Helicopter pendulum damper bearing replacement apparatus and method

Abstract

The application discloses a helicopter anti-sway bearing replacement device and method, and relates to the technical field of helicopter maintenance. The replacement device comprises a trimming mechanism, a pressing mechanism, a rolling mechanism, a manual operation position, a heating assembly and a rotating workbench. The trimming mechanism is used for trimming the flange of the old bearing, the pressing mechanism is used for pressing out the old bearing and pressing in the new bearing, the rolling mechanism is used for flange operation of the new bearing, and the manual operation position is used for rust removal, cleaning, inspection and replacement clamp operation. The heating assembly is used for heating the anti-sway rod end bushing. The rotating workbench is used for driving the anti-sway device to rotate and switch positions between the mechanisms. The bearing replacement device of the technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can replace manual trimming, pressing out, pressing in and rolling edge automatic operation, and simultaneously solves the problems of low efficiency, long time consumption and inability to achieve uniform effect in manual bearing replacement, and has the advantages of high reliability and high efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of helicopter maintenance technology, and more specifically to a device and method for replacing the bearing of a helicopter sway damper. Background Technology

[0002] Helicopters, as an important component of the modern air transport system, are widely used in critical areas such as emergency rescue, personnel transport, and logistics. Dampers are indispensable key safety components for helicopters, and there are two main types: rotor dampers and landing gear dampers. Rotor dampers act as "stabilizers" for the rotor, absorbing the lateral yaw generated during high-speed rotor rotation, reducing the impact load at the rotor root, preventing rotor damage or breakage, and ensuring rotor safety and stability. Landing gear dampers act as "shock absorbers" for the landing gear, ensuring directional stability during ground taxiing and preventing nose wheel yaw.

[0003] According to internationally accepted helicopter maintenance standards, sway damper bearings must be replaced after reaching a certain cumulative flight time threshold, or as needed depending on the extent of damage, to maintain the system's safe operation. The inventor, responsible for the routine maintenance of S-92 helicopters, learned that previously, when helicopter sway damper bearings reached the replacement standard, they had to be sent to foreign helicopter manufacturers for replacement. This was not only extremely expensive, but also typically involved repairs lasting more than six months. This resulted in high component repair costs and difficulties in component circulation due to the long repair cycles, leading to increased unplanned helicopter downtime and significantly impacting operations. Component issues affect helicopter availability, and the high maintenance costs, coupled with disruptions to production operations, lead to decreased revenue—a significant pain point for general aviation companies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, the purpose of this application is to provide a helicopter sway reducer bearing replacement device and method to improve the sway reducer bearing replacement efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device, which includes a cutting mechanism, a pressing mechanism, a rolling mechanism, a manual operation position, a heating assembly, and a rotating table. The cutting mechanism clamps both sides of the old bearing with a cutting assembly and rotates the cutting assembly to cut off a flange on one side of the old bearing. The pressing mechanism presses out the old bearing with at least one flange removed using a pressing assembly. The pressing mechanism also clamps a new bearing with a pressing assembly and presses the new bearing into the rod end bushing at one end of the sway damper using the pressing assembly. The rolling mechanism clamps both sides of the new bearing with a rolling assembly and rotates the rolling assembly. The mechanism is designed to fold the outer edge of the new bearing; the manual operation position is used to remove rust, clean, inspect, replace components, and install the new bearing with the press-fit component on the surface of the rod end bushing of the damper after the old bearing has been removed; the heating component is located in the manual operation position and is used to heat the rod end bushing of the damper with the old bearing removed at one end; the manual operation position, the trimming mechanism, the rolling mechanism, and the pressing mechanism are distributed around the rotary table. The rotary table is used to clamp the damper and drive the damper to rotate horizontally, so as to drive the rod end of the damper with the bearing to be replaced to switch positions between the manual operation position, the trimming mechanism, the rolling mechanism, and the pressing mechanism.

[0006] In one embodiment, the edge-cutting mechanism includes a first upper rotating head and a first lower rotating head. The first upper rotating head clamps the upper end of the cutter assembly from top to bottom, and the first lower rotating head clamps the lower end of the cutter assembly from bottom to top. The first upper rotating head and the first lower rotating head synchronously drive the cutter assembly to rotate for edge cutting.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cutter assembly includes a cutter ring, a cutter positioning ring, and a cutting screw. When the cutter assembly clamps both sides of the old bearing, the cutter ring is attached to the upper part of the old bearing and the cutter head of the cutter ring abuts against the flange on the upper part of the old bearing. The cutter positioning ring is attached to the lower part of the old bearing. The cutting screw passes through the cutter positioning ring, the old bearing, and the cutter ring and clamps the three together coaxially.

[0008] In one embodiment, the pressing mechanism includes a pressing head located above and a receiving cylinder located below. The inner diameter of the receiving cylinder is not less than the outer diameter of the old bearing. When pressing out the old bearing, the rod end of the damper is attached to the top of the receiving cylinder and the old bearing is aligned with the receiving cylinder. The pressing head is driven by the pressing power source to press down the pressing assembly to press the old bearing out of the rod end bushing. When pressing in the new bearing, the rod end of the damper is attached to the top of the receiving cylinder and the new bearing is aligned with the receiving cylinder. The pressing head is driven by the pressing power source to press down the pressing assembly and the new bearing to press the new bearing into the rod end bushing.

[0009] In one embodiment, the pressing assembly includes a lower pressing cylinder and a positioning rod. When pressing out the old bearing, the lower pressing cylinder is attached to the old bearing, and the positioning rod passes through the lower pressing cylinder and the old bearing. The outer wall of the lower pressing cylinder is provided with a convex ring. The distance from the convex ring to the bottom end of the lower pressing cylinder is greater than the width of the old bearing, and the outer diameter of the convex ring is greater than the outer diameter of the old bearing.

[0010] In one embodiment, the pressing assembly includes an upper pressing block, a guide, and a pressing screw. When pressing in a new bearing, the upper pressing block abuts against the top of the new bearing, the guide fits against the bottom of the new bearing, and the pressing screw passes through the upper pressing block, the guide, and the new bearing to clamp them coaxially. The outer diameter of the upper pressing block is larger than the outer diameter of the rod end bushing, and the outer diameter of the guide is smaller than the inner diameter of the rod end bushing. The guide is used to pass through the rod end bushing to guide the new bearing to be pressed into the rod end bushing.

[0011] In one embodiment, the hemming mechanism includes a second upper rotating head and a second lower rotating head. When hemming the outer edge of a new bearing, the second upper rotating head clamps the upper end of the hemming assembly from top to bottom, and the second lower rotating head clamps the lower end of the hemming assembly from bottom to top. The second upper rotating head and the second lower rotating head synchronously drive the hemming assembly to rotate in order to hemm the outer edge of the new bearing.

[0012] In one embodiment, the hemming assembly includes an upper pressure ring, a pressure positioning ring, and a pressure screw. When the hemming assembly clamps both sides of the new bearing, the upper pressure ring is attached to the upper part of the new bearing and the pressure roller of the upper pressure ring is inclined to abut against the outer edge of the upper part of the new bearing. The pressure positioning ring is attached to the lower part of the new bearing. The pressure screw passes through the pressure positioning ring, the new bearing, and the upper pressure ring and clamps the three coaxially.

[0013] In one embodiment, the rotary table includes a clamping platform, a lifting frame, and a rotary drive component. The clamping platform is used to clamp and fix the sway reducer. The clamping platform is located above the lifting frame, and the lifting frame is used to drive the clamping platform and the sway reducer to move up and down. The rotary drive component is located below the lifting frame and is used to drive the lifting frame and the clamping platform to rotate. The clamping platform is provided with a support plate for placing the sway reducer rod end. The support plate is provided with adjustable clamping blocks on both radial sides of the rod end. The clamping blocks are used to radially clamp the rod end.

