A ship large pipe system welding concentricity alignment clamp

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical fields of shipbuilding equipment, more particularly to a ship large pipe system welding concentricity alignment clamp, comprising a lower clamp block assembly and an upper clamp block assembly arranged oppositely, the lower clamp block assembly is fixed on a guide assembly, the upper clamp block assembly slides on the guide assembly, the lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected with a base assembly, the upper end of the guide assembly is provided with a hydraulic cylinder, the output end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected with the upper clamp block assembly, and a plurality of support assemblies are slidably connected on the base assembly, through hydraulic driving of the upper clamp block assembly cooperating with the multi-dimensional adjustable support assemblies, efficient support and accurate concentricity alignment of different specifications of pipes are realized, and welding quality and operation efficiency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shipbuilding equipment technology, and more specifically, to a concentricity alignment fixture for welding large pipe systems in ships. Background Technology

[0002] In shipbuilding, the butt welding of large piping systems is a critical process, and its welding quality directly affects the sealing and structural strength of the piping system. Currently, the alignment of large pipes typically relies on manual labor with simple tooling or the use of universal clamping devices. However, due to the wide range of specifications and heavy weight of ship piping systems, existing tooling often suffers from the following drawbacks: First, it lacks efficient multi-dimensional adjustment mechanisms, resulting in poor adaptability to pipes of different diameters and lengths, and making tooling replacement time-consuming and labor-intensive; second, the clamping and positioning accuracy is insufficient, making it difficult to ensure the concentricity of the two pairs of pipe ends, leading to significant weld misalignment and affecting weld quality; third, the adjustment process relies heavily on rigid connections such as bolt tightening, which is cumbersome and prone to damaging the pipe wall, lacking a flexible mechanism that utilizes the pipe's own weight for self-adaptive locking, resulting in low operational efficiency and poor stability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To at least partially solve the above problems, the present invention provides a concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems, including a lower clamping block assembly and an upper clamping block assembly arranged opposite each other. The lower clamping block assembly is fixed on a guide assembly, and the upper clamping block assembly slides on the guide assembly. The lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to a base assembly, and a hydraulic cylinder is installed on the upper end of the guide assembly. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the upper clamping block assembly, and multiple support assemblies are slidably connected on the base assembly.

[0004] Furthermore, the base assembly includes a support base, the lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to the support base, multiple crossbeam seats are provided between the support base and the ground, guide rods are fixed on both sides of the support base, and multiple support assemblies are slidably connected to the guide rods.

[0005] Furthermore, the support assembly includes a slide block, which is slidably connected to the guide rod. An arc-shaped block is provided inside the slide block, and an arc-shaped rubber pad is provided at the lower end of the arc-shaped block. The slide block is fixed to the bottom of the base plate, and the base plate is threadedly connected to a locking screw. The lower end of the locking screw is inserted into the slide block and abuts against the upper end of the arc-shaped block.

[0006] Furthermore, a box is fixed in the middle of the base plate, and a worm gear is rotatably connected inside the box. The worm gear meshes with a worm rotating inside the box for transmission. A handwheel is fixed at the end of the worm. A threaded post is threadedly connected to the middle of the worm gear. The upper end of the threaded post is fixedly connected to the support housing. Two sliding rods are fixed at the lower end of the support housing. Both sliding rods are slidably connected to the base plate.

[0007] Furthermore, both sides of the support housing are provided with sliding grooves, and a support wheel is rotatably connected inside the support housing. Both ends of the support wheel extend out of the sliding grooves and are rotatably connected to the support blocks on both sides of the support housing. The lower ends of the sliding grooves on both sides of the support housing are provided with lower slide rails. One of the lower slide rails has a tooth on its inner side, and the other lower slide rail has a tooth on its outer side. The upper ends of the sliding grooves on both sides of the support housing are provided with upper slide rails. The upper ends of the two support blocks are slidably connected to the two upper slide rails respectively. The tooth on the lower end of the two support blocks is engaged and locked with the two sets of tooth one respectively.

[0008] Furthermore, a spring is provided between the support block and the upper slide rail, a central rod passes through the support wheel, and the two ends of the central rod are fixedly connected to two connecting rods respectively. The two connecting rods are fixed to two support blocks respectively, and a scale line is provided on the lower slide rail.

