Plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure and gun head

Abstract

The invention discloses a plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure and a gun head, and belongs to the technical field of automobiles, the plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure is arranged at the joint of a connector on a first pipeline and a second pipeline in a plasma cutting machine gun head in a sleeving mode, and the plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure comprises a clamp body, a first end of the clamp body is arranged on the second pipeline in a sleeving mode; the second end of the clamp body is arranged on the connector in a sleeving mode, a clamping part is arranged on the inner wall of the second end of the clamp body, the clamping part is connected to the connector groove in the connector in a clamped mode, and reinforcing ribs are arranged on the outer wall of the clamp body; the locking mechanism is connected into a locking groove formed in the outer wall of the clamp body in a sleeved mode. The rigidity of the hoop is enhanced through the outer-layer reinforcing rib structure of the hoop body, axial and circumferential movement is fundamentally limited through cooperation of the inner-layer limiting protruding edges and the connector grooves, and the fit clearance caused by torsion is eliminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive technology, and in particular to a reinforced clamp structure and a plasma cutting machine gun head. Background Technology

[0002] In truck chassis production, plasma cutting machines are one of the core pieces of equipment. The water pipe connector inside the cutting nozzle is used to cool the cutting components, ensuring cutting accuracy and equipment stability. In existing technologies, water pipe connectors are typically plugged in using quick-connect couplings and secured with simple clamps such as single-layer metal ring clamps. However, plasma cutting machines do not perform simple linear cuts; the nozzle needs to frequently execute complex trajectory movements. Statistical analysis of production line cycle times and cutting paths shows that a plasma cutting machine used for chassis production may experience hundreds of effective torsional impacts per hour, enough to loosen traditional clamps. This torsion is not a large-angle rotation in a single direction, but rather a high-frequency, reciprocating oscillation at small angles (typically within ±15 degrees), which can easily lead to loose threads, wear on mating surfaces, and seal failure.

[0003] Patent CN209550861U discloses a gun head structure for a low-frequency plasma cutting gun, including an outer copper sleeve, an insulating component, a spring-conductive inner core, an air tube, a flexible cable, a clamp, and a sealing assembly, primarily relying on a basic clamp for fixation. Patent CN207746531U describes a plasma cutting machine nozzle, including a nozzle body, a connecting part, a groove, a sealing ring, and a clamp, but it does not optimize the anti-deformation design under high-frequency torsion. Patent CN220480521U relates to a plasma cutting gun head structure, utilizing an anti-burn extension head to guide airflow, but the clamp fixation is still a traditional form. The existing technologies mainly suffer from the following defects: 1. Insufficient structural strength: Traditional clamps are mostly single-layer metal sheets, unable to effectively resist high-frequency torsional stress caused by equipment vibration and angle adjustments, easily leading to plastic deformation. 2. Poor fit and positioning: The contact between the clamp and the water pipe joint is mostly a simple surface contact, lacking an effective axial and circumferential positioning structure, easily creating gaps after torsional deformation. 3. High maintenance costs: The above-mentioned problems cause water pipe joints to leak easily, leading to equipment corrosion and frequent replacement. The annual maintenance cost for a single unit can reach approximately 20,000 yuan. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems of existing clamps being prone to deformation and leakage, leading to high maintenance costs, by providing a reinforced clamp structure with high structural strength, precise positioning, and effective prevention of leakage, as well as its manufacturing method.

[0005] This invention provides the following solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application describes a reinforcing clamp structure for a plasma cutting machine head, comprising a connector fitted onto a first conduit inside the plasma cutting machine head and a connection point between the second conduit and the first conduit, characterized in that it includes:

[0007] The clamp body has a first end fitted onto the second pipe and a second end fitted onto the connector. The inner wall of the second end of the clamp body is provided with a snap-fit ​​part, which snaps into the connector groove on the connector. The outer wall of the clamp body is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0008] A locking mechanism is fitted into a locking groove provided on the outer wall of the clamp body.