[0014] Secondly, this application also provides a method for replacing the bearing of a helicopter gyroscope, which includes the following steps: The oscillation damper is fixed on a rotary table, with the rod end of the oscillation damper and the old bearing in the manual operation position and the central shaft of the old bearing vertical; In the manual operation position, the cutter assembly clamps both sides of the old bearing, and then the rotating table rotates the old bearing to the cutting mechanism. The edge trimming mechanism clamps the cutting blade assembly from above and below and drives the cutting blade assembly to rotate to remove the flange on one side of the old bearing; The rotary table rotates the old bearing to the manual operation position, removes the cutter assembly, and then removes the waste generated from the cutting edge and cleans the rod end and the surface of the old bearing. In the manual operation position, the pressing component is coaxially mounted on the old bearing, and then the rotary table rotates the old bearing to the pressing mechanism; The pressing mechanism applies downward pressure to the pressing assembly until the old bearing is completely detached from the rod end bushing; The rotary table rotates the damper rod end bushing to the manual operation position, removes the pressing component, and performs surface inspection and rust removal on the rod end bushing. Take out the new bearing that has been frozen at low temperature and clamp both sides of the new bearing with the pressing component. At the same time, start the heating component to heat the rod end bushing to the set temperature. Then, the lower end of the pressing component is inserted into the rod end bushing, and the rotating table rotates the rod end bushing to the pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism applies downward pressure to the pressing assembly until the new bearing is fully inserted into the rod end bushing; The rotary table rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the press-fit assembly, and inspects the new bearing and rod end bushing. In the manual operation position, the new bearing is clamped on both sides by the edge rolling assembly, and the rotary table rotates the new bearing to the edge rolling mechanism. The hemming mechanism clamps the hemming assembly from above and below and drives the hemming assembly to rotate to hem the outer edge of the new bearing side. The rotary table rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the flanging assembly, and inspects the new bearing flanging. The sway damper of the rotary table is flipped up and down, and then the two sides of the new bearing are clamped by the edge rolling assembly. The rotary table then rotates the new bearing to the edge rolling mechanism to perform edge rolling on the outer edge of the other side of the new bearing. Finally, the rotary table is rotated to the manual operation position, the edging assembly is removed, and the edging of the new bearing is inspected.

[0015] The bearing replacement equipment of this application embodiment integrates a cutting mechanism, a pressing mechanism, a rolling mechanism, and a rotating table. It can replace manual operation for cutting, pressing out, pressing in, and pressing the bearing. It can solve the problems of low efficiency, long time consumption, and inability to achieve uniform replacement effect when manually replacing bearings, and has the advantages of high reliability and high efficiency.

[0016] Moreover, the bearing replacement equipment and method organically combine automatic and manual operation. After each automatic operation step, the system returns to the manual operation position for manual operations such as cleaning, inspection, and fixture replacement. This semi-automatic replacement method achieves the high efficiency of automatic operation while making full use of the operator's rich experience, ensuring that the entire bearing replacement process complies with the maintenance specifications for helicopter sway damper bearings. This is beneficial to the safety and stability of the sway damper and is crucial for helicopter flight safety.

[0017] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application, it can be implemented according to the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, some embodiments are listed below for detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1A 3D diagram of a helicopter sway reducer.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the helicopter sway reducer.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the replacement equipment assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the cutting mechanism according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the cutting mechanism and rotating table according to an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the cutter assembly and the oscillation damper according to an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the pressing mechanism in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the pressing mechanism, pressing component, and rotating table according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the pressing mechanism, pressing component, and rotating table according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the extrusion assembly and the oscillation damper in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 11 This is an exploded view of the pressing component and the oscillation damper in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of the hemming mechanism according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 13 This is a perspective view of the hemming mechanism and rotating table according to an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 14 This is an exploded view of the hemming assembly and the sway reducer according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 15 This is a cross-sectional view of the sway reducer rod end, the new bearing, and the hemming assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 16 This is an exploded view of the rotary table and the oscillator in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 17 This is a flowchart of the replacement method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] The structures shown in the above views have been appropriately scaled down / enlarged to fit the drawing size and ensure clarity, and there is no limitation on the size of the structures shown in the views. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0037] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification without causing conflict.

[0038] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0039] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0040] Dampers are crucial components for helicopter safety, absorbing the lateral yaw generated when the helicopter rotor rotates at high speeds, ensuring the helicopter's stability and safety. Dampers typically have bearings installed at both ends, which need to be replaced periodically to maintain their proper function. Figure 1 The image shows the yaw damper of the S-92 helicopter. The bearing 901 in the rod end 92 is subjected to alternating torsional and axial impact loads over a long period, operating under harsh conditions and prone to damage. Regular replacement is necessary to ensure the mechanical performance of the yaw damper. Figure 2 As shown Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the rod end 92 and bearing 901 of the oscillating damper. Figure 2 As can be seen, a rod end bushing 923 and a bearing 901 are installed and fixed in the rod end 92. The rod end bushing 923 is fixed in the rod end 92 by adhesive and tight fit. The two annular outer edges 911 (dashed lines) on both sides of the bearing 901 are turned outward to form annular flanges 912, and the flanges are attached to the conical surface 921 of the rod end bushing 923. The bearing 901 and the rod end bushing 923 are tightly fitted together. The fit between the flanges 912 and the conical surface 921 of the rod end bushing 923 also increases the fastening force between the bearing 901 and the rod end bushing 923, making the bearing 901 more stable and able to withstand greater loads.

[0041] Figure 2 When bearing 901 needs to be removed, one side of the flange 912 needs to be cut off first, and then bearing 901 is slowly pressed out. After installing the new bearing, the outer edges 911 on both sides of the new bearing also need to be removed. Figure 2 (The dotted line portion) is pressed outwards so that it is tightly attached to the tapered surfaces 921 on both sides of the rod end bushing 923 to complete the installation of the new bearing.

[0042] The inventors learned in their work that replacing helicopter dynamometer bearings typically relies on manual tools used by the manufacturer's technicians to perform operations such as flanging, cutting, pressing, and pressing the bearings in. This process is complex and time-consuming, leading to extended maintenance cycles and vulnerability to human intervention. Therefore, the inventors researched equipment and methods for replacing helicopter dynamometer bearings. By combining automated operation with the extensive experience of the operators, they improved the efficiency of bearing replacement while ensuring compliance with helicopter dynamometer bearing replacement specifications, thus guaranteeing the safety and stability of helicopter flight.

[0043] One or more embodiments of this application are a helicopter gyroscope bearing replacement device, such as... Figure 3As shown, it includes a trimming mechanism 20, a pressing mechanism 30, a rolling mechanism 40, a manual operation station 50, a heating component 60, and a rotary table 70. The replacement equipment also includes a machine base 10, on which the trimming mechanism 20, pressing mechanism 30, rolling mechanism 40, manual operation station 50, heating component 60, and rotary table 70 are all mounted. The bottom of the machine base 10 can house components such as a power module, main unit, controller, and heat dissipation module. The manual operation station 50 on the machine base 10 is a reserved area for manual operation / inspection, used to perform tasks requiring manual intervention and heating steps. Specifically, the manual operation station 50 is used for rust removal, cleaning, inspection, component replacement, and installation of a new bearing with a press-fit component on the surface of the damper rod end bushing after the old bearing has been removed. This helps ensure that the results of each automated operation step meet relevant specifications.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, the machine 10 is also equipped with a tool rack 11 for placing the required components and tools (such as wrenches), which helps to improve tidiness and prevent components or tools from being lost. As an exemplary implementation, the tool rack 11 is arranged from top to bottom as follows: the first layer is for placing the cutting blade assembly 81, the second layer is for placing the pressing assembly 82, the third layer is for placing the pressing assembly 83, the fourth layer is for placing the hemming assembly 84, and the bottom layer is for placing the wrench tool 85.

