Compact composite pressure cylinder and bench clamp

By designing a compact composite booster cylinder, precise control of the clamping force of the vise and structural optimization are achieved, solving the shortcomings of existing vises in terms of clamping force and adaptability, and improving the reliability and operational efficiency of the vise.

CN120868082APending Publication Date: 2025-10-31HENAN UNIV OF SCI & TECH
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510916938.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-07-03
Publication Date
2025-10-31

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Abstract

The invention relates to a compact composite pressure cylinder and a bench clamp, the composite pressure cylinder comprises a cylinder body, a pressure piston, a pressure plunger, a pressure regulating plunger and a pressure regulating assembly, a pressure cavity, a pressure cavity and an oil storage cavity which are communicated are coaxially arranged in the cylinder body, the oil storage cavity is nested in the pressure piston, and the oil storage cavity, the pressure cavity and the pressure cavity form a closed composite cavity; the pressure adjusting assembly sets the cylinder pressure threshold value of the composite pressure cylinder by adjusting the retreating resistance of the pressure adjusting plunger. And when the cylinder pressure exceeds a threshold value, the pressure regulating plunger retreats into the oil storage cavity to stabilize the system pressure. The bench clamp combines the pressure cylinder with a force application mechanism, so that the clamping force and the stability are obviously improved. Pressure fluctuation is compensated through the oil storage cavity, stable clamping force is ensured, meanwhile, the axial size is compressed, the structure is compact, the size range of a clamped workpiece is enlarged, and installation and use are convenient. The technology is widely applied to the field of machining, the efficient, stable and accurate clamping effect is achieved, and the machining quality and efficiency are remarkably improved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bench vise technology, specifically to a compact composite booster cylinder and bench vise. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of machining, the vise, as a basic clamping tool, plays a crucial role in machining efficiency and accuracy. Traditional lead screw-operated vises are simple in structure and low in cost, but they generally suffer from drawbacks such as high labor intensity for operators, limited clamping force, and low clamping efficiency. To overcome these shortcomings, the industry has developed various improvement solutions, but all have limitations, as detailed below: Lead screw vises with hydraulic booster mechanisms can significantly increase clamping force by several to tens of times. The shock absorption characteristics of the hydraulic system help improve cutting stability, which is highly advantageous for machining processes with high cutting forces. However, when clamping workpieces with low rigidity or hardness (such as thin-walled aluminum alloy parts with a thickness ≤2mm and a deformation rate >5‰), excessive clamping force can easily cause workpiece deformation or damage. On the other hand, the hydraulic booster mechanisms of existing vises have a relatively long axial dimension, which significantly increases the length of the vise's moving jaws and reduces the effective clamping size of the vise.

[0003] To control the clamping force, a torque converter can be installed between the lead screw and the handle. However, this mechanism has a complex structure, which further increases the axial dimension of the movable clamp body and raises the cost. In addition, its friction pair suffers from severe wear (wear rate > 0.15 mm / 10,000 cycles), resulting in a short service life (< 5,000 cycles) and high maintenance costs.

[0004] In summary, existing bench vise technology has significant shortcomings in terms of efficient and precise control of clamping force, compact structure, and adaptability to workpieces with different characteristics. There is an urgent need for a new bench vise technology that can simultaneously achieve efficient clamping, precise pressure adjustment, a compact structure, and adaptability to diverse workpieces. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a compact composite booster cylinder and vise that can maintain the functionality of existing hydraulic booster mechanisms (hydraulic booster cylinders) and also allows for convenient adjustment of the clamping force to adapt to different working conditions.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the specific solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: On one hand, the present invention provides a compact composite booster cylinder, comprising: The cylinder block has a coaxially connected boosting chamber, pressurizing chamber and oil reservoir inside; A booster piston, placed inside the booster chamber, is used to output clamping power; A pressure plunger is placed inside the pressure chamber and driven by a force-applying mechanism; A pressure regulating plunger is installed in the oil reservoir located inside the booster piston; The pressure regulating component sets the cylinder pressure threshold of the compound booster cylinder by adjusting the retraction resistance of the pressure regulating plunger; when the cylinder pressure exceeds the threshold, the pressure regulating plunger retracts into the oil reservoir to stabilize the system pressure. The pressure boosting piston and the pressure boosting chamber, the pressure applying plunger and the pressure applying chamber, and the pressure regulating plunger and the oil storage chamber are all fitted with sliding seals. In the assembled state, the oil storage chamber, the pressure boosting chamber, and the pressure applying chamber form a closed composite cavity. In the non-stressed state, the pressure boosting piston abuts against the bottom of the cylinder, and the pressure oil is mainly retained in the pressure applying chamber.

