A composite material rotary forming device and a core mold adjusting method thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a composite material rotational molding device and its mandrel assembly and adjustment method. The device includes an active rotating support and an inner shrinking mandrel. The active rotating support includes a rotating mounting column, a hollow rotating platform, a four-jaw chuck for the rotating shaft, a motor, a base square steel, a guide rail slider, a ground guide rail, and a lifting seat. The lifting seat includes a mandrel support seat, a mandrel support bearing, a height-adjusting T-shaped screw, and a linear guide rail. The horizontal position of the lifting seat is adjusted by moving the guide rail slider along the ground guide rail, and the height position of the lifting seat is adjusted by driving the mandrel support bearing to rise and fall along the linear guide rail through the height-adjusting T-shaped screw. The inner shrinking mandrel includes four mandrel assembly plates, assembly plate opening and closing components, assembly plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinders, a heating module, an internal support for the mandrel, a four-jaw chuck clamping shaft, a slip ring, a hydraulic circuit, and a tail support shaft. This invention achieves rapid centering, precise leveling, and safe disassembly of heavy-duty mandrels through a mandrel assembly and adjustment method using three lifting seats in coordination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of composite material molding molds and equipment technology, specifically relating to a rotary molding device for composite material winding molding, particularly suitable for large cylindrical components, and its core mold assembly and adjustment method. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of large composite material components, the installation and disassembly of mandrels are crucial steps. In traditional techniques, monolithic mandrels are difficult to demold after the component has cured, as the shrinkage of the cured composite material tightly grips the mandrel, and forced demolding can easily damage the component. While segmented mandrels can solve the demolding problem, they suffer from structural complexity, poor joint precision, and difficulty in repeated assembly. Furthermore, the installation, alignment, and leveling of large, heavy mandrels (ranging from several meters to tens of meters in length and weighing several tons) are extremely cumbersome, relying heavily on manual experience, resulting in low efficiency and safety risks.

[0003] In the prior art, for example, Chinese patent CN202211059911.2 discloses a filament winding and pultrusion production line for composite materials. This production line includes a yarn rack, an impregnation tank, a winding device, a pultrusion molding die, and a traction device. The winding device winds the fibers onto the surface of the mandrel, which is then cured and formed by the pultrusion molding die. However, this device has the following drawbacks: First, its mandrel is a fixed structure, making demolding difficult after molding, especially for large cylindrical components. Due to the shrinkage of the composite material during curing, it will tightly grip the mandrel, and forced demolding can easily damage the component. Second, this device only involves the winding function of the mandrel and lacks a system integration design with the rotary drive unit. It does not provide a precise adjustment method between the mandrel and the rotary shaft, and a large amount of manual adjustment is still required during installation, making it difficult to ensure high-precision alignment between the mandrel and the rotary shaft. Third, this device does not consider the heating function of the mandrel in the rotating state, making it difficult to meet the temperature control requirements of the composite material molding process. Fourth, the existing segmented mandrels are mostly driven manually or mechanically, which is cumbersome to operate and difficult to achieve synchronous drive. While hydraulic drive theoretically offers advantages such as high driving force and good synchronization, its application in large mandrels faces technical challenges, including complex hydraulic pipeline layout, difficulties in hydraulic oil delivery during rotation, and challenges in ensuring the synchronous control accuracy of multiple hydraulic cylinders. Furthermore, the integrated design of the hydraulic system and the mandrel heating system is a key bottleneck restricting its widespread adoption in composite material molding. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated hydraulically driven internal mandrel structure that can solve the aforementioned problems.

[0004] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this invention provides an integrated rotary forming device and its core mold assembly and adjustment method to solve the problems of difficult demolding of large core molds, low installation and leveling efficiency, and difficulty in ensuring accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Purpose of the invention: The present invention aims to solve the above problems and provide a composite material rotation molding device and its core mold assembly method that are compact in structure, easy to demold, and capable of rapid and precise assembly and adjustment.

[0006] Technical solution: To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this invention is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a composite material rotation molding device, comprising: an active rotating support and an inner shrinking core mold, wherein the inner shrinking core mold is fixedly installed on the active rotating support; The active rotating support is equipped with a lifting seat that can be adjusted in both horizontal and vertical positions, which is used to support the inner shrinking core mold and make fine adjustments in height during the installation and disassembly of the core mold; The inner shrinking core mold includes: a core mold plate and a plate opening and closing component; the core mold body of the inner shrinking core mold is composed of several core mold plates circumferentially spliced ​​to form a complete cylindrical working surface; the plate opening and closing component is used to guide the core mold plate to move radially in a straight line.

[0007] In some embodiments, the lifting seat includes: a mandrel support seat, a linear guide rail, a height-adjusting T-screw, and a mandrel support bearing; the mandrel support seat is provided with a linear guide rail, and a height-adjusting T-screw is installed on the linear guide rail. The top end of the height-adjusting T-screw is fixedly installed with the mandrel support bearing. The height position of the lifting seat is adjusted by driving the mandrel support bearing to move up and down along the linear guide rail through the height-adjusting T-screw. This is used to support the inner shrinking mandrel and achieve fine-tuning of the height during the installation and disassembly of the mandrel. The mandrel support bearing is a high-precision bearing that can withstand radial and axial loads, ensuring the stability and accuracy of the support for the inner shrinking mandrel.

