A dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloys for gas turbine blades

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of casting equipment technology, and provides a dual-station casting equipment for high-temperature alloys of gas turbine blades, comprising: a worktable; a casting furnace disposed on the worktable, wherein a detachable crucible is disposed within the furnace cavity of the casting furnace, and a pair of connecting columns are disposed on opposite sides of the crucible; a translation mechanism mounted on the worktable; a lifting mechanism mounted on the translation mechanism; and a pair of clamping and tilting devices symmetrically mounted on the lifting mechanism. This invention overcomes the shortcomings of existing technologies, featuring a reasonable design and compact structure. Through the symmetrically arranged pair of clamping and tilting devices, combined with the translation and lifting mechanisms, it is possible to simultaneously perform casting at one station while the other station completes the clamping and preheating of a new crucible, allowing the melting and casting processes to overlap, significantly shortening the casting cycle and improving equipment utilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of casting equipment technology, specifically to a dual-station casting equipment for high-temperature alloy investment casting of gas turbine blades. Background Technology

[0002] In existing investment casting processes for high-temperature alloys for gas turbine blades, the melting, transfer, and pouring of crucibles typically rely on manual labor or simple mechanical assistance, resulting in low automation and low production efficiency. Furthermore, traditional equipment is mostly designed as a single station, requiring the crucible to be melted, poured, and replaced sequentially, making it impossible to achieve parallel melting and pouring operations. This leads to long production cycles and low equipment utilization. To address this, we propose a dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloys for gas turbine blades. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloys in gas turbine blades. This equipment overcomes the deficiencies of existing technologies, features a reasonable design and compact structure, and solves the problems mentioned in the background section.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a dual-station investment casting equipment for gas turbine blades, comprising:

[0005] Workbench;

[0006] A casting furnace is set on the workbench. The furnace cavity of the casting furnace is equipped with a separable crucible. A pair of connecting columns are provided on each side of the crucible.

[0007] The translation mechanism is mounted on the worktable;

[0008] A lifting mechanism is mounted on the translation mechanism;

[0009] A pair of clamping and flipping devices are symmetrically mounted on the lifting mechanism;

[0010] Each of the clamping and flipping devices includes a base, a pair of clamping members that can open and close relative to each other, and a flipping drive mechanism. Each clamping member has a shaft hole and an arc-shaped guide groove. The center of the arc-shaped guide groove coincides with the center of the shaft hole, and the radius of the arc-shaped guide groove is equal to the distance between the pair of connecting posts on the same side. In the clamping state, one connecting post on the same side is inserted into the shaft hole, and the other connecting post is inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove. The flipping drive mechanism is used to drive the connecting post inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove to move along the arc-shaped guide groove, so that the crucible rotates around the connecting post inserted into the shaft hole.

[0011] Preferably, the translation mechanism includes a pair of first guide rails fixed parallel to the worktable, a sliding plate slidably engaged with the first guide rails, and a first drive assembly for driving the sliding plate to move along the first guide rails.

[0012] Preferably, the first drive assembly includes a first lead screw rotatably connected to the back of the worktable, a sliding plate threadedly connected to the first lead screw, and a connecting plate fixed to the sliding plate. The worktable has a strip groove parallel to the first guide rail, and the connecting plate passes through the strip groove and is fixedly connected to the back of the sliding plate.

[0013] Preferably, the back of the sliding plate is provided with a slider that slides in cooperation with the first guide rail.

[0014] Preferably, the lifting mechanism includes a bracket fixed to the translation mechanism, a lifting driver mounted on the bracket, and a lifting plate connected to the output end of the lifting driver, and the clamping and flipping device is correspondingly mounted on the lifting plate.

[0015] Preferably, the lifting actuator is a cylinder.

[0016] Preferably, the clamping and flipping device further includes an opening and closing drive mechanism, which includes a second lead screw rotatably mounted on the base and a second guide rail fixed to the base and parallel to the second lead screw. Both clamping members are threaded to the second lead screw and slidably fitted to the second guide rail, so that the two clamping members can move toward or in opposite directions.

[0017] Preferably, the flipping drive mechanism includes a rotary drive assembly and a push arm. The rotary drive assembly is mounted on the clamping member and is used to drive the push arm to rotate around the axis of the shaft hole. The drive end of the push arm cooperates with the connecting post inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove to push the connecting post to move along the arc-shaped guide groove.

