A misalignment connecting piece aligning and tensioning aid and a misalignment connecting piece aligning and tensioning method

Abstract

This invention discloses a misalignment connector alignment and tightening auxiliary tool and method, applied in the field of mechanical connection auxiliary tool technology, to eliminate radial jamming force caused by misalignment and misalignment between two parts to be connected. It includes: a flexible traction member that passes through the connection holes of the two parts to be connected; an anchor that is connected to one end of the flexible traction member to anchor the flexible traction member to one of the parts to be connected; and an axial tightening device having a support and positioning part and a driving part. The support and positioning part abuts against one of the parts to be connected to provide a reaction force fulcrum; the driving part is connected to the other end of the flexible traction member and applies axial tension. This misalignment connector alignment and tightening auxiliary tool and method replace rigid insertion with flexible traction member for fault-tolerant insertion and correct radial misalignment with axial tension force, achieving rapid alignment and smooth assembly / disassembly of misaligned connectors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical connection auxiliary equipment technology, and in particular to an auxiliary equipment for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors, and a method for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in the maintenance and repair of heavy industrial equipment (such as ladle refining furnaces), the disassembly and assembly of heavy and easily deformed connectors is frequently encountered. For example, when replacing the water-cooled cable of a ladle refining furnace, the bolts of the copper connecting plate of the water-cooled cable and the copper connecting plate of the cross arm need to be disassembled and reassembled. Due to the large overall weight of the cable and its U-shaped installation, it is prone to twisting and deformation after use, making it impossible to lift the cable upright during crane operation, resulting in significant torque between the two copper connecting plates. Existing solutions suffer from misalignment and skewness of the two connectors due to torque, leading to misalignment of the connecting holes and jamming of fasteners due to radial force, making smooth disassembly and assembly difficult. Specifically, during disassembly, the torque causes the two plates to misalign and skew, and the connecting bolts are jammed in the holes due to radial force, especially the last bolt which is subjected to extremely high force. In addition, the copper plate is relatively soft, and the threads are easily squeezed and seized, making removal extremely difficult. During reassembly, the misalignment and skewness cause the bolt holes to be misaligned, preventing the bolts from being inserted smoothly. The combination of these defects leads to long maintenance times, high labor intensity for workers, and seriously affects normal production operations.

[0003] In summary, how to effectively solve the problems in the existing technology where the connecting holes cannot be aligned due to torsional misalignment and the fasteners are jammed by radial force, making disassembly and assembly difficult, is an urgent problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a misaligned connector alignment and tightening tool and a misaligned connector alignment and tightening method, which replaces rigid insertion with flexible traction component to allow for misalignment, and corrects radial misalignment with axial tension force, thereby achieving rapid alignment and smooth assembly and disassembly of misaligned connectors.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a misaligned connector alignment and tightening auxiliary tool to eliminate the radial jamming force caused by misalignment and misalignment of two connectors. The auxiliary tool includes:

[0006] A flexible traction component, which passes through the connection hole of the two components to be connected;

[0007] An anchor, which is connected to one end of the flexible traction member and is used to anchor the flexible traction member to one of the members to be connected.

[0008] An axial tensioning device has a support and positioning part and a drive part; the support and positioning part abuts against one of the members to be connected to provide a reaction force fulcrum; the drive part is connected to the other end of the flexible traction member and applies an axial tension force.

[0009] The above solution achieves a fault-tolerant initial connection by having a flexible traction component pass through the misaligned connection hole. Then, an axial tensioning device applies tension to force the two components to be connected to fit together and align. Flexible fault-tolerant insertion replaces rigid hard insertion, and axial tensioning force corrects radial misalignment, eliminating the problem of fasteners getting stuck due to radial force, and achieving smooth assembly and disassembly of misaligned components.

[0010] Optionally, the flexible traction member is a flexible linear traction member, the axial tensioning device is a linear drive mechanism, and the axis of the flexible linear traction member coincides with that of the linear drive mechanism.

[0011] Optionally, the flexible linear traction member is a steel wire rope, and the axial tensioning device is a pull-back hydraulic cylinder, wherein the piston rod of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder constitutes the driving part and is connected to the steel wire rope.

[0012] Optionally, the pull-back hydraulic cylinder further includes a return spring configured to drive the piston rod to extend outward and return to its original position.

[0013] Optionally, a universal joint is provided between the wire rope and the piston rod. The universal joint allows the wire rope to swing within a set range relative to the axis of the piston rod to accommodate the spatial angular deviation between the two components to be connected.

[0014] Optionally, the support and positioning part is an extension of the housing of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder, the extension extending beyond the end of the piston rod by a set distance, so as to abut against the part to be connected when the piston rod retracts.

[0015] Optionally, the total length of the flexible traction member and the anchor is configured as: the sum of the thicknesses of the two members to be connected and the maximum working stroke of the linear drive mechanism minus a set allowance.

