High-temperature adaptive mechanical clamping and positioning device for curing molding of composite material

Abstract

The invention discloses a high-temperature adaptive mechanical clamping and positioning device for curing molding of a composite material, relates to the technical field of processing and positioning of the composite material, and aims to solve the problems that an electric or pneumatic clamping device cannot adapt to a high-temperature environment and is insufficient in reliability when the composite material is cured in a curing oven at 300 DEG C for a long time (more than 10 hours). The device comprises a clamp main body, a replaceable clamp seat, a spring pin assembly and a nut seat, the spring pin assembly comprises a plurality of spring pins of different specifications, and a high-temperature-resistant spring and a spherical pin structure are arranged in each spring pin; when a workpiece is placed, the spherical pins of the spring pins are triggered in sequence to retract, pre-positioning is achieved through step-by-step stress, and finally automatic pressing is completed under the resilience force effect of the high-temperature-resistant springs. The device adopts a pure mechanical structure design, does not need to be driven by electric power or air pressure, is adaptive to a 300 DEG C high-temperature curing environment and long-time working requirements, can be adaptive to different types of composite material workpieces by replacing a clamp seat, is high in positioning precision, stable and reliable in clamping and simple and convenient to operate, can remarkably improve the consistency and the processing quality of composite material curing forming, and is suitable for large-scale popularization and application. The method is suitable for molding processing scenes in a composite material curing oven.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of positioning and clamping technology in composite material processing, specifically to a purely mechanical clamping and positioning device adapted to high-temperature curing environments for composite material curing and molding. Background Technology

[0002] In the processing of composite materials, curing is a critical step. The composite workpiece must be placed in a curing oven and cured at 300°C for at least 10 hours to ensure the structural strength and performance stability of the composite material. During this process, the positioning and clamping of the workpiece directly affects the dimensional accuracy and molding consistency of the cured product.

[0003] However, existing clamping devices have significant drawbacks in this scenario: on the one hand, the motors, circuits, and other components of electric clamping devices cannot withstand temperatures of 300°C. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the motor to burn out and the circuit to short-circuit, making them completely unsuitable for the working conditions inside the curing oven. On the other hand, the air pipes and seals of pneumatic clamping devices are prone to aging and deformation at high temperatures, leading to airtightness failure and an inability to provide stable clamping force. Furthermore, the maintenance cost of pneumatic systems is high, and troubleshooting and repair are difficult to perform inside the closed curing oven.

[0004] In addition, traditional mechanical clamping devices often suffer from poor adaptability. One type of clamp can usually only correspond to one type of composite material workpiece. When changing workpieces, the entire clamp needs to be replaced, which is costly and inefficient. At the same time, some mechanical clamps require manual assistance for locking, which is cumbersome to operate. Furthermore, manual operation in high-temperature environments poses safety hazards, and the clamping force is difficult to control precisely. This can easily cause the composite material workpiece to shift or deform during the curing process, affecting product quality.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, there is an urgent need to design a clamping and positioning device with a purely mechanical structure, adaptable to high-temperature environments up to 300℃, capable of stable operation for extended periods, highly adaptable, and easy to operate, in order to meet the process requirements for composite material curing and molding. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding, so as to solve the problems that existing electric and pneumatic clamping devices cannot adapt to the 300℃ high-temperature curing environment, and that traditional mechanical clamps have poor adaptability and are cumbersome to operate. This invention enables accurate positioning and stable clamping of composite material workpieces during the high-temperature curing process, thereby improving the curing and molding quality and production efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding, comprising a clamp body, a clamp seat, a spring pin assembly, a nut seat, and a high-temperature resistant spring.

[0008] • Fixture body: As the mounting base of the device, it is made of high-temperature resistant alloy material to ensure that it does not deform and has stable strength in a high-temperature environment of 300℃. It is used to support the fixture seat and spring pin assembly to ensure the reliability of the overall structure.

[0009] • Fixture base: It can be detachably fixed to the fixture body and is made of high temperature resistant cast iron or aluminum alloy. Its shape and positioning surface are designed according to the model and shape of the composite material workpiece to be cured. It can be adapted to various models of composite material workpieces by changing different fixture bases without replacing the entire fixture.

[0010] • Spring pin assembly: Includes 1 first spring pin and 3 second spring pins. Each spring pin is made of high-temperature alloy material and has a built-in high-temperature resistant spring and spherical pin. The surface of the spherical pin is treated with wear-resistant and high-temperature resistant treatment. The spherical pin slides with the spring pin body and can flexibly retract under pressure and accurately reset under the rebound force of the high-temperature resistant spring. The high-temperature resistant spring is made of high-temperature alloy spring steel and can maintain stable elastic performance in a high-temperature environment of 300℃, ensuring continuous and reliable clamping force during long-term curing.

[0011] • Nut seat: Made of high-temperature resistant metal material, used for the installation and positioning of spring pin, ensuring the stability of the spring pin's position during high-temperature operation, preventing displacement, and further improving positioning accuracy.