[0008] In some embodiments, the lifting seat includes a first lifting seat, a second lifting seat, and a third lifting seat spaced apart along the axial direction of the active rotating support. The first lifting seat, the second lifting seat, and the third lifting seat are all fixedly mounted on the guide rail slider. The horizontal position of each seat can be independently adjusted by moving the guide rail slider along the ground guide rail. The spindle support bearing of the first lifting seat is used to support the middle part of the inner shrinking core mold during the initial support stage of the inner shrinking core mold, and is adjusted to maintain a preset safe gap with the bottom surface of the inner shrinking core mold after the inner shrinking core mold is installed. The spindle support bearing of the second lifting seat is used to support the tail support shaft and perform horizontal fine-tuning of the tail of the inner shrinking core mold during the horizontal fine-tuning process. The mandrel support bearing of the third lifting seat is used to support the tail end of the inner shrinking mandrel during the horizontal fine adjustment of the inner shrinking mandrel, and to adjust it to maintain a 3mm gap with the bottom surface of the inner shrinking mandrel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the active rotating support includes: a rotating mounting column, a base square steel, footings, a guide rail slider, and a ground guide rail; the active rotating support is installed on the foundation via the base square steel, and the bottom of the base square steel is provided with footings for leveling; the rotating mounting column is fixedly installed at one end of the base square steel; a ground guide rail is provided on the base square steel, and a guide rail slider that cooperates with it is provided on the ground guide rail, and a lifting seat is fixedly installed on the guide rail slider, so that the horizontal position of the lifting seat can be adjusted by moving the guide rail slider along the ground guide rail.

[0010] In some embodiments, the active rotating support further includes: a hollow rotating platform, a four-jaw chuck for the rotating shaft, a motor, and a motor protective housing; the hollow rotating platform is mounted on a rotating mounting column, driven by a motor, and provides high-precision rotating output; the hollow rotating platform preferably uses a high-rigidity crossed roller bearing as a supporting element, with an output end face runout ≤0.01mm, a repeatability positioning accuracy ≤±0.01°, and a hollow aperture of not less than 50mm for threading hydraulic lines and cables to realize power and signal transmission in the rotating state; the motor is installed inside the motor protective housing and connected to the hollow rotating platform; the four-jaw chuck for the rotating shaft is installed at the output end of the hollow rotating platform and is used to clamp the four-jaw chuck holding shaft of the inner shrinking core mold.

[0011] In some embodiments, the internal shrinking mandrel further includes: a hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the mandrel plates and an internal support for the mandrel. The internal support for the mandrel forms a rigid frame inside the mandrel, providing a mounting base for each component. The opening and closing mechanism for the mandrel plates includes a linear bearing and a slider. The linear bearing is fixed on the internal support for the mandrel, and the slider is connected to the inner wall of each mandrel plate. The linear bearing and slider are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the mandrel, with a spacing of 500-1000mm between adjacent guide mechanisms, a guiding accuracy of ±0.05mm, and the ability to withstand a radial load of not less than 50kN. The surface of the guide mechanism is hardened to a hardness of not less than HRC55 to ensure wear resistance under long-term use. The cylinder body of the hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the mandrel plates is hinged to the internal support for the mandrel, and its piston rod is connected to the inner wall of each mandrel plate through a linkage mechanism. Multiple hydraulic cylinders for opening and closing the mandrel plates are distributed along the axial direction of the mandrel to synchronously drive all mandrel plates to move radially. Each core mold plate is equipped with 3-5 hydraulic cylinders for opening and closing the plates. The stroke of the hydraulic cylinders is 20-50mm, the rated working pressure is 16MPa, and the cylinder diameter is 40-80mm. All the hydraulic cylinders for opening and closing the plates are connected through a hydraulic synchronization circuit. Multi-cylinder synchronous control is achieved by using a flow divider / combiner valve or a proportional servo valve. The synchronization accuracy is ≤±0.5mm, ensuring that the four core mold plates maintain a uniform gap during opening and closing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inner shrinking mandrel further includes: a four-jaw chuck clamping shaft and a tail support shaft. The four-jaw chuck clamping shaft is located at one end of the inner shrinking mandrel and is used to connect with the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft. The tail support shaft is located at the other end of the inner shrinking mandrel and is used to cooperate with the mandrel support bearing of the second lifting seat for support. The diameter of the tail support shaft is 80-150mm, the surface roughness Ra≤0.8μm, and the hardness is not less than HRC50. The clearance between the tail support shaft and the mandrel support bearing is 0.01-0.05mm, which ensures stable support at the tail end of the mandrel while allowing the mandrel to freely expand and contract axially during thermal expansion, avoiding damage to the mandrel and bearing caused by thermal stress.

[0013] In some embodiments, the inner shrinking mandrel further includes: a heating module, heating circuits, a slip ring, and hydraulic circuits. The slip ring is installed at the end of the inner shrinking mandrel and includes a rotor end and a stator end. The rotor end is electrically connected to the heating module, and the stator end is used to connect to an external power source to achieve power transmission during rotation. The heating circuits connect the slip ring and the heating module for power transmission. The hydraulic circuits are connected to the hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the closing plate to provide hydraulic power. The heating module preferably uses an electric heating tube or a cast copper heating plate, with a heating power density of 2-5 W / cm², a heating temperature range of room temperature to 250°C, a temperature control accuracy of ±2°C, and an adjustable heating rate of 1-10°C / min. The heating module is independently controlled in segments along the mandrel axis, and the temperature can be set in sections according to process requirements to adapt to the molding temperature requirements of different composite materials (such as CF / PPS, CF / PEEK, CF / PEKK). The slip ring is an electro-hydraulic combined slip ring, integrating the functions of a conductive slip ring and a hydraulic rotary joint. It has no fewer than 8 power channels (rated current 10A / channel) and 2 hydraulic channels (rated pressure 16MPa), enabling synchronous transmission of electricity and hydraulic pressure during rotation. The slip ring's rotational speed range is 0-100rpm, meeting the speed requirements of the mandrel winding process.