[0018] Preferably, the rotary drive assembly includes a first transmission member, a second transmission member, and a third transmission member connected in sequence, and a collar fixed coaxially with the third transmission member. The collar is rotatably fitted onto the clamping member and is coaxially arranged with the shaft hole. The push arm is fixed to the outer wall of the collar.

[0019] Preferably, the drive end of the push arm has a through hole, and the connecting post inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove passes through the through hole.

[0020] This invention provides a dual-station investment casting device for high-temperature alloys in gas turbine blades. It offers the following advantages:

[0021] 1. By using a pair of symmetrically arranged clamping and flipping devices, along with a translation mechanism and a lifting mechanism, one station can perform casting while another station completes the clamping and preheating of a new crucible. This allows the smelting and casting processes to overlap, significantly shortening the casting cycle and improving equipment utilization.

[0022] 2. The translation mechanism is driven by a lead screw and guide rail, and the lifting mechanism is precisely controlled by a cylinder. Together with the sliding plate and bracket structure, it can accurately deliver the clamping and flipping device to the position of the crucible connecting column. At the same time, the shaft hole and arc-shaped guide groove on the clamping part form an insertion fit with the connecting column, which automatically completes the alignment and locking during the closing process without manual intervention, thus improving the convenience and reliability of operation.

[0023] 3. The clamping component is provided with an arc-shaped guide groove with the same center as the shaft hole, and the through hole of the push arm passes through the upper connecting column, so that the upper connecting column can only slide on the predetermined arc trajectory when flipping, thereby forcing the crucible to tilt with a fixed rotation fulcrum, effectively avoiding shaking, swaying and molten splashing during the flipping process, and significantly improving the casting quality and safety. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic front view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the rear side of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the casting furnace structure of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism structure of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the clamping and flipping device structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the clamping component structure of the present invention.

[0031] In the diagram: 1. Workbench; 11. First lead screw; 12. Sliding plate; 13. Connecting plate; 14. Strip groove; 2. Casting furnace; 21. Crucible; 22. Connecting column; 3. First guide rail; 4. Sliding plate; 51. Bracket; 52. Lifting driver; 53. Lifting plate; 61. Base; 611. Second lead screw; 612. Second guide rail; 62. Clamping component; 621. First transmission component; 622. Second transmission component; 623. Third transmission component; 624. Collar; 63. Shaft hole; 64. Arc-shaped guide groove; 65. Push arm; 651. Through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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, 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] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a dual-station casting equipment for high-temperature alloys of gas turbine blades, which includes a worktable 1, a casting furnace 2 for melting and pouring, a translation mechanism for horizontal movement, a lifting mechanism for vertical movement, and a pair of clamping and flipping devices.

[0034] The casting furnace 2 is fixedly mounted on the workbench 1, and its internal furnace cavity is used to accommodate and heat a detachable crucible 21. The crucible 21 is used to hold high-temperature alloy base material, and on its opposite outer side walls, there are pairs of connecting columns 22. The two connecting columns 22 on the same side are spaced a certain distance apart in the vertical direction.

[0035] A translation mechanism is mounted on the worktable 1 to drive the clamping and flipping device to move horizontally closer to or further away from the casting furnace 2. Specifically, the translation mechanism includes a pair of first guide rails 3 fixed parallel to each other on the worktable 1, and a sliding plate 4 slidably fitted onto the first guide rails 3. To ensure the smooth sliding of the sliding plate 4, a slider adapted to the first guide rails 3 is provided on its back. The power to drive the sliding plate 4 is a first drive assembly. In this embodiment, the first drive assembly includes a first lead screw 11 rotatably connected to the back of the worktable 1 via a bearing seat, a sliding plate 12 threadedly connected to the first lead screw 11, and a connecting plate 13 fixed to the sliding plate 12. A strip groove 14 parallel to the first guide rails 3 is provided on the worktable 1, and the connecting plate 13 passes through the strip groove 14 and is fixedly connected to the back of the sliding plate 4. When the motor drives the first lead screw 11 to rotate, the sliding plate 12 will move along the lead screw axis, and then drive the sliding plate 4 and the components above it to move as a whole through the connecting plate 13, so as to realize the subsequent entry and exit of the furnace cavity.