[0012] The working principle of this device is as follows:

[0013] 1. Pre-installation: Select a suitable fixture seat according to the model and shape of the composite material workpiece to be cured and fix it to the fixture body with bolts or buckles; install each spring pin in place with the nut seat to ensure that the spherical pin protrusion height of the spring pin meets the positioning requirements, and at the same time check the flexibility of the high temperature spring to ensure that it can work normally in the high temperature environment.

[0014] 2. Workpiece placement: The composite material workpiece is slowly placed on top of the fixture seat. The workpiece first contacts the spherical pin of the first spring pin. As the workpiece is under gravity, the spherical pin is compressed and retracts along the spring pin body, achieving initial guidance and preventing the workpiece from shifting during placement.

[0015] 3. Step-by-step positioning: The workpiece continues to descend and contacts the spherical pins of the three second spring pins in sequence. Each spherical pin retracts one by one under the pressure of the workpiece. During this process, the workpiece achieves precise pre-positioning through multi-point contact with multiple spherical pins. At the same time, the elastic force generated by the compression of each high-temperature spring forms an initial clamping force to prevent the workpiece from shifting during subsequent placement.

[0016] 4. Final clamping: When the workpiece is placed in position (fully in contact with the positioning surface of the fixture seat), the built-in high-temperature resistant spring of the first spring pin releases its rebound force, pushing the spherical pin to reset and clamping the workpiece in place; at this time, the high-temperature resistant spring force of the three second spring pins works together with the clamping force of the first spring pin to form a uniform and continuous clamping force, ensuring that the composite material workpiece remains stable and does not shift or deform during the curing process at 300℃ for more than 10 hours.

[0017] 5. Workpiece removal: After curing is complete, wait for the curing oven to cool down to a safe temperature, then remove the workpiece directly upwards. Each spring pin will automatically reset under the action of the high-temperature spring rebound force, and the next workpiece can be clamped.

[0018] Beneficial effects

[0019] 1. Strong high temperature adaptability: The device adopts a pure mechanical structure design with no electric or pneumatic drive components. The core components (clamp body, spring pin, high temperature spring, etc.) are all made of high temperature resistant materials and can work stably for more than 10 hours in a high temperature environment of 300℃. It is fully compatible with the working conditions of composite material curing ovens and solves the technical pain point that traditional electric and pneumatic clamping devices cannot withstand high temperatures.

[0020] 2. Flexible adaptability: With the detachable fixture design, only the corresponding fixture needs to be replaced to adapt to composite material workpieces of different models and shapes, without the need to replace the entire fixture, which reduces equipment costs, improves production flexibility, and meets diverse curing processing needs;

[0021] 3. High positioning accuracy: The positioning method adopts a multi-spring pin step-triggered positioning method. The workpiece achieves precise pre-positioning through multi-point contact with multiple spherical pins, effectively avoiding the offset problem caused by a single positioning point. At the same time, the structural design of the spherical pins reduces the frictional resistance when placing the workpiece, and the wear-resistant and high-temperature-resistant treatment of the spherical pins in high-temperature environments ensures positioning consistency, further improving the dimensional accuracy of the composite material after curing.

[0022] 4. Stable and reliable clamping: Automatic clamping is achieved by utilizing the rebound force of high-temperature resistant springs. The clamping force is uniform and continuous, and the clamping force will not decrease due to the decay of spring performance during long-term high-temperature curing, thus avoiding displacement and deformation of the workpiece during the curing process. At the same time, the flexible clamping method can effectively protect the surface of the composite material workpiece from damage and ensure the product molding quality.

[0023] 5. Simple and safe operation: The workpiece is automatically positioned and clamped during placement, eliminating the need for manual locking, which significantly shortens the workpiece clamping time and improves processing efficiency; moreover, it eliminates the need for manual operation in high-temperature environments, avoiding safety hazards and reducing the labor intensity of operators. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a top view schematic diagram of a high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0028] Example 1: The high-temperature adaptable mechanical clamping and positioning device for composite material curing and molding in this example includes a clamp body, a clamp seat, a first spring pin, three second spring pins, a nut seat, and a built-in high-temperature resistant spring.

[0029] • The main body of the fixture is made of high-temperature alloy, which has excellent high-temperature resistance and maintains stable strength at 300℃.

[0030] • The fixture base is made of high-temperature resistant aluminum alloy, which is lightweight and has good machinability. Its positioning surface is designed according to the Φ50mm round composite workpiece and is detachably connected to the fixture body by 4 high-temperature resistant bolts.

[0031] • The spring pin and spherical pin are made of high-temperature alloy. The surface of the spherical pin is treated with a plasma-sprayed wear-resistant coating to improve wear resistance in high-temperature environments.

[0032] • The built-in high-temperature resistant spring is made of high-temperature alloy spring steel with a spring force of 60N. After testing, it was found that after working continuously for 12 hours in an environment of 300℃, the elastic decay rate was less than 3%, ensuring stable clamping force.

[0033] The usage process of this embodiment:

[0034] 1. Fix the fixture seat that is compatible with Φ50mm circular composite material workpiece to the fixture body with high temperature resistant bolts. Install the first spring pin at the center position above the fixture seat. Distribute the three second spring pins evenly around the first spring pin (the included angle between adjacent spring pins is 120°). Fix each spring pin with a nut seat and adjust the spherical pins to extend at the same height (the extension amount is 5mm).