[0009] Furthermore, the guide assembly includes a guide post, the lower end of which is fixed to the support base. The guide post is fixedly connected to the lower clamping block assembly and slidably connected to the upper clamping block assembly. A top plate is fixed to the upper end of the guide post, and a hydraulic cylinder is fixed to the top plate. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a mounting plate fixed on the upper clamping block assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, the lower clamping block assembly has the same structure as the upper clamping block assembly, both including a U-shaped frame, a mounting plate fixed on the U-shaped frame, both ends of the U-shaped frame being fixedly connected to the V-shaped clamping block, a support plate being provided in the middle of the U-shaped frame and the middle of the V-shaped clamping block, an operation port being provided in the middle of both ends of the V-shaped clamping block, an observation port being provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block, and a triangular reinforcing rib being provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block.

[0011] Furthermore, each side of the V-shaped clamping block is provided with two long grooves, and a clamping unit is slidably connected in each of the two long grooves. A connecting plate is provided between the two clamping units. A limiting rack is provided on the side of the long groove. The clamping unit and the limiting rack are engaged and clamped. A scale line is provided on the side of the limiting rack.

[0012] Furthermore, the clamping unit includes an outer slider that slides within a long groove. Two outer sliders on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block are connected by a connecting plate. An inner slider is slidably connected within the outer slider. A crossbar inside the outer slider slides within the inner slider. A spring is provided between the crossbar and the inner wall of the inner slider. A tail rod is fixed at the lower end of the inner slider. Two tail rods on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block are connected by a connecting rod. A bracket is fixed at the upper end of the inner slider. A clamping wheel is rotatably connected within the bracket. A toothed protrusion at the lower end of the bracket engages with a limiting rack to clamp the inner slider.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0014] The coordinated operation of the hydraulically driven opposing clamping block assembly and the multi-dimensional adjustable support assembly solves the technical problems of difficult and inefficient welding alignment of large pipeline systems.

[0015] 1. By utilizing the worm gear self-locking lifting mechanism and the toothed rail meshing width adjustment mechanism, tool-free and rapid adaptation of support height and width is achieved, significantly shortening the changeover preparation time.

[0016] 2. The innovative flexible suspension clamping unit cleverly utilizes the weight of the pipe and the clamping force to trigger the deep engagement of the limiting rack, ensuring clamping reliability while allowing the pipe to rotate freely, thus balancing positioning accuracy and welding process requirements.

[0017] 3. The symmetrical V-shaped clamping block structure, combined with the design of the operating port and observation port, ensures high rigidity clamping while providing an unobstructed passage for welding operations and quality inspection, thus comprehensively improving the automation level of ship piping system manufacturing and the consistency of welding quality.

[0018] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the support component structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the support component structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support component structure of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the support component structure of the present invention. Figure 4 ;

[0025] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the support component structure of the present invention. Figure 5 ;

[0027] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0028] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of the upper clamping block assembly structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0029] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the upper clamping block assembly structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0030] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the upper clamping block assembly structure of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0031] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the upper clamping block assembly structure of the present invention. Figure 4 ;

[0032] Figure 14 for Figure 13 Enlarged view of a section at point C;

[0033] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the upper clamping block assembly structure of the present invention. Figure 5 ;

[0034] Figure 16 for Figure 15 Enlarged view of a section at point D;

[0035] Explanation of markings in the diagram:

[0036] Support base 1; Crossbeam base 2; Guide rod 3; Support assembly 4; Slide 401; Base plate 402; Arc block 403; Locking screw 404; Handwheel 405; Worm gear 406; Worm wheel 407; Threaded column 408; Housing 409; Slide rod 410; Support housing 411; Support wheel 412; Support block 413; Lower slide rail 414; Upper slide rail 415; Slide groove 416; Center rod 417; Connecting rod 418; Spring 419; Scale line 4 20; Guide column 5; Lower clamping block assembly 6; Upper clamping block assembly 7; U-shaped frame 701; V-shaped clamping block 702; Operating port 703; Limiting rack 704; Scale line 2 705; Tail rod 706; Inner slider 707; Outer slider 708; Crossbar 709; Spring 2 710; Clamping wheel 711; Bracket 712; Connecting rod 713; Connecting plate 714; Triangular reinforcing rib 715; Observation port 716; Mounting plate 8; Top plate 9; Hydraulic cylinder 10. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. 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.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," 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 the invention and for 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 the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0039] Example 1: As Figures 1-16 As shown, a concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems includes a lower clamping block assembly 6 and an upper clamping block assembly 7 arranged opposite to each other. The lower clamping block assembly 6 is fixed on a guide assembly, and the upper clamping block assembly 7 slides on the guide assembly. The lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to a base assembly, and a hydraulic cylinder 10 is installed on the upper end of the guide assembly. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder 10 is connected to the upper clamping block assembly 7. Multiple support assemblies 4 are slidably connected on the base assembly.