[0016] Optionally, the anchor includes a through member and a locking member. The through member is connected to the flexible traction member and passes through the connection hole. The locking member is disposed on the through member for anchoring the flexible traction member to the member to be connected.

[0017] Optionally, the inserting component is a fixing screw, the locking component is a locking nut, and the length of the fixing screw is less than the thickness of the inserting component to be connected.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors, using any of the misaligned connector alignment and tightening aids described above, comprising the following steps:

[0019] The flexible traction element is passed through the connection hole of the two parts to be connected and fixed by the anchor.

[0020] Operate the axial tensioning device to pull back, so that the two parts to be connected are pressed together and automatically aligned;

[0021] Remove or install all fasteners except those used for the holes occupied by the auxiliary fixtures;

[0022] Operate the axial tensioning device to release the pressure and release the clamping force, so that the two parts to be connected can be separated and the auxiliary tool can be removed.

[0023] The above method eliminates the radial jamming force caused by misalignment and skew by first using flexible fault-tolerant connection, then rigid forced alignment, and finally stress-free disassembly and assembly, thus achieving smooth disassembly and assembly and efficient maintenance of fasteners.

[0024] Compared to existing technologies, the advantages of this invention lie in its use of a synergistic force-bearing system of a flexible traction component, an axial tensioning device, and anchors. When two components to be connected are misaligned due to torsional force, the flexible traction component allows for easy insertion even in the initial misaligned state, replacing the jamming problem caused by the forced insertion of traditional rigid fasteners. Subsequently, the axial tensioning device provides a reaction force fulcrum at one end and applies axial tension by pulling the flexible traction component at the other end, forcing the two components to be connected to fit and align, correcting radial misalignment, and eliminating the radial jamming force on the fasteners. During pressure relief and separation, the flexible traction component will not jam due to torsional misalignment, and the two plates to be connected can separate naturally. This auxiliary device has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and is safe to operate. It effectively solves the problem of difficult disassembly and assembly of misaligned components, significantly shortens maintenance time, reduces the labor intensity of operators, and minimizes the impact of equipment downtime on production operations, resulting in significant economic and social benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the misaligned connector and the tensioning fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the usage state of the misaligned connector and the tensioning auxiliary in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the method for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 1. Crane; 2. Water-cooled cable connecting copper plate; 3. Water-cooled cable; 4. Heating crossarm; 5. Crossarm connecting copper plate; 6. Auxiliary tool; 61. Fixing screw; 62. Locking nut; 63. Wire rope; 64. Housing; 65. Oil inlet; 66. Piston rod; 67. Return spring; 68. Hand grip. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The core of this invention is to provide a misaligned connector alignment and tightening tool and a misaligned connector alignment and tightening method, which replaces rigid insertion with flexible traction component to allow for misalignment, and corrects radial misalignment with axial tension force, thereby achieving rapid alignment and smooth assembly and disassembly of misaligned connectors.

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] Example 1:

[0034] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides a misaligned connector alignment and tightening auxiliary tool to eliminate the radial jamming force caused by misalignment and skewness of the two connectors to be connected. The auxiliary tool 6 includes a flexible traction component, an axial tightening device, and an anchor.

[0035] The flexible traction component passes through the connection holes of the two components to be connected and is fixed by anchors. Specifically, when the two components to be connected are distorted, misaligned, or skewed due to torsion or external force, their originally aligned connection holes will experience severe radial displacement. If traditional rigid fasteners (such as rigid screws or pins) are used to forcefully insert them, the rigid components cannot bend to adapt to the misaligned hole walls, and are prone to interference and jamming during insertion, even causing thread seizure or hole wall compression damage. The flexible traction component used in this invention, due to its flexible and bendable characteristics, can bend and deform in accordance with the skew direction of the misaligned hole during the initial insertion stage, thus easily passing through the radially offset connection hole and achieving a fault-tolerant initial connection. It should be understood that the flexible traction component here is a generalization of a component capable of achieving this flexible insertion function. It is not limited to linear structures, but can also be a strip, rope, or other traction medium with sufficient flexibility, as long as it can be smoothly inserted in the misaligned state without jamming. The anchor is located at the end of the flexible traction member. After the flexible traction member passes through the connection hole, the anchor locks its end to the outside of the member to be connected, preventing the flexible traction member from slipping out of the hole, thereby establishing a stable force anchor point.

[0036] The axial tensioning device has a support and positioning part and a drive part; the support and positioning part abuts against one of the parts to be connected to provide a reaction force fulcrum; the drive part is connected to the other end of the flexible traction member and applies axial tension to press the sides of the two parts to be connected close to each other.

