Multi-procedure and multi-station hydraulic clamp for steering knuckle of passenger car and using method of multi-procedure and multi-station hydraulic clamp

Abstract

The invention provides a multi-process and multi-station hydraulic clamp for a steering knuckle of a passenger vehicle. The multi-process and multi-station hydraulic clamp comprises a base; the common clamping station is arranged on the side face of the base; the common clamping station comprises a common positioning piece for positioning the rod part of the middle arm, a common pressing assembly for pressing the rod part of the middle arm, a first independent pressing assembly for pressing the rod part of the side arm of the left steering knuckle and a second independent pressing assembly for pressing the rod part of the side arm of the right steering knuckle; the left steering knuckle or the right steering knuckle which is clamped at a time is positioned and fixed to be in a first machining posture, and machining of the first to-be-machined part set is completed; and the first independent clamping station and the second independent clamping station are arranged on the top face of the base side by side, each independent clamping station comprises a positioning mandrel and a pressing assembly, the open hub mounting part penetrates through the positioning mandrel and is pressed by the pressing assembly, so that the target steering knuckle is positioned and fixed and is in a second machining posture, and machining of the second to-be-machined part set is completed. The production efficiency is improved, the auxiliary time is shortened, and the machining precision is improved only through two times of clamping.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of machining technology, specifically to a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckles and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] Steering knuckles are critical safety components in automobiles, with left and right steering knuckles having a mirror-symmetrical structure. Taking the left steering knuckle as an example, it typically includes a hub mounting section, a center arm, and a left arm; the right steering knuckle has a mirror-symmetrical hub mounting section, a center arm, and a right arm (the left and right arm can be referred to as the side arm). Due to its complex structure, with machining holes or surfaces distributed in multiple directions in space, it is usually impossible to complete all machining in a single clamping position. Therefore, the industry commonly adopts a production mode of multiple clamping and sequential machining. That is, a steering knuckle blank needs to be clamped and positioned three or more times on one or more machine tools to gradually complete the machining of all parts.

[0003] This processing method has the following drawbacks: each clamping, unclamping, and repositioning operation consumes machine tool processing time and requires operator intervention, resulting in low production efficiency and long auxiliary time. Secondly, and more critically, each reclamping introduces new positioning errors. These errors propagate and accumulate between processes, making it difficult to guarantee the final workpiece's machining accuracy and consistency, and even leading to scrap. Although multi-station fixtures exist, they typically focus on parallel processing of a single operation and do not fundamentally reduce the number of clamping operations required for a single workpiece.