[0007] Furthermore, the pressure regulating assembly includes a pressure regulating spring abutting against the pressure regulating plunger, and a pressure regulating screw for adjusting the preload of the pressure regulating spring.

[0008] Furthermore, the rotation of the pressure adjusting screw is controlled by the adjusting rod, which can drive the pressure adjusting screw to rotate, thereby controlling the preload of the pressure adjusting spring.

[0009] Furthermore, the adjusting rod is provided with a bidirectional scale in both axial and circumferential directions.

[0010] Furthermore, the ratio of the preload of the pressure regulating spring to the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure regulating plunger is the cylinder pressure threshold of the composite booster cylinder; when the cylinder pressure exceeds the threshold, the pressure regulating plunger retracts into the oil storage chamber to form an oil-containing space, absorbing excess oil to ensure that the system pressure is stable at the required value.

[0011] On the other hand, the present invention discloses a bench vise comprising the above-mentioned compact composite booster cylinder; the output end of the booster piston is connected to the movable vise body, and the input end of the pressurizing plunger is connected to the force application mechanism.

[0012] The composite booster cylinder in this invention can replace the hydraulic booster cylinder in the existing hydraulic booster double screw pressure vise to protect the workpiece by adjusting the clamping force; it can also be combined with a clamping mechanism to achieve constant pressure and rapid clamping of the workpiece through rapid movement and instant clamping operations.

[0013] Beneficial effects: 1) Simple and compact structure: The composite booster cylinder of the present invention installs the pressure regulating plunger and pressure regulating component inside the booster piston of the original hydraulic booster cylinder, thus forming a pressure regulating component with oil storage function, which increases the pressure regulating and stabilizing function without increasing the overall size of the composite booster cylinder, and the structure is simple and compact; in the non-stressed state, the booster piston is close to the bottom of the cylinder body, compressing the pressure oil into the pressure chamber, which limits the axial dimension of the composite booster cylinder, thereby reducing the overall size of the vise.

[0014] 2) Convenient pressure adjustment: When adjusting the pressure of this invention, the scale on the adjusting rod can be referenced. By rotating the adjusting rod and the adjusting screw to the required position, the preload of the adjusting spring can be changed, thus accurately adjusting the pressure threshold of the booster cylinder. This ensures that the clamping force meets the clamping requirements of different workpieces on the vise, preventing workpiece loosening or deformation. Operation is very convenient.

[0015] 3) Fixed-stroke operation: The oil reservoir can absorb the volume change caused by the continued movement of the pressurizing plunger, achieving a fixed-stroke operation of the pressurizing mechanism. Taking a hydraulic booster screw quick-clamping vise with a clamping mechanism as an example, after manually pushing the movable jaw to quickly move and touch the workpiece, rotating the handle to a fixed angle (e.g., 150°) will achieve the clamping of the movable jaw with the guide rail and the clamping of the workpiece. When the actual clamping stroke exceeds the required stroke, the oil reservoir can absorb the volume change caused by the excess stroke. Therefore, there is no need to consider the rotation angle of the handle or the magnitude of the clamping force, making the operation simple, quick, and highly efficient.