[0037] Specifically, after the flexible traction component completes its fault-tolerant insertion and anchoring, the axial tensioning device intervenes to correct the misalignment. The support positioning part directly abuts against the outer surface of one of the components to be connected, providing a stable reaction force fulcrum. The drive part is connected to the flexible traction component. When the axial tensioning device is activated and applies tension along the axial direction, it pulls the flexible traction component inward. Simultaneously, because the support positioning part abuts against the other side plate to provide reverse support, the tension is converted into a pressing force that forces the two components to be connected closer together. Under the forced action of this axial tensioning force, the two components to be connected, which were originally radially misaligned due to torsion, are forced to slide relative to each other along the axial direction and gradually come into contact. The misaligned connecting holes automatically align during the contacting process, thereby eliminating the radial jamming force between the connecting holes and the fasteners. It should be understood that the axial tensioning device is a general term for a drive mechanism that can provide linear tensioning power along the axial direction. It can be any linear output form such as hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive, or mechanical thread drive, as long as it can provide stable and sufficient axial tension.

[0038] In the closed-loop force distribution of the entire auxiliary device 6, when the axial tensioning device is activated and attempts to pull the two components together via the flexible traction member, without a stable reaction force fulcrum, the axial tensioning device itself will only move towards the distal end along with the flexible traction member, failing to generate an effective clamping force between the two components. The existence of the support positioning part is precisely to break this follow-along state. It directly abuts against the outer surface of one of the components, converting the inward contraction force generated by the axial tensioning device into a rigid clamping force that forces the two components closer together. It should be understood that the support positioning part is a generalization of structural features capable of achieving the abutment support function. It is not limited to the form of an extension of the housing 64, but can also be a support pad, support seat, or even a frame structure composed of multiple support legs, independently installed at the end of the axial tensioning device, as long as it can stably abut against the components without slippage or retraction during the tensioning action. These parallel alternative examples all fall within the scope of protection of this invention to adapt to the needs of different spatial dimensions and contact surface shapes.

[0039] The technical solution provided in this invention replaces rigid insertion with flexible, fault-tolerant insertion, solving the physical interference problem that prevents the connected parts from being smoothly inserted in an initially misaligned state. Axial tension force corrects radial misalignment, and the forced axial clamping force overcomes and eliminates the radial torsion that causes hole wall misalignment. This ensures that the fasteners are no longer jammed by radial shear or compressive forces during assembly and disassembly, enabling rapid alignment and smooth assembly / disassembly of misaligned connected parts. The above description is illustrative only and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can flexibly select and replace the specific structural forms of the flexible traction component, axial tensioning device, and anchorage according to actual working conditions, without departing from the principle of closed-loop force application.

[0040] Example 2:

[0041] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the specific forms of the flexible traction member and the axial tensioning device. The flexible traction member is a flexible linear traction member. Specifically, a flexible linear traction member refers to a traction medium whose cross-sectional dimension is much smaller than its length dimension and which has the ability to flex and deform. It should be understood that although this embodiment and subsequent embodiments preferably use steel wire rope 63 as an example for detailed description, the flexible linear traction member can also be a chain, flexible steel strip, or other linear structure with equivalent flexibility and tensile strength, as long as it can bend in the misalignment hole to conform to the skew direction without interference or jamming, and has sufficient load-bearing capacity when subjected to axial tension. These parallel alternative examples all fall within the protection scope of this invention to adapt to the needs of different working conditions, loads, and space dimensions.

[0042] The axial tensioning device is a linear drive mechanism. A linear drive mechanism is a mechanical device that can convert the energy of a power source into linear extension and retraction motion along a single axis. For example, in heavy-load conditions requiring stable high tension, a hydraulic cylinder can be used as the linear drive mechanism; in scenarios requiring rapid response and relatively small loads, a pneumatic cylinder can be used; and in situations requiring precise control of the tensioning stroke or where there is no hydraulic power source, a screw-nut tensioner can be used. These different types of linear drive mechanisms are merely illustrative examples and not limiting; those skilled in the art can flexibly select and replace them according to the degree of misalignment of the actual parts to be connected and the required clamping force.

[0043] The alignment of the flexible linear traction component with the linear drive mechanism ensures that the tension applied by the axial tensioning device is transmitted without deviation along the axial direction of the flexible linear traction component, avoiding the generation of lateral components or bending moments. If the axes of the flexible linear traction component and the linear drive mechanism are misaligned, a lateral component perpendicular to the axis will be generated during the transmission of tension, leading to a sharp increase in friction between the flexible linear traction component and the wall of the connecting hole, exacerbating wear and even causing jamming; the linear drive mechanism will bear additional eccentric loads, affecting its service life and operational stability; and the direction of the clamping force on the two parts to be connected will deviate from the ideal axis, deteriorating the alignment effect. Therefore, axis alignment is an important condition for ensuring flexible, fault-tolerant insertion and axial tensioning to correct radial misalignment.