[0014] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a method for assembling and adjusting a core mold using the above-mentioned device, which uses a first lifting seat, a second lifting seat, and a third lifting seat in conjunction with a hoisting device. Each lifting seat includes a core shaft support seat, a linear guide rail, a height-adjusting T-shaped lead screw, and a core shaft support bearing. The installation steps of the inner shrinking core mold are as follows: Step S1, Installation Preparation: Install lifting rings in the threaded holes of the lifting rings at both ends of the inner shrink core mold, and use a crane to hook the lifting rings to lift the core mold so that the core mold is in a horizontal suspended state; Step S2, Initial Support and Alignment: Raise the first lifting seat and support the middle of the inner core mold with its mandrel support bearing. Move the guide rail slider along the ground guide rail to precisely adjust the horizontal position of the first lifting seat so that the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft of the inner core mold is aligned with the center of the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft fixed on one end of the square steel base. At this time, the crane still bears the main weight, and the first lifting seat plays an auxiliary support and guiding role. Step S3, Core mold loading: Slowly push the first lifting seat towards the rotary shaft four-jaw chuck, and gradually load the four-jaw chuck holding shaft into the rotary shaft four-jaw chuck. During the loading process, the core shaft support bearing of the first lifting seat always maintains stable support for the core mold. After the four-jaw chuck holding shaft is fully inserted into the rotary shaft four-jaw chuck, tighten the clamping bolts on the rotary shaft four-jaw chuck to clamp and fix the inner core mold. Step S4, Multi-support switching: After clamping confirmation, slowly release the crane to gradually unload it. During the unloading process, raise the second lifting seat and support the tail support shaft of the core mold through the mandrel support bearing at its top; raise the third lifting seat and support the tail of the core mold through the mandrel support bearing at its top. After the crane is completely unloaded, remove the crane; then release and lower the first lifting seat so that the mandrel support bearing of the first lifting seat is detached from the core mold, completing the support switching; at this time, the core mold is supported by the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck, the second lifting seat, and the third lifting seat. Step S5, Horizontal Fine Adjustment: Place high-precision levels at at least three equally spaced axial positions on the front, middle, and rear of the core mold's outer surface, and observe the horizontal readings at each position. Adjust the height of the second lifting seat using the T-shaped lead screw to precisely raise and lower the mandrel support bearing along the linear guide rail, thereby raising and lowering the tail end of the inner core mold and ensuring it remains horizontal throughout its entire length. During adjustment, the linear guide rail ensures the verticality and stability of the lifting motion. Simultaneously, rotate the height of the third lifting seat using the T-shaped lead screw to precisely adjust the height of its mandrel support bearing, maintaining a precise 3mm gap between it and the bottom surface of the inner core mold as a protective gap to prevent accidental downward deflection of the inner core mold. Step S6: Complete the installation: After finding the level, adjust the height adjustment T-shaped screw of the first lifting seat to maintain a preset safe gap between the mandrel support bearing and the bottom surface of the inner shrinking mandrel. Then remove the lifting ring. The installation of the inner shrinking mandrel is complete.

[0015] Before the winding process begins, pressurized oil is introduced into the rodless chamber of the hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the core mold through the hydraulic system. The piston rod extends and, through the linkage mechanism, pushes each core mold plate to move radially outward along the guide mechanism of the core mold opening and closing component, so that the overall diameter of the core mold is expanded to the working size (e.g., 400mm). At this time, the splicing gap between each core mold plate is less than 0.1mm, forming a complete cylindrical working surface, thus completing the mold closing operation.

[0016] After the winding process is completed, once the component has cooled to the set temperature (e.g., CF / PPS materials need to be cooled to below 90℃), pressurized oil is introduced into the rod chamber of the hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the core mold through the hydraulic system. The piston rod retracts, and through the linkage mechanism, each core mold plate is pulled radially towards the center of the core mold along the guide mechanism of the core mold opening and closing component. This reduces the overall diameter of the core mold (the reduction can reach 10-30mm), thereby separating it from the molded composite material component and completing the demolding operation. After demolding, the component is intact, and the core mold can be reused.

[0017] In some implementations, the disassembly steps of the inner shrink mold are as follows: Step S7: Raise the first lifting seat, support the inner shrinking core mold through its spindle support bearing, reinstall the lifting ring, hook the lifting ring with a crane and slightly tension it; Step S8: Release the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft and push the first lifting seat to move away from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft, so that the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft of the inner shrinking core mold is disengaged from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft. Step S9: Slowly raise the crane to remove the inner shrinking core mold from the active rotating support area, then slowly place it on the ground. Place a pad under the inner shrinking core mold to prevent it from rolling. Release the crane to complete the disassembly.

[0018] Beneficial effects: The specific advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention uses a hydraulic cylinder to drive the four core mold plates to retract radially inward synchronously, thereby achieving overall core mold diameter reduction. This completely solves the problem of demolding large composite material components and protects the components and molds from damage.

[0019] 2. In this invention, the lifting seat achieves horizontal position adjustment by moving the guide rail slider along the ground guide rail, and achieves height adjustment by driving the spindle support bearing to rise and fall along the linear guide rail by the height adjustment T-shaped screw. The two-stage adjustment works together to achieve high-precision alignment with the chuck on the active rotating support.

[0020] 3. The three lifting seats in this invention are spaced apart along the axial direction and perform different functions: the first lifting seat is used for initial support and safety protection after installation; the second lifting seat is used to support the tail support shaft and finely adjust the tail level; and the third lifting seat is used for tail end support and adjustment to maintain a 3mm gap with the bottom surface of the core mold. This standardizes the hoisting, centering, clamping, and leveling process of heavy core molds, significantly improving installation efficiency and accuracy.

[0021] 4. The lifting seat in this invention adopts a structure of linear guide rail and height adjustment T-shaped lead screw. The mandrel support bearing serves as a support component, which can be precisely raised and lowered, realizing high-precision and high-stability height fine adjustment of the mandrel.

[0022] 5. The rotating mounting column in this invention is fixedly installed at one end of the base square steel. The base square steel is provided with a ground guide rail, which provides sufficient installation and adjustment space for the three lifting seats, facilitating the installation and disassembly of the core mold.

[0023] 6. The internal shrinkage core mold of this invention integrates a heating module, hydraulic drive, slip ring, etc., which can realize heating and hydraulic control in the rotation state, and meet various needs of composite material molding process.