[0009] Preferably, the snap-fit ​​portion includes at least three protruding ridges, which are interference-fitted with the connector groove.

[0010] Preferably, at least three locking slots are provided, wherein the three locking slots are respectively provided on the outer wall of the first end, the second end and the middle of the clamp body, and at least four reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed between adjacent locking slots, and the extending direction of the reinforcing ribs is parallel to the axial direction of the clamp body.

[0011] Preferably, the tensile strength of the clamp body is ≥80MPa.

[0012] Preferably, the clamp body is made using dual-material 3D printing technology. The clamp body is divided into an inner clamp with the snap-fit ​​part and an outer clamp with the reinforcing rib. The inner clamp is made of an elastic material, and the outer clamp is made of plastic.

[0013] Preferably, the clamp body material is one of nylon composite material, carbon fiber reinforced polymer, glass fiber, and epoxy resin composite material.

[0014] Secondly, this application also describes a plasma cutting machine gun head, comprising:

[0015] The machine body has a nozzle protective sleeve at the front end and a cable assembly at the rear end.

[0016] The cooling pipe is located inside the machine body in the middle, and its two ends are respectively located inside the nozzle protective sleeve and the cable assembly. The connection between the pipe and the joint in the middle of the cooling pipe is provided with the aforementioned plasma cutting gun head reinforcing clamp structure.

[0017] A gas pipeline, the middle of which is located inside the machine body, and the two ends are respectively located inside the nozzle protective sleeve and the cable assembly;

[0018] A nozzle assembly is installed inside the nozzle protective sleeve and is connected to the gas pipeline.

[0019] Preferably, the cooling pipeline includes:

[0020] A water inlet pipe, the first end of which is disposed inside the cable assembly, and the second end of which is disposed inside the nozzle protective sleeve;

[0021] The return water pipe has a first end located inside the cable assembly and a second end located inside the nozzle protective sleeve. The second end of the return water pipe is connected to the second end of the inlet water pipe.

[0022] Preferably, the inlet pipe and / or the return pipe comprises:

[0023] The first conduit has a first end disposed within the cable assembly and a second end disposed with the connector.

[0024] The second pipe, the first end of the second pipe is disposed inside the nozzle protective sleeve;

[0025] The second end of the first pipe is connected to the second end of the second pipe through the joint, and the aforementioned plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure is sleeved at the connection between the joint and the second end of the second pipe.

[0026] Preferably, the gas pipeline includes a protective gas pipeline and a compressed air outlet pipeline.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0028] 1. The outer reinforcing rib structure of the clamp body in this application enhances the rigidity of the clamp. The inner limiting protrusion and the joint groove cooperate to restrict axial movement and, to some extent, circumferential movement. The locking mechanism further achieves circumferential limiting, ultimately eliminating the fit clearance caused by torsion. Actual measured torsional strength is significantly improved, with deformation ≤0.1mm under typical torsional load conditions. The reinforcing rib layout is optimized through finite element simulation, solving the problem of plastic deformation under high-frequency torsion that was not considered in existing technologies.

[0029] 2. The structural design of this application is compatible with the existing φ20-φ30mm water pipe joint size range, and can be quickly manufactured using existing 3D printing equipment. The modification can be completed during equipment maintenance, without the need for large-scale equipment investment.

[0030] 3. After the modification in this application, the service life of the gun head and related components will be extended from an average of 6 months to more than 24 months, and the annual maintenance cost of a single device is expected to be reduced by more than 100,000 yuan. Attached Figure Description

[0031] 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.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a plasma cutting machine when the tube and joint connections of the gun head are not fitted with reinforcing clamps.

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure for installing a reinforcing clamp structure at the connection of the tube and joint of a plasma cutting machine nozzle.