[0040] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: the lower clamping block assembly 6 and the upper clamping block assembly 7 are arranged opposite each other in space, and the two together define a clamping area for accommodating the pipe to be welded.

[0041] The guide assembly plays a dual role here, serving as both the mounting carrier for the clamping block assembly and a precision guide rail that restricts the degree of freedom of movement. The lower clamping block assembly 6 acts as a static reference, providing a definite lower positioning reference for the pipe. The upper clamping block assembly 7 acts as a moving actuator, constrained to slide directionally on the guide assembly. This structural arrangement eliminates lateral swaying or torsion that may occur during clamping, ensuring that the direction of force is always along the preset centering axis, thereby guaranteeing the geometric accuracy of concentricity adjustment.

[0042] The base assembly serves as the foundation of the entire device, firmly anchoring the guide assembly and clamping mechanism to the working ground or platform. The hydraulic cylinder 10 is arranged on the top of the guide assembly, and its output end directly drives the upper clamping block assembly 7 to move closer to or away from the lower clamping block assembly 6. The hydraulic drive method provides a larger and continuously adjustable clamping force compared to traditional mechanical screw or pneumatic clamping, while also possessing excellent impact resistance and pressure holding performance, which is sufficient to overcome the docking misalignment resistance caused by ellipticity deviation or self-weight of large ship piping systems.

[0043] In addition, multiple support components 4 are slidably connected on the base assembly. These support components 4 are arranged along the length of the base assembly, and their positions can be adaptively adjusted according to the actual pipe length specifications. For example, when dealing with a long pipe section, the number of support components 4 can be increased or their spacing can be widened to prevent the middle of the pipe from sagging. When dealing with short pipes, the number can be reduced or they can be arranged in a concentrated manner. The presence of support components 4 ensures that the pipe receives sufficient external support before entering the clamping and alignment process, avoiding port posture instability caused by cantilever effect, and creating favorable preconditions for the upper and lower clamping block assemblies to perform high-precision concentricity forced correction.

[0044] Through the coordinated operation of the above-mentioned overall architecture, this embodiment establishes a complete pipe alignment operation system. The base component and the movable support component 4 constitute a highly adaptable flexible support platform, which solves the compatibility problem caused by the variety of specifications of large pipes. The hydraulic opposing clamping mechanism based on the guide component simplifies the complex three-dimensional alignment problem into a controllable single-axis precision motion, which achieves efficient and accurate concentricity alignment while ensuring clamping rigidity, effectively meeting the process requirements for high-quality circumferential welding in shipbuilding.

[0045] Example 2: Figures 1-16 As shown, the base assembly includes a support base 1, the lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to the support base 1, multiple crossbeam seats 2 are provided between the support base 1 and the ground, guide rods 3 are fixed on both sides of the support base 1, and multiple support assemblies 4 are slidably connected to the guide rods 3.

[0046] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: the crossbeam seat 2 serves as a transitional connector between the support seat 1 and the ground. It not only raises the overall working height to adapt to the needs of different work positions, but more importantly, it disperses the concentrated load to the ground to prevent foundation settlement or deformation due to excessive local pressure. The guide rod 3 extends horizontally along the length of the support seat 1, providing a high-precision linear motion reference for the support component 4.

[0047] Example 3: Figures 1-16 As shown, the support assembly 4 includes a slide block 401, which is slidably connected to the guide rod 3. An arc-shaped block 403 is provided inside the slide block 401, and an arc-shaped rubber pad is provided at the lower end of the arc-shaped block 403. The slide block 401 is fixed to the bottom of the base plate 402, and the base plate 402 is threadedly connected to the locking screw 404. The lower end of the locking screw 404 is inserted into the slide block 401 and abuts against the upper end of the arc-shaped block 403.

