A method and system for machining a yoke assembly

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of transmission shafts, in particular to a shaft fork assembly machining method and system. Based on the initial positioning of the shaft fork unit in the limiting assembly, part of the positioning unit is inserted into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit; the clamping assembly extrudes the shaft fork unit away from one side of the side limiting unit, so that the shaft fork unit moves along the axis perpendicular to the positioning unit and in the direction away from the bottom limiting unit to be arranged at intervals with the bottom limiting unit; the positioning unit continues to be inserted into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner circumferential wall of the mounting hole; and the connecting shaft is connected with the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as the reference. In this way, the problem of accurate connection between the shaft fork assembly and the connecting shaft is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of transmission shaft technology, and more specifically, to a method and system for processing shaft fork assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of mechanical manufacturing, especially in the processing of automotive transmission system components, the shaft fork assembly is a critical connecting part. Positioning the shaft fork unit and assembling it with the connecting shaft is one of the core processes. During the manufacturing process of the driveshaft shaft fork assembly, in order to accurately install the connecting shaft onto the shaft fork, a fixture is usually needed to position the shaft fork unit. Current technology generally uses a limiting component to initially position the shaft fork unit, roughly placing it in the target position. Subsequently, a positioning unit, acting as a reference, extends into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit, aiming to precisely align the shaft fork unit to its theoretically accurate position through a precise fit between the two. Finally, the connecting shaft is press-fitted or welded.

[0003] However, existing methods present a significant technical challenge: during the transition from initial positioning to fine positioning, geometric interference can easily lead to positioning failure or damage to parts. Specifically, after initial positioning, the bottom of the shaft fork unit is in close contact with the bottom limiting unit, and the sides abut against the side limiting units, significantly restricting its degrees of freedom. When the positioning unit initially enters the mounting hole, if there are minor manufacturing tolerances or positioning deviations in their center lines, as the positioning unit continues to penetrate to complete fine positioning (i.e., fully abutting against the inner circumferential wall of the mounting hole), the rigid support below the shaft fork unit leaves no room for maneuver, causing the positioning unit to become stuck or jammed against the mounting hole wall of the shaft fork assembly. This can not only scratch the precision mating surfaces but may also prevent the shaft fork unit from being forcibly corrected to the correct position, thus compromising the installation accuracy of the subsequent connecting shaft and directly affecting the quality of the final product. Therefore, existing technologies lack a method that can provide controllable fine-tuning space for the shaft fork unit during the critical stage of fine positioning, enabling the positioning component to accurately position the shaft fork assembly and ensuring the precise connection of the connecting shaft to the shaft fork assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the problem of precise connection between the shaft fork assembly and the connecting shaft, this invention provides a method for machining the shaft fork assembly.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing a shaft fork assembly, comprising:

[0006] Based on the initial positioning of the shaft fork unit after the limiting component is completed, a portion of the positioning unit is inserted into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit; wherein, the positioning unit and the shaft fork unit are spaced apart; the initial positioning includes one side of the shaft fork unit abutting against the side limiting unit of the limiting component, and one end of the shaft fork unit abutting against the bottom limiting unit of the limiting component;

[0007] The clamping assembly presses the side of the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit, causing the shaft fork unit to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit;

[0008] The positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole;

[0009] The connecting shaft is connected to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference.

[0010] In some embodiments, the step of inserting a portion of the positioning unit into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit after the initial positioning of the limiting component is completed includes:

[0011] Place the shaft fork unit on the bottom limiting unit so that one side of the shaft fork unit abuts against the side limiting unit;

[0012] The top limiting unit is moved to the end of the shaft fork unit away from the bottom limiting unit to complete the initial positioning; wherein, the initial positioning also includes the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit being spaced apart;

[0013] A portion of the positioning unit is inserted into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the clamping assembly presses the side of the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit, causing the shaft fork unit to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit. During this process, the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit decreases and becomes greater than zero.

[0015] In some embodiments, as the positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole, the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit decreases and becomes greater than or equal to zero.

[0016] In some embodiments, the positioning unit further extending into the mounting hole and abutting against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole includes:

[0017] The positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole;

[0018] Increase the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit to the installation distance;

[0019] Reduce the force exerted by the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit, so that the force between the positioning unit and the mounting hole is within the set positioning force range;

[0020] Increase the force exerted by the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit so that the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit is S3; wherein, S3 > S1; S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit during the initial positioning.