[0034] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view to reinforce the clamp structure;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a plasma cutting machine gun head;

[0036] In the picture:

[0037] 1. Clamp body; 11. Locking groove; 12. Snap-fit ​​part; 2. Pipe; 3. Connector; 31. Connector groove; 4. Body; 5. Nozzle protective sleeve; 6. Cable assembly; 7. First pipe; 8. Nozzle assembly; 9. Gas pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0039] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The singular forms “a,” “said,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, and “multiple” generally includes at least two unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0040] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0041] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in the embodiments of this application, these descriptions should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the descriptions. For example, first may also be referred to as second without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this application, and similarly, second may also be referred to as first.

[0042] Depending on the context, the words “if” or “suppose” as used here can be interpreted as “when” or “in response to determination” or “in response to detection.” Similarly, depending on the context, the phrases “if determination” or “if detection (of the stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determination” or “in response to determination” or “when detection (of the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection (of the stated condition or event).”

[0043] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0044] It should be noted that any symbols and / or numbers present in the specification that are not marked in the accompanying drawings are not reference numerals.

[0045] Example 1

[0046] See Figure 1-3 As shown, this application embodiment provides a plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure, which includes a connector 3 fitted onto the first pipe 7 inside the plasma cutting machine gun head and a connection between the second pipe 2 and the connector 3, comprising:

[0047] The clamp body 1 has a first end fitted onto the second pipe 2 and a second end fitted onto the connector 3. The inner wall of the second end of the clamp body 1 is provided with a snap-fit ​​part 12, which snaps into the connector groove 31 on the connector 3. The outer wall of the clamp body 1 is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0048] The locking mechanism is fitted into the locking groove 11 provided on the outer wall of the clamp body 1.

[0049] The snap-fit ​​portion 12 includes at least three protruding ridges, which are interference-fitted with the connector groove 31.

[0050] At least three locking grooves 11 are provided, with the three locking grooves 11 respectively provided on the outer wall of the first end, the second end and the middle of the clamp body 1. At least four reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed between adjacent locking grooves 11, and the extending direction of the reinforcing ribs is parallel to the axial direction of the clamp body 1.

[0051] See Figure 1-3 As shown, the tensile strength of the clamp body 1 is ≥80MPa. The clamp body 1 is manufactured using dual-material 3D printing technology. The clamp body 1 consists of an inner clamp with a snap-fit ​​part 12 and an outer clamp with reinforcing ribs. The inner clamp is made of an elastic material, and the outer clamp is made of plastic. The material of the clamp body 1 is one of nylon composite material, carbon fiber reinforced polymer, glass fiber, and epoxy resin composite material.

[0052] The outer reinforcing rib structure of the clamp body in this application enhances the rigidity of the clamp. The inner limiting protrusions and corresponding joint grooves restrict axial movement and, to some extent, circumferential movement. The locking mechanism further achieves circumferential limiting, ultimately eliminating the fit clearance caused by torsion. The number of axial reinforcing ribs can be adjusted from 3 to 6, and the cross-sectional shape supports trapezoidal, arc, or variable cross-section designs. Stress distribution is optimized through finite element analysis to adapt to different torque load conditions. The height, spacing, and interference fit parameters of the limiting protrusions can be customized according to the joint groove specifications, expanding the range of applicable gun head models. The measured torsional strength is significantly improved, with deformation ≤0.1mm under typical torsional load conditions.

[0053] A limiting ridge and corresponding groove are added at the mating point of the clamp and pipe fitting to achieve self-alignment and anti-rotation. The clamping force is generated by the elasticity of the material itself. An annular ridge is formed on the inner wall of the clamp, corresponding to the groove at the pipe interface. This prevents the clamp from sliding or misaligning around the pipe body during high-frequency twisting, improving stability. The limiting ridge and the groove of the fitting eliminate circumferential gaps, and combined with the elastic clamping design, ensure reliable sealing of the interface, greatly reducing the leakage rate. It also provides good limiting effect during axial movement between the fitting and the pipe.

[0054] In this embodiment, three locking mechanisms are respectively locked onto three locking slots 11 to achieve stable locking. The locking mechanisms can be cable ties, spring sheets, rubber pads, or elastic resin parts. The passive vibration damping design suppresses bolt loosening under high-frequency vibration environments and enhances connection reliability.