[0016] 4) Stable and reliable clamping force: Since the pressure regulating component has a pressure limiting function, it can control the pressure threshold of the compound booster cylinder. When the handle angle is greater than the actual required value, the cylinder pressure reaches the threshold and the oil storage chamber stores excess pressure oil, ensuring stable and reliable clamping force and avoiding workpiece loosening and clamping overload damage to the workpiece. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the composite booster cylinder in this invention (pressure adjustment state).

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overpressure protection state of the composite booster cylinder in this invention.

[0019] Figure 3 The composite booster cylinder in this invention is shown in the example schematic diagram.

[0020] Diagram markings: 1. Pressure adjusting rod, 2. Pressure adjusting screw, 3. Cylinder head, 4. Thrust spring, 5. Pressure adjusting spring, 6. Pressure boosting piston, 7. Pressure adjusting plunger, 8. Cylinder block, 9. Pressure applying plunger, 10. Connector, 11. Lead screw, a. Pressure boosting chamber, b. Pressure applying chamber, c. Oil reservoir. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0022] It should be noted that in this manual, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the direction or positional relationship based on the appendix. Figure 1 The orientations or positional relationships shown are merely for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description. The terms "composite cylinder," "composite booster cylinder," and "booster cylinder" have the same meaning. The "reverse stroke" of the pressure regulating plunger 7 refers to the pressure regulating plunger 7 moving away from the pressurizing plunger 9, while the "forward stroke" of the pressurizing plunger 9 refers to the pressurizing plunger 9 moving closer to the pressure regulating plunger 7. The above terminology is merely for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of the invention.

[0023] Example 1 A compact composite booster cylinder includes a cylinder head 3, a thrust spring 4, a cylinder body 8, a booster piston 6, a pressure plunger 9, a pressure regulating plunger 7, and a pressure regulating assembly. (See reference...) Figure 1 , Figure 2 The cylinder body 8 contains three coaxially connected chambers: a booster chamber (a), a pressurizing chamber (b), and an oil reservoir (c), forming a closed composite cavity that provides the basic space for the hydraulic system's operation. The booster piston 6, located in booster chamber a, outputs clamping power and is the core power output component of the hydraulic system; its movement directly determines the clamping force. The pressurizing plunger 9, located in pressurizing chamber b, is driven by a force-applying mechanism, transmitting the force from the mechanism to the hydraulic system and providing power for the booster piston 6's movement. The pressure-regulating plunger 7, installed in the oil reservoir (c) inside the booster piston 6, adjusts its displacement according to changes in system pressure, playing a crucial role in pressure regulation. The pressure-regulating assembly sets the cylinder pressure threshold of the composite booster cylinder by adjusting the retraction resistance of the pressure-regulating plunger 7. When the cylinder pressure exceeds the threshold, the pressure-regulating plunger 7 retracts into the oil reservoir (c) to stabilize the system pressure, ensuring the stability and reliability of the clamping force.

[0024] Furthermore, the pressure boosting piston and the pressure boosting chamber, the pressure applying plunger and the pressure applying chamber, and the pressure regulating plunger and the oil storage chamber all adopt a sliding seal fit, which can be sealed by a sealing ring.

[0025] Furthermore, the oil storage chamber c and the pressure regulating plunger 7 are arranged in the pressure boosting piston 6. When the pressure regulating plunger 7 retracts, it forms an oil-containing space, which can increase the volume of the chamber and absorb the volume contraction of the chamber when the pressure boosting plunger 9 moves forward, so that the volume and pressure of the chamber remain unchanged, thereby making the clamping force stable and constant.

[0026] Preferably, the cross-sectional area ratio of the pressurizing piston to the booster plunger is K=1:(8~30), and the cross-sectional area ratio of the pressure regulating plunger to the booster piston is R=1:(8~60).