[0024] 7. The core mold assembly and adjustment method of this invention, through the standardized operation of three lifting platforms, forms a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the hoisting, centering, clamping, and leveling of heavy core molds. Operators can quickly complete the installation without relying on experience. Throughout the installation process, the core mold is always provided with stable support by the lifting platforms or crane, avoiding the swaying risk of the core mold in a suspended state in traditional installation methods, and significantly improving operational safety. At the same time, the division of labor through the second lifting platform for fine-tuning the level, the third lifting platform for setting a 3mm protective gap, and the first lifting platform for setting a safety gap achieves precision and repeatability in core mold assembly and adjustment. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the composite material rotation molding device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the active rotating support of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal shrinkage core mold of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the hinge plate opening and closing component of the inner shrinking core mold of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the core mold assembly and adjustment method of the present invention.

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Active rotating support; 2. Inner shrinking core mold; 11. Rotating mounting column; 12. Hollow rotating platform; 13. Rotating shaft four-jaw chuck; 14. Motor; 15. Motor protective shell; 16. Base square steel; 17. Foot; 18. Guide rail slider; 19. Ground guide rail; 120. Lifting seat; 120a. First lifting seat; 120b. Second lifting seat; 120c. Third lifting seat; 1201. Core shaft support Support; 1202, Linear guide rail; 1203, Height adjustment T-type lead screw; 1204, Mandrel support bearing; 21, Mandrel mold assembly plate; 22, Assembly plate opening and closing components; 221, Linear bearing; 222, Slider; 23, Assembly plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinder; 24, Heating module; 25, Heating circuit; 26, Mandrel mold internal support; 27, Four-jaw chuck clamping shaft; 28, Slip ring; 29, Hydraulic oil circuit; 210, Tail support shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0027] 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.

[0028] This embodiment uses CF / PPS UD prepreg tape as a typical processing material. This material is a high-performance thermoplastic composite material with a long-term service temperature exceeding 200°C. It can be applied in industries such as aerospace, military, automotive, and marine engineering, and can be formed using processes such as hot pressing, winding (in-situ curing), and automated layup (in-situ curing). This material possesses excellent mechanical properties, low water absorption, high hygrothermal performance, excellent chemical and solvent resistance, good flame retardancy, and indefinite shelf life at room temperature.

[0029] Regarding material quality, prepregs must have uniform resin distribution, parallel and continuous fibers without obvious wrinkles or crossings, and a surface free of foreign matter. Permissible defects include: fiber gaps not exceeding 250mm in length and 1.2mm in width, cleaned lint marks, and lint clumps not exceeding 0.1mm in thickness and smaller than 3cm² in size. Prepregs must include defect markings indicating the type of defect; defective portions are not included in the delivery quantity.

[0030] The performance parameters of CF / PPS resin are as follows: resin density 1.33 g / cm³, glass transition temperature Tg 90℃, melting temperature Tm 280℃, molding temperature Tp range 320-350℃, flexural strength 145 MPa, flexural modulus 4 GPa. The carbon fiber is T700 grade or equivalent, with a tensile strength of 4900 MPa, tensile modulus of 230 GPa, elongation 2.0%, and density 1.8 g / cm³. The prepreg has a fiber areal density of 145 g / m² (customizable to 80-200 gsm), a prepreg areal density of 220 g / m², a resin mass content of 34% ± 3% (customizable to 30-60%), a single-layer thickness (after molding) of approximately 0.135 mm, a laminate density of 1.57 g / cm³, a width of 6.35-300 mm (customizable), and a length greater than 100 meters (maximum 600 meters / roll). Regarding the mechanical properties of the laminate (room temperature dry RTD), the 0° tensile strength measured according to ASTM D3039 is 2150 MPa and the 0° tensile modulus is 125 GPa; the 0° compressive strength measured according to ASTM D6641 is 1150 MPa and the 0° compressive modulus is 115 GPa; and the short beam shear strength measured according to ASTM D2344 is 85 MPa.

[0031] Regarding the applicable processes for materials, the molding pressure for compression molding and continuous compression molding is preferably 30-50 bar, which can be adjusted according to the thickness of the sheet material; in-situ curing can be used for winding / high-tension winding processes; in-situ curing can be used for automatic lay-up processes, or post-curing can be done in an autoclave.

[0032] Please see Figures 1-3 This embodiment provides the following technical solution: like Figure 1 As shown, a composite material rotary molding device of the present invention includes: an active rotary support 1 and an inner shrinking mandrel 2. The inner shrinking mandrel 2 can be fixedly installed on the active rotary support 1.

[0033] like Figure 1-2 As shown, the active rotating support 1 includes: a rotating mounting column 11, a hollow rotating platform 12, a rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13, a motor 14, a motor protective shell 15, a base square steel 16, a foot 17, a guide rail slider 18, a ground guide rail 19, and a lifting seat 120.

[0034] In this embodiment, the rotating mounting column 11 serves as the core support structure of the active rotating support, fixedly mounted on one end of the base square steel 16 to support the hollow rotating platform 12. The rotating mounting column 11 remains stationary, providing a stable support foundation for the entire device. The hollow rotating platform 12 is mounted on the rotating mounting column 11 and driven by the motor 14, providing high-precision rotational output. The hollow rotating platform 12 preferably uses high-rigidity crossed roller bearings as support elements, with an output end face runout ≤0.01mm, repeatability ≤±0.01°, and a hollow aperture of not less than 50mm for threading hydraulic lines and cables to achieve power and signal transmission during rotation. A four-jaw chuck 13 is mounted on the output end of the hollow rotating platform 12 to clamp the shaft 27 of the inner core mold 2. The motor 14 is mounted inside the motor protective housing 15 and connected to the hollow rotating platform 12, providing rotational power. The motor protective housing 15 covers the outside of the motor 14 for protection. The base square steel 16 serves as the base of the active rotating support 1, and is installed on the foundation. It has feet 17 at the bottom for leveling. The guide rail slider 18 is mounted on the ground guide rail 19 and can move along it. The lifting seat 120 is fixedly mounted on the guide rail slider 18. The ground guide rail 19 is located on the upper surface of the base square steel 16, extends axially along the active rotating support, and is located on one side of the rotating mounting column 11.