[0055] Furthermore, elastic buffer structures such as elastic sealing sleeves or O-rings are installed at the contact points between the clamp body and the pipe / joint. When the clamp closes, it can automatically compress and seal, combining clamping and buffering functions. This improves leak prevention while reducing loosening caused by vibration.

[0056] Furthermore, the clamps can be designed as segmented structures, such as semi-ring or split types, with each segment connected by clips or hinges, eliminating the need for overall sliding installation. During installation, the clamp can be opened and directly slipped onto the pipe interface, then tightened and locked. This avoids rotating the clamps on the pipe during installation, allowing for quick on-site disassembly and replacement. For example, on a vehicle frame production line, replacing water pipe clamps does not require disassembling the pipe; simply open the clamp and engage it.

[0057] Furthermore, the locking mechanism can employ a flexible claw and locking ring structure to achieve tool-free engagement and disengagement. For example, a pair of flexible claws can be designed at both ends of the clamp, with protrusions on their inner sides matching the slots. After the clamp is closed, the outer claws slide into the locking ring for fixation. In use, simply manually engage the locking ring, and the clamp will automatically lock, eliminating the need for bolts and significantly simplifying assembly and disassembly procedures.

[0058] Furthermore, a quick-release lever or knob structure is added as a locking mechanism, allowing users to adjust the tightening force using only a handle. The clamp preload can be quickly adjusted without a wrench, making it suitable for frequent on-site disassembly and maintenance.

[0059] Furthermore, integrated sealing grooves and sealing elements are designed on the contact surfaces of the clamps and second pipes / joints to achieve a self-sealing function. Oil seals or inserts can be installed to form a seal after closure. This ensures no leakage when high-pressure, high-speed airflow and cooling water pass through the pipeline. For example, a U-shaped sealing groove with an internal O-ring / oil seal is provided at the contact point between the clamp and the water pipe to ensure that the interface gap is automatically filled and prevents water leakage.

[0060] Furthermore, a longitudinal protrusion is added to the inner wall of the clamp at the location corresponding to the second pipe. When closed, it is pressed into the pipe end to form a mechanical lock. This protrusion can be configured as an embedded rivet or a thickened rib to achieve an anti-loosening function. Even if the clamp is subjected to repeated torsional loads or pipe vibration, it is not easy to loosen, further enhancing reliability.

[0061] Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs can be trapezoidal, forked, or honeycomb-shaped to prevent localized stress concentration. This improves torsional stiffness, reduces localized plastic deformation, and extends service life.

[0062] Example 2

[0063] This application provides a method for manufacturing a reinforcing clamp structure for a plasma cutting machine gun head, including the following steps:

[0064] S1: Structural Design and Optimization: Design a three-dimensional model of the reinforced clamp structure using three-dimensional modeling software. The model includes an inner clamp with protruding ridges and an outer clamp with reinforcing ribs. Simulate torsional loads on the model and optimize the layout and dimensional parameters of the reinforcing ribs.

[0065] S2: Integrated molding manufacturing: The clamp body is printed using 3D printing technology based on the optimized three-dimensional model.

[0066] Furthermore, torsional load simulations were performed on the model to optimize the layout and dimensional parameters of the stiffeners, specifically including the following steps:

[0067] Establish an initial model and perform static torsion analysis;

[0068] Identify high-stress areas based on the stress cloud map;

[0069] Subsequently, the stiffener design parameters were adjusted, the model was updated, and the simulation was repeated.

[0070] Compare the results before and after optimization until the stress peak drops below the allowable stress of the material and the deformation meets the standard.

[0071] Furthermore, the design parameters for the reinforcing ribs include the number of reinforcing ribs, their distribution spacing, and cross-sectional dimensions, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions include at least the width of the reinforcing rib root and the fillet radius.