[0027] It should be noted that the ratio of the preload of the pressure regulating spring 5 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure regulating plunger 7 is the threshold of the compound booster cylinder. When the cylinder pressure is greater than the threshold, the pressure regulating plunger 7 retracts, allowing the oil to enter the oil storage chamber c, thereby preventing the cylinder pressure from continuing to rise.

[0028] The pressure regulating assembly includes a pressure regulating spring 5, an adjusting rod 1, and a pressure regulating screw 2. Rotating the pressure regulating screw 2 causes axial displacement, which controls the preload of the pressure regulating spring 5. Specifically, the rotation of the pressure regulating screw 2 is controlled by the adjusting rod 1. One end of the screw 2 has a circular hole with a keyway on its inner wall. The small end of the adjusting rod 1 has a shaft that slides into the circular hole, and a cylindrical pin that engages with the keyway is mounted on the shaft. The adjusting rod 1 allows the pressure regulating screw 2 to rotate, controlling the preload of the pressure regulating spring 5 and causing the pressure regulating plunger 7 to retract under a set cylinder pressure, forming an oil-containing space.

[0029] Preferably, the middle section of the adjusting rod has axial and circumferential scales that can display its pressure value.

[0030] The composite hydraulic cylinder can be positioned at the same height as the jaws (first case) or below the middle jaws (second case). In the first case, after adjusting the cylinder pressure threshold, the pressure adjusting rod is removed; in the second case, the adjusting rod and adjusting screw can be connected as a single unit.

[0031] Furthermore, in the non-working state, the booster piston 6 is close to the bottom of the cylinder body 8, and the pressure oil is mainly stored in the pressurization chamber b. This structure limits the axial dimension of the compound booster cylinder. By setting the oil storage chamber c inside the booster piston 6, the axial dimension of the compound booster cylinder is effectively reduced, forming a compact compound booster cylinder, thereby reducing the size of the vise.

[0032] Example 2 A bench vise employing a screw drive mechanism includes the compact composite booster cylinder described in Embodiment 1. The output end of the booster piston 6 is connected to the movable vise body, and the input end of the pressure plunger 9 is connected to the force application mechanism. This achieves an organic combination of a hydraulic booster mechanism and a mechanical force application mechanism, fully leveraging the advantages of the composite booster cylinder. It can be used as a hydraulic booster mechanism for screw-driven quick-clamping bench vises with a clamping mechanism.

[0033] The vise has a clamping force of 20 kN and a manual torque of 15 N·m. The lead screw uses an M24×6 trapezoidal thread, and the pressure increase ratio λ = 13.5. The compound cylinder has a pressure increase ratio K = 1:9 (pressure booster piston 6 diameter D1 = 30 mm, pressure plunger 9 diameter D2 = 10 mm); the pressure adjustment ratio R = 1:36 (pressure adjustment plunger diameter D3 = 5), and the maximum preload F of the pressure adjustment spring 5 is... max=555N±2N, corresponding to cylinder pressure threshold p=28.3MPa; when adjusting the pressure, according to the coupling relationship between the required threshold and the preload of the pressure adjusting spring 5, the pressure adjusting rod 1 is rotated to adjust the preload of the pressure adjusting spring 5 according to the scale on the pressure adjusting rod 1.

[0034] The dynamic workflow of the vise described in this embodiment is as follows: Step (1): The hydraulic system is pressurized to the cylinder pressure threshold of the compound booster cylinder; Step (2): Manually push the movable clamp body to quickly position the workpiece; Step (3): Rotate the force-applying element to a preset angle by applying pressure with the pressure handle. Optimize the scheme so that the screw drive angle is about 150°. Step (4): When the cylinder pressure exceeds the cylinder pressure threshold, the pressure regulating plunger 7 retracts to form the oil storage chamber c, which absorbs the excess oil. Step (5): The system will automatically lock after the pressure stabilizes.

