Glove box quenching workpiece discharge control system and control method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of material processing, in particular to a glove box quenching workpiece discharging control system and a control method, the discharging control system comprising a sealed connection unit, a transfer unit, a medium recovery unit, a pressure balance unit and an automatic control unit, through the cooperation of the sealed transition cavity and the multi-stage valve, combined with the dynamic pressure balance mechanism, the quenching workpiece is transferred, the quenching oil is recovered and the workpiece is discharged safely without destroying the atmosphere in the glove box; the control method completes the steps of workpiece into the cavity, medium recovery, pressure balance, workpiece outside taking and the like through manual or automatic control logic, ensuring the whole process of atmosphere isolation and system stability. The system and method are simple to operate and high in reliability, can significantly improve the safety and efficiency of sensitive material processing, are suitable for the discharging operation of oxygen and moisture sensitive metal materials after quenching, and have a wide application prospect in the field of high-end material preparation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of material processing technology, specifically to a control system and method for discharging quenched workpieces from a glove box. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of high-end material preparation, materials that are extremely sensitive to oxygen / water, such as highly active metals, organometal halide perovskites, and solid-state battery electrolytes, must undergo quenching treatment under the protection of an inert atmosphere in a glove box to avoid material performance failure.

[0003] After quenching, the workpiece needs to be removed from the glove box for subsequent characterization or processing, but the existing unloading method has many technical defects: Traditional discharge methods are inefficient and disrupt the atmosphere: First, directly opening the main door of the glove box to retrieve the parts causes external air to intrude, disrupting the high-purity inert atmosphere inside the box. Restoring the environment requires a large amount of inert gas and a long time for purification. Second, transferring the parts through the transition chamber requires multiple vacuuming and gas filling cycles, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, the quenching oil volatilizes and easily contaminates the equipment, making it difficult to ensure that the atmosphere is leak-free.

[0004] External quenching leads to sample failure: To avoid opening the glove box, some methods quickly remove high-temperature samples from the glove box and then quench them. However, the samples are exposed to air during the high-temperature and cooling stages, which can easily cause oxidation, hydrolysis and other reactions, resulting in irreversible changes to the intrinsic properties of the material.

[0005] Existing discharge devices have design flaws: some transfer devices on the market have complex structures, are cumbersome to operate, and have low reliability; some devices cannot effectively recover quenching oil, resulting in oil leakage or pollution; most devices ignore the pressure balance problem, and negative pressure is formed in the transition chamber during the oil extraction process, causing difficulties in opening and closing valves, sealing failure, or even equipment damage; and few devices achieve integration and automation of the discharge process.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a control system and method that can achieve closed transfer of quenched workpieces, media recovery, pressure balancing and safe discharge without disrupting the glove box atmosphere, in order to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and improve the reliability and efficiency of sensitive material processing. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a control system and control method for discharging quenched workpieces in a glove box, which realizes the sealed, efficient and safe discharge of quenched workpieces, while maintaining the stability of the inert atmosphere in the glove box.

[0008] The discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box includes a sealing connection unit, a transfer unit, a media recovery unit, a pressure balancing unit, and an automatic control unit. The sealing connection unit is a mounting flange, which is fixed to the glove box wall to achieve a sealed connection and spatial isolation between the system and the glove box; The transfer unit includes a transition chamber, a first ball valve, and a second ball valve. The first ball valve is connected between the bottom of the oil cooling tank inside the glove box and the inlet of the transition chamber. The second ball valve is located at the external outlet end of the transition chamber. The transition chamber constitutes a sealed transfer channel for workpieces inside and outside the glove box. The medium recovery unit includes an oil pump and connecting pipelines. The oil pump's inlet is connected to the transition chamber, and its outlet is connected to the oil cooling tank. It is used to pump the quenching oil in the transition chamber back to the oil cooling tank. The pressure balancing unit is an oil pressure balancing structure, connected between the transition chamber and the oil cooling tank or integrated into the transition chamber, used to balance the pressure difference between the transition chamber and the system. The automatic control unit includes a central control module, a sensing and detection module, an execution and drive module, and a human-machine interaction module. The central control module is electrically connected to the sensing and detection module, the execution and drive module, and the human-machine interaction module, respectively, and is used to control the coordinated operation of each unit.