[0021] In some embodiments, D2 > D1; where D1 is the distance between the contact point of the side limiting unit with the shaft fork unit and the axis of the mounting hole during initial positioning; and D2 is the distance between the point of application of the resultant force of the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit and the axis of the mounting hole during the process of the clamping assembly squeezing the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit.

[0022] In some embodiments, the connection of the connecting shaft to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference is described as welding to the shaft fork unit.

[0023] In some embodiments, during the welding process of the connecting shaft to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference, the welding current flows through the side limiting unit, and the clamping assembly is insulated from the shaft fork unit.

[0024] In some embodiments, S2 > S1; wherein, S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit during the initial positioning; S2 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit when the shaft fork unit is moved along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit to be spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit.

[0025] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a shaft fork assembly machining system, wherein the shaft fork assembly machining system is applied to any of the shaft fork assembly machining methods in the first aspect, comprising:

[0026] Workbench;

[0027] A limiting assembly; the limiting assembly includes a bottom limiting unit and a side limiting unit; the bottom limiting unit is connected to the worktable; the side limiting unit is connected to the worktable; the limiting assembly performs initial positioning of the shaft fork unit;

[0028] A positioning assembly; the positioning assembly includes a positioning drive unit and a positioning unit; the positioning drive unit is connected to the worktable; the positioning unit is drivenly connected to the positioning drive unit; the positioning assembly is disposed on one side near the side limiting unit, and the positioning unit positions the shaft fork unit;

[0029] Clamping assembly; the clamping assembly includes a clamping drive part and a clamping unit, the clamping drive part is connected to the bottom of the worktable, and the clamping unit is drivenly connected to the clamping drive part; the clamping unit is located on the other side of the side limiting unit, and the clamping assembly is used to clamp the shaft fork unit;

[0030] A fork assembly; the fork assembly includes a fork unit and a connecting shaft, the connecting shaft being connected to the top of the fork unit;

[0031] The limiting component initially positions the shaft fork unit, the positioning unit further positions the shaft fork unit, the clamping component squeezes the shaft fork unit to move away from the bottom limiting unit to a set interval distance; the positioning unit continues to position the positioning unit; after positioning is completed, the connecting shaft is connected to the top of the shaft fork unit.

[0032] In some embodiments, the clamping unit includes a clamping arm and a clamping head, the clamping arm extends through the worktable, one end of the clamping arm is connected to the clamping head, and the other end of the clamping arm is driven to be connected to the clamping drive unit located at the bottom of the worktable.

[0033] To solve the problem of precise connection between the shaft fork assembly and the connecting shaft, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0034] After initial positioning by the limiting and positioning components, the clamping component squeezes the shaft fork unit to create a gap between it and the bottom limiting unit, creating crucial axial clearance space for the positioning unit to continue extending into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit. This allows the positioning unit to accurately position the shaft fork unit, completing the process of the shaft fork assembly from pre-positioning, lifting to fine positioning. This method achieves stress-free conversion from coarse to fine datum, while enhancing the tolerance of part manufacturing tolerances. It protects the positioning unit and the workpiece surface, and improves process robustness and product yield. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the machining method for the shaft fork assembly is shown.

[0036] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating step S10;

[0037] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating step S30;

[0038] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the clamping process of the shaft fork assembly is shown;

[0039] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the shaft fork assembly machining system is shown;

[0040] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the shaft fork assembly is shown;

[0041] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the positioning component is shown;

[0042] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the clamping assembly is shown.

[0043] Figure label:

[0044] In the figure, 10 is the axis fork assembly; 11 is the axis fork unit; 111 is the axis fork seat; 112 is the axis fork arm; 113 is the mounting hole; 12 is the connecting shaft; 20 is the limiting assembly; 21 is the bottom limiting unit; 211 is the base; 212 is the bottom limiting part; 22 is the side limiting unit; 221 is the side seat; 222 is the side limiting part; 23 is the top limiting unit; 231 is the top limiting drive part; 232 is the top limiting arm; 233 is the top limiting plate; 30 is the positioning assembly; 31 is the positioning drive part; 32 is the positioning unit; 321 is the positioning arm; 322 is the positioning head; 323 is the guide head; 40 is the clamping assembly; 41 is the clamping drive part; 42 is the clamping unit; 421 is the clamping arm; 422 is the clamping head; 50 is the worktable. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, and are not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0046] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation or being constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientations or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "installed", "set up", "equipped with", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are mainly used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0047] In an automotive transmission system, the shaft fork assembly 10 is a critical connecting component. During the manufacturing process of the transmission shaft fork assembly 10, the connecting shaft 12 needs to be precisely installed onto the shaft fork unit 11. During the transition from initial positioning to fine positioning, after initial positioning, the bottom of the shaft fork unit 11 is in close contact with the bottom limiting unit 21, and its sides abut against the side limiting unit 22. At this point, its degrees of freedom are significantly restricted. Because the shaft fork unit 11 is rigidly supported below, there is no room for adjustment, which can cause the positioning unit 32 to become jammed or stuck against the mounting hole 113 wall of the shaft fork assembly 10. This can not only scratch the precision mating surfaces but may also prevent the shaft fork unit 11 from being forcibly corrected to the correct position, thus compromising the installation accuracy of the subsequent connecting shaft 12 and directly affecting the quality of the final product.

[0048] Example 1:

[0049] In this embodiment, the machining system applied to the machining method of the shaft fork assembly, such as... Figure 5 As shown, it includes:

[0050] A limiting component 20 includes a bottom limiting unit 21 and a side limiting unit 22; the bottom limiting unit 21 is connected to the worktable 50; the side limiting unit 22 is connected to the worktable 50. A positioning component 30 includes a positioning drive unit 31 and a positioning unit 32; the positioning drive unit 31 is connected to the worktable 50; the positioning unit 32 is drivenly connected to the positioning drive unit 31; the positioning component 30 is disposed on the side near the side limiting unit 22. Clamping assembly 40, which includes a clamping drive part 41 and a clamping unit 42, wherein the clamping drive part 41 is connected to the bottom of the worktable 50, and the clamping unit 42 is drivenly connected to the clamping drive part 41; the clamping unit 42 is located on the other side of the side limiting unit 22, and the clamping assembly 40 is used to clamp the shaft fork unit 11; shaft fork assembly 10, which includes a shaft fork unit 11 and a connecting shaft 12, wherein the connecting shaft 12 is connected to the top of the shaft fork unit 11.

[0051] The bottom limiting unit 21 includes a base 211 and a bottom limiting part 212. The base 211 is disposed on the worktable 50, and the bottom limiting part 212 is disposed on the base 211.

[0052] The side limiting unit 22 includes a side seat 221 and a side limiting part 222. The side seat 221 is disposed on the worktable 50, and the side limiting part 222 is disposed on the side seat 221.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, a method for processing a shaft fork assembly includes steps S10-S40.

[0054] Step S10: First, the shaft fork unit 11 is initially positioned on the limiting assembly 20. Specifically, the shaft fork unit 11 is first placed on the bottom limiting unit 21, and then one side of the shaft fork unit 11 abuts against the side limiting unit 22. The bottom of the shaft fork unit 11 and the side abutting against the side limiting unit 22 are initially positioned to establish a rough reference. Through the cooperation of the bottom limiting unit 21 and the side limiting unit 22, the shaft fork unit 11 is quickly constrained to a roughly correct position and posture. Then, part of the positioning unit 32 is inserted into the mounting hole 113 of the shaft fork unit 11. Specifically, the positioning unit 32 includes a positioning arm 321, a positioning head 322, and a guide head 323. The two positioning arms 321 are respectively driven connected to the positioning drive unit 31, the two positioning heads 322 are respectively connected to the two positioning arms 321, and the two guide heads 323 are respectively connected to the two positioning arms 321. Connected to two positioning heads 322, the positioning drive unit 31 drives the two positioning arms 321 to open and close, thereby allowing the two guide heads 323 to be inserted into the mounting holes 113 at both ends of the shaft fork assembly 10 for initial positioning. Since the diameter of the guide head 323 is smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole 113, after the guide head 323 is initially positioned with the mounting hole 113, the hole position deviation of the mounting hole 113 is initially corrected by the pre-alignment of the guide head 323, and a smooth physical transition and guiding conditions are created for the subsequent lifting and clearance of the shaft fork unit 11 and the final stress-free precision positioning. The positioning unit 32 is spaced apart from the shaft fork unit 11. The initial positioning includes one side of the shaft fork unit 11 abutting against the side limiting unit 22 of the limiting component 20, and one end of the shaft fork unit 11 abutting against the bottom limiting unit 21 of the limiting component 20.