[0035] Example 3 This embodiment discloses a vise structure, referencing... Figure 3 The system includes the compact composite booster cylinder, force application mechanism, and clamping mechanism described in Example 1. The composite booster cylinder, force application mechanism, and clamping mechanism are all mounted together in the movable jaw of the vise, and are connected together via connector 10. A clamping mechanism (not shown in the figure) is connected to the lower part of connector 10. After clamping, the clamping mechanism can be fixed to the guide rail of the fixed jaw, providing support for the force application mechanism. A lead screw 11 is installed at the right end of connector 10, providing power through its rotation. The cylinder body 8 of the composite booster cylinder is fixed to the left end of connector 10, the pressure plunger 9 is connected to the lead screw of the force application mechanism, and the booster piston 6 is connected to the movable jaw.

[0036] During operation, the clamp position is manually and quickly adjusted in the non-clamping state to make the jaws contact the workpiece; rotating the lead screw 11 causes the connector 10 to move to the right, causing the clamping mechanism to clamp; as the lead screw 11 continues to rotate, it moves forward, pushing the pressure plunger 9 into the cylinder 8, and the pressure booster piston 6 extends out of the hydraulic cylinder under the action of pressure oil, pushing the movable clamp body forward to achieve clamping of the workpiece; when the clamping force exceeds the set value, the pressure regulating plunger 7 moves into the oil storage chamber c to maintain the stability of the clamping force.

[0037] This invention achieves precise control and structural optimization of the clamping force of the bench vise through the innovative design of a compact composite booster cylinder, significantly improving the applicability and reliability of the bench vise under different working conditions, and has broad prospects for industrial applications.

[0038] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. The process parameters described in the embodiments are preferred solutions and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. All equivalent transformations or modifications made in accordance with the essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A compact composite booster cylinder, characterized in that, include: The cylinder block has a coaxially connected boosting chamber, pressurizing chamber and oil reservoir inside; A booster piston, placed inside the booster chamber, is used to output clamping power; A pressure plunger is placed inside the pressure chamber and driven by a force-applying mechanism; A pressure regulating plunger is installed in the oil reservoir located inside the booster piston; The pressure regulating component sets the cylinder pressure threshold of the compound booster cylinder by adjusting the retraction resistance of the pressure regulating plunger; when the cylinder pressure exceeds the threshold, the pressure regulating plunger retracts into the oil reservoir to stabilize the system pressure. The pressure boosting piston and the pressure boosting chamber, the pressure applying plunger and the pressure applying chamber, and the pressure regulating plunger and the oil storage chamber are all fitted with sliding seals. In the assembled state, the oil storage chamber, the pressure boosting chamber, and the pressure applying chamber form a closed composite cavity. In the non-stressed state, the pressure boosting piston abuts against the bottom of the cylinder, and the pressure oil is mainly retained in the pressure applying chamber.

2. The compact composite booster cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure regulating assembly includes a pressure regulating spring abutting against the pressure regulating plunger, and a pressure regulating screw for adjusting the preload of the pressure regulating spring.

3. A compact composite booster cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotation of the pressure adjusting screw is controlled by the adjusting rod; the adjusting rod can drive the pressure adjusting screw to rotate, thereby controlling the preload of the pressure adjusting spring.

4. A compact composite booster cylinder according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjusting rod is equipped with a bidirectional scale that measures both axial and circumferential dimensions.

5. A compact composite booster cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ratio of the preload of the pressure regulating spring to the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure regulating plunger is the cylinder pressure threshold of the composite booster cylinder. When the cylinder pressure exceeds the threshold, the pressure regulating plunger retracts into the oil storage chamber to form an oil-containing space, absorbing excess oil to ensure that the system pressure is stable at the required value.

6. A bench vise, characterized in that, Includes the compact composite booster cylinder as described in any one of claims 1-5; The output end of the booster piston is connected to the movable clamp body, and the input end of the pressurizing plunger is connected to the force application mechanism.