[0004] Therefore, how to minimize the number of clamping operations for a single workpiece while ensuring production efficiency through reasonable fixture structure integration has become a pressing technical challenge in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckles and its usage method, in order to solve the technical problems of existing fixtures, which have complex structures and low integration, requiring a single steering knuckle to be clamped three or more times to complete all processing, resulting in low production efficiency, long auxiliary time, and the tendency for multiple positioning to generate cumulative errors that affect processing accuracy.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle, comprising: Base; A common clamping station is located on the side of the base. The common clamping station includes a common positioning component for positioning the middle arm and a common clamping assembly for clamping the middle arm, as well as a first independent clamping assembly for clamping the left steering knuckle side arm and a second independent clamping assembly for clamping the right steering knuckle side arm, so as to position and fix the left or right steering knuckle clamped in a single clamping and place it in a first processing posture to complete the processing of the first set of parts to be processed. The first independent clamping station and the second independent clamping station are arranged side by side on the top surface of the base, and each includes a positioning mandrel and a clamping assembly, so as to fix the target steering knuckle in a second processing posture by passing the open wheel hub mounting part through the corresponding positioning mandrel and being clamped by the corresponding clamping assembly, so as to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one implementation, the common positioning element is a floating ball plunger; The floating ball plunger includes a plunger housing, a ball head disposed inside the plunger housing and supported by a spring, and a positioning groove provided at the bottom of the middle arm rod to allow the ball head to be pushed into the positioning groove under the action of the spring when the target steering knuckle is placed.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the shared clamping station further includes an auxiliary clamping component; The auxiliary clamping assembly includes a rotating shaft perpendicular to the side and a rocker arm hinged perpendicularly to the rotating shaft; the rotating shaft is threaded to the side and moves up and down along its length to rotate the rocker arm so that it is level with the height of the open hub mounting part after the target steering knuckle is placed and rotates the rocker arm to abut against the open hub mounting part.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the shared clamping station further includes at least one left-directed independent positioning element and at least one right-directed independent positioning element; The left-hand independent positioning component is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm of the left steering knuckle, and the right-hand independent positioning component is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm of the right steering knuckle, so as to cooperate with the shared positioning component to achieve positioning when the left and right steering knuckles are placed.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the shared clamping assembly, the first independent clamping assembly, and the second independent clamping assembly are all hydraulic clamping mechanisms; The hydraulic clamping mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder, a connecting rod hinged to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder, and a pressure arm hinged to the connecting rod, for rotating the pressure arm via the connecting rod when the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder extends. Both the first and second independent clamping assemblies include two hydraulic clamping mechanisms located at corresponding positions on the side for applying clamping force to the side arm portion and the open wheel hub mounting portion of the target steering knuckle.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the clamping assembly includes a drive motor disposed within a positioning mandrel, and a plurality of pins that are drively connected to the drive motor, wherein the plurality of pins are rotatably connected to the surface of the positioning mandrel by threads, and the pins move up and down along their length. Each pin is hinged with an axially rotatable retaining flap, which is used to drive the motor to raise and lower the pin. The pin drives the retaining flap to rise and lower and rotate the retaining flap to abut the open hub mounting part of the target steering knuckle, thereby limiting and fixing the target steering knuckle.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the first independent clamping station and the second independent clamping station are further provided with a plurality of locating pins, and the open hub mounting part of the target steering knuckle is further provided with an opening that connects or separates from the corresponding locating pin.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the first independent clamping station and the second independent clamping station are further provided with multiple auxiliary hydraulic support components; The support end face of the auxiliary hydraulic support is parallel to the contact surface corresponding to the target steering knuckle.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the open hub mounting portion of the target steering knuckle, which is positioned and fixed to the common clamping station, has a machining clearance opening in the area axially projected onto the base.