[0072] The raw material selected is PA66+GF30 (density 1.3g / cm³, tensile strength ≥80MPa, recyclable and environmentally friendly). Tensile testing (GB / T 1040 standard) shows that the composite material's strength is 20% better than pure nylon. For low-temperature applications, aluminum alloy is used (corrosion resistance improved by 50%), and for medium-temperature applications, ABS+carbon fiber is used (heat resistant up to 120℃). Design modeling can use software such as SolidWorks to create a 3D model, focusing on constructing the limiting protrusions and axial reinforcing ribs.

[0073] In finite element software such as ANSYS and Abaqus, load conditions were defined for the clamp model based on the actual working conditions of the plasma cutting machine gun head. The main load was a cyclic torsional load around the water pipe axis, with its maximum value set to 50 N·m based on measured data to simulate the worst stress conditions when the gun head oscillates at high frequency. Simultaneously, a contact pair was established between the clamp's inner wall limiting protrusion and the water pipe joint groove, and the friction coefficient was defined to simulate real contact mechanics.

[0074] During adjustment, the maximum equivalent stress of the clamp body (especially at the connection between the reinforcing rib root and the clamp body) is minimized first to prevent stress concentration from causing material fatigue cracking. Then, the maximum elastic deformation of the clamp under rated torque is controlled, with a target of less than 0.1 mm, to ensure the fitting accuracy of the sealing surface. By changing the layout and dimensional parameters of the reinforcing ribs, the stress distribution is made more uniform, reducing the stress concentration factor of the initial model by more than 60%.

[0075] Iterative Process: A combination of parametric modeling and simulation is employed. First, an initial model is established, such as a uniformly distributed four-ribbed structure, and static torsion analysis is performed. High-stress areas are identified based on the stress contour plot. Then, the stiffener design parameters are adjusted; for example, the number of stiffeners is increased to five and their distribution adjusted, or the root width is increased by 20%. The model is updated and re-simulated. The results before and after optimization are compared until the peak stress drops below the material's allowable stress and the deformation meets the requirements. Typically, 2-3 design iterations are sufficient to obtain the optimal structure.

[0076] The design parameters mainly include: 1. The layout of the reinforcing ribs, specifically the number of axial reinforcing ribs, such as 3, 4, 5, or 6, and the optimization of the uniformity of the circumferential distribution angle; 2. The cross-sectional dimensions of the reinforcing ribs, specifically the root width and height of the ribs, and the top width that also needs to be determined for shapes such as trapezoidal cross-sections, with a focus on optimizing the root fillet radius to reduce stress concentration; 3. The axial position of the reinforcing ribs, specifically the starting and ending positions of the ribs on the outer surface of the clamp, to avoid interference with joint grooves and other locations.

[0077] The final optimized stiffener layout, such as 4 axial stiffeners, evenly distributed circumferentially at 90° angles, with a root width of 4mm, a height of 3mm, and a root fillet radius of R1mm, along with other dimensional parameters, is solidified into the final 3D digital model of the clamp. This optimized model is directly used as the input file for 3D printing, ensuring a closed loop from optimal simulation performance to consistency with the actual structure. 3D printing parameters include: layer thickness of 0.1-0.3mm and infill rate of 50%-80%.

[0078] In the optimization process of model design, this invention introduces a coupled model of shear modulus and polar moment of inertia for structural optimization for the first time. The governing equation established by this invention is θ=T*L / G*J, where θ is the torsional deformation angle, T is the working torque, L is the effective length, G is the material shear modulus, and J is the polar moment of inertia of the cross section. Existing technologies mostly use a single ring structure, which has a relatively small J value; this invention increases the cross section moment of inertia J by adding axial reinforcing ribs to the outer wall of the clamp. Finite element verification shows that, under the same material volume, by optimizing the distribution of reinforcing ribs, the overall J value of the structure is increased by about 300%, thereby reducing the torsional deformation angle θ by 75% under a high-frequency torsional condition of 50 N·m, fundamentally eliminating the fit gap and leakage caused by deformation. For example, the maximum torsional torque T = 50 N·m is set when the plasma cutting machine gun head is working, and the effective clamping length L = 50 mm. PA66+GF30 (30% glass fiber reinforced nylon) was selected. According to the material property table, its shear modulus G≈2000Mpa (2x10⁻¹⁰). 9 Pa)

[0079] Structural parameter calculation and optimization:

[0080] Control group (traditional structure): Assuming the clamp is a single-layer circular ring with a wall thickness of 3mm. According to the formula, its polar moment of inertia J is relatively small, and under a torque of 50 N·m, the theoretical torsion angle θ≈0.0196 rad (approximately 1.12°). This deformation is sufficient to cause fretting wear of the sealing ring, thereby leading to leakage.