[0009] Preferably, the sensing and detection module includes a position sensor located in the transition cavity, a pressure sensor that monitors the pressure in the transition cavity, a level sensor that monitors the level of quenching oil in the oil cooling tank, and a valve status feedback device that provides feedback on the opening and closing status of the first ball valve and the second ball valve.

[0010] Preferably, the execution drive module includes an electric or pneumatic actuator for driving the first ball valve, the second ball valve, and the balance valve in the pressure balance structure, a pump control unit for controlling the start and stop of the oil pump, and an optional external robotic arm for automatically gripping workpieces.

[0011] Preferably, the oil pressure balancing structure includes a balancing pipe connected to the top of the transition chamber and a balancing valve installed on the balancing pipe. The balancing pipe is used to connect the transition chamber and the gas phase space of the oil cooling tank, and the balancing valve is used to control the opening and closing of the gas phase passage. The top of the transition chamber is also provided with a gas replenishment channel with a return valve, which is used to quickly balance the gas pressure inside and outside the chamber and prevent oil from overflowing.

[0012] Preferably, the bottom of the oil cooling tank is designed as a funnel shape inclined towards the center, and an outlet is provided at the lowest point. The first ball valve is installed on the pipeline between the outlet and the inlet of the transition chamber. Both the first ball valve and the second ball valve are bellows-sealed ball valves.

[0013] The control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces inside the glove box includes the following steps: (1) Workpiece entering the cavity: After quenching, control the opening of the first ball valve so that the workpiece at the bottom of the oil cooling tank enters the transition cavity under the action of gravity. After confirming that the workpiece is in place, close the first ball valve so that the transition cavity forms an independent sealed space. (2) Medium recovery: Start the oil pump to pump the quenching oil in the transition chamber back to the oil cooling tank until the oil in the transition chamber is drained or the preset liquid level is reached; (3) Pressure balance: The transition chamber is connected to the gas phase space of the oil cooling tank by the pressure balance unit or gas is supplied to the transition chamber to eliminate the negative pressure formed during the oil pumping process, so that the pressure in the transition chamber is consistent with the pressure in the glove box. (4) External removal of workpiece: control the second ball valve to open and remove the workpiece from outside the glove box. After removal, close the second ball valve to complete one discharge process.

[0014] Preferably, in step (1), the position sensor detects whether the workpiece has entered the transition cavity. When the position sensor sends a signal that the workpiece has reached the position, the central control module controls the first ball valve to close. In step (3), the pressure sensor monitors the pressure in the transition cavity in real time. When the pressure value is lower than the preset threshold, the central control module controls the balance valve to open until the pressure returns to the normal range and then closes the balance valve.

[0015] Preferably, the control method includes a manual control mode and an automatic control mode; In manual control mode, each step is completed by manually operating the first ball valve, the second ball valve, the balance valve, and starting and stopping the oil pump. In automatic control mode, after receiving the start command, the central control module automatically controls the actions of each actuator according to the preset program to complete the material discharge process.

[0016] The preferred automatic control mode process is as follows: (1) System initialization: The central control module performs a power-on self-test to confirm that the signals of each sensor are stable, the first ball valve and the second ball valve are in the closed state, the oil pump stops running, and the oil level in the oil cooling tank and the liquid level in the balance pipe meet the preset conditions. (2) Start-up of the cavity: After receiving the start signal, the central control module controls the first ball valve to open, and after a delay of 2-3 seconds or after receiving the position sensor's arrival signal, controls the first ball valve to close. (3) Automatic oil pumping: After confirming that the first ball valve is closed, the central control module starts the oil pump, runs for the preset oil pumping time T1, or stops the oil pump after receiving the feedback signal from the liquid level sensor; (4) Intelligent pressure balancing: The central control module reads the pressure sensor value. If it is lower than the preset threshold, it controls the balancing valve to open. After the pressure returns to the normal range, the balancing valve closes. (5) Automatic external removal: After confirming pressure balance, the central control module controls the second ball valve to open, triggering the robotic arm to grab the workpiece and move it to the designated position. After a preset time T2, the second ball valve is controlled to close and the system is reset.