[0048] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: This structure realizes a flexible stepless locking mechanism. When it is necessary to fix the position of the support component 4, tightening the locking screw 404 will directly apply axial pressure to the upper end of the arc-shaped block 403, forcing the arc-shaped rubber pad at the lower end of the arc-shaped block 403 to undergo elastic deformation and fit tightly against the surface of the slide rod 3. Compared with the traditional metal pin positioning or direct pressing with set screws, this method of transmitting pressure through rubber medium has significant advantages: On the one hand, the high coefficient of friction of the rubber pad provides excellent anti-slip capability, which is sufficient to resist the axial thrust and vibration generated during the welding of large pipes; on the other hand, the flexible contact avoids the indentation damage of hard metal on the surface of the precision guide rod 3, extending the service life of the guide reference. At the same time, the damping characteristics of the rubber material can effectively absorb the transient impact energy during welding operations and maintain the dynamic stability of the support position.

[0049] Example 4: Figures 1-16 As shown, a housing 409 is fixed in the middle of the base plate 402. A worm gear 407 is rotatably connected inside the housing 409. The worm gear 407 meshes with a worm 406 rotating inside the housing 409. A handwheel 405 is fixed at the end of the worm 406. A threaded post 408 is threadedly connected to the middle of the worm gear 407. The upper end of the threaded post 408 is fixedly connected to the support housing 411. Two sliding rods 410 are fixed at the lower end of the support housing 411. Both sliding rods 410 are slidably connected to the base plate 402.

[0050] The worm gear 407 has an internal threaded hole in the middle, and the external thread of the threaded post 408 is engaged with the internal threaded hole. When the worm gear 407 rotates, the threaded post 408 can move up and down axially.

[0051] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: The lifting and adjusting mechanism utilizes two core characteristics of worm gear transmission. First, the large reduction ratio and force amplification effect: the operator only needs to apply a small torque to the handwheel 405, which, after being reduced by the meshing of the worm 406 and the worm wheel 407, can be converted into a huge axial lifting force of the threaded column 408, easily driving the support housing 411, which bears heavy-duty pipes, to perform precise lifting and lowering. Second, the reverse self-locking function: since the lead angle of the worm 406 is smaller than the equivalent friction angle of the meshing surface, when the handwheel 405 stops rotating, the mechanism automatically enters a self-locking state. Even under the weight of the pipe, it will not slip backwards. It can ensure absolute safety in maintaining the height without the need for an additional brake. In addition, the two slide rods 410 fixed at the lower end of the support housing 411 pass through the base plate 402 to form a double guide rail constraint, which strictly limits the circumferential rotational freedom of the support housing 411 when it is raised and lowered with the threaded column 408, ensuring the stability and verticality of the lifting process and preventing jamming caused by uneven load.

[0052] Example 5: Figures 1-16As shown, the two side walls of the support housing 411 are provided with sliding grooves 416. A support wheel 412 is rotatably connected inside the support housing 411. Both ends of the support wheel 412 extend out of the sliding grooves 416 and are rotatably connected to the support blocks 413 on both sides of the support housing 411. The lower ends of the sliding grooves 416 on both sides of the support housing 411 are provided with lower slide rails 414. One of the lower slide rails 414 has a tooth on its inner side and the other lower slide rail 414 has a tooth on its outer side. The upper ends of the sliding grooves 416 on both sides of the support housing 411 are provided with upper slide rails 415. The upper ends of the two support blocks 413 are slidably connected to the two upper slide rails 415 respectively. The tooth 2 provided at the lower ends of the two support blocks 413 respectively engages and locks with the two sets of tooth 1.

[0053] A spring 419 is provided between the support block 413 and the upper slide rail 415. A central rod 417 is passed through the support wheel 412. The two ends of the central rod 417 are respectively fixedly connected to two connecting rods 418. The two connecting rods 418 are respectively fixed to two support blocks 413. A scale line 420 is provided on the lower slide rail 414.

