjusting rod (3) away from the sleeve rod (2), and the top end of the top block (5) is arc-shaped and adapted to the inner hole of the connecting rod.

2. The tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main rod (1) is cylindrical, and the sleeve rods (2) are four and evenly distributed in four directions of the main rod (1).

3. The tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 2, characterized in that: A mounting piece (21) is welded to one end of the sleeve rod (2) close to the main rod (1); the mounting piece (21) is arc-shaped and fits the side surface of the main rod (1); the main rod (1) is detachably connected to the mounting piece (21) via fixing bolts (11) correspondingly provided on both sides of the sleeve rod (2).

4. A tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main rod (1) is provided with a plurality of bolt holes arranged along the length direction, the bolt holes being adapted to the fixing bolts (11) and being used to connect the mounting member (21).

5. The tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top block (5) is made of brass, and the length of each top block (5) covers the arc length angle of the inner hole of the connecting rod by 15° to 25°.

6. A tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length of the main rod (1) is greater than the depth of the inner hole of the connecting rod, and the outer diameter of the main rod (1) is at least 100 mm.

7. A method for using a tool for measuring connecting rod deformation, characterized in that: The tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used, and includes the following steps: S1. Prepare two sets of the tooling, adjust the position of each adjusting rod (3) relative to the sleeve rod (2), so that each top block (5) is respectively in close contact with the side walls of the two inner holes of the connecting rod; S2. Measure and adjust the two sets of tooling so that the two main rods (1) are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, and then tighten the locking nuts (4) to lock the positions of the adjustment rods (3) relative to the sleeve rods (2); S3. Place the connecting rod flat on the padding block (6), and then place two angle measuring devices (7) on the top sides of the two main rods (1) respectively, so as to measure the inclination angles of the axes of the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively.

8. The method for using the tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step S2, when the two main rods (1) are coaxially arranged with the two inner holes, each sleeve rod (2) is arranged along the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the two inner holes of the connecting rod.

9. The method for using the tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 8, characterized in that: The following steps are also included: S4. Measure the distance L1 between the centers of the two main rods (1), find the center distance L2 between the two inner holes of the connecting rod in the manual, and calculate the degree of bending.

10. The method for using the tool for measuring connecting rod deformation according to claim 9, characterized in that: In step S4, the bending angle can also be calculated as

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