[0017] Preferably, the preset parameters include oil extraction time T1=45 seconds, oil inlet waiting time T2=25 seconds, pressure safety range 0.7-1.3 bar, and oil level range of oil cooling tank 30-95%. The preset parameters can be modified through the human-machine interaction module.

[0018] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows: Zero atmosphere disruption: The entire discharge process is completed in a closed system without opening the main door of the glove box, completely preventing the intrusion of external air, maintaining the purity and stability of the inert atmosphere inside the glove box, and ensuring that the performance of sensitive materials is not affected.

[0019] Efficient and convenient operation: It supports both manual and automatic control modes. The manual mode is simple to operate and suitable for small-scale experimental scenarios. The automatic mode enables "one-click" operation, allowing for unattended operation throughout the entire process, eliminating the risk of human error and significantly improving the efficiency of batch sample processing.

[0020] The system is safe and stable: the pressure balancing unit and the safety interlock logic work together to dynamically eliminate the effects of negative pressure, avoid problems such as difficulty in opening and closing valves and seal failure, and ensure the safety and reliability of the equipment in long-term operation; the quenching oil is recycled, saving costs and reducing pollution.

[0021] Wide applicability: The size of the transition cavity can be adjusted according to the size of the workpiece, and the preset parameters can be modified to adapt to different process requirements. It is suitable for the unloading operation of various oxygen / water sensitive metal materials such as highly active metals, new energy materials, and rare earth functional materials after quenching. It has important promotional value in the fields of high-end material research and development and cutting-edge chemical synthesis. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic control system in the glove box discharge control system and control method provided in the embodiments of this application; In the picture: 1. Mounting flange; 2. Oil cooling tank; 3. Oil pump; 4. First ball valve; 5. Transition chamber; 6. Second ball valve; 7. Oil pressure balance structure; 8. Central control module; 9. Position sensor; 10. Pressure sensor; 11. Liquid level sensor; 12. Actuator; 13. Human-machine interface module. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention are given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described to better illustrate the principles and practical application of the invention, and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention and design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for a particular purpose.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] Please see Figures 1-2 This embodiment provides a control system and method for discharging quenched workpieces from a glove box, including... I. Discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box The discharge control system includes a sealing connection unit, a transfer unit, a media recovery unit, a pressure balancing unit, and an automatic control unit. Each unit works in concert to complete the sealed discharge of the quenched workpiece.

[0026] Sealing connection unit: The mounting flange 1 is fixed to the glove box wall, preferably the bottom plate. The flange has a through hole in the center to allow the transition cavity 5 to communicate with the outside of the glove box. The connection between the mounting flange 1 and the glove box body is equipped with a sealing ring to ensure airtightness after installation and achieve spatial isolation between the system and the glove box.

[0027] Transfer Unit: As the core unit for workpiece transfer, it includes a transition cavity 5, a first ball valve 4, and a second ball valve 6. The transition cavity 5 is a vertically placed cylindrical sealed cavity, with its upper end connected to the bottom outlet of the oil cooling tank 2 inside the glove box via a pipeline, and its lower end extending to the outside of the glove box. The first ball valve 4 is installed on the pipeline between the bottom outlet of the oil cooling tank 2 and the inlet of the transition cavity 5, and is used to control the workpiece to enter the transition cavity 5 from the oil cooling tank 2. The second ball valve 6 is installed at the external outlet end of the transition cavity 5, and is used to control the workpiece to move out of the glove box. Both the first ball valve 4 and the second ball valve 6 are preferably bellows-sealed ball valves to ensure long-term sealing reliability under inert atmosphere. The bottom of the oil cooling tank 2 is designed as a funnel shape that slopes towards the center, which facilitates the quenched workpiece to gather near the outlet and slide smoothly into the transition cavity 5.

