Self-clamping friction-free balance cylinder

Abstract

A self-clamping friction-free balance air cylinder comprises a cylinder barrel, a piston, a piston rod, a floating connector, an upper end cover, a lower end cover and a clamping device, the piston is fixedly connected with one end of the piston rod through the floating connector, a mounting hole is formed in the other end of the piston rod, the lower end cover is mounted at one end of the cylinder barrel, and the upper end cover is mounted at the other end of the cylinder barrel. The lower end cover is provided with an air source inlet, the upper end cover is provided with a center hole, the other end of the upper end cover is provided with a clamping device, the piston is composed of a piston head and a porous material, the porous material is installed in an annular groove in the outer circle of the piston head, the porous material is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the porous material is arranged in the annular groove. The upper end cover is composed of an end cover shell, a porous material and an annular gasket, and the clamping device is composed of a shell, a clamping block and an annular piston. The requirement for machining and assembling precision is low, the self-clamping function is achieved, and meanwhile the problem of jamming is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cylinder, and more particularly to a self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder. Background Technology

[0002] Friction in a conventional cylinder primarily arises from the contact between the piston and cylinder barrel, the interaction between the piston rod and seals, and the contact between the guide elements and piston rod. This friction not only reduces the cylinder's efficiency and response speed but can also lead to additional energy consumption and equipment wear.

[0003] To reduce the problems inherent in traditional cylinders and meet the requirements of ultra-precise constant force output control and micro-pressure action control, gas static pressure lubrication technology has been applied to achieve frictionless cylinders. Chinese invention patent application publication number CN103016441A, entitled "An Air-Floating Frictionless Cylinder Using a Microporous Material to Form a Stable Air Film," discloses a frictionless cylinder designed using the air-floating principle. It utilizes compressed air from a high-pressure chamber to pass through blind holes inside the piston, and then through a layer of microporous material to form an air film that supports the piston. The gas in the gap between the piston and the cylinder barrel then flows to the atmosphere through a pressure relief groove on the right side of the piston and a blind hole facing the other end face, thus achieving frictionless movement of the piston assembly. While the above-mentioned frictionless cylinders have achieved good results, their complex structure makes manufacturing difficult. Furthermore, in existing frictionless balancing cylinders, the clamping device may jam due to assembly position issues after air supply interruption. Therefore, it is necessary to design a frictionless balancing cylinder with a simple structure, high manufacturing precision, and self-clamping capability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of complex structure, difficult processing and manufacturing, and clamping eccentricity in the prior art, this invention provides a self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: a self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder, including a cylinder barrel, a piston, a piston rod, a floating joint, an upper end cover, a lower end cover, and a clamping device. The piston and one end of the piston rod are fixedly connected through the floating joint. The other end of the piston rod is provided with an installation hole. The lower end cover is installed at one end of the cylinder barrel, and the upper end cover is installed at the other end of the cylinder barrel. The lower end cover is provided with an air source inlet. The upper end cover has a central hole. The clamping device is installed at the other end of the upper end cover.

[0006] Furthermore, the piston is composed of a piston head and a porous material. The porous material is installed in an annular groove on the outer circumference of the piston head. The porous material is installed in multiple pieces. There is a second blind hole in the annular groove of the piston head, and an axial second channel along the rodless cavity direction forms the air intake channel of the porous material.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper end cover is composed of an end cover shell, a porous material, and an annular washer. The end face of the end cover shell has a boss, and the boss has an annular groove. The annular washer is installed in the annular groove to form a buffer pad.

[0008] Furthermore, the clamping device consists of a housing, a clamping block, and an annular piston. The outer circumference of the housing has a third blind hole, and a third channel is formed along the wall towards the rod cavity to create an air intake channel for the annular piston. The outlet of the air intake channel has an annular groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the number of clamping blocks is four, the outer circle of each clamping block has an inclined slope, and the outer circle of each clamping block has T-shaped strips along the inclined slope.

[0010] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0011] 1. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder of the present invention adopts a segmented installation of porous material layers. At the same time, the inner and outer circles of the porous material layers are flat circular surfaces, which makes the structure relatively simple and easy to process and manufacture.

[0012] 2. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder of the present invention, through the high-precision assembly of the clamping device and the air bearing, enables the cylinder to clamp in time when the air supply is cut off, while the piston rod will not rub against the clamping device when the cylinder is working. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is an axial cross-sectional view of the frictionless cylinder of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is an axial cross-sectional view of the piston head exhaust passage of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the piston's three-dimensional structure according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the clamping block of the present invention;