[0044] To more clearly illustrate why a flexible linear traction element must be chosen in this invention, Comparative Example 1 is introduced below as a counter-example: If a rigid screw is used as the traction element, when the two parts to be connected are initially in a distorted, misaligned, or skewed state, the rigid screw, unable to bend or deform, cannot penetrate the radially offset misaligned hole. Even if it is forced to penetrate at an angle, the rigid outer wall of the screw will cause severe physical interference and compression with the misaligned hole wall. This not only fails to achieve a fault-tolerant initial connection but also exacerbates the radial torsion and jamming force between the two plates, leading to thread seizure or hole wall damage, thus failing to achieve the subsequent alignment and tightening purpose. This Comparative Example 1 fully demonstrates that, in solving the specific technical problem of alignment and tightening of misaligned connecting parts, the flexible fault-tolerant penetration characteristic of the flexible linear traction element is an indispensable feature. Through its flexible deformation structure, it conforms to the initial misaligned state, avoiding the physical interference caused by rigid penetration, thereby providing a prerequisite for subsequent axial tightening to correct radial misalignment.

[0045] Building upon the aforementioned intermediate-layer upper-level concepts, this embodiment further describes the specific implementation of the underlying hardware. The flexible linear traction component is a steel wire rope 63, and the linear drive mechanism is a pull-back hydraulic cylinder. The piston rod 66 of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder constitutes the drive unit and is connected to the steel wire rope 63. Combined with... Figure 1A pull-back hydraulic cylinder is a hydraulic actuator whose operation involves the retraction and tensioning of the piston rod 66. Specifically, in conventional hydraulic cylinders, the piston rod 66 typically extends outward to push against the load; however, in the alignment and tensioning auxiliary device 6 of this invention, because it is necessary to pull the two connected parts together, the cylinder's operation is designed as a pull-back type. That is, when high-pressure hydraulic oil enters the rodless chamber or a specific working chamber of the cylinder, it drives the piston rod 66 to retract into the cylinder housing 64, thereby generating an inward contraction force. The head of the piston rod 66 is fixed to the end of the wire rope 63 through a secure connection method such as welding, threaded joints, or pins, forming a continuous force transmission path. When the pull-back hydraulic cylinder is working, the strong pulling force generated by the retraction of the piston rod 66 is directly transmitted to the anchor at the far end through the wire rope 63, thereby pulling one of the parts to be connected closer to the cylinder; at the same time, the cylinder housing 64 provides a reaction force fulcrum by abutting against the other part to be connected through its support and positioning part. The synergistic effect of the two forces forces the two parts to be connected to overcome torsional fit and align.

[0046] The combination of wire rope 63 and reverse-pull hydraulic cylinder utilizes the extremely high flexibility and tensile strength of wire rope 63 to achieve fault-tolerant insertion and long-distance flexible force transmission, while the hydraulic cylinder provides stable and controllable strong axial tension under heavy load conditions, realizing a closed-loop force system of flexible fault-tolerant insertion and axial tension to correct radial misalignment.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, a length adjustment mechanism is provided between the flexible traction member and the axial tensioning device. The length adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw and an adjusting nut. By rotating the adjusting nut, the effective working length of the flexible traction member can be changed to accommodate the connecting parts of different thicknesses.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, an elastic buffer pad is provided at the end of the retraction stroke of the piston rod 66 of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder. The elastic buffer pad is used to absorb the impact kinetic energy when the piston rod 66 reaches the limit position.

[0049] Example 3:

[0050] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the internal reset structure of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder. The pull-back hydraulic cylinder also includes a reset spring 67, which is configured to drive the piston rod 66 to extend outwards and reset. Specifically, in conjunction with... Figure 1The return spring 67 is typically located within the internal cavity of the cylinder housing 64, for example, it can be sleeved around the piston rod 66 or placed in the annular space between the piston rod 66 and the cylinder end cap. When the pull-back hydraulic cylinder performs a tensioning action, high-pressure hydraulic oil drives the piston rod 66 to retract into the housing 64. At this time, the return spring 67 is compressed by the movement of the piston rod 66, undergoing elastic deformation and accumulating potential energy. When the tensioning and alignment operation is completed, and the operator releases the hydraulic pressure inside the cylinder through the reversing valve or pressure relief valve, the hydraulic pressure that originally maintained the retracted state of the piston rod 66 disappears instantaneously. At this time, the compressed return spring 67 releases its accumulated elastic potential energy, pushing the piston rod 66 axially outward, forcibly driving the piston rod 66 to extend outward from inside the housing 64, returning to its initial extended position.

[0051] This reset structure ensures that after the auxiliary tool 6 completes the alignment and tightening task, it can automatically and quickly release the clamping force between the two parts to be connected. In actual maintenance operations, after the two plates to be connected are forcibly aligned and the remaining fasteners are removed and installed, if the piston rod 66 of the hydraulic cylinder remains in the retracted and tightened state, there will still be a huge axial clamping force between the two plates to be connected. If the auxiliary tool 6 is forcibly removed or the anchor is disassembled at this time, not only will the operation be extremely difficult, but it may even cause danger due to the sudden release of the clamping force. The introduction of the reset spring 67 allows the hydraulic cylinder to automatically retract at the moment of depressurization, and the extension and reset of the piston rod 66 directly drives the flexible traction component to relax, releasing the forced clamping force between the two plates to be connected. At this time, since the torsional misalignment has been corrected and the clamping force has disappeared, the flexible traction component is in a relaxed state and is no longer stuck in the connection hole due to misalignment. The operator can easily pull out the flexible traction component from the hole and remove the entire auxiliary tool 6, realizing a smooth closed loop of the operation process.