[0028] Medium recovery unit: includes oil pump 3 and connecting pipeline. The oil inlet of oil pump 3 is connected to the lower middle part of transition chamber 5 through pipeline, and the oil outlet is returned to the upper part of oil cooling tank 2 through pipeline. It is used to pump the quenching oil that flows into the transition chamber 5 with the workpiece back to oil cooling tank 2, so as to realize the recycling of quenching oil. A filter can be installed on the oil outlet pipeline of oil pump 3 to purify the circulating quenching oil and avoid impurities from affecting the subsequent quenching effect.

[0029] Pressure balancing unit: This is an oil pressure balancing structure 7 used to dynamically balance the pressure difference between the transition chamber 5 and other parts of the system. The core includes a balancing pipe connected to the top of the transition chamber 5, a balancing valve installed on the balancing pipe, and a gas supply channel with a return valve at the top of the transition chamber 5. The balancing pipe is used to connect the transition chamber 5 and the gas phase space of the oil cooling tank 2, and the balancing valve controls the opening and closing of this gas phase passage. The gas supply channel can quickly replenish air or inert gas to the transition chamber 5 to prevent negative pressure from forming during oil extraction. The transition chamber 5 is also equipped with a liquid level sensor. When the liquid level is lower than the inlet of the second ball valve 6, it triggers the oil pump 3 to stop working to prevent air from being sucked into the oil cooling tank 2.

[0030] Automatic control unit: including central control module 8, sensor detection module, execution drive module and human-machine interaction module 13, to realize automated control and status monitoring of the material discharge process.

[0031] Central control module 8: It adopts a programmable logic controller or industrial microcontroller as the core of system operation and control, receives signals from the sensing and detection module, and sends control commands to the execution and drive module.

[0032] The sensing and detection module includes a position sensor 9 (such as a proximity switch), a pressure sensor 10, a liquid level sensor 11, and a valve status feedback device. The position sensor 9 is located on the inner wall of the transition cavity 5 and is used to detect whether the workpiece is in position. The pressure sensor 10 is installed inside the transition cavity 5 to monitor the pressure inside the cavity in real time. The liquid level sensor 11 is installed inside the oil cooling tank 2 to monitor the total amount of quenching oil. The valve status feedback device is used to provide feedback on the opening and closing positions of the first ball valve 4, the second ball valve 6, and the balance valve.

[0033] The execution drive module includes an electric or pneumatic actuator 12, a pump control unit, and an optional external robotic arm. The actuator 12 drives the opening and closing of the first ball valve 4, the second ball valve 6, and the balance valve. The pump control unit controls the start, stop, and operation of the oil pump 3. The robotic arm is located outside the glove box and below the second ball valve 6, and is used to automatically grab and remove workpieces.

[0034] Human-computer interaction module 13: Equipped with a touch screen or connected to host computer software, it is used for parameter setting, mode selection, process monitoring and status display, so that operators can keep track of the system operation in real time.

[0035] II. Methods for controlling the discharge of quenched workpieces from the glove box This control method is based on the above-mentioned discharge control system, including manual control mode and automatic control mode. The core process is: workpiece entering the cavity - medium recovery - pressure balance - workpiece removal, ensuring that the whole process is sealed and the atmosphere is not disturbed.

[0036] Manual control mode - basic control method: (1) Workpiece entry into the cavity: After the metal workpiece is quenched in the glove box, the workpiece is cooled and sinks into the funnel-shaped area at the bottom of the oil cooling tank 2. The operator manually opens the first ball valve 4. Under the action of gravity, the workpiece slides into the transition cavity 5 with a small amount of quenching oil. After confirming that the workpiece has entered, the first ball valve 4 is manually closed so that the transition cavity 5 forms an independent and sealed space.

