Turnover cleaning machine for casing
By combining the X-axis and Z-axis dual-axis servo drive and multi-channel flushing head of the casing tilting cleaning machine, the problems of low efficiency and incomplete cleaning of aero-engine casings have been solved, realizing a fully automated, safe and efficient cleaning process, and reducing labor intensity and equipment costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610015323.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies for cleaning aircraft engine casings are inefficient and incomplete, making it difficult to meet the needs of batch maintenance. Manual operation is insufficient to cover hidden areas such as deep cavities and narrow gaps, posing a risk of residual impurities and poor safety.
A casing tilting cleaning machine was designed, which adopts a tilting mechanism driven by dual X-axis and Z-axis servo drives, combined with a multi-channel flushing head that can reach inside and a precise pressure control system. It is equipped with a PLC controller and safety protection devices to achieve fully automated cleaning and quickly test the cleanliness through a film-forming system.
It achieves all-round, no-dead-angle cleaning of the casing, improves cleaning efficiency and pass rate, reduces labor intensity and safety risks, reduces equipment investment costs, has multiple casing compatibility capabilities, and supports data monitoring and quality traceability.
Smart Images

Figure CN121551313A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of aircraft engine maintenance equipment, specifically relating to a casing flipping and cleaning machine. Background Technology
[0002] As a core component, the aircraft engine casing has a complex internal structure, containing multiple chambers, oil passages, and precision mating surfaces. During long-term operation, it is prone to accumulating impurities such as oil, metal debris, and carbon deposits. The presence of these impurities can seriously affect the assembly accuracy, sealing performance, and subsequent reliability of the casing. Therefore, cleaning is a critical procedure in the maintenance of aircraft engines.
[0003] Currently, the industry mostly uses manual cleaning methods, where operators use hand cleaning tools to rinse and wipe the surface and interior of the casing. This method has many drawbacks: firstly, it is inefficient, as the complex structure of the casing makes cleaning time-consuming and difficult to meet the needs of batch maintenance; secondly, the cleaning is not thorough, as manual operation cannot cover hidden areas such as deep cavities and narrow gaps inside the casing, resulting in a high risk of residual impurities. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a casing tumbling cleaning machine to solve the problems of low efficiency and incomplete cleaning in existing cleaning methods mentioned in the background art.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a casing tilting cleaning machine, comprising a frame, a tilting mechanism, a rinsing system, a control system, a film-forming system, and a safety protection device. The tilting mechanism includes an X-axis rotation assembly, a Z-axis rotation assembly, and a main and auxiliary slip ring mechanism. The X-axis rotation assembly consists of an X-axis servo motor, a gearbox, a coupling, and a rotating support. The Z-axis rotation assembly consists of a Z-axis servo motor, a gear transmission mechanism, a rotary support, and a tilting frame. The output end of the gearbox is fixedly connected to the rotating support via a coupling. One end of the rotating support is fixedly connected to the tilting frame, and a tilting clamp is installed on the tilting frame. A rotary joint is fixed to the end of the tilting frame away from the rotating support. Two bearing seats are fixedly fixed to the surface of the frame, and the two bearing seats are rotatably connected to the rotating support and the rotary joint, respectively.
[0006] In a further embodiment, the rinsing system includes a rinsing head, a liquid supply system, a pressure control system, and a filtration device. The rinsing head can extend into the casing for rinsing. The control system includes a human-machine interface, a control unit, and a monitoring unit.
[0007] In a further embodiment, the liquid supply system includes a liquid storage tank, a pump set, and a heating device. The pump set includes an oil supply pump, a circulation pump, a primary return oil pump, and a secondary return oil pump. The heating device is a thermal oil heater. The filtration device includes an oil supply filter, a return oil filter, and a circulation filter.
[0008] In a further embodiment, the control unit is a PLC controller, and the monitoring unit includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a liquid level controller, an angle sensor, etc.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the membrane-forming system includes a membrane-forming oil pump, a membrane-forming oil discharge valve, a membrane-forming vacuum pump, a metering oil tank, and a filter membrane assembly. By extracting the rinsed oil to form a membrane, the cleanliness of the workpiece can be checked, and the amount of oil for a single membrane-forming operation can be set.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the safety protection device includes an emergency stop button, overpressure protection, overtemperature protection, low liquid level protection, overload protection, and servo alarm protection.