[0045] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, the machine tool 10 is also equipped with a refrigerator 12, which is used to freeze and store the new bearing to be installed, so that the new bearing is in a low temperature state. When needed, the new bearing can be taken out quickly, ensuring that the new bearing is kept in a low temperature state during the pressing operation, so as to reduce the pressing resistance.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, the manual operation position 50, the trimming mechanism 20, the hemming mechanism 40, and the pressing mechanism 30 are arranged around the rotary table 70. The rotary table 70 is used to hold the sway reducer and drive it to rotate horizontally, thereby causing the rod end 92 of the sway reducer (and its internal bearing and rod end bushing) to switch positions between the manual operation position 50, the trimming mechanism 20, the hemming mechanism 40, and the pressing mechanism 30. This arrangement helps to reduce the space occupied by the entire machine and facilitates flexible placement of the equipment.

[0047] like Figure 3As shown, during the flanging removal, the cutter assembly 81 clamps both sides of the old bearing 91. Then, the rotating table 70 drives the old bearing 91 to the flanging mechanism 20. The flanging mechanism 20, by clamping both sides of the old bearing 91 with the cutter assembly 81 and rotating the cutter assembly 81, removes a ring of flanging from one side of the old bearing 91, so that the old bearing 91 can be pressed out of the damper rod end bushing later. In practice, when the cutter assembly 81 rotates, only the upper flanging of the old bearing 91 is removed. The removed flanging needs to be cleared in the manual operation position 50, which is beneficial to the stable operation of the entire equipment. Moreover, after the upper flanging of the old bearing 91 is removed, the old bearing 91 can be pressed downwards without needing to remove the lower flanging.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, after the upper flange is removed, the rotary table 70 rotates the old bearing 91 of the oscillator to the manual operation position 50, where surface debris can be cleaned manually. For example, larger debris can be removed first, and smaller debris can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or other power tools. On the other hand, it is necessary to check whether the oscillator was damaged during the trimming process. If damage occurred, it indicates that the trimming rotation may have been excessive, the fixture itself may be faulty, or the trimming mechanism may have a structural problem, requiring machine shutdown and repair. After cleaning and inspection, the pressing assembly 82 is installed on the old bearing 91, and the rotary table 70 rotates the old bearing 91 of the oscillator to the pressing mechanism 30. The pressing mechanism 30 presses out the old bearing 91, which has had at least one flange removed, through the pressing assembly 82. Specifically, the pressing mechanism 30 pushes the pressing assembly 82 downwards using a press, thereby pressing the old bearing 91 downwards until it detaches from the rod end bushing. The pressure changes abruptly the moment the old bearing 91 detaches from the rod end bushing. Therefore, the pressure sensor of the press detects the pressure change to determine whether the old bearing 91 has detached from the rod end bushing.

[0049] After the old bearing 91 is pressed out, the rotary table 70 rotates the damper rod end 92 to the manual operation position 50, removes the pressing assembly 82, and checks for damage to the surface and inner wall of the damper rod end bushing. If the inspection is passed, the installation of the new bearing begins. Figure 3As shown, the heating assembly 60 is located in the manual operation position 50. The heating assembly 60 is used to heat the rod end bushing of the old bearing that has been removed from one end of the damper. The heating assembly 60 includes an upward-pushing cylinder (not shown) and a heating cylinder 61. The heating cylinder 61 has a built-in heating wire. When energized, it can be used to heat the rod end bushing of the old bearing that has been removed. Through the thermal expansion effect, the size of the rod end bushing is expanded, and the inner diameter of the rod end bushing is slightly enlarged, which facilitates the smooth and accurate pressing of the new bearing into place. After the old bearing is removed, the upward-pushing cylinder raises the heating cylinder 61 and passes it through the rod end bushing. After the heating cylinder 61 is energized, it heats the rod end bushing. In practice, the heating temperature setting range for the rod end bushing is 38℃-50℃. The outer diameter of the new bearing, which is frozen at low temperature, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the heated rod end bushing, with a difference of approximately 0.005mm to 0.02mm. The two are in a transition fit to reduce the resistance when the new bearing is pressed in.

[0050] While heating begins, the new bearing, which has been cryogenically frozen (-18°C to -1°C), can be removed from the freezer 12, and the pressing assembly 83 can be used to clamp both sides of the new bearing. Once the temperature detection element (such as a temperature sensor) indicates that the rod end bushing has reached the set temperature range, the lower end of the pressing assembly 83 is inserted into the rod end bushing for centering and guidance. At this time, the coaxiality of the pressing assembly 83, the new bearing, and the rod end bushing is checked to ensure that the subsequent pressing process will not damage the pressing assembly 83, the new bearing, or the rod end bushing, thus ensuring a smooth pressing operation.

[0051] Subsequently, the rotary table 70 rotates the new bearing of the oscillation damper to the pressing mechanism 30. The pressing mechanism 30 clamps the new bearing through the pressing component 83 and presses the new bearing into the rod end bushing at one end of the oscillation damper. Specifically, the pressing mechanism 30 pushes the pressing component 83 and the new bearing downward through a press until the new bearing is completely pressed into the rod end bushing.

[0052] After the new bearing is pressed into the rod end bushing, the rotary table 70 rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position 50, removes the pressing component 83, and checks for damage to the damper, new bearing, rod end bushing, etc. If the inspection is passed, the edging component 84 clamps both sides of the new bearing. The rotary table 70 rotates the damper and new bearing to the edging mechanism 40, and then the edging mechanism 40 clamps both sides of the new bearing through the edging component 84. The edging component 84 is rotated to enlarge and fold one outer edge of the new bearing. After folding, the rotary table 70 rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position 50, removes the edging component 84, checks the pressing effect, and if the inspection is passed, the damper is flipped over, and the edging component 84 is clamped between both sides of the new bearing again. Finally, the other side of the new bearing is folded.

[0053] After two flanging operations, the rotary table 70 moves the new bearing to the manual operation position 50 to check if the flanging quality meets the requirements. If the inspection passes, an axial load test is performed on the new bearing using the pressing mechanism 30 and the pressing assembly 82 to verify if the load capacity of the new bearing meets the specifications. During the axial load test, the pressing assembly 82 is installed on the new bearing, and the rotary table 70 moves the new bearing and the pressing assembly 82 to the pressing mechanism 30. The pressing mechanism 30 then applies 2 tons of pressure to the pressing assembly 82 and the new bearing using a press, holds the maximum pressure for 5 seconds, and then releases the pressure. The rotary table 70 then moves the new bearing and the pressing assembly 82 to the manual operation position, removes the pressing assembly 82, and finally checks if the installation of the new bearing meets the requirements, such as whether there are any gaps or misalignments. If the inspection passes, the replacement of the damper bearing is complete.

[0054] Therefore, the bearing replacement equipment in this embodiment integrates a trimming mechanism 20, a pressing mechanism 30, a rolling mechanism 40, and a rotating table 70. It can automatically replace manual operations for trimming, pressing out, pressing in, and rolling (flipping), solving the problems of low efficiency and long time consumption in manual bearing replacement and improving bearing replacement efficiency. Furthermore, the bearing replacement equipment organically combines automatic and manual operations. After each automatic operation step, it returns to the manual operation position for cleaning, inspection, fixture replacement, heating, and new bearing installation. This semi-automatic replacement method achieves the high efficiency of automatic operation while fully utilizing the operator's rich experience, ensuring that the entire bearing replacement process complies with helicopter sway damper bearing maintenance specifications. This guarantees the safety and stability of the sway damper, which is crucial for ensuring helicopter flight safety.