[0052] It should be understood that, although this embodiment and its appendix... Figure 1 The example described herein uses a helical spring disposed inside the hydraulic cylinder as the return spring 67, but this is merely illustrative and not limiting. In other embodiments, the return spring 67 may also be a leaf spring, a rubber elastomer, or other energy storage element with elastic restoring capability; it may even be disposed outside the hydraulic cylinder, but rather an external tension spring connected between the end of the piston rod 66 and the housing 64 to achieve the return function, as long as it can provide a reliable outward extension driving force during pressure relief. These parallel alternative examples all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention to accommodate the needs of different hydraulic cylinder specifications and return strokes.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the pull-back hydraulic cylinder further includes an oil inlet 65 and a handle 68. The oil inlet 65 is used to connect to an external hydraulic system to provide a power source for the cylinder; the handle 68 is disposed on the housing 64 of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder to facilitate the operator's gripping and movement of the auxiliary tool 6.

[0054] Example 4:

[0055] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the connection structure between the wire rope 63 and the piston rod 66. A universal joint is provided between the wire rope 63 and the piston rod 66. The universal joint allows the wire rope 63 to swing within a set range relative to the axis of the piston rod 66 to accommodate the spatial angular misalignment between the two components to be connected.

[0056] Specifically, in actual working conditions, the misalignment between the two parts to be connected not only exists in radial displacement in the plane, but may also exist in angular displacement in three-dimensional space. If the wire rope 63 and the piston rod 66 are rigidly fixed, when there is angular displacement of the parts to be connected, the wire rope 63 will be subjected to additional bending moment, resulting in increased friction between it and the wall of the connecting hole, and even wear and breakage. The introduction of the universal joint allows the wire rope 63 to swing freely relative to the piston rod 66 within a certain angle range, automatically adapting to the angular displacement of the parts to be connected, ensuring that the tension is transmitted axially along the wire rope 63, avoiding the generation of lateral bending moment, and improving the adaptability and service life of the auxiliary tool 6.

[0057] Example 5:

[0058] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the support and positioning structure of the axial tensioning device. The support and positioning part is an extension of the housing of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder, which extends beyond the end of the piston rod 66 by a set distance so as to abut against the receiving connector when the piston rod 66 retracts.

[0059] Combination Figure 1 When the axial tensioning device is specifically a pull-back hydraulic cylinder, the extension section is a cylindrical or annular structure extending from the cylinder housing (cylinder body) in the direction of piston rod 66 extension. This spatial arrangement means that when the cylinder is not working or in its initial extended state, the extension section of the cylinder housing extends beyond the end of piston rod 66 in axial length, so that when the auxiliary tool 6 is placed between the two parts to be connected, it is the extension section of the housing, rather than the end face of piston rod 66, that first comes into physical contact with the parts to be connected.

[0060] The retractable hydraulic cylinder operates by retracting and tightening the piston rod 66, generating tension as it retracts into the housing 64. Throughout the tightening process, the piston rod 66 continuously retracts, its end face gradually moving away from the component to be connected. The extension section, exceeding a predetermined distance from the end of the piston rod 66, remains in contact with the component throughout the entire retraction stroke, thus providing a stable fulcrum for the reaction force. If the extension section does not extend beyond the end of the piston rod 66, or the extension distance is insufficient, the end face of the piston rod 66 will directly contact the component during the initial or intermediate stage of retraction, causing the support and positioning function to fail, or even damaging the piston rod 66.

[0061] As a slender moving component inside the hydraulic cylinder, the piston rod 66 is primarily designed to withstand axial tensile force rather than radial pressure or eccentric bending moment. If, during the tightening and alignment process, the end face of the piston rod 66 directly abuts against the connecting parts, the two parts are initially in a distorted and misaligned state, making eccentric force highly likely upon contact. This would cause the piston rod 66 to bear additional radial bending moment in addition to tensile force, easily leading to bending deformation or even jamming and damage. However, by using the extended outer shell as a support and positioning part, the shell's wall thickness is much greater than the diameter of the piston rod 66, resulting in extremely high bending stiffness and load-bearing capacity. This allows it to stably withstand the radial component force caused by eccentric contact, ensuring that the reaction force fulcrum remains stable and unyielding throughout the entire tightening and alignment process.