[0011] In a further embodiment, the flushing system is further provided with an oil circuit system, which includes a proportional pressure regulating valve, a heat exchanger, a cooling fan, and an overflow valve.
[0012] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows:
[0013] This casing tilting and cleaning machine uses a tilting mechanism driven by dual X-axis and Z-axis servo to achieve 0°-360° all-round tilting of the casing without dead angles. With the addition of a multi-channel flushing head that can reach inside and precise pressure and temperature control, the flushing fluid can fully contact all areas of the casing to thoroughly remove oil and impurities. Compared with manual cleaning, the efficiency and cleaning qualification rate are effectively improved, and the problems of incomplete cleaning and unstable quality of traditional cleaning are effectively solved.
[0014] The equipment enables fully automated cleaning operations. Operators only need to perform simple operations such as clamping the casing, setting parameters, and verifying results. They do not need to directly contact the rinsing fluid or turn heavy objects over, which greatly reduces labor intensity. At the same time, it is equipped with multiple safety protection devices such as emergency stop button, overpressure, overtemperature, low liquid level protection, and overload protection, which effectively avoids the safety risks in the manual cleaning process and ensures the safe operation of operators and equipment.
[0015] The flipping fixture can be adjusted and adapted to different models and specifications of casings. The number and installation position of the flushing heads can be flexibly configured. Combined with the flexible adjustment capability of dual-axis rotation, it can meet the cleaning needs of various types of aircraft engine casings without the need to configure special equipment for different casings, thus reducing equipment investment costs.
[0016] The control system uses a PLC controller combined with an industrial touch screen all-in-one machine, which can accurately set parameters such as rinsing pressure, temperature, time, and flipping angle, monitor the equipment operation status and various key data in real time, and support data curve display, historical data query, saving and printing functions, which facilitates operation traceability and quality control.
[0017] The integrated film-forming system extracts and forms films from the rinsed oil, enabling rapid inspection of the cleanliness of the casing. The amount of oil used for each film-forming operation can be flexibly set. Compared to traditional sampling inspection methods, this system offers higher inspection efficiency and more intuitive results, effectively preventing substandard products from flowing into the next process. This casing tilting cleaning machine solves the problems of low efficiency, incomplete cleaning, unstable quality, and poor safety associated with traditional manual cleaning. It achieves efficient and comprehensive cleaning of the casing, reducing labor intensity, improving cleaning quality and operational safety, and is highly versatile. Attached Figure Description
[0018] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the oil circuit system of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the control system of the present invention.
[0023] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Gearbox; 3. X-axis servo motor; 4. Rotary support; 5. Tilting frame; 6. Tilting fixture; 7. Rotary joint; 8. Angle sensor; 9. Hydraulic system; 10. Control system. Detailed Implementation
[0024] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, the directions mentioned herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, and outside, are based on the directions shown in the figures of this invention, and are explained here together.
[0026] This invention provides, for example Figure 1-4The illustrated casing tilting cleaning machine includes a frame 1, a tilting mechanism, a rinsing system, a control system 10, a film-forming system, and safety protection devices. The frame 1 is welded from high-strength steel, providing a stable overall structure and reliable support for all components. It effectively resists vibrations and loads generated during operation, ensuring long-term stability and safety. The tilting mechanism includes an X-axis rotation assembly, a Z-axis rotation assembly, and a main and auxiliary slip ring mechanism. The X-axis rotation assembly consists of an X-axis servo motor 3, a gearbox 2, a coupling, and a rotating support 4. The Z-axis rotation assembly consists of a Z-axis servo motor, a gear transmission mechanism, a slewing support, and a tilting frame 5. The output end of the gearbox 2 is fixedly connected to the rotating support 4 via a coupling. One end of the rotating support 4 is fixedly connected to the tilting frame 5, and a tilting clamp 6 is installed on the tilting frame 5. A rotary joint 7 is fixed to the end of the tilting frame 5 furthest from the rotating support 4. The surface of the frame 1... Two bearing seats are fixed on each side, and the two bearing seats are rotatably connected to the rotating bracket 4 and the rotating joint 7 respectively. An angle sensor 8 is fixedly connected to the frame 1 at one end of the rotating joint 7. The X-axis servo motor 3 cooperates with the reduction gearbox 2 to drive the rotating bracket 4 to rotate the casing fixed on it around the X-axis. The rotation angle range is 0°-360°, and the rotation accuracy can reach ±1° to meet the cleaning needs of different angles. The Z-axis servo motor drives the rotary support to rotate through gear transmission, thereby driving the casing to rotate around the Z-axis to achieve 0°-360° rotation with a rotation accuracy of ±1°. Cooperating with the X-axis rotating component, the casing can be rotated in all directions without dead angles. The main and auxiliary slip ring mechanism provides power, signal, encoder lines and flushing pipe inlet and outlet connections for the X-axis and Z-axis rotation, realizing 0°-360° infinite rotation, ensuring that the lines and pipes do not get tangled or damaged during the rotation, and ensuring the continuity and reliability of equipment operation.