[0055] In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the cutting mechanism 20 includes a first upper rotating head 21 and a first lower rotating head 22. The first upper rotating head 21 is driven to rotate by a first upper motor 23. The first upper rotating head 21 and the first upper motor 23 are fixed to a first upper sliding frame 25, which is slidably connected to the first upright plates 29 on both sides. The first upper cylinder 26 drives the first upper sliding frame 25, the first upper motor 23, and the first upper rotating head 21 to move up and down. The first upper rotating head 21 ensures that the upper end of the cutting blade assembly is firmly clamped and participates in synchronous rotation to ensure the stability of the cutting process. The first lower rotating head 22 cooperates with the first upper rotating head 21, applying a clamping force to the cutting blade assembly from below and providing rotational drive. The first lower rotating head 22 is driven to rotate by a first lower motor 24 via a belt. The first lower rotating head 22 and the first lower motor 24 are fixed on the first lower sliding frame 27, which is slidably connected to the first upright plates 29 on both sides. The first lower cylinder 28 drives the first lower sliding frame 27, the first lower rotating head 22, and the first lower motor 24 to move up and down. In addition, the first upper rotating head 21 and the first lower rotating head 22 are each provided with a first spring buffer 201 for slow contact with the cutter assembly to reduce the impact force on the cutter assembly and the anti-slip device. Furthermore, the first upper rotating head 21 and the first lower rotating head 22 are each provided with a first latch 202 for engaging with the latches at the upper and lower ends of the cutter assembly to prevent slippage during rotation.

[0056] like Figure 5 As shown, when the rotary table 70 rotates the old bearing equipped with the cutter assembly 81 between the first upper rotary head 21 and the first lower rotary head 22, the sway damper 90 is then lowered until the support plate 701 of the rotary table 70 abuts against the first positioning table 203. The first positioning table 203 may be equipped with a proximity sensor (not shown) to sense whether the sway damper 90 is in position, and the first positioning table 203 also provides auxiliary support force. Subsequently, the first upper cylinder 26 controls the first upper rotary head 21 to clamp the upper end of the cutter assembly 81 from top to bottom, while the first lower cylinder controls the first lower rotary head 22 to clamp the lower end of the cutter assembly 81 from bottom to top. Then, the first upper motor 23 and the first lower motor 24 are started synchronously, and the first upper rotary head 21 and the first lower rotary head 22 synchronously drive the cutter assembly 81 to rotate in the same direction for edge cutting. In implementation, the start, stop, speed and position of the first upper motor 23 and the first lower motor 24 can be precisely coordinated by an electronic control system (such as a PLC or motion controller) to ensure that they operate synchronously. Through this synergistic effect, the cutting assembly 81 can complete the flanging and cutting operation with high precision and stability, effectively avoiding processing quality problems caused by unstable fixtures or asynchronous drives.

[0057] The pressure, number of rotations, and rotation speed of the cutter assembly 81 can be set according to the helicopter sway reducer bearing replacement specifications. After the cutter assembly 81 completes the flanging cut according to the set parameters, the first upper rotating head 21 moves upward and the first lower rotating head 22 moves downward. The equipment detects the reset of the first upper rotating head 21 and the first lower rotating head 22 by sensors (such as proximity sensors) and sends a signal to control the rotary table 70 to rotate the old bearing of the sway reducer 90 back to the manual operation position.

[0058] The cutting assembly 81 is primarily used to remove the ferrules on old bearings. In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the cutter assembly 81 includes a cutter ring 811, a cutter positioning ring 813, and a cutting screw 814. The cutter ring 811 is located at the top and has six evenly distributed cutter heads 812. The cutter heads 812 are fixed to the cutter ring 811 by screws and fasteners, and each cutter head 812 can be disassembled as needed for periodic replacement or maintenance, ensuring sufficient cutting capacity. Figure 6 As shown, when the cutter assembly 81 clamps both sides of the old bearing 91, the cutter ring 811 is attached to the upper part of the old bearing 91, and the cutter head 812 of the cutter ring 811 abuts against the flange above the old bearing 91. The cutter positioning ring 813 is attached to the lower part of the old bearing 91. The cutting screw 814 passes through the cutter positioning ring 813, the old bearing 91, and the cutter ring 811, clamping the three together coaxially. This coaxial clamping method is beneficial for achieving high-precision cutting, eliminating cutting process errors caused by component eccentricity, and ensuring the smooth progress of the cutting process. When the cutter assembly 81 is driven to rotate, the old bearing 91 and the rod end bushing are tightly fitted, and the frictional resistance between them is large. The cutter assembly 81 cannot drive the old bearing 91 to rotate, and the cutter head 812 of the upper cutter ring 811 can smoothly rotate and cut the flange.

[0059] In other embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, an intermediate ring 815 is coaxially fitted inside the cutter ring 811. The intermediate ring 815 is used to press tightly against the inner area of ​​the outer edge of the old bearing 91. The cutting screw 814 has a small screw 8142 and a large screw 8141. The small screw 8142 is used to thread into the cutter ring 811, and the large screw 8141 is used to form a threaded connection with the intermediate ring 815. When the cutter assembly 81 clamps the two sides of the old bearing 91, the cutter ring 811 is attached to the top of the old bearing 91, and the cutter head 812 of the cutter ring 811 abuts against the flange on the top of the old bearing 91. The intermediate ring 815 presses tightly against the upper end face of the old bearing 91, and the cutter positioning ring 813 is attached to the bottom of the old bearing 91. The cutting screw 814 passes through the cutter positioning ring 813, the old bearing 91, the intermediate ring 815, and the cutter ring 811, clamping the four coaxially.

[0060] The pressing mechanism 30 is mainly used for pressing out old bearings and pressing in new bearings. For example... Figure 7 As shown, in at least one embodiment, the pressing mechanism 30 includes an upper pressing head 31 and a lower receiving cylinder 32. The pressing head 31 is fixed to the lower end of the output shaft of the press 33. The pressing head 31 also has an elastic buffer 311 (coil spring) to gradually apply pressure and reduce the impact force generated by hard contact. The inner diameter of the lower receiving cylinder 32 is not less than the outer diameter of the old bearing. When pressing out the old bearing, the rod end of the damper is attached to the top of the receiving cylinder 32 and the old bearing is aligned with the receiving cylinder 32. The receiving cylinder 32 is used to catch the pressed-out old bearing. The receiving cylinder 32 is provided with a buffer spring 322 and a buffer pad 321 inside. The buffer spring 322 is located below the buffer pad 321 and is used to support the buffer pad 321. The pressed-out old bearing falls onto the buffer pad 321, and the buffer spring 322 is compressed to prevent the old bearing from hard impact and causing large noise. In implementation, the press 33 is selected as an adjustable pressure press to adapt to situations where the required pressure for pressing out and pressing in are different. Therefore, the replacement equipment can precisely cut off the flange through the edge cutting mechanism 20, and the old bearing can be stably pressed out by the pressing mechanism 30, which greatly improves the disassembly efficiency and safety.

[0061] like Figure 8 As shown, the rotary table 70 rotates the old bearing of the damper 90 to the pressing mechanism 30. The rotary table 70 lowers the damper 90 until the rod end 92 is in contact with the top of the receiving cylinder 32 to prevent deformation of the rod end 92 during the pressing process. The pressing power source (press 33) is turned on, and the pressing head 31 moves downward under the driving force of the pressing power source. The pressing and pressing assembly 82 presses the old bearing out of the rod end bushing and into the receiving cylinder 32. Therefore, the receiving cylinder 32 can both receive the old bearing and provide reliable support for the rod end 92 of the damper 90, reducing the external force on the damper 90. After the old bearing is pressed out, the pressing head 31 moves upward, and the rotary table 70 moves the damper 90 upward to disengage from the receiving cylinder 32. Then, it is moved to the manual operation position for subsequent operations. The pressed-out old bearing can be manually recycled or automatically removed and recycled by a robot.

[0062] The pressing mechanism 30 is also used for pressing in the new cryogenic bearing 93. For example... Figure 9As shown, the rotary table 70 rotates the new bearing 93, which is clamped with the pressing component 83, to the pressing mechanism 30. The rotary table 70 lowers the damper 90 until the rod end 92 is in contact with the top of the receiving cylinder 32 to prevent deformation of the rod end 92 during pressing. The new bearing 93 is aligned with the middle of the receiving cylinder 32. When pressing the new bearing 93, the pressing power source (press 33) is turned on. The pressing head 31 is driven by the pressing power source and moves downward step by step, pressing down the pressing component 83 and the new bearing 93 to press the new bearing 93 into the rod end bushing. The lower end of the pressing component 83 enters the receiving cylinder 32. After the new bearing 93 is pressed into the rod end bushing, the pressing head 31 moves upward, and the rotary table 70 moves the damper 90 upward to disengage from the receiving cylinder 32. Then, it is rotated to the manual operation position for subsequent operations.