[0062] Preferably, the distance by which the extension extends beyond the end of the piston rod 66 is 2cm-3cm. It should be understood that 2-3cm is only the optimal distance range verified through practice under common heavy-duty operating conditions such as the water-cooled cable 3 of the ladle refining furnace. The purpose of this distance is to ensure that the piston rod 66 does not directly contact the part to be connected during the initial stage of the retraction and tensioning stroke, or even throughout the entire process, thus avoiding the risk of the piston rod 66 bending under pressure. It also avoids the problem of the auxiliary fixture 6 becoming too large in axial dimension due to an excessively long extension, increasing the difficulty of insertion and operation. In other embodiments, for smaller parts or parts with minor misalignment, this extension distance can be reduced to 1cm or less; for extra-large parts or conditions requiring more safety clearance, this extension distance can be increased to 5cm or longer, as long as the extension section stably contacts the piston rod 66 throughout the entire tensioning cycle without direct pressure. The above description is illustrative only and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the distance according to the actual cylinder specifications and operating space.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the end of the extension is detachably connected to an adapter plate, the adapter plate having a contoured contact surface that matches the surface profile of the part to be connected, the area of ​​the contoured contact surface being larger than the area of ​​the end face of the extension to disperse the clamping force and avoid local indentations.

[0064] Example 6:

[0065] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the length configuration of the flexible traction component and the anchor. The total length configuration of the flexible traction component and the anchor is: the sum of the thicknesses of the two components to be connected and the maximum working stroke of the linear drive mechanism, minus a set allowance.

[0066] Specifically, the purpose of this length setting is to ensure that the axial tensioning device can press the two parts to be connected tightly together within its maximum working stroke range. If the total length is too long, even if the piston rod 66 is fully retracted, there will still be a gap between the two parts to be connected, making effective pressing impossible; if the total length is too short, the flexible traction component will be tightened before it is inserted into the connection hole, making initial insertion impossible. The set allowance is usually around 30mm to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, connection hole wear, and the elastic elongation of the flexible traction component.

[0067] Example 7:

[0068] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment further refines the structural composition of the anchor. The anchor includes a through-hole component and a locking component. The through-hole component is connected to the flexible traction component and passes through the connection hole. The locking component is disposed on the through-hole component and is used to anchor the flexible traction component to the component to be connected.

[0069] Specifically, the anchor's function is to fix the end of the flexible traction member to the part to be connected, thereby converting the tension applied by the axial tensioning device into a pressing force directly acting on the part to be connected. The main function of the through-hole member is to provide a physical channel through the misaligned connection hole and to serve as the mounting carrier for the locking member; while the locking member is responsible for positioning and fastening the through-hole member along its axial or radial direction after it passes through, preventing the through-hole member from coming out of the connection hole, and pressing or locking the end of the flexible traction member to the outer surface of the part to be connected, forming a stable anchor point. It should be understood that the combination of the through-hole member and the locking member is a generalization of structural pairs that can achieve the functions of passing through the hole and locking to prevent detachment. It is not limited to threaded fasteners, but can also be a combination of a pin and a cotter pin, a combination of an expansion pin and a locking buckle, or even a quick-locking pin with a self-locking mechanism, as long as it can ensure that the flexible traction member does not slip or loosen when subjected to axial tension. These parallel alternative examples all fall within the protection scope of this invention to adapt to the needs of different hole sizes and working loads.

[0070] Based on the above functional breakdown, this embodiment further describes the underlying hardware implementation of the anchor. The inserting component is a fixing screw 61, and the locking component is a locking nut 62. The length of the fixing screw 61 is less than the thickness of the inserting component to be connected.

[0071] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2The fixing screw 61 acts as a through-hole, passing through the misaligned connection holes on the two parts to be connected from one side. The locking nut 62 acts as a locking element, screwing onto the threaded section of the fixing screw 61 that protrudes from the other part to be connected. In actual operation, the end of the flexible traction member is pre-fixed or wrapped around the end of the fixing screw 61 away from the threaded section. When the axial tensioning device applies tension, it moves the flexible traction member away from the locking nut 62 until the support positioning part abuts against one of the parts to be connected and the two parts to be connected are in close contact. At this time, the two parts to be connected are sandwiched between the support positioning part and the locking nut 62. The huge friction and mechanical stopping force generated after the locking nut 62 is tightened ensures that the end of the flexible traction member will not come out of the connection hole of the part to be connected, so that the tension force is completely transmitted to the part to be connected, forcing the two misaligned copper plates to be reliably fitted and aligned.

[0072] It should be noted that the length of the fixing screw 61 is less than the thickness of the part to be connected. This design ensures that the main body of the fixing screw 61 does not penetrate the entire connection hole, while the main body of the flexible traction component is inserted into the connection hole, utilizing its flexibility to adapt to misalignment and deviation. The fixing screw 61 only anchors the flexible traction component on one side of the connection hole through the locking nut 62, avoiding the problem of rigid long bolts getting stuck in the misaligned hole.

[0073] This embodiment uses the most basic and readily available standard fastener combination of fixing screw 61 and locking nut 62 to achieve a highly reliable force anchor point construction at extremely low manufacturing cost, supporting the locking requirements of flexible fault-tolerant insertion and axial tension to correct radial misalignment force closed loop.