[0035] In this embodiment, the lifting seat 120 includes a first lifting seat 120a, a second lifting seat 120b, and a third lifting seat 120c. These three lifting seats are spaced apart along the axial direction of the active rotating support 1 and each performs a different function: the first lifting seat provides initial support and safety protection after installation; the second lifting seat supports the tail support shaft and finely adjusts the tail's horizontal position; and the third lifting seat supports the tail end and adjusts it to maintain a 3mm gap with the bottom surface of the core mold. This standardizes the hoisting, centering, clamping, and leveling process of the heavy core mold, significantly improving installation efficiency and accuracy. Each lifting seat 120 has the same precision structure, including: a core shaft support seat 1201, a linear guide rail 1202, a height-adjusting T-shaped lead screw 1203, and a core shaft support bearing 1204. The core shaft support seat 1201 serves as the base of the lifting seat and is fixedly installed on the guide rail slider 18. The horizontal position of the lifting seat 120 is adjusted by moving the guide rail slider 18 along the ground guide rail 19. A linear guide rail 1202 is mounted on the mandrel support 1201 and extends vertically, providing high-precision guidance for lifting and lowering movements. A height-adjusting T-screw 1203 is mounted on the linear guide rail 1202 and achieves lifting and lowering adjustment via threaded transmission. A mandrel support bearing 1204 is connected to the top of the height-adjusting T-screw 1203 and is used to support the inner mandrel during mandrel installation and disassembly. The mandrel support bearing 1204 is a high-precision bearing capable of withstanding radial and axial loads, ensuring the stability and accuracy of the support for the inner mandrel.

[0036] This invention uses a height-adjustable T-shaped lead screw 1203 to drive the mandrel support bearing 1204 to precisely rise and fall along the linear guide rail 1202, thereby achieving height adjustment of the lifting seat 120. The linear guide rail 1202 ensures the verticality and stability of the lifting motion, enabling high-precision and high-stability fine-tuning of the mandrel.

[0037] The present invention achieves precise adjustment of the spatial position of the lifting seat through the above-mentioned two-stage adjustment mechanism: the guide rail slider 18 moves along the ground guide rail 19 to adjust the horizontal position, and the height adjustment T-shaped lead screw 1203 drives the mandrel support bearing 1204 to rise and fall along the linear guide rail 1202 to adjust the height. This facilitates high-precision alignment with the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13 fixed on one end of the square steel base, while ensuring stable support for the mandrel.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the inner core mold 2 includes: a core mold assembly plate 21, an assembly plate opening and closing component 22, an assembly plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinder 23, a heating module 24, a heating circuit 25, an internal support for the core mold 26, a four-jaw chuck clamping shaft 27, a slip ring 28, a hydraulic oil circuit 29, and a tail support shaft 210.

[0039] In this embodiment, there are four core mold plates 21. The core mold body is formed by circumferentially splicing the four core mold plates 21 to form a complete cylindrical working surface. The outer surface of each core mold plate 21 is the forming surface, and the inner surface is connected to the driving mechanism.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, the panel opening and closing component 22 includes a linear bearing 221 and a slider 222. The linear bearing 221 is fixed on the internal support 26 of the core mold, and the slider 222 is connected to the inner wall of the four core mold panels 21 to guide the core mold panels 21 to move radially in a linear fashion. The linear bearing 221 and the slider 222 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the core mold, with a spacing of 500-1000mm between adjacent guide mechanisms, a guiding accuracy of ±0.05mm, and the ability to withstand a radial load of not less than 50kN. The surface of the guide mechanism is hardened to a hardness of not less than HRC55 to ensure wear resistance during long-term use.

[0041] The hydraulic cylinders 23 for opening and closing the core mold plates consist of multiple hydraulic cylinders distributed axially along the core mold body. The cylinder bodies are hinged to the internal supports 26 of the core mold, and their piston rods are bolted to the inner walls of each core mold plate 21. Each core mold plate 21 is equipped with 3-5 hydraulic cylinders 23. The stroke of each hydraulic cylinder is 20-50 mm, the rated working pressure is 16 MPa, and the cylinder diameter is 40-80 mm. All the hydraulic cylinders 23 are connected through a hydraulic synchronization circuit. A flow divider / combiner valve or a proportional servo valve is used to achieve synchronous control of the multiple cylinders, with a synchronization accuracy of ≤±0.5 mm, ensuring that the four core mold plates 21 maintain a uniform gap during opening and closing. When the hydraulic cylinders extend or retract, they drive the connected core mold plates 21 to move radially synchronously. This invention drives the four core mold plates to retract radially synchronously through the hydraulic cylinders 23, achieving overall core mold diameter reduction, completely solving the demolding problem of large composite material components and protecting the components and mold from damage.

[0042] Heating module 24 is installed on the inner wall of mandrel assembly plate 21 to heat the inner shrinkage mandrel assembly plate 21 to meet the temperature requirements of the composite material molding process. The heating module 24 preferably uses an electric heating tube or a cast copper heating plate, with a heating power density of 2-5 W / cm², a heating temperature range of room temperature to 250℃, a temperature control accuracy of ±2℃, and an adjustable heating rate of 1-10℃ / min. The heating module 24 is independently controlled in segments along the mandrel axis, and the temperature can be set in sections according to process requirements to adapt to the molding temperature requirements of different composite materials (such as CF / PPS, CF / PEEK, CF / PEKK).