[0081] The structure of this invention consists of six axially reinforcing ribs, each 3 mm thick and 8 mm high, evenly distributed around the periphery of a circular ring. These ribs significantly increase the distance between the cross-sectional material and the center of the ring. Based on the parallel axis theorem and ANSYS finite element simulation, the equivalent polar moment of inertia after reinforcement is estimated to be J≈2.55x10⁻⁶. -7 m 4 .

[0082] Verification result: Substituting into the formula θ=T*L / G*J, the torsion angle of the structure of the present invention is calculated to be θ≈0.0049 (approximately 0.28°).

[0083] Compared to traditional structures, the reinforced clamp of this invention reduces torsional deformation by approximately 75%. This theoretical calculation result is in high agreement with the bench life test results (5000 cycles without leakage), proving the effectiveness of improving torsional performance through bidirectional optimization of G and J.

[0084] Furthermore, the clamp body can be manufactured using a variety of materials. 1. Engineering plastic injection molding is employed, particularly suitable for materials such as PEEK and ABS+carbon fiber. PEEK is an engineering plastic with excellent high-temperature resistance (up to 260℃ and above), chemical corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. It maintains strength and dimensional stability in plasma arc high-temperature and coolant environments. Introducing PEEK significantly improves the clamp's heat and corrosion resistance, solving the problem of strength degradation in existing nylon materials under high-temperature or acid / alkali environments. Injection molding ensures component precision and consistency, is suitable for mass production, and allows for the prefabrication of complex structures such as threads, positioning bosses, and reinforcing ribs within the clamp. This improves production efficiency, reduces costs, and precisely controls clamp geometry and tolerances, facilitating maintenance and interchangeability. 2. Composite material clamp components can be formed using hot-press molding or continuous fiber winding. By winding fiber prepreg or dry fiber onto a mold and then curing, fiber laminate structures and customized cross-sectional profiles can be formed. This manufactures composite structure clamps with excellent mechanical properties, achieving high strength while reducing weight, allowing them to replace metal in high-strength applications. 3. **Clad Brackets are manufactured using carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) or glass fiber composites.** CFRP composites possess extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and corrosion resistance (typical tensile strength of several hundred MPa and a density of only around 1.5), are not prone to rust, and have a much longer service life than metals. 4. **Dual-material 3D printing:** Utilizing dual-material additive manufacturing, the ladles are divided into different functional areas. For example, the main load-bearing components of the ladle are printed using high-strength thermoplastic materials, while the contact surfaces or locking parts between the ladle and the pipe / joint are printed using elastomeric materials, integrating flexible sealing rings or damping elements. A composite structure is obtained through a single printing process, incorporating built-in soft sealing or locking functions, reducing the number of subsequent assembly parts and enhancing integration. 5. **Clad structures include titanium alloy rings or fasteners.** Titanium alloys have low density, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance. Adding titanium alloy rings, titanium studs, or titanium rivets to the ladles can significantly improve overall stiffness and durability while reducing weight, making them suitable for harsh environments. This enhances the ladle's torsional strength and corrosion resistance, and improves its high-temperature resistance. Metal inserts are embedded within plastic or composite clamps, using overmolding, die casting, or co-injection techniques to fuse the metal and plastic or composite materials together. High-strength metal load-bearing / fastening points are incorporated into the clamps while maintaining overall quality and corrosion resistance.