[0036] A pair of lifting mechanisms are mounted on the sliding plate 4 to adjust the height of the clamping and tilting devices, ensuring precise alignment with the connecting posts 22 on both sides of the crucible 21. Each lifting mechanism includes a bracket 51 fixed to the sliding plate 4, with a cylinder serving as a lifting actuator 52 mounted on the top of the bracket 51. The piston rod of the cylinder extends downwards, and its output end is fixedly connected to the lifting plate 53. A pair of clamping and tilting devices are symmetrically mounted on the left and right ends of the lifting plate 53, thereby achieving synchronous translation between the two workstations.

[0037] Each clamping and tilting device is the core unit for grasping, transporting, and tilting the crucible 21. It includes a base 61, a pair of clamping members 62 that can open and close relative to each other, and a tilting drive mechanism. The base 61 is fixed to the lifting plate 53. To realize the opening and closing action of the clamping members 62, the device is equipped with an opening and closing drive mechanism. The opening and closing drive mechanism includes a second lead screw 611 rotatably mounted on the base 61 via a bearing, and a second guide rail 612 parallel to the second lead screw 611 and fixed to the base 61. Both clamping members 62 are connected to the second lead screw 611 by threaded sleeves and simultaneously slide on the second guide rail 612. The second lead screw 611 has two sections of threads with opposite directions of rotation. When the servo motor drives the second lead screw 611 to rotate, the two clamping members 62 will move towards each other to clamp, or move in opposite directions to release.

[0038] Each clamping component 62 is designed with a shaft hole 63 and an arc-shaped guide groove 64 that mate with the connecting post 22 of the crucible 21. In the clamped state, of the two connecting posts 22 on the same side of the crucible 21, one connecting post 22 is precisely inserted into the shaft hole 63, forming a fixed pivot point; the other connecting post 22 is inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove 64. The center of the arc-shaped guide groove 64 coincides with the center of the shaft hole 63, and its radius R is equal to the center distance between the two connecting posts 22 on the same side. This design ensures that the upper connecting post 22 can only slide on an arc path centered on the shaft hole 63, providing motion constraints for smooth flipping.

[0039] The function of the flipping drive mechanism is to provide flipping torque. In this embodiment, the mechanism includes a rotary drive assembly and a push arm 65. The rotary drive assembly is integrated inside the housing of the clamping member 62. It includes a first transmission member 621, a second transmission member 622, and a third transmission member 623. The three transmission members can be a sprocket and chain or a belt and pulley. A collar 624 is coaxially fixed on the central rotating shaft of the third transmission member 623. The collar 624 is rotatably fitted onto the clamping member 62, and its axis of rotation is coaxial with the axis of the shaft hole 63. One end of the push arm 65 is radially fixed to the outer wall of the collar 624, and the other end extends outward as the drive end. A through hole 651 is provided on the drive end, and the connecting post 22 inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove 64 is precisely movably inserted into the through hole 651.

[0040] Working principle:

[0041] Initially, the clamping and flipping devices are in a high position and open. After the crucible 21 completes alloy melting in the casting furnace 2, the translation mechanism activates, driving the sliding plate 4 to translate, positioning one of the clamping and flipping devices directly above the furnace opening, and placing the open clamping members 62 on both sides of the crucible 21. Subsequently, the lifting drive 52 in the lifting mechanism at this position operates, driving the lifting plate 53 to lower the clamping and flipping devices, aligning the shaft hole 63 and the arc-shaped guide groove 64 on the clamping member 62 with the connecting post 22. Then, the opening and closing drive mechanism is activated, and the second lead screw 611 rotates, driving the two clamping members 62 to close towards each other. During the closing process, the two connecting posts 22 automatically insert into the shaft hole 63 and the arc-shaped guide groove 64, and the connecting post 22 inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove 64 will eventually pass through the through hole 651 of the push arm 65, completing the secure clamping of the crucible 21. Next, the piston rod of the lifting drive 52 of the lifting mechanism retracts, lifting the hot crucible 21 out of the furnace chamber. The translation mechanism then moves again, transporting the crucible 21 to above the mold gate on one side. At this time, another clamping and turning device moves to above the casting furnace 2, and a new crucible 21 can be pre-loaded on this clamping and turning device. During the pouring process, the new crucible 21 is placed into the casting furnace 2 for heating, realizing the ability of alternating operation between two stations.