[0037] (2) Medium recovery: Manually start the oil pump 3 to pump the quenching oil in the transition chamber 5 back to the oil cooling tank 2 through the oil inlet pipe until the oil is drained or basically drained.

[0038] (3) Pressure balance: During the oil extraction process, the transition chamber 5 will form a negative pressure due to the reduction of oil volume and the sealing of the chamber. The operator manually opens the balance valve, and the inert gas above the oil cooling tank 2 flows into the transition chamber 5, so that the pressure of the transition chamber 5 is consistent with the pressure in the glove box; or gas is supplied to the transition chamber 5 through the gas supply channel to quickly balance the pressure, and then the balance valve is closed.

[0039] (4) Take the workpiece out: Manually open the second ball valve 6. Since there is no oil in the transition chamber 5 and the pressure is balanced with the outside, the outside air will not backflow. The operator takes the workpiece out from the outside of the glove box. After taking it out, close the second ball valve 6 to complete one discharge process. The atmosphere inside the glove box is not disturbed.

[0040] Automatic control mode - advanced control method: (1) System initialization: The central control module 8 performs a power-on self-test, checks the communication status of each module, the validity of sensor signals and the communication status of actuator 12; verifies that the first ball valve 4 and the second ball valve 6 are in the closed state and the oil pump 3 stops running; confirms that the oil level in the oil cooling tank 2 is between 30-95% and the liquid level in the balance tube is flush with the liquid level in the oil cooling tank 2; performs zero-point calibration on the pressure sensor 10, sets the reference of the liquid level sensor and the sensitivity of the position sensor 9; loads preset parameters from the non-volatile memory, including the oil pumping time T1=45 seconds, the oil inlet waiting time T2=25 seconds, and the pressure safety range of 0.7-1.3 bar. After the system is ready, the green indicator light stays on.

[0041] (2) Start-up of the glove box: After the operator places the quenched workpiece at the bottom of the oil cooling tank 2, he presses the start button. The central control module 8 receives the start signal and controls the first ball valve 4 to open. After a delay of 2-3 seconds or after receiving the workpiece arrival signal from the position sensor 9, the first ball valve 4 is immediately controlled to close to prevent the atmosphere in the glove box from leaking.

[0042] (3) Automatic oil pumping: After the central control module 8 confirms that the first ball valve 4 is closed, it starts the oil pump 3 through the pump control unit and runs according to the preset oil pumping time T1, or when the liquid level sensor detects that the oil in the transition chamber 5 is lower than the set position, it stops the oil pump 3 and completes the quenching oil recovery.

[0043] (4) Intelligent pressure balance: The central control module 8 reads the real-time value of the pressure sensor 10. If the pressure value is lower than the preset threshold, it indicates that there is negative pressure. Then, the balance valve is opened, or air is supplied to the transition chamber 5 through the air supply channel. After the feedback value of the pressure sensor 10 returns to the normal range of 0.7-1.3 bar, the balance valve is closed to ensure smooth valve opening and closing.

[0044] (5) Automatic external removal: After the central control module 8 confirms that the pressure balance is completed, it controls the second ball valve 6 to open and triggers the external robotic arm to extend into the transition chamber 5 to grab the workpiece and move it to the designated position. After a preset time T2- to ensure that the workpiece is completely removed, the central control module 8 controls the second ball valve 6 to close, and the system is reset to the initial state, waiting for the next start command. Throughout the process, the human-machine interaction module 13 displays the status of each valve, pressure value, liquid level and process steps in real time, which is convenient for operators to monitor.

[0045] In the medium recovery step, when the oil pump 3 draws quenching oil from the closed transition chamber 5, the oil volume decreases but the chamber volume remains unchanged. Moreover, the oil extraction process is rapid and the pressure cannot be balanced in time, resulting in a significant negative pressure in the transition chamber 5. The negative pressure can cause problems such as difficulty in opening valves, deformation of sealing rings leading to sealing failure, equipment damage, and reduced oil extraction efficiency.