[0085] Example 3

[0086] This application provides a specific implementation process for manufacturing a reinforcing clamp structure for a plasma cutting machine gun head:

[0087] 1. Material preparation: Select high-strength nylon composite material (such as PA66+GF30 glass fiber reinforced 30%, tensile strength ≥80MPa), which can be replaced with ABS+carbon fiber (suitable for medium temperature, such as 120℃) or aluminum alloy (suitable for low temperature, such as -20℃) depending on the working conditions.

[0088] 2. Structural Design: To achieve optimal torsional performance, finite element iterative optimization was introduced during the design phase. First, an initial model with four uniformly distributed axial stiffeners was created in SolidWorks and imported into ANSYS Workbench. The material properties were set to PA66+GF30, with an elastic modulus of 3.5 GPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.35. The clamp mounting surface was constrained, and a torque of 50 N·m was applied at the pipe joint. Initial analysis showed significant stress concentration at the roots of the stiffeners, with a peak stress of 85 MPa. The first optimization involved increasing the number of stiffeners to five and optimizing their circumferential distribution angle. The second optimization increased the root width of the stiffeners from 3 mm to 4.5 mm and set a transition fillet radius of R1.5. After two iterations, the stress contour plot of the final design showed that the maximum stress was reduced to 32 MPa, a decrease of 62%, and the maximum deformation was only 0.08 mm. These optimized model parameters were directly used in subsequent 3D printing manufacturing.

[0089] 3. Manufacturing and molding: 3D printing is used for integrated molding, with parameters of layer thickness of 0.2mm, infill rate of 60%, and temperature of 250℃;

[0090] 4. Post-treatment: Heat treatment (80℃ / 2h) to eliminate internal stress.

[0091] 5. The assembly process is as follows:

[0092] a. Tools used: torque wrench (accuracy ±5%), sealant;

[0093] b. Steps: Clean the connector, insert the second pipe into the connector, put on the clamp, insert the convex ridge into the connector groove with an interference fit of 0.1-0.3mm, and fix with three cable ties (torque 8-10N·m); Automated assembly, such as a robotic arm, can also be used to improve assembly accuracy by 50%; c. Test: Apply torsional load and check the seal.

[0094] 6. Usage: Monitor torsional deformation after installation, and conduct maintenance checks every quarter.

[0095] a. After installation, start the equipment and monitor the water pressure (≤0.5MPa) to avoid over-frequency rotation;

[0096] b. Maintenance: Check with a torque wrench (8-10 N·m) every quarter; replace if the deformation is greater than 0.1 mm.

[0097] Experiments show that tensile strength is increased by 20%, and fatigue life is ≥10. 6 This is superior to existing metal clamps;

[0098] Accelerated life testing with 5000 cycles of torsional load under simulated 2-year working conditions proved that the deformation rate was reduced by 80%, far exceeding the deformation rate of >0.5mm of traditional clamps used in existing technologies such as CN209550861U.

[0099] Example 4

[0100] See Figure 1-4 As shown, the machine body 4 has a nozzle protective sleeve 5 at the front end and a cable assembly 6 at the rear end.

[0101] The cooling pipe is located inside the machine body 4 in the middle, and its two ends are located inside the nozzle protective sleeve 5 and the cable assembly 6 respectively. The connection between the pipe and the joint in the middle of the cooling pipe is equipped with the aforementioned plasma cutting gun head reinforcing clamp structure.

[0102] Gas pipeline 9, the middle part of gas pipeline 9 is located inside the body 4, and the two ends are respectively located inside the nozzle protective sleeve 5 and the cable assembly 6;

[0103] Nozzle assembly 8 is installed inside nozzle protective sleeve 5 and is connected to gas pipeline 9.

[0104] The cooling piping includes:

[0105] The water inlet pipe has its first end installed inside the cable assembly 6 and its second end installed inside the nozzle protective sleeve 5.

[0106] The return water pipe has its first end installed inside the cable assembly 6 and its second end installed inside the nozzle protective sleeve 5. The second end of the return water pipe is connected to the second end of the inlet water pipe.