[0055] Understandably, the limiting component 20 includes a top limiting unit 23;

[0056] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, step S10 includes: steps S11-S13; in step S11, the shaft fork unit 11 is placed on the bottom limiting unit 21, and the bottom of the shaft fork unit 11 is supported by the bottom limiting unit 21; one side of the shaft fork unit 11 abuts against the side limiting unit 22; the side limiting unit 22 abuts against one side of the shaft fork unit 11 to prevent the shaft fork assembly 11 from tipping over, and to perform preliminary positioning of the shaft fork assembly 11.

[0057] Step S12: Move part of the top limiting unit 23 to the end of the shaft fork unit 11 away from the bottom limiting unit 21 to complete the initial positioning; wherein, the initial positioning also includes the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 being spaced apart; specifically, as shown in... Figure 8As shown, the top limiting unit 23 includes a top limiting drive unit 231, a top limiting arm 232, and a top limiting plate 233. The top limiting drive unit 231 is driven to the top limiting arm 232, and the top limiting arm 232 is connected to the top limiting plate 233. During the positioning process, the top limiting plate 233 is located directly above the shaft fork assembly 10. The initial positioning method, in which the top limiting unit 23 is spaced apart from the shaft fork unit 11, achieves flexible constraint on the shaft fork unit 11. When the connecting shaft 12 is welded to the shaft fork unit 11, the top limiting drive unit 231 drives the top limiting arm 232 to rotate, ultimately causing the top limiting plate 233 to move away from the top of the shaft fork assembly 10. The top limiting unit 23 effectively prevents the shaft fork unit 11 from accidentally tipping over due to vibration or external force during initial placement and subsequent processes, ensuring the stability and reliability of the initial positioning, while reserving necessary movement space for subsequent lifting actions.

[0058] Step S13 involves inserting a portion of the positioning unit 32 into the mounting hole 113 of the shaft fork unit 11. The core function of this step is to achieve a smooth transition and preparation from initial positioning to fine positioning. Through the cooperation of the guide head 323 of the positioning unit 32 with the inlet of the mounting hole 113, preliminary alignment is first completed, correcting most of the initial positional deviations. This establishes a continuous reference axis for subsequent processes and sets a movable fine-tuning fulcrum for the clamping and lifting of the shaft fork unit 11, allowing the shaft fork unit 11 to move smoothly upwards without jamming, ensuring the reliability and smoothness of the positioning process.

[0059] The shaft fork unit 11 includes a shaft fork seat 111, shaft fork arms 112 and mounting holes 113. Two shaft fork arms 112 are disposed on both sides of the shaft fork seat 111, and each shaft fork arm 112 has a mounting hole 113 facing each other.

[0060] In step S20, the clamping assembly 40 presses the side of the shaft fork unit 11 away from the side limiting unit 22, causing the shaft fork unit 11 to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit 32 and away from the bottom limiting unit 21 until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit 21. The purpose of moving the bottom of the shaft fork unit 11 to be spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit 21 is to avoid the shaft fork unit 11 being rigidly supported below without any clearance, which could cause the positioning unit 32 and the inner wall of the mounting hole 113 of the shaft fork assembly 10 to become stuck or jammed. This could not only scratch the precision mating surfaces, but also prevent the shaft fork unit from being forcibly corrected to the correct position, thus making it impossible to guarantee the installation accuracy of the subsequent connecting shaft, directly affecting the quality of the final product.

[0061] As the clamping assembly 40 presses the shaft fork unit 11 and moves it in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit 32 and away from the bottom limiting unit 21, the top limiting plate 233 of the top limiting unit 23 does not contact the top of the shaft fork unit 11, with a set gap between them, reserving space in advance for the shaft fork assembly 10 to move upward. The top limiting unit 23 acts as an adjustable safety limiter, preventing the shaft fork unit 11 from excessively surging upward or losing control of its posture under the clamping force, and avoiding new constraints caused by rigid contact with it, thus ensuring the smoothness and controllability of the lifting process.

[0062] Furthermore, the clamping assembly 40 presses the side of the shaft fork unit 11 away from the side limiting unit 22, causing the shaft fork unit 11 to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit 32 and away from the bottom limiting unit 21 until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit 21. During this process, the distance between the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 decreases and becomes greater than zero.