[0046] The pressure balancing unit in this scheme solves the negative pressure problem in two ways: First, it connects the transition chamber 5 and the oil cooling tank 2 through a balancing pipe, and uses the inert gas in the glove box to replenish the transition chamber 5 and balance the pressure; second, it directly replenishes gas to the transition chamber 5 through a gas replenishment channel with a return valve to quickly eliminate the negative pressure. At the same time, the liquid level sensor monitors the oil level in the transition chamber 5 in real time to prevent the oil pump 3 from running dry or air from entering the oil cooling tank 2, thus ensuring the stable operation of the system.

[0047] Multiple safety interlocks are set in automatic control mode: ① When the first ball valve 4 is not closed, the oil pump 3 cannot start to prevent the quenching oil from leaking directly; ②If the pressure does not return to the normal range, the second ball valve 6 cannot be opened to avoid damage to the valve or backflow of air due to negative pressure; ③ When the oil level in oil cooling tank 2 is below 30% or above 95%, the system will issue an alarm signal and prohibit the start of the discharge process to prevent insufficient oil or overflow. ④ When position sensor 9 does not detect a workpiece, the system will not perform subsequent oil extraction and pressure balancing steps to avoid invalid operations.

[0048] In practical use, this solution is as follows: Example 1: Manually controlled discharge control system and control method The discharge control system of this embodiment includes a mounting flange 1, a transition chamber 5, a first ball valve 4, a second ball valve 6, an oil pump 3, and an oil pressure balancing structure 7.

[0049] The mounting flange 1 is fixed to the bottom plate of the glove box, and the oil cooling tank 2 is located inside the glove box and connected to the lower part of the inner opening of the flange 1. The bottom of the oil cooling tank 2 is funnel-shaped. The upper end of the transition chamber 5 is connected to the bottom outlet of the oil cooling tank 2 via a pipeline, and the first ball valve 4 is installed on the pipeline. The lower end of the transition chamber 5 extends to the outside of the glove box, and the second ball valve 6 is installed at the external outlet end of the transition chamber 5; The oil inlet of the oil pump 3 is connected to the lower part of the transition chamber 5, and the oil outlet is connected to the upper part of the oil cooling tank 2; The hydraulic balance structure 7 includes a balance pipe connected to the top of the transition chamber 5, a manual balance valve, and an air supply channel with a return valve.

[0050] The control method is as follows: Workpiece insertion: After the metal workpiece in the glove box has been quenched, it is sunk to the bottom of the oil cooling tank 2.

[0051] The operator manually opens the first ball valve 4, and the workpiece slides into the transition chamber 5 with a small amount of quenching oil. After confirming that the workpiece has entered, the first ball valve 4 is closed.

[0052] Medium recovery: Manually start oil pump 3 to pump the quenching oil in transition chamber 5 back to oil cooling tank 2, and stop oil pump 3 after pumping it dry.

[0053] Pressure balancing: Manually open the balancing valve, and the inert gas above the oil cooling tank 2 flows into the transition chamber 5. After balancing the pressure, close the balancing valve. If the negative pressure is significant, gas can be supplemented through the gas replenishment channel.

[0054] External workpiece removal: Manually open the second ball valve 6 to remove the workpiece from the outside, then close the second ball valve 6 to complete the discharge.

[0055] Example 2: Automatic control type discharge control system and control method Based on Example 1, this embodiment adds an automatic control unit, including a central control module 8 (preferably a PLC controller), a position sensor 9, a pressure sensor 10, a liquid level sensor 11, an electric actuator 12, a human-machine interaction module 13, and a robotic arm.

[0056] The first ball valve 4, the second ball valve 6, and the balancing valve of the oil pressure balancing structure 7 are all driven by the electric actuator 12. Position sensor 9 is installed on the inner wall of transition cavity 5, pressure sensor 10 is installed in transition cavity 5, and liquid level sensor 11 is installed in oil cooling tank 2. The PLC controller is electrically connected to each sensor, actuator, oil pump 3, human-machine interface module 13, and robotic arm.