[0035] 2. Open the curing oven, place the assembled device in the designated position inside the curing oven, and preheat the curing oven to 50°C (to facilitate workpiece clamping operations).

[0036] 3. Slowly place the Φ50mm circular composite material workpiece above the fixture seat. The workpiece first contacts the spherical pin of the first spring pin. The spherical pin is compressed back, guiding the workpiece to initial positioning.

[0037] 4. The workpiece continues to descend and contacts the spherical pins of the three second spring pins in sequence. Each spherical pin retracts one by one, and the workpiece is accurately positioned under the limiting action of multiple spherical pins. At the same time, each high-temperature resistant spring is compressed to generate an initial clamping force.

[0038] 5. When the workpiece is fully engaged with the positioning surface of the fixture seat, the built-in high-temperature resistant spring of the first spring pin returns to its original position, the spherical pin presses against the workpiece, and the elastic force of the three second spring pins works together to press and fix the workpiece.

[0039] 6. Turn off the curing oven, start the curing program, raise the temperature to 300℃, and maintain the curing time for 10 hours;

[0040] 7. After curing, wait for the curing oven to cool down naturally to below 60°C, open the curing oven, take out the workpiece upwards, and each spring pin will reset under the action of the high temperature spring rebound force, and the next workpiece can be clamped.

[0041] Tests showed that the device in this embodiment maintained a stable clamping force (between 58-62N) during the curing process at 300℃ for 10 hours, and the workpiece positioning accuracy reached ±0.01mm. The roundness error of the workpiece after curing was ≤0.02mm, and the dimensional consistency was significantly better than that of traditional fixtures. Moreover, there were no indentations or damage on the workpiece surface, and the product qualification rate was increased by more than 50%.

[0042] Example 2: The difference between this example and Example 1 is that the fixture base is replaced with a structure that is adapted to a rectangular composite material workpiece with a size of 100×80mm. The positioning surface of the fixture base is designed as a planar structure that fits the rectangular workpiece. The first spring pin is installed at the upper left corner of the rectangular workpiece, and three second spring pins are installed at the upper right, lower left, and lower right corners of the rectangular workpiece, respectively, forming a four-point positioning structure.

[0043] Tests have shown that the device in this embodiment can stably clamp a 100×80mm rectangular composite material workpiece. During the high-temperature curing process at 300℃ for 12 hours, the workpiece exhibits no displacement or deformation, and the positioning accuracy can reach ±0.02mm. It is suitable for the curing and molding processing of rectangular composite material workpieces, such as composite material sheets, shells, and other products.

Claims

1. A high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing forming, characterized in that, Including clamp body, clamp seat, spring pin assembly, nut seat and high temperature resistant spring, the clamp seat is detachably fixed on the clamp body, the spring pin assembly includes at least four spring pins, each spring pin is provided with a spherical pin and a built-in high temperature resistant spring, and the nut seat is used for realizing the installation and positioning of the spring pin, the whole device adopts a pure mechanical structure, without electric or pneumatic driving parts, and is suitable for 300 DEG C high temperature environment and more than 10 hours long time working requirement.

2. The high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing out of autoclave as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The spring pin assembly includes a first spring pin and a second spring pin, the number of the first spring pin is one, and the number of the second spring pin is three.

3. The high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing out-of-autoclave, according to claim 1, wherein, The clamp seat and the clamp body are detachably connected through bolts or buckles, the size and the positioning surface structure of the clamp seat can be designed according to the model and shape of the composite material workpiece.

4. The high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing out-of-autoclave, according to claim 1, wherein, The spherical pin and the spring pin body are in sliding fit, the material of the high temperature resistant spring is high temperature alloy spring steel, the elastic force can be adjusted according to the weight of the composite material workpiece and the clamping requirement, and the stable elastic property can be maintained under 300 DEG C high temperature environment.

5. The high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing out of autoclave as claimed in claim 1 wherein, The composite material workpiece clamping process includes the following steps: (1) the composite material workpiece is placed above the clamp seat, the workpiece first contacts the spherical pin of the first spring pin, and the spherical pin is retracted under the pressure of the workpiece; (2) the workpiece continues to descend and contacts the spherical pin of the first second spring pin, the spherical pin retracts and generates initial compression force; (3) the workpiece further descends and contacts the spherical pins of the remaining two second spring pins, the two spherical pins retract synchronously and enhance the compression force; (4) after the workpiece is placed in place, the first spring pin is reset under the rebound force of the built-in high temperature resistant spring, and the composite material workpiece is finally compressed and fixed.

6. The high temperature adaptive mechanical clamping positioning device for composite curing out-of-autoclave, according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The clamp body is made of high temperature resistant alloy material, the clamp seat is made of high temperature resistant cast iron or aluminum alloy material, the spring pin and the spherical pin are made of high temperature alloy material, and the surface of the spherical pin is treated by wear-resistant and high temperature resistant treatment.

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