[0027] The flushing system includes flushing heads, a liquid supply system, a pressure control system, and a filtration device. The flushing heads are multi-channel flushing heads with adjustable angles, which can reach into different areas inside the casing for precise flushing. The number of flushing heads can be configured according to the casing model and cleaning requirements. The liquid supply system consists of a liquid storage tank (200L capacity), a pump set (supply pump, circulation pump, primary return pump, and secondary return pump), and a heating device (thermal oil heater with a heating power of 24kW). The liquid storage tank is used to store the flushing liquid, and the pump set provides the power for flushing liquid circulation. The supply pump has a displacement of 29mL / r, and the circulation pump has a displacement of 21mL / r. The heating device can heat the flushing liquid to room temperature -80℃ and maintain it within the set temperature range of ±2℃.
[0028] The pressure control system includes a proportional pressure regulating valve, a pressure sensor, and a pressure adjusting knob. The proportional pressure regulating valve automatically adjusts or the pressure adjusting knob is manually adjusted to achieve precise control of the flushing pressure from 0 to 1 MPa. The pressure sensor collects pipeline pressure data in real time and feeds it back to the control system 10.
[0029] Filtration system: It adopts a multi-stage filtration design, including oil supply filter (20μm, 3μm fine filter), return oil filter (3μm, 10μm, 30μm fine filter, 180μm coarse filter before pump) and circulation filter (3μm, 5μm, 10μm, 30μm fine filter, 180μm coarse filter before pump), which can effectively filter impurities in flushing fluid, prevent impurities from secondary contaminating the casing, and protect the pump unit and pipeline components.
[0030] The flushing system is also equipped with an oil circuit system 9, which includes a heat exchanger, a cooling fan, an overflow valve, and various pipe joints. The heat exchanger and the cooling fan work together to cool down the flushing fluid when the temperature exceeds the set value. The overflow valve is used to prevent overpressure in the pipeline and ensure the safe operation of the oil circuit system 9.
[0031] The control system 10 includes a human-machine interface, a control unit, and a monitoring unit. The human-machine interface adopts an industrial touch screen all-in-one machine, which has good operation convenience and visualization effect. Its test interface is divided into oil supply section, circulation section, temperature control section, and film forming section. It can display parameters such as flushing flow rate, oil supply pressure, flushing temperature, oil tank temperature, liquid level signal, and equipment utilization rate in real time. It supports setting parameters such as running time, flushing temperature, flushing pressure, Z-axis speed, X-axis speed, Z-axis oil extraction angle, X-axis oil extraction angle, motor direction, motor speed, oil supply, and film forming oil volume. It is equipped with functional modules such as data curve, data query, data saving and printing, and alarm information. The data curve can display the historical change trend of parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and temperature. The data query supports selecting historical data by time range and variable. The data can be saved to the database and supports printing output.
[0032] Control Unit: The PLC controller is used as the core. It receives the set parameters from the human-machine interface and the feedback signals from the monitoring unit, and controls the servo motor, pump group, heating device, film forming system and other components to work together to realize functions such as automatic flipping, automatic rinsing and automatic film forming. The equipment supports two control modes: manual and automatic. In manual mode, each mechanism can be controlled individually through operation buttons and knobs for equipment debugging and fixture installation. In automatic mode, the entire cleaning operation can be completed according to the set parameters.
[0033] The monitoring unit consists of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a level controller, an angle sensor, a proximity switch, etc. It collects real-time operating data such as flushing pressure, return oil pressure, oil tank temperature, pipeline temperature, oil tank level, and rotation angle, monitors the operating status of each mechanism, and promptly feeds back to the control unit and triggers an alarm when parameters are abnormal or a mechanism malfunctions.