[0057] The control method is as follows: System initialization: The PLC controller performs a power-on self-test, completes sensor calibration, parameter loading, and status verification, and the green indicator light stays on after the system is ready.

[0058] Initiating entry into the cavity: The operator presses the start button, the PLC controller controls the first ball valve 4 to open, and the position sensor 9 controls the first ball valve 4 to close after detecting the workpiece.

[0059] Automatic oil pumping: After the PLC controller confirms that the first ball valve 4 is closed, it starts the oil pump 3 and stops after running for 45 seconds.

[0060] Intelligent pressure balancing: The PLC controller reads the pressure sensor value. If it is lower than 0.7 bar, it controls the balancing valve to open. The balancing valve closes after the pressure recovers to 0.7-1.3 bar.

[0061] Automatic external loading: The PLC controller controls the second ball valve 6 to open, triggering the robotic arm to grab the workpiece and move it to the designated position. After 25 seconds, the second ball valve 6 is closed and the system is reset.

[0062] The scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention. For example, the oil pressure balancing structure can use a micro-pump for active pressure compensation; the automatic control module can be implemented using an industrial computer or a distributed control system; and a temperature control system can be added to the oil cooling tank, etc.

[0063] In this solution, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "setting", "connection", "fixing", "screw connection", etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Unless otherwise explicitly limited, those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this solution according to the specific circumstances.

[0064] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0065] Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art and related fields based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Structures, devices, and operating methods not specifically described and explained in the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, shall be implemented according to conventional means in the art.

Claims

1. A control system for discharging quenched workpieces from a glove box, characterized in that, It includes a sealing connection unit, a transfer unit, a media recovery unit, a pressure balancing unit, and an automatic control unit; The sealing connection unit is a mounting flange (1), which is fixed to the glove box wall to achieve a sealed connection and spatial isolation between the system and the glove box; The transfer unit includes a transition chamber (5), a first ball valve (4), and a second ball valve (6). The first ball valve (4) is connected between the bottom of the oil cooling tank (2) inside the glove box and the inlet of the transition chamber (5). The second ball valve (6) is located at the external outlet end of the transition chamber (5). The transition chamber (5) constitutes a sealed transfer channel for the workpiece inside and outside the glove box. The medium recovery unit includes an oil pump (3) and connecting pipelines. The oil inlet of the oil pump (3) is connected to the transition chamber (5), and the oil outlet is connected to the oil cooling tank (2), which is used to pump the quenching oil in the transition chamber (5) back to the oil cooling tank (2). The pressure balancing unit is an oil pressure balancing structure (7), which is connected between the transition chamber (5) and the oil cooling tank (2) or integrated into the transition chamber (5) to balance the pressure difference between the transition chamber (5) and the system; The automatic control unit includes a central control module (8), a sensor detection module, an execution drive module, and a human-machine interaction module (13). The central control module (8) is electrically connected to the sensor detection module, the execution drive module, and the human-machine interaction module (13) respectively, and is used to control the coordinated work of each unit.

2. The discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing and detection module includes a position sensor (9) located in the transition cavity (5), a pressure sensor (10) that monitors the pressure in the transition cavity (5), a level sensor (11) that monitors the level of quenching oil in the oil cooling tank (2), and a valve status feedback device that provides feedback on the opening and closing status of the first ball valve (4) and the second ball valve (6).

3. The discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The execution drive module includes an electric or pneumatic actuator (12) that drives the first ball valve (4), the second ball valve (6) and the balance valve in the pressure balance structure, a pump control unit that controls the start and stop of the oil pump (3), and an optional external robotic arm for automatically gripping workpieces.

4. The discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oil pressure balancing structure (7) includes a balancing pipe connected to the top of the transition chamber (5) and a balancing valve installed on the balancing pipe. The balancing pipe is used to connect the transition chamber (5) and the gas phase space of the oil cooling tank (2). The balancing valve is used to control the opening and closing of the gas phase passage. The top of the transition chamber (5) is also provided with a gas replenishment channel with a return valve, which is used to quickly balance the gas pressure inside and outside the chamber and prevent oil from overflowing.