[0054] The support block 413 drives the support wheel 412 to move along the length of the slide groove 416. The support wheel 412 can move with the support block 413 and rotate around its own axis within the slide groove 416. The length of the slide groove 416 is consistent with the extension direction of the upper slide rail 415.

[0055] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: The support wheel 412 is an actuator that directly contacts the pipe. Its position is not fixed. Instead, it is suspended in the slide groove 416 by the support block 413, thus having the freedom to move along the slide groove trajectory. This design allows the support point to adapt or actively adjust according to the change of pipe diameter, rather than relying solely on a fixed V-shaped surface angle to accommodate different pipe diameters, which greatly expands the applicability of the clamp.

[0056] When the operator needs to fine-tune one side of the support block 413, the other side of the support block may be in a stable state of tooth meshing, avoiding the "synchronous jamming" phenomenon caused by the complete alignment of the tooth grooves on both sides, giving the adjustment process a higher degree of freedom and smoothness. At the same time, the upper slide rail 415 bears the vertical gravity load transmitted from the support block 413 and the pipe, so that the lower convex tooth meshing pair mainly bears the horizontal positioning shear force, realizing the decoupling of load-bearing and positioning functions, and effectively preventing the tooth surface from deforming and failing due to overload.

[0057] When the support width needs to be adjusted, the operator only needs to pull the connecting rod 418 outward. This action is simultaneously transmitted to the support blocks 413 on both sides via the central rod 417, forcing the support blocks 413 to overcome the elastic force of the spring 419 and move, thereby temporarily separating the second tooth from the first tooth and entering the unlocked state. At this time, the support wheel 412 can slide freely along the slide groove 416 to the target position. After releasing the connecting rod 418, push the connecting rod 418 inward to drive the support block 413 to reset, so that the second tooth re-embeds into the tooth groove of the first tooth to complete the self-locking. Compared with the traditional bolt set screw fastening method, this meshing-based locking method is more efficient. The mechanism not only achieves completely tool-free operation and significantly shortens the production changeover preparation time, but more importantly, the continuous axial preload provided by spring 419 can effectively eliminate the gap between the teeth. Even in the high-frequency vibration environment generated by welding operations, it still maintains the dynamic stability of the locked state and eliminates the risk of support loosening due to vibration. In addition, the scale line 420 set on the lower slide rail 414 provides an intuitive quantitative benchmark for the adjustment process. Operators can accurately control the symmetry of the two support wheels 412 relative to the center line according to the scale value, which ensures the initial concentricity accuracy of the pipe after placement from the source.

[0058] Example 6: Figures 1-16 As shown, the guide assembly includes a guide post 5, the lower end of which is fixed on the support base 1. The guide post 5 is fixedly connected to the lower clamping block assembly 6 and slidably connected to the upper clamping block assembly 7. A top plate 9 is fixed to the upper end of the guide post 5, and a hydraulic cylinder 10 is fixed on the top plate 9. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder 10 is connected to the mounting plate 8 fixed on the upper clamping block assembly 7.

[0059] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: the guide column 5 acts as the single common reference for the entire clamping system. It is both the static mounting base of the lower clamping block assembly 6 and the dynamic motion guide rail of the upper clamping block assembly 7. This coaxial common reference design eliminates the parallelism error that may be introduced by the split guide from the structural source. When the hydraulic cylinder 10 drives the upper clamping block assembly 7 to move down along the guide column 5, the center lines of the upper and lower clamping blocks always remain coincident, thereby forcibly correcting the concentricity of the pipe end to be welded. The top plate 9, as the mounting platform of the hydraulic cylinder 10, is rigidly connected to the top of the guide column 5 to form a closed force-bearing frame, which can effectively resist the lateral bending moment generated when clamping large pipes and ensure the long-term stability of the guiding accuracy under high load conditions.

[0060] Example 7: Figures 1-16As shown, the lower clamping block assembly 6 and the upper clamping block assembly 7 have the same structure, both including a U-shaped frame 701, a mounting plate 8 fixed on the U-shaped frame 701, and two ends of the U-shaped frame 701 fixedly connected to the V-shaped clamping block 702 respectively. A support plate is provided in the middle of the U-shaped frame 701 and the middle of the V-shaped clamping block 702. An operation port 703 is opened in the middle of both ends of the V-shaped clamping block 702. An observation port 716 is provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block 702. A triangular reinforcing rib 715 is provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block 702.