[0107] The inlet and / or return water pipes include:

[0108] The first conduit 7 has a first end located inside the cable assembly and a connector 3 located at the second end of the first conduit 7.

[0109] The second pipe 2, the first end of the second pipe 2 is set inside the nozzle protective sleeve;

[0110] The second end of the first pipe 7 is connected to the second end of the second pipe 2 through the connector 3, and the plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure is sleeved at the connection between the connector 3 and the second end of the second pipe 2.

[0111] Gas line 9 includes a protective gas line and a compressed air outlet line.

[0112] A reinforced clamp structure was installed at the connection between joint 3 of the cooling pipe and the second pipe 2. The service life of the nozzle-related components has been extended from an average of 6 months to more than 24 months, and the annual maintenance cost of a single unit is expected to be reduced by more than 100,000 yuan.

[0113] Finally, it should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the systems or apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the descriptions are relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0114] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure, wherein the connector (3) is sleeved on the first pipe (7) inside the plasma cutting machine gun head and the connection between the second pipe (2) is characterized in that, include: The clamp body (1) has a first end sleeved on the second pipe (2) and a second end sleeved on the connector (3). The inner wall of the second end of the clamp body (1) is provided with a snap-fit ​​part (12), which snaps into the connector groove (31) on the connector (3). The outer wall of the clamp body (1) is provided with reinforcing ribs. A locking mechanism is fitted into a locking groove (11) provided on the outer wall of the clamp body (1).

2. The plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​portion (12) includes at least three protruding ridges, which are interference-fitted with the connector groove (31).

3. The plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least three locking grooves (11) are provided, wherein the three locking grooves (11) are respectively provided on the outer wall of the first end, the second end and the middle of the clamp body (1). At least four reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed between adjacent locking grooves (11), and the extending direction of the reinforcing ribs is parallel to the axial direction of the clamp body (1).

4. The plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamp body (1) has a tensile strength ≥80MPa.

5. The plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The clamp body (1) is made using dual-material 3D printing technology. The clamp body (1) is divided into an inner clamp with the snap-fit ​​part (12) and an outer clamp with the reinforcing rib. The inner clamp is made of elastic material and the outer clamp is made of plastic.

6. The plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The clamp body (1) is made of one of the following materials: nylon composite material, carbon fiber reinforced polymer, glass fiber, or epoxy resin composite material.

7. A plasma cutting machine gun head, characterized in that, include: The machine body (4) has a nozzle protective sleeve (5) at the front end and a cable assembly (6) at the rear end. The cooling pipe is located inside the machine body (4) in the middle, and its two ends are respectively located inside the nozzle protective sleeve (5) and the cable assembly (6). The pipe and joint connection in the middle of the cooling pipe is provided with the plasma cutting gun head reinforcing clamp structure as described in any one of claims 1-6. The gas pipeline is located inside the body (4) in the middle, and its two ends are located inside the nozzle protective sleeve (5) and the cable assembly (6) respectively. The nozzle assembly is installed inside the nozzle protective sleeve (5) and is connected to the gas pipeline.

8. The plasma cutting head according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cooling pipeline includes: Water inlet pipe, the first end of which is located inside the cable assembly (6), and the second end of which is located inside the nozzle protective sleeve (5); The return water pipe has its first end located inside the cable assembly (6) and its second end located inside the nozzle protective sleeve (5). The second end of the return water pipe is connected to the second end of the inlet water pipe.

9. The plasma cutting head according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inlet pipe and / or the return pipe include: The first pipe (7) has a first end disposed inside the cable assembly and a second end disposed with the connector (3). The second pipe (2), the first end of the second pipe (2) is disposed inside the nozzle protective sleeve; The second end of the first pipe (7) is connected to the second end of the second pipe (2) through the connector (3), and the plasma cutting machine gun head reinforcing clamp structure according to any one of claims 1-6 is sleeved at the connection between the connector (3) and the second end of the second pipe (2).

10. The plasma cutting head according to claim 7, characterized in that, The gas pipeline includes a protective gas pipeline and a compressed air outlet pipeline.

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