[0043] Heating circuit 25 connects heating module 24 and slip ring 28 for power transmission. Internal support 26 forms a rigid frame within the core mold, providing a mounting base for various components. Four-jaw chuck clamping shaft 27, a precision-machined journal, is located at one end of the inward-shrinking core mold 2 and connects to the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13. Slip ring 28 is installed at the end of the inward-shrinking core mold 2, including a rotor end and a stator end. The rotor end connects to heating circuit 25, and the stator end connects to an external power source to achieve power transmission during rotation. The slip ring 28 is an electro-hydraulic combined slip ring, integrating the functions of a conductive slip ring and a hydraulic rotary joint. It has at least 8 power channels (rated current 10A / channel) and 2 hydraulic channels (rated pressure 16MPa) to achieve synchronous power and hydraulic transmission during rotation. The slip ring 28 has a rotational speed range of 0-100rpm, meeting the speed requirements of the core mold winding process.

[0044] Hydraulic circuit 29 is connected to hydraulic cylinder 23 for opening and closing the plate, and is used to provide hydraulic power. Tail support shaft 210 is located at the other end of inner core mold 2. It is a precision-machined journal and is used to cooperate with the core shaft support bearing 1204 of the second lifting seat 120b for support.

[0045] The tail support shaft 210 has a diameter of 80-150mm, a surface roughness Ra≤0.8μm, and a hardness of not less than HRC50. The fit clearance between the tail support shaft 210 and the mandrel support bearing 1204 is 0.01-0.05mm, which ensures stable support at the tail end of the mandrel while allowing the mandrel to freely expand and contract axially during thermal expansion, thus avoiding damage to the mandrel and bearing caused by thermal stress.

[0046] In this invention, the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft 27 of the inner shrinking core mold 2 is inserted into the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13 and clamped, then driven to rotate by the active rotating support. In the mold-closed state, the four core mold plates 21 are in the expanded position, forming a complete molding cylinder surface. When demolding is required, the plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinder 23 retracts, driving all core mold plates 21 to synchronously retract radially along the plate opening and closing component 22, reducing the overall diameter of the core mold and thus separating it from the molded component. The inner shrinking core mold 2 of this invention integrates a heating module, hydraulic drive, slip ring, etc., enabling heating and hydraulic control during rotation, meeting various needs of composite material molding processes.

[0047] like Figure 5 As shown, according to the above technical solution, this embodiment provides a core mold assembly and adjustment method using the aforementioned device, employing a first lifting seat 120a, a second lifting seat 120b, and a third lifting seat 120c in conjunction with hoisting equipment. Each lifting seat has the same precision structure, including a mandrel support seat 1201, a linear guide rail 1202, a height-adjusting T-shaped lead screw 1203, and a mandrel support bearing 1204. The installation steps for the inner shrinkage core mold 2 are as follows: Step S1, Installation Preparation: Install lifting rings in the threaded holes of the lifting rings at both ends of the inner core mold 2, and use a crane to hook the lifting rings to lift the core mold so that the core mold is in a horizontal suspended state.

[0048] Step S2, Initial Support and Alignment: Raise the first lifting seat 120a, supporting the middle of the inner core mold 2 via the mandrel support bearing 1204 at its top. Precisely adjust the horizontal position of the first lifting seat 120a by moving the guide rail slider 18 along the ground guide rail 19, aligning the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft 27 of the inner core mold 2 with the center of the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13 fixed to the rotating mounting column 11 at one end of the base square steel 16. At this time, the crane still bears the main weight, while the first lifting seat 120a provides auxiliary support and guidance.

[0049] Step S3, Core Mold Installation: Slowly push the first lifting seat 120a (moving along the ground guide rail 19 via the guide rail slider 18) towards the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13, gradually installing the four-jaw chuck holding shaft 27 into the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13. During the installation process, the core shaft support bearing 1204 of the first lifting seat 120a maintains stable support for the core mold. After the four-jaw chuck holding shaft 27 is fully inserted into the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13, tighten the clamping bolts on the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13 to clamp and fix the inner core mold 2.

[0050] Step S4, Multi-support Switching: After clamping confirmation, slowly release the crane to gradually unload it. During the unloading process, raise the second lifting seat 120b, supporting the tail support shaft 210 of the core mold via its top mandrel support bearing 1204; raise the third lifting seat 120c, supporting the tail of the core mold via its top mandrel support bearing 1204. After the crane is completely unloaded, remove it. Then release and lower the first lifting seat 120a, causing the mandrel support bearing 1204 of the first lifting seat 120a to detach from the core mold, completing the support switching. At this time, the core mold is supported by the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck 13, the second lifting seat 120b, and the third lifting seat 120c.

[0051] Step S5, Horizontal Fine Adjustment: Place high-precision levels at at least three equally spaced axial positions on the front, middle, and rear of the core mold's outer surface. Observe the horizontal readings at each position. Adjust the height of the mandrel support bearing 1204 precisely along the linear guide 1202 using the height adjustment T-screw 1203 of the second lifting seat 120b, thereby raising and lowering the tail end of the inner shrinking core mold 2, ensuring the inner shrinking core mold 2 is horizontal throughout its entire length. During adjustment, the linear guide 1202 ensures the verticality and stability of the lifting motion. Simultaneously, by rotating the height adjustment T-screw 1203 of the third lifting seat 120c, precisely adjust the height of its mandrel support bearing 1204, maintaining a precise 3mm gap between it and the bottom surface of the inner shrinking core mold 2 as a protective gap to prevent accidental downward deflection of the inner shrinking core mold 2.

[0052] Step S6: Complete Installation: After finding the level, adjust the height of the mandrel support bearing 1204 by rotating the height adjustment T-screw 1203 of the first lifting seat 120a to maintain a preset safety gap (usually 5-10mm) between it and the bottom surface of the inner shrinking mandrel 2, serving as a backup support point. Then remove the lifting rings at both ends of the inner shrinking mandrel 2, and the installation of the inner shrinking mandrel 2 is complete.

[0053] Before the winding process begins, pressurized oil is introduced into the rodless chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 23 for opening and closing the core mold through the hydraulic system. The piston rod extends and pushes each core mold plate 21 to move radially outward along the guide mechanism of the opening and closing component 22 of the core mold through the linkage mechanism, so that the overall diameter of the core mold is expanded to the working size (e.g., 400mm). At this time, the splicing gap between each core mold plate 21 is less than 0.1mm, forming a complete cylindrical working surface and completing the mold closing operation.