[0015] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for using a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle, comprising: The common positioning component and common clamping assembly are used to position and clamp the arm of the target steering knuckle; if the target steering knuckle is a left steering knuckle, the first independent clamping assembly is used to clamp the side arm; if the target steering knuckle is a right steering knuckle, the second independent clamping assembly is used to clamp the side arm; the target steering knuckle is brought into a first processing posture; the machine tool is started to complete the processing of the first set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle; Move the target steering knuckle, which has completed the processing of the first set of parts to be processed, to the corresponding first independent clamping station or second independent clamping station; pass the opening hub mounting part through the positioning mandrel, and operate the clamping assembly to clamp the target steering knuckle, so that the target steering knuckle is in the second processing posture; start the machine tool to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this application include: A multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckles is proposed. The first set of parts to be processed is completed at a shared clamping station on the side of the base, while the second set of parts to be processed is completed at a first or second independent clamping station on the top of the base. This simplifies the total number of clamping operations for a single workpiece to two, significantly reducing the auxiliary time for clamping, disassembly, and repositioning compared to traditional three or more clamping operations, thus improving production efficiency. Specifically, it rationally reduces the number of clamping operations required for processing to two, and combined with multi-station parallel processing, shortens the single-piece production cycle, increases capacity, and avoids the reference conversion of multiple clamping operations, eliminating errors caused by cumulative positioning. Furthermore, the shared side station can clamp one steering knuckle at a time for the first set of parts processing, while the two independent stations on the top can simultaneously clamp one left steering knuckle and one right steering knuckle for the second set of parts processing. This allows the fixture to always be fully loaded, enabling parallel operations between processes and improving equipment utilization and production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle provided in this embodiment of the application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the top structure of the base of the multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger car steering knuckle provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 A side view of the base of the multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckle provided in this embodiment of the application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the left and right steering knuckles provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the right steering knuckle is clamped at the shared clamping station provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the left steering knuckle is clamped at the shared clamping station provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure after the left and right steering knuckles are clamped at the independent clamping station provided in the embodiment of this application; Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing the location of the first set of parts to be processed, provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the second set of parts to be processed, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Base; 101. Shared clamping station; 102. First independent clamping station; 103. Second independent clamping station; 2. Positioning pin; 3. Auxiliary hydraulic support component; 4. Clearance opening; 51. Left steering knuckle; 52. Right steering knuckle; 501. Middle arm rod; 502. Side arm rod; 503. Opening wheel hub mounting part; 61. Shared positioning component; 62. Left-facing independent positioning component; 63. Right-facing independent positioning component; 71. Shared clamping assembly; 72. First independent clamping assembly; 73. Second independent clamping assembly; 701. Hydraulic cylinder; 702. Connecting rod; 703. Pressure arm; 8. Positioning mandrel; 9. Clamping assembly; 91. Pin; 92. Supporting flap; 10. Opening; 11. Auxiliary clamping assembly; 111. Rotating shaft; 112. Swing rod. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] To make the technical problem that this application aims to solve clearer, the causes of the technical problem will be analyzed in detail below: The complexity of the workpiece structure makes it impossible to complete the machining in a single clamping. As a spatially irregular part, the steering knuckle has key machining surfaces, such as the brake mounting surface, ball joint hole, and wheel hub mounting surface, distributed in different directions in three-dimensional space. In traditional machining, no single clamping posture can simultaneously expose all these surfaces to be machined for tool access. This structural characteristic dictates that its machining process must be broken down into multiple operations, each targeting machining features in a specific direction. This is the objective premise for the need for multiple clamping operations.

[0022] The limitations of traditional fixtures exacerbate the problem. The inadequacy of general-purpose fixtures, such as vises and three-jaw chucks, necessitates frequent, manual adjustments and alignment of the workpiece to accommodate different clamping postures in various processes. This is not only extremely inefficient but also introduces significant human error with each alignment, compromising accuracy. This is the initial cause of low efficiency and accumulated errors. To address the accuracy issue, the industry generally adopts dedicated fixtures. However, existing dedicated fixtures are typically designed for each process, requiring a single fixture per operation. Workpieces need to be transferred between multiple machine tools equipped with different fixtures, or frequently changed on the same machine tool. The processes of loading and unloading workpieces, changing fixtures, and resetting tools consume a significant amount of non-cutting time, creating a bottleneck in production cycle time. This is the direct cause of low production efficiency and long auxiliary time. Each fixture has its own independent positioning reference system, such as locating pins and support pins. When a workpiece is transferred from fixture A to fixture B, manufacturing and installation errors inevitably exist between the positioning reference of fixture B and that of fixture A. These errors are passed down through the processes and accumulate on the final workpiece. This is the root cause of cumulative errors. Existing multi-station fixtures often simply place multiple identical stations side by side for simultaneously machining the same process on multiple workpieces, for example, drilling the same hole on four workpieces at the same time. While this design increases the throughput of the process, it does not reduce the total number of clamping operations required for a single workpiece. After completing the process, the workpiece still needs to be transferred to other fixtures for subsequent processing. Therefore, it fails to solve the technical problem of multiple clamping operations.