[0063] The press-out assembly 82 is a specialized tool for pressing the old bearing 91 out of the rod end bushing of the damper 90. Its design ensures that pressure is applied stably and accurately to the old bearing 91, avoiding unnecessary damage to the old bearing 91 or its surrounding structure. In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 10 As shown, the pressing assembly 82 includes a lower pressing cylinder 821 and a positioning rod 822. During the pressing of the old bearing 91, the lower pressing cylinder 821 is attached to the old bearing 91, and the positioning rod 822 passes through both the lower pressing cylinder 821 and the old bearing 91. The positioning rod 822 ensures that the lower pressing cylinder 821 and the old bearing 91 remain coaxial, preventing the lower pressing cylinder 821 from shifting during the pressing process and causing pressing operation failure. The outer diameter of the lower pressing cylinder 821 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rod end bushing to avoid excessive pressing resistance or excessive resistance when the lower pressing cylinder 821 is withdrawn. Figure 10 As shown, the outer wall of the pressing cylinder 821 is provided with a convex ring 8211, which serves as a limiter, restricting the maximum stroke of the pressing. The distance from the convex ring 8211 to the bottom of the pressing cylinder 821 is greater than the axial width of the old bearing 91, and the outer diameter of the convex ring 8211 is greater than the outer diameter of the rod end bushing. During implementation, when the convex ring 8211 moves down to form rigid contact with the rod end 92, it indicates that the old bearing 91 has completely disengaged. At this time, the pressure sensor of the pressing power source detects a significant increase in pressure, which serves as a trigger signal that the old bearing 91 has been pressed out. Alternatively, if the convex ring 8211 has not yet made rigid contact with the rod end 92, and the old bearing 91 has already fallen off, this situation can be determined by the pressure sensor inside the pressing power source detecting a sudden drop in pressure, indicating that the old bearing 91 has been completely pressed out. In addition, the old bearing 91 can also be determined to have been pressed out by setting a proximity sensor to detect when the convex ring 8211 moves down to the corresponding position point.

[0064] The press-in assembly 83 is used to transmit downward pressure and assist in guiding the new bearing 93 into the rod end bushing. The press-in assembly 83 can be made of materials such as high-strength steel or alloy steel to withstand the stress during the press-in process. In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 11 As shown, the press-in assembly 83 includes an upper pressure block 831, a guide 832, and a press-in screw 833. When pressing in the new bearing 93, the upper pressure block 831 abuts against the top of the new bearing 93, the guide 832 fits against the bottom of the new bearing 93, and the press-in screw 833 passes through the upper pressure block 831, the new bearing 93, and the guide 832. The end of the press-in screw 833 is threadedly connected to a nut. The press-in screw 833 and the nut together coaxially clamp the upper pressure block 831, the new bearing 93, and the guide 832, forming a stable whole, ensuring that the new bearing 93 will not shift or tilt during the pressing process. The upper pressure block 831 fits against the upper surface of the new bearing 93 to ensure that the downward pressure can be smoothly transmitted to the new bearing 93, preventing uneven force on the new bearing 93 and thus preventing deformation or damage. The outer diameter of the upper pressure block 831 is larger than the outer diameter of the rod end bushing 923. Therefore, when the new bearing 93 is fully pressed into the rod end bushing 923, the upper pressure block 831 will abut against the surface of the rod end 92 to achieve a limiting purpose, preventing the new bearing 93 from protruding and causing misalignment. The upper pressure block 831 is used to transmit pressure on the new bearing 93, and the upper pressure block 831 and the new bearing 93 are fixed together. During the pressing process, the upper pressure block 831 will not slide relative to the new bearing 93, which helps to reduce the probability of damage to the new bearing 93. During the pressing process, the guide 832 is used to pass through the rod end bushing 923 to guide the new bearing into the rod end bushing 923. For this purpose, the outer diameter of the guide 832 is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the rod end bushing 923, and the difference between the two is 0.05mm. The outer diameter of the guide 832 is only slightly different from the inner diameter of the rod end bushing 923. Therefore, when the guide 832 is inserted into the rod end bushing 923, the resistance is small and it can basically achieve the effect of coaxiality. This provides a pre-aligned path for the new bearing 93, avoiding the situation where the new bearing 93 and the rod end bushing 923 get stuck or misaligned, which helps to ensure that the new bearing 93 is pressed in smoothly.

[0065] The flanging mechanism 40 is used to flanging the outer edges of both sides of the new bearing after it has been installed in the rod end bushing, thereby enhancing the stability of the fixed connection between the new bearing and the damper rod end bushing. In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 12As shown, the hemming mechanism 40 includes a second upper rotating head 41 and a second lower rotating head 42. The second upper rotating head 41 is driven to rotate by a second upper motor 43. The second upper rotating head 41 and the second upper motor 43 are fixed on a second upper sliding frame 45, which is slidably connected to the second upright plates 49 on both sides. The second upper sliding frame 45, the second upper motor 43, and the second upper rotating head 41 are driven to move up and down by a second upper cylinder 47. The second lower rotating head 42 is driven to rotate by a second lower motor 44 via a belt. The second lower rotating head 42 and the second lower motor 44 are fixed on a second lower sliding frame 46, which is slidably connected to the second upright plates 49 on both sides. The second lower sliding frame 46, the second lower rotating head 42, and the second lower motor 44 are driven to move up and down by a second lower cylinder 48. In addition, the second upper rotating head 41 and the second lower rotating head 42 are respectively provided with second spring buffers 401 for slow contact with the hemming assembly to reduce the impact force on the hemming assembly, the new bearing, and the anti-sway device. Furthermore, the second upper rotating head 41 and the second lower rotating head 42 are respectively provided with second bayonet 402 for engaging with the locking pins at the upper and lower ends of the hemming assembly to ensure that slippage does not easily occur during drive rotation. By employing the second upper rotating head 41 and the second lower rotating head 42, and using bidirectional clamping and synchronous drive, the hemming mechanism 40 solves the problem of uneven force and poor stability of the hemming assembly that may be caused by single-sided drive or asynchronous drive. Through this structural configuration and drive method, the hemming mechanism 40 can precisely control the flanging process, avoid flanging defects caused by jig wobbling or uneven force, and improve the reliability of the new bearing flanging quality.

[0066] like Figure 13 As shown, when the rotary table 70 rotates the new bearing equipped with the hemming assembly 84 between the second upper rotary head 41 and the second lower rotary head 42, the sway damper 90 is then lowered until the support plate 701 of the rotary table 70 abuts against the second positioning table 403. The second positioning table 403 can be equipped with a proximity sensor to sense whether the sway damper 90 is in position, and the second positioning table 403 also provides auxiliary support force. When flanging the outer edge of the new bearing, the second upper cylinder 47 controls the second upper rotary head 41 to clamp the upper end of the hemming assembly 84 from top to bottom, while the second lower cylinder controls the second lower rotary head 42 to clamp the lower end of the hemming assembly 84 from bottom to top. Then, the second upper motor 43 and the second lower motor 44 are started, and the second upper rotary head 41 and the second lower rotary head 42 synchronously drive the hemming assembly 84 to rotate. While the hemming assembly 84 rotates, it exerts downward pressure on the outer edge of the new bearing to flanging the outer edge of the new bearing. During implementation, the start-stop, speed and position of the second upper motor 43 and the second lower motor 44 can be precisely coordinated by an electronic control system (such as a PLC or motion controller) to ensure that the two operate synchronously.

[0067] After completing the flanging operation on one side of the new bearing, turn the new bearing to the manual operation position, remove the flanging assembly 84, flip the sway reducer 90 up and down, reinstall the flanging assembly 84, and then perform the flanging operation on the other side of the new bearing.