[0074] Example 8:

[0075] like Figure 3 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a method for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method employs any of the misaligned connector alignment and tightening aids described above and includes the following steps:

[0076] Step S100: Pass the flexible traction member through the connection hole of the two parts to be connected and fix it with the anchor.

[0077] Specifically, this step is the prerequisite for the entire methodological process. When two components to be connected are misaligned or skewed due to torsion or external forces, their originally aligned connection holes will experience severe radial displacement. At this point, attempting to directly insert rigid fasteners (such as rigid screws or pins) for initial connection is highly likely to cause jamming or even damage to the hole walls due to physical interference. This step, however, introduces a flexible traction component. Utilizing its bendable and flexible properties, the traction component can bend and deform in accordance with the skew direction of the misaligned hole, thus easily passing through the connection hole even in a radially offset state, achieving a fault-tolerant initial connection. Subsequently, anchors are used to lock both ends of the flexible traction component to the outside of the components to be connected, establishing stable force anchor points. This step structurally avoids the rigid interference problem in the initial misaligned state, providing the connection prerequisite and force transmission path for subsequent forced alignment. It should be understood that although the aforementioned embodiments preferably use steel wire rope 63 in conjunction with fixing screw 61 and fixing nut as anchoring means, in the steps of this method, as long as the functions of flexible fault-tolerant insertion and anchoring to prevent detachment can be achieved, alternative means such as chain in conjunction with pin shaft or flexible steel strip in conjunction with quick buckle are all feasible.

[0078] Step S200: Operate the axial tensioning device to pull back, so that the two parts to be connected are pressed together and automatically aligned.

[0079] Specifically, this step is the core force transformation stage of the entire process. After the flexible, fault-tolerant insertion and anchoring are completed in step S100, the two parts to be connected are still in a radially misaligned state. At this time, the axial tensioning device is activated. The support and positioning part of the axial tensioning device abuts against one of the parts to be connected to provide a reaction force fulcrum, and the driving part is connected to the flexible traction part and applies a tension force that contracts inward along the axial direction. Under the forced action of this axial tension force, the two parts to be connected, which were originally radially misaligned due to torsion, are forced to slide relative to each other along the axial direction and gradually fit together. The misaligned connecting holes automatically align during the fitting process. From a mechanical point of view, the axial tension force is transformed into a fitting and clamping force that forces the two plates closer to each other. This fitting and clamping force overcomes and eliminates the radial torsion that causes the hole walls to misalign, so that the fasteners are no longer jammed by radial shear force or extrusion force during disassembly and assembly. It should be understood that the reverse pull here refers to the tensioning device moving inward to retract and pull, rather than pushing outward. It can be achieved through various linear drive methods such as hydraulic cylinder retraction, air cylinder retraction, or screw nut reverse rotation.

[0080] Step S300: Remove or install the remaining fasteners except for the holes occupied by the auxiliary tool 6.

[0081] Specifically, this step is the actual operational execution stage of the process flow. Under the axial tension force of step S200, the two parts to be connected are forcibly aligned and fitted together, the radial offset between the connecting holes is eliminated, and the radial jamming force between the fasteners and the hole walls is released. At this point, the operator can smoothly disassemble or reinstall the remaining jammed fasteners under ideal conditions without stress interference. Since the auxiliary tool 6 occupies a connecting hole position, the fasteners in that hole need to be processed after the auxiliary tool 6 is removed. Therefore, this step is clearly defined as disassembling and installing the remaining fasteners except for those occupied by the auxiliary tool 6. The smooth execution of this step relies on the force closed loop established in the previous two steps. Without flexible fault-tolerant insertion, the auxiliary tool 6 cannot be positioned; without axial tension alignment, the radial jamming force still exists, and the fasteners still cannot be disassembled or installed.

[0082] Step S400: Operate the axial tensioning device to release the pressure and release the clamping force, so that the two parts to be connected are separated and the auxiliary tool 6 is removed.

[0083] Specifically, this step is the safe final stage of the process. After step S300 completes the disassembly and assembly of the remaining fasteners, if the axial tensioning device remains under high pressure, there will still be a huge axial clamping force between the two parts to be connected. At this time, forcibly removing the auxiliary tool 6 is not only difficult to operate, but may even cause danger due to the sudden release of the clamping force. Therefore, the axial tensioning device is operated to release the pressure, releasing the forced contact clamping force between the two plates to be connected. After the pressure is released, since the torsional misalignment has been corrected or the fasteners have been disassembled and assembled, the flexible traction component is in a relaxed state and is no longer stuck in the connection hole due to misalignment. The operator can easily pull out the flexible traction component from the hole and remove the entire auxiliary tool 6, achieving a smooth and safe closed loop in the operation process. It should be understood that the specific method of pressure release depends on the type of tensioning device. For example, for a hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic oil can be released through a reversing valve, and for a screw and nut mechanism, the tension can be released by reversing the uncoupling mechanism, as long as the clamping force can be released smoothly.