[0034] The membrane forming system is used to test the cleanliness of the casing, and includes a membrane forming oil pump, a membrane forming oil drain valve, a membrane forming vacuum pump, a metering oil tank, and a filter membrane assembly;
[0035] Workflow: After the cleaning operation is completed, the membrane forming oil pump and the oil supply pump start automatically, pumping the flushing liquid in the storage tank into the metering oil tank. When the oil volume reaches the set value (default 2800mL), the oil supply pump and the membrane forming oil pump stop, and the drain valve is opened to flush the metering oil tank. The oil filling and draining process is repeated four times. After the fifth filling is completed and the tank is left to stand, the operator places the filter membrane on the filtration flask, cleans the oil inlet, and fixes it at the membrane forming oil outlet. The operator clicks the membrane forming switch, the membrane forming vacuum pump starts, and the drain valve opens. When the drained oil reaches the set membrane forming oil volume (default 2000mL), the membrane forming vacuum pump and the drain valve stop. The operator removes the filter membrane and sends it to the testing room. The cleaning of the casing is judged by detecting the amount of impurities remaining on the filter membrane.
[0036] Safety protection devices ensure the safety of operators and equipment during operation, including:
[0037] Emergency stop button: Emergency stop buttons are installed on the control panel and key locations on the machine body. When pressed, the PLC immediately cuts off all control motor outputs, and all motors stop running, achieving emergency shutdown.
[0038] Overpressure protection: When the oil supply pressure exceeds 1.05MPa, the pressure sensor triggers an alarm, the equipment automatically stops the oil supply pump and releases pressure, and at the same time the alarm light illuminates and an alarm sound is emitted;
[0039] Over-temperature protection: When the oil tank temperature exceeds the set alarm value (default 90℃), the temperature sensor triggers an alarm, the equipment automatically stops the heating device and oil supply pump, and the cooling fan starts to cool down;
[0040] Low liquid level protection: The liquid level in the oil tank is monitored by a liquid level controller. When the liquid level is lower than 10%, a low liquid level alarm is triggered, and the equipment automatically stops the oil supply pump and heating device to prevent the pump set from running dry and being damaged.
[0041] Overload protection: Each motor (oil supply pump motor, circulating pump motor, return oil pump motor, servo motor, etc.) is equipped with a thermal relay. When a motor is overloaded, the thermal relay will activate, the equipment will stop the corresponding motor and sound an alarm.
[0042] Servo alarm protection: When the X-axis or Z-axis servo motor malfunctions, the corresponding servo alarm light will illuminate, the equipment will stop the flipping mechanism, and the operator can restart it by resetting or troubleshooting the fault.
[0043] Filter clogging alarm: When each stage of the filter becomes clogged, the corresponding alarm light will illuminate, reminding the operator to replace the filter element in time.
[0044] All standard parts used in this invention can be purchased from the market, and irregularly shaped parts can be customized according to the description and drawings. The specific connection methods of each part adopt conventional methods such as bolts, rivets, and welding that are mature in the prior art. The machinery, parts, and equipment all adopt conventional models in the prior art. In addition, the circuit connection adopts conventional connection methods in the prior art, which will not be described in detail here. The control method of this invention is through a controller. The control circuit of the controller can be implemented by those skilled in the art through simple programming. It should be noted that the electrical components mentioned in this invention have been sorted according to the actual situation during manufacturing, so as not to cause the wire harness to become tangled or affect the operation. The contents not described in detail in this specification belong to the prior art known to those skilled in the art.
[0045] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the indicated orientation or positional relationship is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.
[0046] Working principle:
[0047] In this casing tilting cleaning machine, the operator first fixes the casing to be cleaned onto the tilting frame 5 using the tilting clamp 6. After ensuring a secure clamping, the operator sets parameters such as flushing pressure, flushing temperature, tilting angle (X-axis, Z-axis), flushing time, and film-forming oil quantity through the human-machine interface. The operator then selects the automatic control mode to start the equipment. After the equipment starts, the control system 10 receives the set parameters and drives the heating device in the liquid supply system to heat the flushing liquid in the storage tank until the set temperature is reached and maintained. At the same time, the oil supply pump and circulation pump in the pump group start. The flushing liquid enters the oil circuit system 9 after being filtered by the oil supply filter and is adjusted to the set pressure through the proportional pressure regulating valve.