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Cylinder body; 2. Lower end cover; 3. Piston head; 4. Piston porous material; 5. Piston rod; 6. Floating joint; 7. Upper end cover; 8. Upper end cover porous material; 9. Clamping device housing; 10. Gas seal gasket; 11. Ring piston; 12. Clamping block; 13. Buffer pad; 14. Locking spring; 15. First blind hole; 16. First channel; 17. Second channel; 18. Second blind hole; 19. Third blind hole; 20. Third channel; 21. Piston groove; 22. Fourth blind hole; 23. Fourth channel; 24. Pressure equalizing chamber; 25. Fifth blind hole; 26. T-shaped strip. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To better understand the purpose, structure, and function of this invention, the invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Reference Figures 1-5 As shown, the self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder of the present invention includes a cylinder barrel 1, a piston, a piston rod 5, a floating joint 6, an upper end cover 7, a lower end cover 2, and a clamping device. The piston and one end of the piston rod 5 are fixedly connected through the floating joint 6. The other end of the piston rod 5 is provided with a mounting hole, which is a threaded hole. The lower end cover 2 is installed on one end of the cylinder barrel 1 and fixed by bolts. The upper end cover 7 is installed on the other end of the cylinder barrel 1 and fixed by bolts. The clamping device is installed on the other end of the upper end cover and fixed by bolts.

[0021] The piston is composed of a piston head 3 and a piston porous material 4, and the clamping device is composed of a clamping device housing 9, an annular piston 11 and a clamping block 12.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the lower end cover 2 is provided with a first blind hole 15. The first blind hole 15 is axially opened through a first channel 16 to form an air intake channel for the lower end cover 2, which is connected to the high-pressure chamber of the cylinder.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the piston head 3 has two mirror-image second channels 17 on its end face near the lower end cover 2. The second channel 17 is radially connected to the second blind hole 18 to form the piston's air intake. The high-pressure chamber supplies air to the porous material 4 through the second channel 17 and the second blind hole 18 to form an air film, which isolates the piston head 3 and the porous material 4 from the cylinder body 1, thus achieving frictionless movement.

[0024] like Figures 2-3 As shown, the piston head 3 is provided with an exhaust passage, which consists of a third blind hole 19 and a third channel 20. The exhaust passage isolates the piston film gap and the high-pressure chamber, preventing high-pressure gas from the high-pressure chamber from flowing into the gap and interfering with the film pressure of the porous material 4. The porous material 4 is installed in the groove of the piston head 3, and the segmented installation reduces the precision required for assembly.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the piston head 3 and piston rod 5 are connected by a floating joint 6. The piston head 3 has a groove 21 in the middle, and the mounting hole in the piston groove 21 is a bolt hole. The floating joint 6 can improve the overall assembly error of the cylinder and avoid jamming.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the upper end cover 7 and the upper end cover porous material 8 form an air bearing. The buffer pad 13 is installed on the boss of the upper end cover 7 near the rodless cavity. The air inlet channel of the upper end cover porous material 8 is composed of a fifth blind hole 25. The air bearing provides an air film, which can improve the stability of the piston rod. The buffer pad 13 can prevent the piston head 3 from colliding with the upper end cover 7.

[0027] like Figures 1-5 As shown, the outer circumference of the clamping device housing 9 is provided with a fourth blind hole 22, and the fourth blind hole 22 is provided with a fourth channel 23 along the axial direction. The fourth channel 23 is connected to the pressure equalization chamber 24, forming the air intake channel of the clamping device. When the cylinder is working, gas enters through the air intake channel of the clamping device, the annular piston 11 rises, and when air is supplied, the annular piston 11 lifts the clamping block 26, the piston rod 5 is released, and the T-shaped strip of the clamping block 12 is embedded in the T-shaped groove of the clamping device housing 9 to prevent the clamping block 12 from radially shifting when moving.

[0028] The combination of the upper end cover 7 and the clamping device allows the cylinder to be clamped in time when the air supply is cut off, while the piston rod 5 can remain in position and not rub against the clamping block 12.

[0029] It is understood that this invention has been described through some embodiments, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes or equivalent substitutions can be made to these features and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, under the teachings of this invention, these features and embodiments can be modified to adapt to specific situations and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of this application are within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder, characterized in that: The frictionless balancing device includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a floating joint, an upper end cover, a lower end cover, and a clamping device. The piston and one end of the piston rod are fixedly connected by the floating joint. The other end of the piston rod is provided with an installation hole. The lower end cover is installed at one end of the cylinder, and the upper end cover is installed at the other end of the cylinder. The lower end cover is provided with an air source inlet. The upper end cover has a central hole, and the clamping device is installed at the other end of the upper end cover.

2. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The piston consists of a piston head and a porous material. The porous material is installed in an annular groove on the outer circumference of the piston head. The porous material is installed in multiple pieces. There is a second blind hole in the annular groove of the piston head, and an axial second channel along the rodless cavity direction forms the air intake channel of the porous material.

3. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end cap is composed of an end cap shell, a porous material, and an annular washer. The end face of the end cap shell has a boss, and the boss has an annular groove. The annular washer is installed in the annular groove to form a buffer pad.

4. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping device consists of a housing, a clamping block, and an annular piston. The outer circumference of the housing has a third blind hole, and a third channel is formed along the wall towards the rod cavity to form the air intake channel of the annular piston. The outlet of the air intake channel has a ring of equalizing chamber.

5. The self-clamping frictionless balancing cylinder as described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The number of clamping blocks is four, the outer circle of each clamping block has an inclined slope, and the outer circle of each clamping block has T-shaped strips along the inclined slope.

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