[0061] The working principle of the above technical solution: The U-shaped frame 701 serves as the main load-bearing frame of the clamping block assembly. Its two ends are fixedly connected to the V-shaped clamping blocks 702, forming a highly rigid semi-enclosed clamping cavity. This effectively resists the enormous radial force generated during hydraulic clamping of large pipes. The support plate located in the middle of the U-shaped frame 701 and the middle of the V-shaped clamping blocks 702, along with the triangular reinforcing ribs 715 added to the middle of the V-shaped clamping blocks 702, constitute a multi-layered anti-deformation reinforcement system. This ensures that the clamping block body does not undergo elastic torsion or plastic deformation under heavy load conditions. While maintaining the geometric accuracy of the clamping reference surface, the operation ports 703 opened at the middle of both ends of the V-shaped clamping block 702 provide the necessary physical channels for welding operations, allowing the welding torch to be directly inserted into the butt joint of the pipe end for root welding or spot welding fixation without repeated disassembly and assembly of the clamp. The observation port 716 in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block 702 allows operators or visual inspection equipment to monitor the alignment status and misalignment of the inner wall of the pipe in real time, achieving spatial compatibility between clamping positioning and quality inspection processes, and avoiding the risk of blind operation due to obstructed vision.

[0062] Example 8: Figures 1-16 As shown, the V-shaped clamping block 702 has two long slots on both sides, and clamping units are slidably connected in the two long slots. A connecting plate 714 is provided between the two clamping units. A limiting rack 704 is provided on the side of the long slot. The clamping unit is engaged and clamped with the limiting rack 704. A scale line 705 is provided on the side of the limiting rack 704.

[0063] The clamping unit includes an outer slider 708, which slides in a long groove. Two outer sliders 708 on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block 702 are connected by a connecting plate 714. An inner slider 707 is slidably connected inside the outer slider 708. A crossbar 709 provided inside the outer slider 708 slides inside the inner slider 707. A spring 710 is provided between the crossbar 709 and the inner wall of the inner slider 707. A tail rod 706 is fixed at the lower end of the inner slider 707. Two tail rods 706 on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block 702 are connected by a connecting rod 713. A bracket 712 is fixed at the upper end of the inner slider 707. A clamping wheel 711 is rotatably connected inside the bracket 712. A toothed protrusion at the lower end of the bracket 712 engages with a limiting rack 704 and clamps it.

[0064] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: Due to the large range of specifications of ship piping systems, it is difficult to ensure the contact stability of all pipe diameters by relying solely on the fixed angle of the V-shaped surface. Therefore, by sliding and adjusting the position of the clamping unit in the long groove, the distance of the clamping point relative to the center of the V-shape can be changed, thereby adapting to pipes of different diameters. The connecting plate 714 rigidly connects the two clamping units on the same side into one unit, ensuring synchronous movement of the two during the adjustment process, maintaining the uniformity of the clamping force distribution, and preventing the pipe posture from tilting due to unilateral offset. The engagement and clamping of the limiting rack 704 with the clamping unit provides discrete positioning positions, which has higher position repeatability accuracy compared to friction fastening. With the scale line 705 on the side of the limiting rack 704, the operator can quickly quantify and set the symmetrical position of the clamping units on both sides, ensuring that the center line of the pipe coincides with the theoretical center line of the clamp, reducing the trial and error time of manual alignment.

[0065] In its free state without the pipe placed, spring 710 is in a pre-compressed or naturally extended state, supporting the inner slider 707 and the bracket 712, keeping the convex tooth 712 in basic engagement with the limiting rack 704. When the pipe is inserted and subjected to the clamping force driven by the hydraulic cylinder 10, the weight of the pipe and the external clamping force work together on the clamping wheel 711, forcing the bracket 712, along with the inner slider 707, to undergo a slight downward displacement relative to the outer slider 708. This displacement causes the crossbar 709 to slide within the inner slider 707 and further compress spring 710, while simultaneously causing the convex tooth 712 at the lower end of the bracket 712 to embed more deeply into the tooth groove of the limiting rack 704. In other words, the external... The greater the load, the deeper the meshing depth between the convex tooth three and the limiting rack 704, and the stronger the locking force, forming a positive feedback mechanism of "force self-stabilization". This design cleverly utilizes the self-weight of the pipe and the process clamping force as the locking power source, completely eliminating the hidden danger of traditional bolt fastening gradually loosening under vibration due to gaps. It is particularly suitable for harsh working conditions with impact vibration at ship construction sites. In addition, the connecting rod 713 connects the two tail rods 706 on the same side, allowing the operator to overcome the elastic force of the spring 710 by pulling the connecting rod 713, and realize the synchronous unlocking and position adjustment of the two clamping units on the same side, which greatly improves the ease of operation.