[0048] Subsequently, the flipping mechanism begins to operate: the X-axis servo motor 3 drives the rotating bracket 4 via the reduction gearbox 2 and coupling, and the Z-axis servo motor drives the rotary support through the gear transmission mechanism. The two work together to drive the casing to flip around the X-axis and Z-axis at a preset angle. The main and auxiliary slip ring mechanisms ensure the normal connection of power supply, signal and flushing pipeline during the rotation process. The angle sensor 8 collects the rotation angle data in real time and feeds it back to the control system 10 to ensure the flipping accuracy. During this process, the adjustable angle multi-channel flushing head extends into the casing. The flushing liquid after high pressure heating is sprayed out through the flushing head to flush the inside and surface of the casing in all directions. The impurities washed off are returned with the flushing liquid. After being filtered through multiple stages of return oil filter and circulation filter, part of it is returned to the storage tank for recycling, and part of it is discharged by the return oil pump.
[0049] During the flushing process, the pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and level controller of the monitoring unit collect data such as pipeline pressure, flushing fluid temperature, and oil tank level in real time. If abnormal conditions such as overpressure, overtemperature, or low level occur, the control system 10 will immediately trigger an alarm and execute corresponding protection actions (such as stopping the oil supply pump and turning off the heating device). When the set flushing time is reached, the flushing system stops supplying liquid, and the flipping mechanism drives the flipping frame 5 to reset.
[0050] Finally, the membrane-forming system starts automatically. The membrane-forming oil pump pumps the rinsing liquid from the storage tank into the metering oil tank. Once the set oil volume is reached, the oil supply stops. After multiple oil additions and drains to rinse the metering oil tank, the operator installs the filter membrane and starts the membrane-forming vacuum pump. The rinsing liquid passes through the filter membrane assembly to complete the membrane formation. The operator removes the filter membrane and sends it to the testing room. The amount of impurities remaining on the filter membrane is used to determine whether the casing cleaning is qualified. If it is qualified, the cleaning operation is completed. If it is not qualified, the cleaning process can be restarted through the control system 10. Throughout the process, the control system 10 coordinates the operation of all mechanisms to achieve automated and precise cleaning and cleanliness inspection of the casing.
[0051] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A casing tilting and cleaning machine, comprising a frame (1), a tilting mechanism, a rinsing system, a control system (10), a film-forming system, and a safety protection device, characterized in that: The flipping mechanism includes an X-axis rotating assembly, a Z-axis rotating assembly, and a main and auxiliary slip ring mechanism. The X-axis rotating assembly consists of an X-axis servo motor (3), a gearbox (2), a coupling, and a rotating bracket (4). The Z-axis rotating assembly consists of a Z-axis servo motor, a gear transmission mechanism, a rotary support, and a flipping frame (5). The output end of the gearbox (2) is fixedly connected to the rotating bracket (4) through a coupling. One end of the rotating bracket (4) is fixedly connected to the flipping frame (5), and a flipping clamp (6) is installed on the flipping frame (5). A rotary joint (7) is fixed at the end of the flipping frame (5) away from the rotating bracket (4). Two bearing seats are fixed on the surface of the frame (1), and the two bearing seats are rotatably connected to the rotating bracket (4) and the rotary joint (7), respectively.
2. The casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flushing system includes a flushing head, a liquid supply system, a pressure control system, and a filter. The flushing head can be inserted into the casing for flushing. The control system (10) includes a human-machine interface, a control unit, and a monitoring unit.
3. The casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The liquid supply system includes a storage tank, a pump set, and a heating device. The pump set includes an oil supply pump, a circulation pump, a primary return oil pump, and a secondary return oil pump. The heating device is a thermal oil heater. The filtration device includes an oil supply filter, a return oil filter, and a circulation filter.
4. A casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control unit adopts a PLC controller, and the monitoring unit includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a liquid level controller, an angle sensor (8), etc.
5. A casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The membrane-forming system includes a membrane-forming oil pump, a membrane-forming oil discharge valve, a membrane-forming vacuum pump, a metering oil tank, and a filter membrane assembly. By extracting the rinsed oil to form a membrane, the cleanliness of the workpiece can be checked, and the amount of oil for a single membrane-forming operation can be set.
6. A casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The safety protection devices include an emergency stop button, overpressure protection, overtemperature protection, low liquid level protection, overload protection, and servo alarm protection.
7. A casing tilting and cleaning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flushing system is also equipped with an oil circuit system (9), which includes a proportional pressure regulating valve, a heat exchanger, a cooling fan and an overflow valve.