[0063] The distance between the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 is reduced and is greater than zero, which realizes precise guidance and safety protection for the lifting stroke of the shaft fork unit 11. The top limiting unit 23 is like an adjustable safety limiter, which not only prevents the shaft fork unit 11 from rushing upwards excessively or losing control of its posture under the action of clamping force, but also avoids new constraints caused by rigid contact with it, thus ensuring the smoothness and controllability of the lifting process.

[0064] Furthermore, as the positioning unit 32 continues to extend into the mounting hole 113 and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113, the distance between the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 decreases and becomes greater than or equal to zero.

[0065] The positioning unit 32 abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113, indicating that fine positioning has been completed. During the positioning process, the distance between the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 is greater than or equal to zero. This allows the system to retain a small gap after the final fine positioning is completed to completely eliminate bottom constraints, or to allow the top limiting unit 23 to lightly touch the workpiece with zero gap as an auxiliary support. This flexibility allows the system to be optimized for workpieces with different precision requirements or structural rigidity, ensuring that the positioning process is both accurate and stable.

[0066] In step S30, the positioning unit 32 continues to extend into the mounting hole 113 and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113. Specifically, after the clamping assembly 40 presses the shaft fork unit 11 to move away from the bottom limit unit 21 to a set interval distance, the positioning drive part 31 of the positioning assembly 30 drives the two positioning arms 321 to continue to approach the mounting holes 113 at both ends of the shaft fork unit 11 until the positioning head 322 and the guide head 323 are fully extended into the mounting hole 113 and abut against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113, thus completing the fine positioning of the shaft fork assembly 10. When the positioning head 322 of the positioning unit 32 extends into the mounting hole 113, even if there is a slight deviation from the mounting hole 113, it can be smoothly guided by fine-tuning the set interval distance between the shaft fork unit 11 and the top limit plate 233 and the set interval distance between the shaft fork unit 11 and the bottom limit unit 21 until the positioning head 322 and the guide head 323 of the positioning unit 32 are fully inserted into the mounting hole 113 and abut against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113, thus completing the precise positioning. This fundamentally solves the problem of positioning jamming or part damage caused by geometric interference, and realizes stress-free and high-precision conversion from coarse reference to fine reference.

[0067] Specifically, such as Figure 3As shown, step S30 includes: steps S31-S34; in step S31, the positioning unit 32 continues to extend into the mounting hole 113 and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole 113; in step S32, the distance between the top limiting unit 23 and the shaft fork unit 11 is increased to the installation distance, which is to release the top constraint and create conditions for stress release. Step S33, reducing the force of the clamping assembly 40 on the shaft fork unit 11, so that the force between the positioning unit 32 and the mounting hole 113 is within the set positioning force range, is because the clamping assembly 40 generates stress during the clamping process of the shaft fork unit 11. Reducing the force of the clamping assembly 40 on the shaft fork unit 11 in step S33 releases the internal stress. Step S34, increasing the force of the clamping assembly 40 on the shaft fork unit 11, applying the final clamping force, effectively eliminates the internal stress generated by forced positioning and clamping, significantly improves the true accuracy of the positioning unit 32 axis as the final reference, and increases the accuracy of the positioning unit 32 axis as the final reference. The effective contact area ensures the ultimate stability of the workpiece in subsequent processing, making the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 S3; where S3 > S1; S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 during the initial positioning; during the initial positioning and lifting stage of the shaft fork unit 11, the smaller contact area S1 means that the bottom of the side limiting unit 22 has a smaller contact surface with the shaft fork unit 11, and the top of the side limiting unit 22 does not contact the shaft fork unit 11. The small contact area S1 during the initial positioning results in less friction, which effectively reduces the resistance of the clamping assembly 40 driving the shaft fork unit 11 to make fine adjustments, allowing it to be easily and smoothly lifted and aligned with the positioning unit 32. After the clamping assembly 40 clamps, the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 is S3. Although the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 is S1, the contact area is small and the friction is small. Inertia will be generated during the movement. Although S3 > S1, the friction between the shaft fork unit 11 and the side limiting unit 22 will not increase.

[0068] The contact area S3 between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 implies lower contact resistance and a more reliable electrical connection. This ensures that during the subsequent welding of the connecting shaft 12, the welding current can preferentially and stably form a loop through the side limiting unit 22, avoiding current shunting, arcing, or unstable heating through unexpected paths such as the clamping assembly 40, thereby ensuring uniform welding quality and process reliability.