[0054] After the winding molding is completed, once the component has cooled to the set temperature (e.g., CF / PPS materials need to be cooled to below 90℃), pressurized oil is introduced into the rod chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 23 for opening and closing the core mold through the hydraulic system. The piston rod retracts, and through the linkage mechanism, each core mold plate 21 is pulled radially towards the center of the core mold along the guide mechanism of the core mold opening and closing component 22, reducing the overall diameter of the core mold (the diameter reduction can reach 10-30mm), thereby separating it from the molded composite material component and completing the demolding operation. After demolding, the component is intact, and the core mold can be reused.

[0055] When it is necessary to disassemble the inner shrink core mold 2, the disassembly steps are as follows: Step S7: Raise the first lifting seat 120a, support the inner shrinking core mold 2 through its spindle support bearing 1204, reinstall the lifting ring, hook the lifting ring with a crane and slightly tension it; Step S8: Release the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft 13, and push the first lifting seat 120a (moving along the ground guide rail 19 via the guide rail slider 18) to move away from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft 13, so that the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft 27 of the inner shrinking core mold 2 is disengaged from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft 13. Step S9: Slowly raise the crane to remove the inner shrinking core mold 2 from the active rotating support 1 area, and then slowly place it on the ground. Place a pad under the inner shrinking core mold 2 to prevent it from rolling. Release the crane to complete the disassembly.

[0056] The composite material rotary molding device and its mandrel assembly and adjustment method of this invention were used to conduct mandrel installation and leveling experiments. CF / PPS material was used for winding molding. The key process parameters are as follows: mandrel heating temperature set at 320-340℃, winding tension controlled at 50-150N, winding speed at 5-15m / min, compaction pressure at 0.3-0.5MPa, and the component was demolded after cooling to below 90℃. The results show that the installation time is shortened from the traditional 2-3 hours to less than 40 minutes; the mandrel levelness can reach within 0.25mm / m; and the coaxiality of the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft and the rotating shaft can reach within 0.2mm. The manufactured CF / PPS composite material components were tested and found to have an interlayer porosity of less than 2% and a short beam shear strength of over 85MPa, meeting the requirements for thermoplastic composite material components in the aerospace and automotive industries.

[0057] The three lifting seats of this invention achieve high-precision alignment with the chuck on the rotating mounting column fixed to one end of the square steel base through independent horizontal and vertical adjustments. The second lifting seat 120b serves as the main support for horizontal fine-tuning, the third lifting seat 120c maintains a precise 3mm protective gap, and the first lifting seat 120a has a safety gap set after installation. The division of labor is clear and the operation is standardized.

[0058] The linear guide structure of this invention ensures the stability and repeatability of the mandrel support bearing's lifting and lowering. The layout of the rotating mounting column fixed to one end of the base square steel provides ample adjustment space for the three lifting seats to move along the ground guide rail, facilitating operation. No manual climbing or adjustment is required throughout the installation process, significantly improving safety. During demolding, the mandrel shrinks smoothly, leaving the components intact.

[0059] In summary, this invention, through its internally retractable core mold design, three-stage precision adjustment mechanism with three lifting seats, and standardized assembly and adjustment method, enables rapid, precise, and safe installation and disassembly of core molds for large composite material components (especially thermoplastic materials such as CF / PPS).

[0060] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A composite material rotary molding device, characterized in that: include: An active rotating support (1) and an inner shrinking core mold (2), wherein the inner shrinking core mold (2) is fixedly installed on the active rotating support (1); The active rotating support (1) is provided with a lifting seat (120) that can adjust the horizontal and vertical positions, which is used to support the inner shrinking core mold (2) and make fine adjustments to the height during the installation and disassembly of the core mold; The inner shrinking core mold (2) includes: a core mold assembly plate (21) and an assembly plate opening and closing component (22); the core mold body of the inner shrinking core mold (2) is formed by circumferential splicing of several core mold assembly plates (21) to form a complete cylindrical working surface; the assembly plate opening and closing component (22) is used to guide the core mold assembly plate (21) to move radially in a straight line.

2. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting seat (120) includes: a spindle support seat (1201), a linear guide rail (1202), a height adjustment T-shaped lead screw (1203), and a spindle support bearing (1204). The spindle support seat (1201) is provided with a linear guide rail (1202), and a height adjustment T-shaped lead screw (1203) is installed on the linear guide rail (1202). The top end of the height adjustment T-shaped lead screw (1203) is fixedly installed with a spindle support bearing (1204). The height position of the lifting seat (120) is adjusted by driving the spindle support bearing (1204) to rise and fall along the linear guide rail (1202) through the height adjustment T-shaped lead screw (1203).

3. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lifting seat (120) includes a first lifting seat (120a), a second lifting seat (120b) and a third lifting seat (120c) spaced apart along the axial direction of the active rotating support (1). The first lifting seat (120a), the second lifting seat (120b) and the third lifting seat (120c) are all fixedly installed on the guide rail slider (18). The guide rail slider (18) moves along the ground guide rail (19) to achieve independent adjustment of their respective horizontal positions. The spindle support bearing (1204) of the first lifting seat (120a) is used to support the middle part of the inner shrinking core mold (2) during the initial support stage of the inner shrinking core mold (2), and to adjust it to maintain a preset safe gap with the bottom surface of the inner shrinking core mold (2) after the inner shrinking core mold (2) is installed. The spindle support bearing (1204) of the second lifting seat (120b) is used to support the tail support shaft (210) and perform horizontal fine adjustment of the tail of the inner shrinking core mold (2) during the horizontal fine adjustment process; The spindle support bearing (1204) of the third lifting seat (120c) is used to support the tail end of the inner shrinking core mold (2) during the horizontal fine adjustment of the inner shrinking core mold (2) and adjust it to maintain a distance of 3mm from the bottom surface of the inner shrinking core mold (2).

4. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The active rotating support (1) includes: a rotating mounting column (11), a base square steel (16), a foot (17), a guide rail slider (18), and a ground guide rail (19); the active rotating support (1) is installed on the foundation through the base square steel (16), and the bottom of the base square steel (16) is provided with a foot (17) for leveling; the rotating mounting column (11) is fixedly installed at one end of the base square steel (16); the base square steel (16) is provided with a ground guide rail (19), the ground guide rail (19) is provided with a guide rail slider (18) that cooperates with it, and a lifting seat (120) is fixedly installed on the guide rail slider (18). The horizontal position of the lifting seat (120) is adjusted by moving the guide rail slider (18) along the ground guide rail (19).

5. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The active rotating support (1) further includes: a hollow rotating platform (12), a rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13), a motor (14), and a motor protective shell (15); the hollow rotating platform (12) is installed on the rotating mounting column (11) and driven by the motor (14); the motor (14) is installed inside the motor protective shell (15) and connected to the hollow rotating platform (12); the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13) is installed at the output end of the hollow rotating platform (12).

6. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner core mold (2) further includes: a plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinder (23) and a core mold internal support (26). The core mold internal support (26) forms a rigid frame inside the core mold, providing an installation base for each component. The plate opening and closing component (22) includes a linear bearing (221) and a slider (222). The linear bearing (221) is fixed on the core mold internal support (26), and the slider (222) is connected to the inner wall of each core mold plate (21). The cylinder body of the plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinder (23) is hinged to the core mold internal support (26), and its piston rod is connected to the inner wall of each core mold plate (21) through a linkage mechanism. Multiple plate opening and closing hydraulic cylinders (23) are distributed along the core mold axis to synchronously drive all core mold plates (21) to move radially.

7. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner shrinking core mold (2) further includes: a four-jaw chuck clamping shaft (27) and a tail support shaft (210). The four-jaw chuck clamping shaft (27) is located at one end of the inner shrinking core mold (2) and is used to connect with the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13). The tail support shaft (210) is located at the other end of the inner shrinking core mold (2) and is used to cooperate with the core shaft support bearing (1204) of the second lifting seat (120b) for support.

8. The composite material rotary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner shrinking core mold (2) further includes: a heating module (24), a heating circuit (25), a slip ring (28), and a hydraulic circuit (29). The slip ring (28) is installed at the end of the inner shrinking core mold (2). The slip ring (28) includes a rotor end and a stator end. The rotor end is electrically connected to the heating module (24), and the stator end is used to connect to an external power source. The heating circuit (25) connects the slip ring (28) and the heating module (24). The hydraulic circuit (29) is connected to the opening and closing hydraulic cylinder (23) of the closing plate and is used to provide hydraulic power.

9. A method for adjusting a core mold for use in the rotary molding apparatus for composite materials according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: The first lifting seat (120a), the second lifting seat (120b), and the third lifting seat (120c) are used in conjunction with the hoisting equipment. Each lifting seat includes a mandrel support seat (1201), a linear guide rail (1202), a height adjustment T-screw (1203), and a mandrel support bearing (1204). The installation steps of the inner shrinkage mandrel (2) are as follows: Step S1, Installation preparation: Install lifting rings in the threaded holes of the lifting rings at both ends of the inner shrink core mold (2), and use a crane to hook the lifting rings to lift the core mold; Step S2, Initial support and alignment: Raise the first lifting seat (120a) and support the middle part of the inner shrinking core mold (2) through its core shaft support bearing (1204). Adjust the horizontal position of the first lifting seat (120a) by moving the guide rail slider (18) along the ground guide rail (19) so that the four-jaw chuck clamping shaft (27) of the inner shrinking core mold (2) is aligned with the center of the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13); Step S3, core mold loading: Push the first lifting seat (120a) to move towards the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13), load the four-jaw chuck holding shaft (27) into the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13), and tighten the rotating shaft four-jaw chuck (13) to clamp the inner core mold (2). Step S4, Multi-support switching: After clamping, release the crane and move it away. Raise the second lifting seat (120b) and support the tail support shaft (210) through its spindle support bearing (1204). Raise the third lifting seat (120c) and support the tail of the inner shrinking core mold (2) through its spindle support bearing (1204). Then release and lower the first lifting seat (120a). Step S5, Horizontal fine adjustment: Place a level at least three positions at the front, middle and rear of the outer surface of the core mold. Use the height adjustment T-screw (1203) of the second lifting seat (120b) to raise and lower the mandrel support bearing (1204) along the linear guide rail (1202), thereby raising and lowering the tail end of the inner shrinking core mold (2) so that the inner shrinking core mold (2) reaches a horizontal state throughout its entire length. At the same time, adjust the height adjustment T-screw (1203) of the third lifting seat (120c) so that the mandrel support bearing (1204) and the bottom surface of the inner shrinking core mold (2) maintain a distance of 3mm. Step S6: Complete the installation: After finding the level, adjust the height adjustment T-shaped screw (1203) of the first lifting seat (120a) so that the mandrel support bearing (1204) and the bottom surface of the inner shrinking mandrel (2) maintain a preset safety gap. Then remove the lifting ring and the inner shrinking mandrel (2) is installed.

10. The core mold assembly and adjustment method of the composite material rotary molding device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The disassembly steps of the inner core mold (2) are as follows: Step S7: Raise the first lifting seat (120a), support the inner shrinking core mold (2) through its spindle support bearing (1204), install the lifting ring, and use a crane to hook up the lifting ring; Step S8: Release the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft (13), push the first lifting seat (120a) to move away from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft (13), so that the inner shrinking core mold (2) is disengaged from the four-jaw chuck of the rotating shaft (13). Step S9: Raise the crane, slowly place the inner shrink core mold (2) on the ground, insert a pad to prevent the inner shrink core mold (2) from rolling, release the crane, and disassembly is complete.

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