[0023] refer to Figures 1 to 9 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle provided in this application embodiment; a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle includes: a base 1; a common clamping station 101, which is disposed on the side of the base 1; the common clamping station 101 includes a common positioning member 61 for positioning the middle arm rod portion 501 and a common clamping assembly 71 for clamping the middle arm rod portion 501, and a first independent clamping assembly 72 for clamping the left steering knuckle 51 side arm rod portion 502 and a second independent clamping assembly 72 for clamping the right steering knuckle 52 side arm rod portion 502. Two independent clamping components 73 are used to position and fix the left steering knuckle 51 or right steering knuckle 52 in a single clamping and to present it in a first processing posture, so as to complete the processing of the first set of parts to be processed; the first independent clamping station 102 and the second independent clamping station 103 are arranged side by side on the top surface of the base 1, and each includes a positioning mandrel 8 and a clamping component 9, so as to position and fix the target steering knuckle in a second processing posture by passing the open hub mounting part 503 through the corresponding positioning mandrel 8 and being clamped by the corresponding clamping component 9, so as to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed.

[0024] By setting up this structure, the steering knuckle completes the processing of the first set of parts to be processed at the shared clamping station 101 on the side of the base 1, and completes the processing of the second set of parts to be processed at the first or second independent clamping station 103 on the top of the base 1. This simplifies the total number of clamping times for a single workpiece to two, which significantly reduces the auxiliary time for clamping, disassembly, and repositioning compared to the traditional three or more clamping times, thus improving production efficiency. It rationally reduces the number of clamping times required for processing to two, and combined with multi-station parallel processing, shortens the production cycle of a single piece, increases capacity, and avoids the reference conversion of multiple clamping times, eliminating the errors caused by cumulative positioning. Secondly, the shared clamping station 101 on the side can clamp one steering knuckle at a time for processing the first set of parts, while the two independent stations on the top can simultaneously clamp a left steering knuckle 51 and a right steering knuckle 52 for processing the second set of parts. This allows the fixture to always be in a fully loaded state, realizing parallel operation between processes and improving equipment utilization and production efficiency.

[0025] It is important to know that the first part to be processed is... Figure 8 The locations pointed to by all the dotted lines in the middle represent the second set of parts to be processed. Figure 9 The positions that all the dotted lines in the middle point to.

[0026] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the common positioning element 61 is a floating ball-head plunger; The floating ball plunger includes a plunger housing, a ball head disposed within the plunger housing and supported by a spring, and a positioning groove provided at the bottom of the middle arm 501 for the ball head to be pushed into the positioning groove under the action of the spring when the target steering knuckle is placed.

[0027] In this embodiment, regardless of any deviation in the width direction of the positioning groove of the blank, the ball joint, under the action of spring force, automatically guides the workpiece to the center position after embedding into the positioning groove. This ensures a high degree of consistency in the workpiece's reference position relative to the fixture during each clamping, eliminating initial positioning errors caused by deviations in the blank groove width; the spring mechanism allows the ball joint to float within a certain range in the axial direction. When there are fluctuations in the depth of the positioning groove of the blank, the ball joint can compress or extend, always maintaining a constant pressure against the bottom of the groove. This ensures the reliability of the positioning contact and avoids problems such as insufficient clamping due to a shallow groove depth or suspension due to a deep groove depth. When the operator places the steering knuckle blank in the shared clamping station, there is no need for deliberate alignment; simply place the workpiece roughly above the ball joint. Under gravity and slight pressure, the ball joint will automatically slide into the positioning groove under the action of the spring, completing centering and adaptive clamping. This process is fast, requires no manual intervention, and has high repeatability, solving the positioning problem caused by fluctuations in blank dimensions.

[0028] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the common clamping station 101 also includes an auxiliary clamping assembly 11; The auxiliary clamping assembly 11 includes a rotating shaft 111 and a rocker arm 112 that is vertically hinged to the rotating shaft 111. The rotating shaft 111 is rotatably connected to the side thread and moves up and down along its length to rotate the rocker arm 112 so that it is level with the height of the open hub mounting portion 503 after the target steering knuckle is placed, and to rotate the rocker arm 112 to abut against the open hub mounting portion 503.