5. The discharge control system for quenched workpieces inside the glove box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the oil cooling tank (2) is designed as a funnel shape that slopes towards the center, and an outlet is provided at the lowest point. The first ball valve (4) is installed on the pipeline between the outlet and the inlet of the transition chamber (5). Both the first ball valve (4) and the second ball valve (6) are bellows-sealed ball valves.

6. A control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces in the glove box according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Workpiece enters the cavity: After quenching, control the first ball valve (4) to open, so that the workpiece at the bottom of the oil cooling tank (2) enters the transition cavity (5) under the action of gravity. After confirming that the workpiece is in place, close the first ball valve (4) so ​​that the transition cavity (5) forms an independent closed space. (2) Medium recovery: Start the oil pump (3) to pump the quenching oil in the transition chamber (5) back to the oil cooling tank (2) until the oil in the transition chamber (5) is drained or reaches the preset liquid level; (3) Pressure balance: The transition chamber (5) is connected to the gas phase space of the oil cooling tank (2) through the pressure balance unit or gas is supplied to the transition chamber (5) to eliminate the negative pressure formed during the oil extraction process, so that the pressure of the transition chamber (5) is consistent with the pressure inside the glove box. (4) External removal of workpiece: control the second ball valve (6) to open, remove the workpiece from outside the glove box, and close the second ball valve (6) after removal to complete one discharge process.

7. The control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces in the glove box according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step (1), the position sensor (9) detects whether the workpiece has entered the transition chamber (5). When the position sensor (9) sends a signal that the workpiece is in place, the central control module (8) controls the first ball valve (4) to close. In step (3), the pressure sensor (10) monitors the pressure of the transition chamber (5) in real time. When the pressure value is lower than the preset threshold, the central control module (8) controls the balance valve to open until the pressure returns to the normal range and then closes the balance valve.

8. The control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces in the glove box according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control method includes a manual control mode and an automatic control mode; In manual control mode, each step is completed by manually operating the first ball valve (4), the second ball valve (6), the balance valve, and the oil pump (3) to start and stop. In automatic control mode, after receiving the start command, the central control module (8) automatically controls the actions of each actuator (12) according to the preset program to complete the material discharge process.

9. The control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces in the glove box according to claim 8, characterized in that, The specific process of automatic control mode is as follows: (1) System initialization: The central control module (8) performs a power-on self-test to confirm that the signals of each sensor are stable, the first ball valve (4) and the second ball valve (6) are in the closed state, the oil pump (3) stops running, and the oil level in the oil cooling tank (2) and the liquid level in the balance pipe meet the preset conditions. (2) Start-up: After receiving the start signal, the central control module (8) controls the first ball valve (4) to open, and after a delay of 2-3 seconds or after receiving the position sensor (9) to signal that it is in position, controls the first ball valve (4) to close. (3) Automatic oil pumping: After confirming that the first ball valve (4) is closed, the central control module (8) starts the oil pump (3), runs the preset oil pumping time T1 or stops the oil pump (3) after receiving the feedback signal from the liquid level sensor. (4) Intelligent pressure balance: The central control module (8) reads the value of the pressure sensor (10). If it is lower than the preset threshold, the balance valve is opened and closed after the pressure is restored to the normal range. (5) Automatic external take-off: After confirming pressure balance, the central control module (8) controls the second ball valve (6) to open, triggering the robotic arm to grab the workpiece and move it to the designated position. After a preset time T2, the second ball valve (6) is controlled to close, and the system is reset.

10. The control method for the discharge control system of quenched workpieces in the glove box according to claim 9, characterized in that, The preset parameters include oil extraction time T1=45 seconds, oil inlet waiting time T2=25 seconds, pressure safety range 0.7-1.3 bar, and oil level range of oil cooling tank (2) 30-95%. The preset parameters can be modified through the human-machine interaction module (13).

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