[0068] During implementation, the pressure, number of rotations, and speed of the helical flanging assembly 84 can be set according to the helicopter sway damper bearing replacement specifications. After the helical flanging assembly 84 completes the flanging according to the set parameters, the second upper rotating head 41 moves upward and the second lower rotating head 42 moves downward. The equipment detects the reset of the second upper rotating head 41 and the second lower rotating head 42 based on sensors (such as proximity sensors) and sends a signal to control the rotary table 70 to rotate the new bearing of the sway damper 90 to the manual operation position.

[0069] The hemming mechanism 40 and the cutting mechanism 20 have basically the same structure, but the cutting pressure, speed, number of turns and other parameters are not the same as the hemming pressure, speed, number of turns and other parameters. Therefore, the hemming mechanism 40 and the cutting mechanism 20 are set separately, and the hemming mechanism 40 and the cutting mechanism 20 are configured with corresponding parameters respectively. There is no need to switch back and forth between the parameters for hemming and cutting in the same mechanism, which helps to reduce the chance of error.

[0070] The hemming assembly 84 is a specialized tool used to fix and position the new bearing 93 during the hemming (pressing) operation. Its main function is to provide stable support and precise positioning to ensure that the new bearing 93 is not easily displaced or deformed during the hemming (pressing) process, thereby ensuring the quality of the hemming. In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 14 As shown, the flanging assembly 84 includes an upper pressing ring 841, a pressing positioning ring 842, and a pressing screw 843. The lower end of the upper pressing ring 841 has three circumferentially distributed pressing rollers 844. The pressing rollers 844 are inclined, and apply outward pressure and folding to the outer edge of the new bearing 93 through the pressing rollers 844, ultimately causing the outer edge to conform to the tapered surface of one end of the rod end bushing, forming the required flanging structure. Figure 15 As shown, the pressing roller 844 abuts against the upper conical surface 8411 of the upper pressing ring 841. The edge of one end of the pressing roller 844 extends obliquely through the lower cover 845. The middle cylinder 8451 of the lower cover 845 is fixedly connected to the upper pressing ring 841 by a snap ring 846. The lower cover 845 is used to hold the three pressing rollers 844 in the upper pressing ring 841.

[0071] like Figure 15As shown, when the hemming assembly 84 clamps both sides of the new bearing 93, the upper pressure ring 841 is attached to the upper part of the new bearing 93, and the pressure roller 844 of the upper pressure ring 841 is inclined to abut against the outer edge 931 above the new bearing 93. The pressure positioning ring 842 is attached to the lower part of the new bearing 93, and the annular protrusion 8421 of the pressure positioning ring 842 is inserted into the annular groove 932 below the new bearing 93 for accurate positioning. The pressure screw 843 passes through the pressure positioning ring 842, the new bearing 93, and the upper pressure ring 841. The upper end of the pressure screw 843 is threadedly connected and fixed to the upper pressure ring 841, thereby coaxially clamping the pressure positioning ring 842, the new bearing 93, and the upper pressure ring 841. During the pressure process, pressure is applied to the upper pressure ring 841 and the pressure positioning ring 842 from above and below, respectively, and the upper pressure ring 841 and the pressure positioning ring 842 are driven to rotate synchronously, thereby achieving the pressure process. The upper pressing ring 841, the new bearing 93, and the pressing positioning ring 842 are fixed together by the axial force of the pressing screw 843, forming a whole. The coaxial clamping ensures that the central axis of the new bearing 93 is consistent with the rotation axis of the rolling mechanism and the rotation center line of the pressing roller 844, thereby ensuring the accuracy and uniformity of the flanging operation.

[0072] Through the above technical solution, the hemming assembly 84 adopts a combination structure of upper pressure ring 841, pressure positioning ring 842 and pressure screw 843, which can achieve precise coaxial clamping and stable support for the new bearing 93, improve the positioning accuracy and clamping stability of the new bearing 93 during the hemming process, effectively avoid the problems of deformation or uneven hemming during the rolling process, thereby ensuring the hemming quality and installation reliability, and thus improving the overall efficiency and reliability of helicopter sway reducer bearing replacement.

[0073] The rotary table 70 is used to clamp, rotate, and vertically lift the sway damper 90. For example... Figure 16 As shown, in at least one embodiment, the rotary table 70 includes a clamping platform 71, a lifting frame 72, and a rotary drive component 73. The clamping platform 71 is used to clamp and fix the oscillator 90. Specifically, the clamping platform 71 is provided with two parallel chucks 711 for quickly clamping the oscillator 90. The chucks 711 are opened, the oscillator is placed into the chucks 711, and then the locking screws 712 of the chucks 711 are tightened clockwise so that the chucks 711 fix both ends of the oscillator 90, preventing the oscillator 90 from shifting and being damaged during operation.

[0074] like Figure 16As shown, the clamping platform 71 is equipped with a support plate 701 for placing the rod end 92 of the damper 90. The support plate 701 has two adjustable clamping blocks 702 on opposite radial sides of the rod end 92. The clamping blocks 702 are used to radially clamp and position the rod end 92. The inner wall of the clamping block 702 is the same shape and size as the outer wall of the rod end 92. The clamping blocks 702 assist in positioning the rod end 92 and the old bearing 91 (or new bearing 93), ensuring that the rod end 92 and the old bearing 91 (or new bearing 93) are kept in accurate positions, which facilitates smooth positioning in subsequent operations. In implementation, each clamping block 702 is fixed to the support plate 701 with two screws. When it is necessary to adjust the clamping blocks, loosening the screws allows for adjustment of the relative position of the clamping blocks 702. After adjusting to the appropriate position, the screws are tightened to fix the position of the clamping blocks 702. In addition, a proximity sensor 703 is also provided in the middle of the support plate 701 to detect whether the damper 90 is placed in place.

[0075] like Figure 16 As shown, the clamping platform 71 is located above the lifting frame 72, and the lifting frame 72 is used to drive the clamping platform 71 and the sway reducer 90 to move up and down. A vertical cylinder 74 is located below the lifting frame 72, which can push the lifting frame 72 to move vertically up and down. A rotary drive 73 is located below the lifting frame 72 and is used to drive the lifting frame 72 and the clamping platform 71 to rotate. A turntable 731 is located above the rotary drive 73, and the vertical cylinder 74, the lifting frame 72, and the clamping platform 71 are all located on the turntable 731. The rotary drive 73 is a geared motor, and the output shaft of the geared motor is vertical and fixedly connected to the center of the turntable 731 to drive the turntable 731 to rotate horizontally clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0076] The rotating table 70 ensures that the damper 90 is stably and accurately clamped and positioned during bearing replacement, effectively avoiding processing errors caused by the damper 90's wobbling or displacement during operations such as trimming, pressing, and rolling. The coordinated action of the rotary drive 73, clamping table 71, and lifting frame 72 ensures the smoothness and positioning accuracy of the damper 90 when switching between different workstations, providing a solid foundation for the efficient operation of the entire bearing replacement process.

[0077] One or more embodiments of this application provide a method for replacing the bearing of a helicopter gyroscope. This method can be implemented in conjunction with the bearing replacement equipment described in one or more of the above embodiments. A flowchart illustrating the replacement method is shown below. Figure 17 As shown, the specific steps for replacing the helicopter sway damper bearing are described below.

[0078] First, the damper needs to be secured. Open both chucks, then place the damper on the clamping table, and clamp the two ends of the damper to fix it on the rotary table. When securing the damper, position the damper rod end and the old bearing in the manual operation position, ensuring the central axis of the old bearing is vertical. Additionally, use the clamps on both sides to ensure the damper rod end and the old bearing are in the correct positions.