[0066] The position adjustment process of the clamping unit on the V-shaped clamping block 702 is as follows: When no pipe is placed on the clamping wheel 711, push the connecting rod 713 upward. The connecting rod 713 drives the tail rod 706, inner slider 707, bracket 712 and clamping wheel 711 to move upward as a whole. The inner slider 707 slides relative to the outer slider 708. The cross bar 709 slides in the inner slider 707 and compresses the second spring 710. The third tooth at the lower end of the bracket 712 moves upward and separates from the limiting rack 704. The clamping unit enters the unlocked state. While keeping the connecting rod 713 in the upward state, along the long groove direction... The movable connecting rod 713 drives the two outer sliders 708 on the same side to slide synchronously through the connecting plate 714, adjusting the clamping wheel 711 to a position matching the target pipe diameter. During the adjustment process, the adjustment amount can be confirmed by the scale line 705 on the side of the limiting rack 704 to ensure the symmetry of the adjustment positions on both sides of the V-shaped clamping block 702. After releasing the connecting rod 713, under the elastic force of the spring 710, the inner slider 707 drives the bracket 712 and the clamping wheel 711 to move down and reset as a whole. The convex tooth 3 at the lower end of the bracket 712 re-embeds into the tooth groove of the limiting rack 704 to complete the locking. After the pipe is placed, the weight of the pipe is transmitted through the clamping wheel 711 and the bracket 712 to the meshing surface of the convex tooth 3 and the limiting rack 704, making the two further press and mesh, forming a gravity self-locking effect. That is, the heavier the pipe, the tighter the meshing of the convex tooth 3 and the limiting rack 704, and the more reliable the locking, thereby effectively preventing the clamping unit from being accidentally displaced during use.

[0067] At the clamping execution level, the clamping wheel 711 rotatably connected inside the bracket 712 adopts a rolling contact design. Compared with the traditional sliding friction clamping, the clamping wheel 711 allows the pipe to still rotate freely around its own axis after the concentricity alignment is completed. This feature is crucial for the circumferential welding process, as it allows the pipe to be welded in the full circumference without loosening the clamp, or facilitates the operator to adjust the starting position of the weld, significantly improving the continuity and efficiency of the welding operation. It should be understood that the material of the clamping wheel 711 can be selected according to the surface quality requirements of the pipe. For example, for stainless steel pipes with high surface finish requirements, polyurethane coated wheels can be used; for ordinary carbon steel pipes, hardened steel wheels or nylon wheels can be used, as long as a balance between rolling support and anti-slip can be achieved.

[0068] It is understood that the present invention has been described through some embodiments, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes or equivalent substitutions can be made to these features and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, under the teachings of the present invention, these features and embodiments can be modified to adapt to specific situations and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of this application are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems, characterized in that, It includes a lower clamping block assembly (6) and an upper clamping block assembly (7) arranged opposite to each other. The lower clamping block assembly (6) is fixed on the guide assembly, and the upper clamping block assembly (7) slides on the guide assembly. The lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to the base assembly. A hydraulic cylinder (10) is installed on the upper end of the guide assembly. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder (10) is connected to the upper clamping block assembly (7). Multiple support components (4) are slidably connected on the base assembly.

2. The concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base assembly includes a support base (1), the lower end of the guide assembly is fixedly connected to the support base (1), multiple crossbeam seats (2) are provided between the support base (1) and the ground, guide rods (3) are fixed on both sides of the support base (1), and multiple support assemblies (4) are slidably connected to the guide rods (3).