[0084] In practical applications, when replacing the water-cooled cable 3 of the ladle refining furnace, the misaligned connector of this invention is used to align and tighten the auxiliary tool when disassembling and assembling the connecting bolts between the water-cooled cable connecting copper plate 2 and the horizontal arm connecting copper plate 5 on the side of the heating horizontal arm 4.

[0085] Disassembly procedure:

[0086] Remove a fastener between the water-cooled cable connecting copper plate 2 and the cross arm connecting copper plate 5 to form the first connecting hole;

[0087] Pass the fixing screw 61 and wire rope 63 at the front end of the auxiliary tool 6 through the first connecting hole, and tighten the locking nut 62 on the other side to fix the auxiliary tool 6.

[0088] Oil is supplied to the reversing hydraulic cylinder through the oil inlet 65. The cylinder is operated to reverse pull, so that the two copper connecting plates fit tightly together, eliminating torsion and misalignment.

[0089] With the two copper connecting plates tightly fitted together, remove all other fasteners;

[0090] The hydraulic cylinder is depressurized, and the piston rod 66 is reset under the action of the return spring 67, releasing the clamping force of the two copper plates. The two copper connecting plates are separated under the flexible constraint of the wire rope 63, and then the auxiliary tool 6 is removed.

[0091] Reassembly procedure:

[0092] Use crane 1 to lift water-cooled cable 3 to the installation position, so that the two copper connecting plates are close together and the connecting holes are aligned;

[0093] Pass the steel wire rope 63 of the auxiliary tool 6 and the fixing screw 61 through the connecting hole and tighten the locking nut 62;

[0094] The hydraulic cylinder is operated to pull back, pressing the two copper connecting plates together and automatically aligning them.

[0095] Install and tighten all fasteners except those occupying the holes for accessory 6;

[0096] Depressurize the hydraulic cylinder, remove accessory 6, and then install the last fastener occupying the hole of accessory 6 to complete the reinstallation.

[0097] The misalignment connector alignment and tightening method in this embodiment is not only an effective way to achieve smooth assembly and disassembly of the misalignment connector, but also a protective barrier independent of the product structure from the perspective of operation process. Any assembly or disassembly operation following this method falls within the protection scope of this method. The above description is only illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can flexibly replace and adjust the specific execution means of each step according to the actual working conditions and the configuration of auxiliary tool 6, without departing from the core timing logic.

[0098] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0099] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. 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 the invention. Therefore, the invention 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 disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A misaligned connector alignment and tensioning auxiliary tool, used to eliminate radial jamming force caused by misalignment and misalignment of two connectors, characterized in that, The assistive device (6) includes: A flexible traction component, which passes through the connection hole of the two components to be connected; An anchor, which is connected to one end of the flexible traction member and is used to anchor the flexible traction member to one of the members to be connected. An axial tensioning device has a support and positioning part and a drive part; the support and positioning part abuts against one of the members to be connected to provide a reaction force fulcrum; the drive part is connected to the other end of the flexible traction member and applies an axial tension force.

2. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible traction component is a flexible linear traction component, and the axial tensioning device is a linear drive mechanism. The axis of the flexible linear traction component coincides with that of the linear drive mechanism.

3. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The flexible linear traction component is a steel wire rope (63), and the axial tensioning device is a pull-back hydraulic cylinder. The piston rod (66) of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder constitutes the driving part and is connected to the steel wire rope (63).

4. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pull-back hydraulic cylinder also includes a return spring (67), which is configured to drive the piston rod (66) to extend outward and return to its original position.

5. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that, A universal joint is provided between the wire rope (63) and the piston rod (66). The universal joint allows the wire rope (63) to swing within a set range relative to the axis of the piston rod (66) to accommodate the spatial angle deviation between the two components to be connected.

6. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that, The support and positioning part is an extension of the housing of the pull-back hydraulic cylinder. The extension extends beyond the end of the piston rod (66) by a set distance so as to abut against the component to be connected when the piston rod (66) retracts.

7. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The total length of the flexible traction member and the anchor is configured as: the sum of the thicknesses of the two members to be connected and the maximum working stroke of the linear drive mechanism minus a set allowance.

8. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anchor includes a through member and a locking member. The through member is connected to the flexible traction member and passes through the connection hole. The locking member is disposed on the through member and is used to anchor the flexible traction member to the member to be connected.

9. The misaligned connector alignment and tensioning fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that, The insert is a fixing screw (61), and the locking component is a locking nut (62). The length of the fixing screw (61) is less than the thickness of the insert to be connected.

10. A method for aligning and tightening misaligned connectors, comprising the misalignment connector alignment and tightening auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Including the following steps: The flexible traction element is passed through the connection hole of the two parts to be connected and fixed by the anchor. Operate the axial tensioning device to pull back, so that the two parts to be connected are pressed together and automatically aligned; Remove or install all fasteners except those used for the holes occupied by the auxiliary fixtures; Operate the axial tensioning device to release the pressure and release the clamping force, so that the two parts to be connected can be separated and the auxiliary tool can be removed.

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