[0079] After securing the damper, install the cutter assembly onto the old bearing. In the manual operation position, use the cutter assembly to clamp both sides of the old bearing. Specifically, the cutter ring is coaxially mounted on top of the old bearing, and the cutter positioning ring is coaxially mounted below it. The cutting screw passes through the cutter positioning ring, the old bearing, the intermediate ring, and the cutter ring, forming a threaded connection with the intermediate ring and the cutter ring. The cutter assembly is then fixedly installed on the old bearing. The rotary table then rotates the old bearing and cutter assembly to the cutting mechanism, and the damper is lowered until the rotary table's support plate rests against the first positioning platform.

[0080] The trimming mechanism clamps the cutting blade assembly from above and below and drives the cutting blade assembly to rotate to remove the flange on one side of the old bearing. Specifically, the first upper rotating head and the first lower rotating head of the trimming mechanism clamp the cutting blade ring and the cutting blade positioning ring from above and below, respectively, and apply downward pressure to the cutting blade ring and upward pressure to the cutting blade positioning ring. Then, the first upper rotating head and the first lower rotating head rotate synchronously to drive the cutting blade assembly to rotate. The blade head of the cutting blade ring performs a complete circumferential cut on the flange on the old bearing to complete the flange removal operation.

[0081] After cutting off the flange, the cutting assembly needs to be disassembled and cleaned. Specifically, rotate the rotary table to the manual operation position, remove the cutting assembly, which means rotating the cutting screw in the opposite direction to disengage it from the cutting ring and the intermediate ring, allowing the entire cutting assembly to be removed. Then, remove the waste generated during cutting and clean the rod end and the surface of the old bearing to prevent debris from adversely affecting subsequent steps. Also, check the surface of the damper rod end; if damage is found, it may be due to misalignment or other reasons, requiring machine shutdown and repair.

[0082] The pressing assembly is then installed. In the manual operating position, the pressing assembly is coaxially mounted onto the old bearing, and the lower pressing cylinder is also coaxially mounted onto the old bearing. The positioning rod is then passed through both the lower pressing cylinder and the old bearing simultaneously to maintain their coaxiality. The rotary table then rotates the pressing assembly and the old bearing to the pressing mechanism, and the damper is lowered until the rod end is in contact with the receiving cylinder. The pressing head of the pressing mechanism then applies downward pressure to the pressing assembly and the old bearing until the old bearing is completely detached from the rod end bushing. The pressed-out old bearing falls into the receiving cylinder and is then manually retrieved.

[0083] After pressing out the old bearing, the damper is raised to move the rod end away from the receiving cylinder. Then, the workbench is rotated to turn the damper rod end to the manual operation position, and the pressing assembly is removed, which means removing the positioning rod and the lower pressing cylinder. The surface of the rod end bushing is then inspected, for example, for obvious scratches on the inner wall of the rod end bushing. Rust removal is also performed on the surface of the rod end bushing to ensure that the damper maintains normal working performance after the bearing replacement.

[0084] Next, install the press-in assembly and the new bearing in the manual operation position. Remove the new bearing from the freezer and clamp it between its two sides using the press-in assembly. Specifically, place the upper pressure block on top of the new bearing, and the guide fits against the bottom of the new bearing. The press-in screw passes through the guide, the new bearing, and the upper pressure block, and is threaded onto a nut, thus clamping the new bearing tightly between the upper pressure block and the guide. Simultaneously, activate the heating assembly, raising the energized heating cylinder into the rod end bushing to heat it to a set temperature, for example, within the range of 38℃-50℃. The outer diameter of the guide is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rod end bushing, allowing the lower end of the press-in assembly (i.e., the guide) to easily penetrate the rod end bushing. This serves to center and guide the new bearing into the rod end bushing, facilitating subsequent press-in of the new bearing. Subsequently, the rotary table rotates the rod end bushing, new bearing, and pressing assembly to the pressing mechanism, and drives the sway damper to move down to the rod end to fit against the receiving cylinder. The receiving cylinder supports the rod end of the sway damper to prevent excessive force on the rod end before the pressing operation is performed.

[0085] The pressing head of the pressing mechanism moves downward, applying downward pressure to the pressing assembly and the new bearing until the new bearing is fully inserted into the rod end bushing. The outer diameter of the upper pressing block is larger than that of the rod end bushing, so when the new bearing is just fully pressed into the rod end bushing, the upper pressing block will abut against the upper surface of the rod end to achieve a limiting purpose, preventing the bottom of the new bearing from protruding and ensuring the accurate axial position of the new bearing. When the new bearing is pressed in, the guide will enter the receiving cylinder. Therefore, after the new bearing is fully pressed in, the damper must be moved upward to remove the guide from the receiving cylinder.

[0086] The rotary table then rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the press-in screw, upper pressure block, and guide of the press-in assembly, and inspects the new bearing and rod end bushing, such as checking for deviations in the axial installation position of the new bearing and for any damage to the new bearing and rod end bushing, to ensure that the quality of the new bearing installation meets the relevant specifications.

[0087] Then, install the edge-rolling assembly on the new bearing. In the manual operating position, clamp both sides of the new bearing with the edge-rolling assembly. Specifically, position the upper pressure ring against the new bearing, with the pressure roller of the upper pressure ring angled against the outer edge above the new bearing. Position the pressure positioning ring against the bottom of the new bearing, with its annular protrusion inserted into the annular groove below the new bearing for accurate positioning. The pressure screw passes sequentially through the pressure positioning ring, the new bearing, and the upper pressure ring, forming a threaded connection with the upper pressure ring to clamp them together. The rotary table then rotates the new bearing to the edge-rolling mechanism. The damper is then lowered to the rod end and attached to the second positioning table. Once the proximity sensor on the second positioning table detects the damper's positioning, the edge-rolling operation is initiated.

[0088] The second upper rotating head of the hemming mechanism moves downward and the second lower rotating head moves upward, thereby clamping the hemming assembly from both sides, so that the pressure rollers of the upper pressure ring maintain continuous pressure on the outer edge of the new bearing. Subsequently, the second upper rotating head and the second lower rotating head rotate synchronously in the same direction to drive the hemming assembly to rotate. During the rotation, the three pressure rollers of the upper pressure ring gradually flanging the outer edge of one side of the new bearing.

[0089] After the flanging is completed, the rotary table first moves the anti-slip device upward, then rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, and removes the pressing screw, pressing positioning ring, and upper pressing ring of the flanging assembly. Check whether the flanging quality of the new bearing meets the requirements. If the quality meets the requirements, the second flanging can be performed.

[0090] After inspection, open the chucks of the rotary table, then flip the rotary table's damper upside down to swap the top and bottom of the new bearing. Tighten both chucks to secure the damper. Clamp the two sides of the new bearing with the edge-rolling assembly in the same way. Then, rotate the rotary table to the edge-rolling mechanism and perform edge-rolling on the other side of the new bearing in the same manner. Both sides of the new bearing are now edge-rolled.

[0091] After the second flanging is completed, the rotary table moves the anti-sway device upward, rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the flanging assembly, and checks whether the flanging quality of the new bearing meets the requirements.

[0092] After the above checks are passed, an axial load test is required to verify that the load capacity of the new bearing meets the specifications. During the axial load test, the pressing assembly is installed on the new bearing. The rotary table rotates the new bearing and pressing assembly to the pressing mechanism, lowering the damper to fit against the receiving cylinder. Then, the pressing head of the pressing mechanism moves downwards, applying a maximum pressure of 2 tons to the pressing assembly and the new bearing. This maximum pressure is held for 5 seconds, after which the pressing head begins to move upwards. After the pressing head returns to its original position, the damper is moved upwards away from the receiving cylinder. The rotary table rotates the new bearing and pressing assembly to the manual operation position, the pressing assembly is removed, and the installation of the new bearing is checked to ensure it meets requirements, such as for any gaps or misalignments. If the check passes, the damper bearing replacement is complete.

[0093] Therefore, the bearing replacement method organically combines automated operation mechanisms with manual operation steps. After each automatic operation, manual operations such as cleaning, inspection, fixture replacement, and new bearing installation are performed at the manual operation station. This semi-automatic replacement method achieves the high efficiency of automatic operation while fully incorporating the rich experience of operators, ensuring that the entire bearing replacement process complies with the maintenance specifications for helicopter sway damper bearings. This is beneficial to the safety and stability of the sway damper, which is crucial for helicopter flight safety.