3. The concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support assembly (4) includes a slide (401), which is slidably connected to the guide rod (3). The slide (401) is provided with an arc-shaped block (403), and the lower end of the arc-shaped block (403) is provided with an arc-shaped rubber pad. The slide (401) is fixed to the bottom of the base plate (402), and the base plate (402) is threadedly connected to the locking screw (404). The lower end of the locking screw (404) is inserted into the slide (401) and abuts against the upper end of the arc-shaped block (403).

4. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 3, characterized in that, A housing (409) is fixed in the middle of the base plate (402). A worm gear (407) is rotatably connected inside the housing (409). The worm gear (407) meshes with a worm (406) rotating inside the housing (409). A handwheel (405) is fixed at the end of the worm (406). A threaded post (408) is threadedly connected in the middle of the worm gear (407). The upper end of the threaded post (408) is fixedly connected to the support housing (411). Two sliding rods (410) are fixed at the lower end of the support housing (411). Both sliding rods (410) are slidably connected to the base plate (402).

5. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support housing (411) has sliding grooves (416) on both sides of its side walls. A support wheel (412) is rotatably connected inside the support housing (411). Both ends of the support wheel (412) extend out of the sliding groove (416) and are rotatably connected to the support blocks (413) on both sides of the support housing (411). The lower ends of the sliding grooves (416) on both sides of the support housing (411) are provided with lower slide rails (414). One of the lower slide rails (414) has a tooth on its inner side and another lower slide rail (414) has a tooth on its outer side. The upper ends of the sliding grooves (416) on both sides of the support housing (411) are provided with upper slide rails (415). The upper ends of the two support blocks (413) are slidably connected to the two upper slide rails (415) respectively. The tooth on the lower end of the two support blocks (413) is engaged and locked with the two sets of tooth one respectively.

6. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 5, characterized in that, A spring (419) is provided between the support block (413) and the upper slide rail (415). A central rod (417) is inserted inside the support wheel (412). The two ends of the central rod (417) are fixedly connected to two connecting rods (418), and the two connecting rods (418) are fixed to two support blocks (413). A scale line (420) is provided on the lower slide rail (414).

7. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide assembly includes a guide post (5), the lower end of which is fixed on the support base (1). The guide post (5) is fixedly connected to the lower clamping block assembly (6), and the guide post (5) is slidably connected to the upper clamping block assembly (7). A top plate (9) is fixed to the upper end of the guide post (5), and a hydraulic cylinder (10) is fixed on the top plate (9). The output end of the hydraulic cylinder (10) is connected to the mounting plate (8) fixed on the upper clamping block assembly (7).

8. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lower clamping block assembly (6) has the same structure as the upper clamping block assembly (7), both including a U-shaped frame (701), a mounting plate (8) fixed on the U-shaped frame (701), the two ends of the U-shaped frame (701) are fixedly connected to the V-shaped clamping block (702), a support plate is provided in the middle of the U-shaped frame (701) and the middle of the V-shaped clamping block (702), an operation port (703) is provided in the middle of both ends of the V-shaped clamping block (702), an observation port (716) is provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block (702), and a triangular reinforcing rib (715) is provided in the middle of the V-shaped clamping block (702).

9. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 8, characterized in that, The V-shaped clamp (702) has two long slots on both sides, and clamping units are slidably connected in the two long slots. A connecting plate (714) is provided between the two clamping units. A limiting rack (704) is provided on the side of the long slot. The clamping unit and the limiting rack (704) mesh and clamp together. A scale line (705) is provided on the side of the limiting rack (704).

10. A concentricity alignment fixture for welding large marine piping systems according to claim 9, characterized in that, The clamping unit includes an outer slider (708), which slides in a long groove. Two outer sliders (708) on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block (702) are connected by a connecting plate (714). An inner slider (707) is slidably connected inside the outer slider (708). A crossbar (709) provided inside the outer slider (708) slides inside the inner slider (707). A spring (710) is provided between the crossbar (709) and the inner wall of the inner slider (707). A tail rod (706) is fixed at the lower end of the inner slider (707). Two tail rods (706) on the same side of the V-shaped clamping block (702) are connected by a connecting rod (713). A bracket (712) is fixed at the upper end of the inner slider (707). A clamping wheel (711) is rotatably connected inside the bracket (712). A toothed protrusion at the lower end of the bracket (712) meshes with a limiting rack (704) and clamps it.

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