[0029] In this embodiment, after the workpiece is placed, the pivot 111 is rotated to raise or lower it, adjusting the swing arm 112 to a position approximately level with the workpiece's open hub mounting portion 503. Then, the swing arm 112 is rotated so that it gently abuts against the workpiece's open hub mounting portion 503. This action plays a crucial role: the abutment of the swing arm 112 provides a restraining force on the side, sufficient to overcome gravity and minor disturbances, holding the workpiece in the correct positioning position.

[0030] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the common clamping station 101 also includes at least one left-directed independent positioning member 62 and at least one right-directed independent positioning member 63; The left-hand independent positioning member 62 is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm 502 of the left steering knuckle 51, and the right-hand independent positioning member 63 is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm 502 of the right steering knuckle 52.

[0031] In this embodiment, the added left- or right-direction independent positioning element 63 provides a positioning point from the side of the workpiece. This lateral positioning point works in conjunction with the shared positioning element 61 to form a typical one-sided two-pin positioning method, thereby achieving complete positioning of the workpiece. This ensures that the workpiece's position in the fixture is unique and immovable, eliminating the possibility of displacement due to insufficient constraints. By setting two sets of independent positioning elements, when the left steering knuckle 51 is clamped, the left-direction independent positioning element 62 is used and cooperates with the side arm 502 of the left steering knuckle 51; the right-direction independent positioning element 63 is idle and does not contact the workpiece, and vice versa. This design ensures that both the left and right parts can obtain optimal positioning support that matches their structure, achieving the accuracy of a dedicated fixture while also possessing the convenience of versatility.

[0032] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the common clamping assembly 71, the first independent clamping assembly 72, and the second independent clamping assembly 73 are all hydraulic clamping mechanisms; The hydraulic clamping mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder 701, a connecting rod 702 hinged to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 701, and a pressure arm 703 hinged to the connecting rod 702, for rotating the pressure arm 703 via the connecting rod 702 when the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 701 extends; and both the first independent clamping assembly 72 and the second independent clamping assembly 73 include two hydraulic clamping mechanisms, which are located at corresponding positions on the side, for applying clamping force to the side arm 502 and the open wheel hub mounting portion 503 of the target steering knuckle.

[0033] In this embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 701 provides the initial power. Through the hinged design of the connecting rod 702 and the pressure arm 703, this mechanism converts the linear thrust of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 701 into the torque of the pressure arm 703 rotating around a fixed axis, and amplifies the clamping force using the lever principle, ensuring clamping reliability. When the pressure arm 703 rotates beyond a certain dead point, even if there are slight pressure fluctuations or pressure leaks in the hydraulic system, the mechanical structure of this mechanism can automatically lock, maintaining the clamping state. This eliminates the significant risk of workpiece loosening due to unexpected hydraulic system failures during processing, improving safety. The first and second independent clamping assemblies 73 used for clamping the side arm 502 and the open hub mounting portion 503 each include two hydraulic clamping mechanisms. This indicates that the critical parts of the workpiece are clamped collaboratively from two different positions and directions. This design makes the clamping force distribution more reasonable, forming a stable torque balance, effectively preventing warping or twisting deformation of the workpiece during clamping and processing, and ensuring that the positioning accuracy of the workpiece is not compromised.

[0034] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the clamping assembly 9 includes a drive motor disposed within the positioning mandrel 8, and a plurality of pins 91 that are drively connected to the drive motor. The plurality of pins 91 are all threadedly connected to the surface of the positioning mandrel 8, and the pins 91 move up and down along their length. Each pin 91 is hinged with an axially rotatable abutment petal 92 for the drive motor to drive the pin 91 to move up and down and rotate. The pin 91 drives the abutment petal 92 to move up and down and rotate the abutment petal 92 to abut the open hub mounting part 503 of the target steering knuckle, thereby achieving the limiting and fixing of the target steering knuckle.

[0035] In this embodiment, the entire clamping assembly 9 is integrated with the positioning mandrel 8. This allows the external space of the fixture to be completely reserved for the cutting tool to perform machining. After the workpiece is placed, the abutment flap 92 is unfolded, the drive motor is started, and multiple pins 91 are driven to descend under the action of threads. The pins 91 descend until the abutment flap 92 tightly abuts against the workpiece opening hub mounting part 503. Conversely, when it is necessary to remove the workpiece, the abutment flap 92 can be retracted.