[0069] Furthermore, such as Figure 4As shown, D2 > D1; where D1 is the distance between the contact point of the side limiting unit 22 with the shaft fork unit 11 and the axis of the mounting hole 113 during initial positioning; D2 is the distance between the point of application of the resultant force of the clamping assembly 40 on the shaft fork unit 11 and the axis of the mounting hole 113 during the process of the clamping assembly 40 pressing the shaft fork unit 11 away from the side limiting unit 22.

[0070] When the distance D2 between the point of application of the resultant force of the clamping assembly 40 and the axis of the mounting hole 113 is greater than the distance D1 between the contact point of the side limiting unit 22 and the axis of the mounting hole 113, the torque generated by the clamping force is sufficient to overcome factors such as the weight of the workpiece, ensuring that the workpiece always adheres tightly to the side limiting unit 22 and moves smoothly upward along it. Conversely, if D1>D2, an unstable lever arm will be formed, and the clamping force can easily cause the shaft fork unit 11 to flip or tilt towards the contact point of the side limiting unit 22. Therefore, this design is crucial to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the entire lifting and positioning process.

[0071] In step S40, the connecting shaft 12 is connected to the shaft fork unit 11 with the positioning unit 32 as the reference. The positioning control is completed through the above steps S10-S30, ensuring that the shaft fork unit 11 and the reference axis of the positioning unit 32 are completely aligned. At this time, the connecting shaft 12 is connected to the shaft fork unit 11 with the positioning unit 32 as the reference.

[0072] Furthermore, in the process of connecting the connecting shaft 12 to the shaft fork unit 11 with the positioning unit 32 as a reference, the connection to the shaft fork unit 11 is achieved by welding to the shaft fork unit 11. Welding allows the connecting shaft 12 to be mounted on the shaft fork unit 11 based on this precise reference, greatly improving the coaxiality and dynamic balance performance of the component after welding.

[0073] Because welding is a concentrated, irreversible, and permanent joining process, it provides an extremely stable, stress-free initial state, ensuring the consistency and reliability of the finished product quality.

[0074] Since welding is an irreversible joining process, this method ensures that the shaft fork unit 11 is in the optimal and precise position before welding is performed, thereby directly contributing to the excellent coaxiality and dynamic balance performance of the final product (such as the drive shaft assembly).

[0075] Furthermore, during the welding process of connecting shaft 12 with the positioning unit 32 as a reference to the shaft fork unit 11, welding current flows through the side limiting unit 22, and the clamping unit 42 is insulated from the shaft fork unit 11.

[0076] By limiting the welding current to flow through the side limiting unit 22 and ensuring that the clamping unit 42 is insulated, a stable and controllable welding current loop is constructed. This prevents potential shunting, arcing, or localized heating when the welding current passes through the clamping unit 42, ensuring the stability and consistency of welding quality. At the same time, it avoids potential thermoelectric damage to the precision of the clamping assembly 40, extending the equipment's lifespan.

[0077] Further, S2 > S1; where S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 during the initial positioning; S2 is the contact area between the side limiting unit 22 and the shaft fork unit 11 when the shaft fork unit 11 is moved along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit 32 and away from the bottom limiting unit 21 to be spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit 21.

[0078] The beneficial effect of S2 > S1 is that it increases the contact area between the shaft fork unit 11 and the side limiting unit 22 during the lifting process, thereby significantly improving the stability of lateral positioning. The larger contact area reduces the pressure per unit area, reduces the risk of wear and indentation, and makes the workpiece more stable under stress, less prone to slight deflection, thus laying a more solid benchmark for subsequent precision positioning.

[0079] Example 2:

[0080] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the present invention provides a machining system for a shaft fork assembly 10, comprising:

[0081] Workbench 50;

[0082] Limiting component 20; the limiting component 20 includes a bottom limiting unit 21 and a side limiting unit 22; the bottom limiting unit 21 is connected to the worktable 50; the side limiting unit 22 is connected to the worktable 50; the limiting component 20 performs initial positioning of the shaft fork unit 11;

[0083] Positioning component 30; the positioning component 30 includes a positioning drive unit 31 and a positioning unit 32; the positioning drive unit 31 is connected to the worktable 50; the positioning unit 32 is drivenly connected to the positioning drive unit 31; the positioning component 30 is disposed on one side near the side limiting unit 22, and the positioning unit 32 positions the shaft fork unit 11;

[0084] Clamping assembly 40; the clamping assembly 40 includes a clamping drive part 41 and a clamping unit 42, the clamping drive part 41 is connected to the bottom of the worktable 50, and the clamping unit 42 is drivenly connected to the clamping drive part 41; the clamping unit 42 is located on the other side of the side limiting unit 22, and the clamping assembly 40 is used to clamp the shaft fork unit 11.