[0094] The above examples are merely illustrative of the technical content of this application to facilitate reader understanding, but do not imply that the implementation methods of this application are limited to these. Any technical extensions or re-creations made based on this application are protected by this application. The scope of protection of this application is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device, characterized in that, It includes: A trimming mechanism that clamps both sides of an old bearing with a cutting assembly and rotates the cutting assembly to cut off a flange on one side of the old bearing. The pressing mechanism presses out an old bearing with at least one flange cut off via a pressing assembly; the pressing mechanism also clamps a new bearing via a pressing assembly and presses the new bearing into the rod end bushing of the damper via the pressing assembly. A rolling edge mechanism that clamps the two sides of a new bearing with a rolling edge assembly and rolls the outer edge of the new bearing by rotating the rolling edge assembly. The manual operation position is used to remove rust, clean, inspect, replace components, and install a new bearing equipped with a press-in component on the surface of the damper rod end bushing after the old bearing has been removed. The component replacement includes the replacement of the cutter component, the press-out component, the press-in component, and the edge rolling component. A heating assembly located in the manual operation position, the heating assembly being used to heat the rod end bushing of the old bearing that has been removed from one end of the oscillator; A rotating worktable, with the manual operation position, trimming mechanism, rolling mechanism and pressing mechanism distributed around it, is used to clamp the sway reducer and drive it to rotate horizontally, so as to drive the rod end of the bearing to be replaced on the sway reducer to switch positions between the manual operation position, trimming mechanism, rolling mechanism and pressing mechanism.

2. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The edge-cutting mechanism includes a first upper rotating head and a first lower rotating head. The first upper rotating head clamps the upper end of the cutter assembly from top to bottom, and the first lower rotating head clamps the lower end of the cutter assembly from bottom to top. The first upper rotating head and the first lower rotating head synchronously drive the cutter assembly to rotate for edge cutting.

3. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement equipment as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cutting blade assembly includes a cutting blade ring, a cutting blade positioning ring, and a cutting edge screw. When the cutting blade assembly clamps the two sides of the old bearing, the cutting blade ring is attached to the upper part of the old bearing and the cutting blade head of the cutting blade ring abuts against the flange on the upper part of the old bearing. The cutting blade positioning ring is attached to the lower part of the old bearing. The cutting edge screw passes through the cutting blade positioning ring, the old bearing, and the cutting blade ring and clamps the three together coaxially.

4. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing mechanism includes a pressing head located above and a receiving cylinder located below. The inner diameter of the receiving cylinder is not less than the outer diameter of the old bearing. When pressing out the old bearing, the rod end of the damper is attached to the top of the receiving cylinder and the old bearing is aligned with the receiving cylinder. The pressing head is driven by the pressing power source to press down the pressing assembly to press the old bearing out of the rod end bushing. When pressing in the new bearing, the rod end of the damper is attached to the top of the receiving cylinder and the new bearing is aligned with the receiving cylinder. The pressing head is driven by the pressing power source to press down the pressing assembly and the new bearing to press the new bearing into the rod end bushing.

5. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The pressing assembly includes a lower pressing cylinder and a positioning rod. When pressing out the old bearing, the lower pressing cylinder is attached to the old bearing, and the positioning rod passes through the lower pressing cylinder and the old bearing. The outer wall of the lower pressing cylinder is provided with a convex ring. The distance from the convex ring to the bottom of the lower pressing cylinder is greater than the width of the old bearing, and the outer diameter of the convex ring is greater than the outer diameter of the old bearing.

6. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The pressing assembly includes an upper pressing block, a guide, and a pressing screw. When pressing in a new bearing, the upper pressing block abuts against the top of the new bearing, the guide fits against the bottom of the new bearing, and the pressing screw passes through the upper pressing block, the guide, and the new bearing to clamp them coaxially. The outer diameter of the upper pressing block is larger than the outer diameter of the rod end bushing, and the outer diameter of the guide is smaller than the inner diameter of the rod end bushing. The guide is used to insert into the rod end bushing to guide the new bearing to be pressed into the rod end bushing.

7. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The hemming mechanism includes a second upper rotating head and a second lower rotating head. When hemming the outer edge of a new bearing, the second upper rotating head clamps the upper end of the hemming assembly from top to bottom, and the second lower rotating head clamps the lower end of the hemming assembly from bottom to top. The second upper rotating head and the second lower rotating head synchronously drive the hemming assembly to rotate in order to hemm the outer edge of the new bearing.

8. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1 or 7, characterized in that, The edge rolling assembly includes an upper pressure edge ring, a pressure edge positioning ring, and a pressure edge screw. When the edge rolling assembly clamps the two sides of the new bearing, the upper pressure edge ring is attached to the upper part of the new bearing and the pressure edge roller of the upper pressure edge ring is inclined to abut against the outer edge of the upper part of the new bearing. The pressure edge positioning ring is attached to the lower part of the new bearing. The pressure edge screw passes through the pressure edge positioning ring, the new bearing, and the upper pressure edge ring and clamps the three together coaxially.

9. The helicopter sway damper bearing replacement device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating table includes a clamping platform, a lifting frame, and a rotation drive component. The clamping platform is used to clamp and fix the sway reducer. The clamping platform is located above the lifting frame, and the lifting frame is used to drive the clamping platform and the sway reducer to move up and down. The rotation drive component is located below the lifting frame and is used to drive the lifting frame and the clamping platform to rotate. The clamping platform is provided with a support plate for placing the sway reducer rod end. The support plate is provided with adjustable clamping blocks on both radial sides of the rod end. The clamping blocks are used to radially clamp and position the rod end.

10. A method for replacing the bearing of a helicopter sway damper, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: The oscillation damper is fixed on a rotary table, with the rod end of the oscillation damper and the old bearing in the manual operation position and the central shaft of the old bearing vertical; In the manual operation position, the cutter assembly clamps both sides of the old bearing, and then the rotating table rotates the old bearing to the cutting mechanism. The trimming mechanism clamps the cutting blade assembly from above and below and drives the cutting blade assembly to rotate to remove a ring of flange on one side of the old bearing. The rotary table rotates the old bearing to the manual operation position, removes the cutter assembly, and then removes the waste generated from the cutting edge and cleans the rod end and the surface of the old bearing. In the manual operation position, the pressing component is coaxially mounted on the old bearing, and then the rotary table rotates the old bearing to the pressing mechanism; The pressing mechanism applies downward pressure to the pressing assembly until the old bearing is completely detached from the rod end bushing; The rotary table rotates the damper rod end bushing to the manual operation position, removes the pressing component, and performs surface inspection and rust removal on the rod end bushing. Take out the new bearing that has been frozen at low temperature and clamp both sides of the new bearing with the pressing component. At the same time, start the heating component to heat the rod end bushing to the set temperature. Then, the lower end of the pressing component is inserted into the rod end bushing, and the rotating table rotates the rod end bushing to the pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism applies downward pressure to the pressing assembly until the new bearing is fully inserted into the rod end bushing; The rotary table rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the press-fit assembly, and inspects the new bearing and rod end bushing. In the manual operation position, the new bearing is clamped on both sides by the edge rolling assembly, and the rotary table rotates the new bearing to the edge rolling mechanism. The hemming mechanism clamps the hemming assembly from above and below and drives the hemming assembly to rotate to hem the outer edge of the new bearing side. The rotary table rotates the new bearing to the manual operation position, removes the flanging assembly, and inspects the new bearing flanging. The sway damper of the rotary table is flipped up and down, and then the two sides of the new bearing are clamped by the edge rolling assembly. The rotary table then rotates the new bearing to the edge rolling mechanism to perform edge rolling on the outer edge of the other side of the new bearing. Finally, the rotary table is rotated to the manual operation position, the edging assembly is removed, and the edging of the new bearing is inspected.

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