[0036] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first independent clamping station 102 and the second independent clamping station 103 are also provided with a plurality of positioning pins 2, and the open hub mounting part 503 of the target steering knuckle is also provided with an opening 10 that is connected or separated from the corresponding positioning pin 2.

[0037] In this embodiment, the positioning mandrel 8 serves as the main positioning component, its function being to accurately determine the axial position of the workpiece's open hub mounting portion 503, restricting movement and rotation in the X and Y directions, and acting as a positioning reference. The positioning pin 2 serves as an anti-rotation pin, its main function being to restrict the workpiece's degree of freedom of rotation around the axis of the positioning mandrel 8. Multiple positioning pins 2 cooperate with the pre-machined openings 10 on the workpiece, working together to eliminate the possibility of the workpiece rotating in the horizontal plane, achieving complete workpiece positioning. When the tool performs machining, the resulting cutting force attempts to rotate the workpiece. At this time, the positioning pin 2, as a rigid fulcrum, together with the positioning mandrel 8, forms a stable torque, effectively resisting and balancing these torques. This makes the workpiece, positioning mandrel 8, and positioning pin 2 form a highly rigid whole, enhancing the ability to resist cutting vibration.

[0038] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first independent clamping station 102 and the second independent clamping station 103 are also provided with a plurality of auxiliary hydraulic support members 3; the support end face of the auxiliary hydraulic support member 3 is parallel to the contact surface corresponding to the target steering knuckle.

[0039] In this embodiment, after the workpiece is clamped in place, the auxiliary hydraulic support 3's support column rises under hydraulic pressure until its end face perfectly fits the curved surface to be supported below the workpiece, providing continuous support force. This process is equivalent to adding several adjustable-height jacks below the workpiece. These support points directly press against the area below the workpiece where rigidity is weakest or most prone to vibration, forming a distributed support system. When the cutting force attempts to force the workpiece to bend downwards or vibrate, these supports provide a strong reaction force, greatly enhancing the local rigidity of the workpiece and suppressing the elastic deformation of the workpiece to a negligible level. The support end face is parallel to the contact surface corresponding to the target steering knuckle, meaning the top of the auxiliary hydraulic support 3 is a floating or ball-joint structure that can adaptively adjust its angle to ensure a large-area surface contact with the irregular lower surface of the workpiece, rather than unreliable point contact. Surface contact can disperse the support pressure, avoiding damage to the workpiece surface, while providing more stable and uniform support, effectively preventing local stress deformation of the workpiece at the support points.

[0040] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the open hub mounting portion 503 of the target steering knuckle, which is positioned and fixed to the common clamping station 101, has a machining clearance opening 4 in the area axially projected onto the base 1.

[0041] In this embodiment, the machining of the clearance opening 4 provides an unobstructed channel for the feed and retraction of the tool used to machine the hub mounting portion 503. When the drill bit drills through the workpiece or the end mill machines the cavity, its tip can safely enter and pass through the clearance opening 4 area, avoiding rigid collision with the fixture body.

[0042] Secondly, this application proposes a method for using a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle, comprising: Move the target steering knuckle to the shared clamping station 101, and operate the shared positioning component 61 and the shared clamping component 71 to position and clamp the middle arm 501; if the target steering knuckle is the left steering knuckle 51, operate the first independent clamping component 72 to clamp the side arm 502; if the target steering knuckle is the right steering knuckle 52, operate the second independent clamping component 73 to clamp the side arm 502; so that the target steering knuckle is in the first processing posture; start the machine tool to complete the processing of the first set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle; Move the target steering knuckle, which has completed the processing of the first set of parts to be processed, to the corresponding first independent clamping station 102 or second independent clamping station 103; pass the open hub mounting part 503 through the positioning mandrel 8, and operate the clamping assembly 9 to clamp the target steering knuckle, so that the target steering knuckle is in the second processing posture; start the machine tool to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle.