[0042] During casting, the rotary drive assembly is activated, and power is transmitted to the collar 624 via the transmission component, causing the push arm 65 to rotate slowly around the axis of the shaft hole 63. The inner wall of the through hole 651 at the drive end of the push arm 65 acts on the connecting column 22 above, forcing it to move in an arc along the arc-shaped guide groove 64. Due to the constraint of the arc-shaped guide groove 64, the entire crucible 21 tilts and flips smoothly and controllably around the connecting column 22 as a fixed axis, accurately pouring the high-temperature alloy molten metal into the blade investment mold below. After casting is completed, the mechanisms reverse their operation, placing the empty crucible 21 back into the furnace, ready for the next round of casting.

[0043] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0044] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades, characterized in that, include: Workbench (1); A casting furnace (2) is set on the workbench (1). The furnace cavity of the casting furnace (2) is provided with a separable crucible (21). A pair of connecting columns (22) are provided on each side of the crucible (21). A translation mechanism is mounted on the worktable (1); A lifting mechanism is mounted on the translation mechanism; A pair of clamping and flipping devices are symmetrically mounted on the lifting mechanism; Each of the clamping and flipping devices includes a base (61), a pair of clamping members (62) that can open and close relative to each other, and a flipping drive mechanism; each clamping member (62) is provided with a shaft hole (63) and an arc-shaped guide groove (64), the center of the arc-shaped guide groove (64) coincides with the center of the shaft hole (63), and the radius of the arc-shaped guide groove (64) is equal to the distance between the pair of connecting posts (22) on the same side; in the clamping state, one connecting post (22) on the same side is inserted into the shaft hole (63), and the other connecting post (22) is inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove (64); the flipping drive mechanism is used to drive the connecting post (22) inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove (64) to move along the arc-shaped guide groove (64), so that the crucible (21) rotates around the connecting post (22) inserted into the shaft hole (63).

2. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The translation mechanism includes a pair of first guide rails (3) fixed parallel to the worktable (1), a sliding plate (4) slidably fitted on the first guide rails (3), and a first drive assembly that drives the sliding plate (4) to move along the first guide rails (3).

3. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first drive assembly includes a first lead screw (11) rotatably connected to the back of the worktable (1), a sliding plate (12) threadedly connected to the first lead screw (11), and a connecting plate (13) fixed to the sliding plate (12). The worktable (1) has a strip groove (14) parallel to the first guide rail (3). The connecting plate (13) passes through the strip groove (14) and is fixedly connected to the back of the sliding plate (4).

4. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The back of the sliding plate (4) is provided with a slider that slides in cooperation with the first guide rail (3).

5. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting mechanism includes a bracket (51) fixed on the translation mechanism, a lifting driver (52) installed on the bracket (51), and a lifting plate (53) connected to the output end of the lifting driver (52). The clamping and flipping device is correspondingly installed on the lifting plate (53).

6. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The lifting drive (52) is a cylinder.

7. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping and flipping device further includes an opening and closing drive mechanism, which includes a second lead screw (611) rotatably mounted on the base (61) and a second guide rail (612) fixed to the base (61) and parallel to the second lead screw (611). Both clamping members (62) are threaded to the second lead screw (611) and slidably fitted to the second guide rail (612) so that the two clamping members (62) can move towards each other or in opposite directions.

8. A dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloys of gas turbine blades as described in claim 1 or 7, characterized in that: The flipping drive mechanism includes a rotary drive assembly and a push arm (65). The rotary drive assembly is mounted on the clamping member (62) and is used to drive the push arm (65) to rotate around the axis of the shaft hole (63). The drive end of the push arm (65) cooperates with the connecting post (22) inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove (64) to push the connecting post (22) to move along the arc-shaped guide groove (64).

9. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The rotary drive assembly includes a first transmission member (621), a second transmission member (622), and a third transmission member (623) connected in sequence, and a collar (624) fixed coaxially with the third transmission member (623). The collar (624) is rotatably fitted on the clamping member (62) and coaxially arranged with the shaft hole (63). The push arm (65) is fixed to the outer wall of the collar (624).

10. The dual-station investment casting equipment for high-temperature alloy gas turbine blades as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The drive end of the push arm (65) has a through hole (651), and the connecting post (22) inserted into the arc-shaped guide groove (64) passes through the through hole (651).

Images