[0085] A shaft fork assembly 10; the shaft fork assembly 10 includes a shaft fork unit 11 and a connecting shaft 12, the connecting shaft 12 being connected to the top of the shaft fork unit 11;

[0086] The limiting component 20 performs initial positioning of the shaft fork unit 11, the positioning unit 32 further positions the shaft fork unit 11, the clamping component 40 squeezes the shaft fork unit 11 to move away from the bottom limiting unit 21 to a set interval distance; the positioning unit 32 continues to position the positioning unit 32; after positioning is completed, the connecting shaft 12 is connected to the top of the shaft fork unit 11.

[0087] like Figure 6 As shown, the shaft fork assembly 10 includes a shaft fork unit 11 and a connecting shaft 12, the connecting shaft 12 being connected to the top of the shaft fork unit 11.

[0088] like Figure 7 As shown, the positioning assembly 30 includes a positioning drive unit 31 and a positioning unit 32. The positioning unit 32 includes a positioning arm 321, a positioning head 322, and a guide head 323. The guide head 323 is used to extend into the mounting hole 113 of the shaft fork assembly 10 during initial positioning. After the shaft fork unit 11 is clamped and pushed upward by the clamping assembly 40, the positioning drive unit 31 drives the positioning arm 321 to drive the positioning head 322 to insert into the mounting hole 113 of the shaft fork unit 11, thus completing the positioning.

[0089] The shaft fork assembly 10 machining system, through limiting, positioning, and a lower clamping assembly 40, constructs a high-precision and high-stability machining system for the shaft fork assembly 10. The clamping assembly 40 presses the shaft fork unit 11 to create a gap between it and the bottom limiting unit 21, creating crucial vertical clearance space for the complete insertion of the subsequent positioning unit 32. This fundamentally eliminates geometric interference problems in the fine positioning stage and achieves stress-free, high-precision reference conversion. Simultaneously, the system ultimately ensures that the shaft fork unit 11 and the side limiting unit 22 make stable contact with a larger area (S3). This not only greatly enhances the structural stability against welding deformation but also provides ideal conditions for this low-resistance, high-reliability welding current loop, thus comprehensively ensuring the coaxiality and welding quality of the connecting shaft 12 installation.

[0090] The specific working principle is as follows: First, the limiting component 20 initially positions the shaft fork unit 11; then, the positioning unit 32 extends into the mounting hole 113 for pre-alignment; next, the clamping drive unit 41 under the worktable 50 operates, applying a clamping force with a reasonable lever arm design (D2>D1) through the clamping unit 42, smoothly lifting the shaft fork unit 11 upward, causing it to disengage from the bottom limiting unit 21 and forming a clearance space; within this space, the positioning unit 32 can continue to penetrate, smoothly completing the final precise positioning with the inner wall of the mounting hole 113; after completing possible stress relief adjustment, the system applies the final clamping force, firmly locking the shaft fork unit 11 onto the side limiting unit 22, and then high-quality, precise welding of the connecting shaft 12 can be performed.

[0091] Furthermore, such as Figure 8 As shown, the clamping unit 42 includes a clamping arm 421 and a clamping head 422. The clamping arm 421 passes through the worktable 50. One end of the clamping arm 421 is connected to the clamping head 422, and the other end of the clamping arm 421 is driven to be connected to the clamping drive unit 41 located at the bottom of the worktable 50.

[0092] By placing the clamping drive unit 41 at the bottom of the worktable 50, the system's spatial layout and structural rigidity are optimized. This "bottom-mounted" design not only frees up operating space on the worktable 50, making workpiece loading, unloading, and visual monitoring more convenient, but also effectively prevents welding slag from the top of the shaft fork unit 11 from falling onto the clamping unit 42 and affecting the subsequent clamping effect. Furthermore, by utilizing the support structure of the worktable 50, the clamping force transmission path is shortened and made more direct, enhancing the overall rigidity and operational stability of the system.