[0043] By setting up this method, the blank is placed in the side shared clamping station 101, and the shared positioning component 61 and the corresponding independent clamping components are used to fix the middle arm 501 and the side arm 502, and the machine tool is started to process the first set of parts to be processed. The core objective of this step is to create a precise and consistent initial reference for the entire machining process. By machining the fine positioning features required for subsequent stations, such as the open hub mounting part 503, in the first clamping, the blank is then processed. The fixed working posture (first machining posture) in this step is the most suitable orientation for machining specific lateral features of the workpiece. Next, the workpiece is moved to the corresponding station on the top surface; that is, the left steering knuckle 51 is moved to the first independent clamping station 102, and the right steering knuckle 52 is moved to the second independent clamping station 103. The machined open hub mounting part 503 is precisely positioned through the positioning mandrel 8, and the clamping assembly 9 is operated to clamp it. The machine tool is then started to machine the second set of parts to be machined. The core is the transfer of reference and the improvement of accuracy. It uses the high-precision features it has machined as the positioning reference for this clamping, eliminating the cumulative error caused by the non-coincidence of different fixture references. This clamping working posture (second machining posture) exposes the other machining surfaces of the workpiece. This method realizes the concept of positioning the reference once and machining the whole part in steps.

[0044] The beneficial effects of this application include: A multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckles is proposed. The first set of parts to be processed is completed at a shared clamping station 101 on the side of the base 1, while the second set of parts to be processed is completed at a first or second independent clamping station 103 on the top of the base 1. This simplifies the total number of clamping operations for a single workpiece to two, significantly reducing the auxiliary time for clamping, disassembly, and repositioning compared to traditional three or more clamping operations, thus improving production efficiency. Specifically, it rationally reduces the number of clamping operations required for processing to two, and combined with multi-station parallel processing, shortens the single-piece production cycle, increases capacity, and avoids the reference conversion of multiple clamping operations, eliminating errors caused by cumulative positioning. Furthermore, the shared clamping station 101 on the side can clamp one steering knuckle at a time for the first set of parts processing, while the two independent stations on the top can simultaneously clamp a left steering knuckle 51 and a right steering knuckle 52 for the second set of parts processing. This allows the fixture to always be fully loaded, enabling parallel operations between processes and improving equipment utilization and production efficiency. This invention solves the technical problems of existing fixtures, which are complex in structure and have low integration, requiring a single steering knuckle to be clamped three or more times to complete all the machining, resulting in low production efficiency, long auxiliary time, and cumulative errors caused by multiple positioning, which affect machining accuracy.

[0045] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not 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 application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0047] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle, characterized in that, It includes: Base (1); A common clamping station (101) is located on the side of the base (1); The shared clamping station (101) includes a shared positioning member (61) for positioning the middle arm rod (501) and a shared clamping assembly (71) for clamping the middle arm rod (501), as well as a first independent clamping assembly (72) for clamping the left steering knuckle (51) side arm rod (502) and a second independent clamping assembly (73) for clamping the right steering knuckle (52) side arm rod (502), so as to position and fix the left steering knuckle (51) or right steering knuckle (52) in a single clamping and present it in a first processing posture, thereby completing the processing of the first set of parts to be processed; The first independent clamping station (102) and the second independent clamping station (103) are arranged side by side on the top surface of the base (1), and each includes a positioning mandrel (8) and a clamping assembly (9) to fix the target steering knuckle in a second processing posture by passing the open wheel hub mounting part (503) through the corresponding positioning mandrel (8) and being clamped by the corresponding clamping assembly (9), so as to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed.

2. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The common positioning component (61) is a floating ball-head plunger; The floating ball plunger includes a plunger housing and a ball head disposed inside the plunger housing and supported by a spring. The bottom of the middle arm (501) is provided with a positioning groove so that when the target steering knuckle is placed, the ball head is pushed into the positioning groove under the action of the spring.

3. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The shared clamping station (101) also includes an auxiliary clamping assembly (11). The auxiliary clamping assembly (11) includes a rotating shaft (111) perpendicular to the side and a rocker arm (112) hinged perpendicularly to the rotating shaft (111); the rotating shaft (111) is threadedly rotatably connected to the side and moves up and down along its length to rotate the rocker arm (112) so that it is level with the height of the open hub mounting part (503) after the target steering knuckle is placed and rotate the rocker arm (112) to abut against the open hub mounting part (503).

4. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The shared clamping station (101) also includes at least one left-side independent positioning element (62) and at least one right-side independent positioning element (63). The left-side independent positioning component (62) is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm rod (502) of the left steering knuckle (51), and the right-side independent positioning component (63) is connected to or separated from the positioning groove provided on the side arm rod (502) of the right steering knuckle (52), so as to cooperate with the common positioning component (61) to realize the positioning of the left steering knuckle (51) and the right steering knuckle (52) when they are placed.

5. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The shared clamping assembly (71), the first independent clamping assembly (72), and the second independent clamping assembly (73) are all hydraulic clamping mechanisms; The hydraulic clamping mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder (701), a connecting rod (702) hinged to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (701), and a pressure arm (703) hinged to the connecting rod (702), for pushing the pressure arm (703) to rotate via the connecting rod (702) when the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (701) extends. The first independent clamping assembly (72) and the second independent clamping assembly (73) each include two hydraulic clamping mechanisms, which are located at corresponding positions on the side to apply clamping force to the side arm (502) and the open wheel hub mounting portion (503) of the target steering knuckle.

6. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping assembly (9) includes a drive motor located inside the positioning spindle (8) and a plurality of pins (91) that are connected to the drive motor in a transmission manner. The plurality of pins (91) are all threadedly connected to the surface of the positioning spindle (8), and the pins (91) move up and down along their length. Each of the pins (91) is hinged with an axially rotatable abutment (92) for the drive motor to drive the pin (91) to rise and rotate. The pin (91) drives the abutment (92) to rise and rotate and rotate the abutment (92) to abut the open hub mounting part (503) of the target steering knuckle, thereby achieving the limiting and fixing of the target steering knuckle.

7. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first independent clamping station (102) and the second independent clamping station (103) are also provided with a plurality of positioning pins (2), and the open hub mounting part (503) of the target steering knuckle is also provided with an opening (10) that is connected or separated from the corresponding positioning pin (2).

8. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first independent clamping station (102) and the second independent clamping station (103) are also provided with multiple auxiliary hydraulic support components (3); The support end face of the auxiliary hydraulic support (3) is parallel to the contact surface corresponding to the target steering knuckle.

9. The multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The open hub mounting part (503) of the target steering knuckle, which is positioned and fixed to the common clamping station (101), has a machining clearance opening (4) in the area where its axial projection is onto the base (1).

10. A method of using a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic clamp for a passenger vehicle steering knuckle, characterized in that, It includes: Provides a multi-process, multi-station hydraulic fixture for passenger vehicle steering knuckles as described in claim 1; The common positioning component (61) and the common clamping component (71) are used to position and clamp the middle arm part (501) of the target steering knuckle; if the target steering knuckle is the left steering knuckle (51), the first independent clamping component (72) is used to clamp the side arm part (502); if the target steering knuckle is the right steering knuckle (52), the second independent clamping component (73) is used to clamp the side arm part (502); the target steering knuckle is brought into the first processing posture; the machine tool is started to complete the processing of the first set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle; Move the target steering knuckle, which has completed the processing of the first set of parts to be processed, to the corresponding first independent clamping station (102) or second independent clamping station (103); pass the open hub mounting part (503) through the positioning mandrel (8), and operate the clamping assembly (9) to clamp the target steering knuckle so that the target steering knuckle is in the second processing posture; start the machine tool to complete the processing of the second set of parts to be processed of the target steering knuckle.

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