[0093] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing this disclosure, and in practical applications, various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for machining a shaft fork assembly, characterized in that, The machining method for the shaft fork assembly includes: Based on the initial positioning of the shaft fork unit after the limiting component is completed, a portion of the positioning unit is inserted into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit; wherein, the positioning unit and the shaft fork unit are spaced apart; the initial positioning includes one side of the shaft fork unit abutting against the side limiting unit of the limiting component, and one end of the shaft fork unit abutting against the bottom limiting unit of the limiting component; The clamping assembly presses the side of the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit, causing the shaft fork unit to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit; The positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole; The connecting shaft is connected to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference.

2. The method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of inserting a portion of the positioning unit into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit after the initial positioning of the limiting component based on the shaft fork unit includes: Place the shaft fork unit on the bottom limiting unit so that one side of the shaft fork unit abuts against the side limiting unit; The top limiting unit is moved to the end of the shaft fork unit away from the bottom limiting unit to complete the initial positioning; wherein, the initial positioning also includes the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit being spaced apart; A portion of the positioning unit is inserted into the mounting hole of the shaft fork unit.

3. The method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping assembly presses the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit, causing the shaft fork unit to move along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit until it is spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit. During this process, the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit decreases and becomes greater than zero.

4. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, As the positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole, the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit decreases and becomes greater than or equal to zero.

5. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abut against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole, including: The positioning unit continues to extend into the mounting hole and abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole; Increase the distance between the top limiting unit and the shaft fork unit to the installation distance; Reduce the force exerted by the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit, so that the force between the positioning unit and the mounting hole is within the set positioning force range; Increase the force exerted by the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit so that the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit is S3; wherein, S3 > S1; S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit during the initial positioning.

6. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, D2 > D1; where D1 is the distance between the contact point of the side limiting unit with the shaft fork unit and the axis of the mounting hole during initial positioning; D2 is the distance between the point of application of the resultant force of the clamping assembly on the shaft fork unit and the axis of the mounting hole during the process of the clamping assembly squeezing the shaft fork unit away from the side limiting unit.

7. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the process of connecting the connecting shaft to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference, the connection to the shaft fork unit is to weld to the shaft fork unit.

8. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, During the welding process of the connecting shaft to the shaft fork unit with the positioning unit as a reference, the welding current flows through the side limiting unit, and the clamping assembly is insulated from the shaft fork unit.

9. A method for processing a shaft fork assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, S2 > S1; where S1 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit during the initial positioning; S2 is the contact area between the side limiting unit and the shaft fork unit when the shaft fork unit is moved along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the positioning unit and away from the bottom limiting unit to be spaced apart from the bottom limiting unit.

10. A shaft fork assembly machining system, characterized in that, The shaft fork assembly machining system is applied to a shaft fork assembly machining method according to any one of claims 1-9; the shaft fork assembly machining system includes: Workbench; A limiting assembly; the limiting assembly includes a bottom limiting unit and a side limiting unit; the bottom limiting unit is connected to the worktable; the side limiting unit is connected to the worktable; the limiting assembly performs initial positioning of the shaft fork unit; A positioning assembly; the positioning assembly includes a positioning drive unit and a positioning unit; the positioning drive unit is connected to the worktable; the positioning unit is drivenly connected to the positioning drive unit; the positioning assembly is disposed on one side near the side limiting unit, and the positioning unit positions the shaft fork unit; Clamping assembly; the clamping assembly includes a clamping drive part and a clamping unit, the clamping drive part is connected to the bottom of the worktable, and the clamping unit is drivenly connected to the clamping drive part; the clamping unit is located on the other side of the side limiting unit, and the clamping assembly is used to clamp the shaft fork unit; A fork assembly; the fork assembly includes a fork unit and a connecting shaft, the connecting shaft being connected to the top of the fork unit; The limiting component initially positions the shaft fork unit, the positioning unit further positions the shaft fork unit, the clamping component squeezes the shaft fork unit to move away from the bottom limiting unit to a set interval distance; the positioning unit continues to position the positioning unit; after positioning is completed, the connecting shaft is connected to the top of the shaft fork unit.

11. A shaft fork assembly machining system according to claim 10, characterized in that, The clamping unit includes a clamping arm and a clamping head. The clamping arm extends through the worktable, one end of the clamping arm is connected to the clamping head, and the other end of the clamping arm is driven to be connected to the clamping drive unit located at the bottom of the worktable.

Images