A tempering fixture for clutch springs

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of clutch spring processing, especially to a kind of tempering stabilizing device of clutch spring.The present application relates to the field of clutch spring processing, especially to a kind of tempering stabilizing device of clutch spring, by the cooperation of the shaping pressure ring and the shaping support ring, multiple torsion limiting springs are pressed tightly and then put into the tempering furnace, so that the torsion limiting springs are tempered in the state of being pressed tightly and being fixed by multiple degrees of freedom, the uneven release of spring internal quenching residual stress is effectively offset in the high-temperature tempering stage, and the flatness is ensured to meet the standard at one time, under the forced pressing of the shaping pressure ring, the slight unevenness of spring end face is corrected and re-stabilized in the high-temperature state, so that the flatness of the final product directly meets the requirements of the host factory.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clutch spring processing, and more particularly to a tempering and stabilizing device for clutch springs. Background Technology

[0002] Torque limiting springs are core components of clutch torsional dampers. Their main function is to buffer the torque impact transmitted from the engine to the clutch, reduce vibration and noise in the transmission system, ensure smooth clutch operation, and thus improve the comfort and stability of the entire vehicle. Torque limiting springs are typically made of spring steel and, after being hot-formed, require medium-temperature tempering to eliminate internal stress generated during hot forming, stabilize the spring's structure, and improve its elastic limit, fatigue resistance, and dimensional stability. This ensures that the torsion limiting spring is not easily deformed or failed under long-term stress conditions, meeting the working requirements of clutch torsional dampers. The medium-temperature tempering temperature is usually controlled at 420℃ to suit the performance control requirements of spring steel. During medium-temperature tempering after hot forming, torsion limiting springs are prone to thermal deformation and difficulty in controlling flatness. This can lead to individual deliveries failing to meet the precision requirements of OEMs, as well as high costs, poor results, and the potential for new internal stress generation during manual calibration. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings of hot deformation and difficulty in controlling flatness during medium-temperature tempering after thermoforming of torsion springs, as well as the high cost, poor effect, and easy generation of new internal stress in manual straightening, this invention provides a tempering and stabilizing device for clutch springs.

[0004] Technical solution: A tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring, comprising a base, positioning rods, a shaping support ring, a first through groove structure, a shaping pressure ring, an annular pressure plate, and slide rods; at least three positioning rods are connected to the base; a shaping support ring for supporting the lower first torsion-limiting spring is fixedly connected to the base; the shaping support ring has several first through groove structures; several shaping pressure rings for pressing the torsion-limiting spring are slidably connected to all positioning rods; several second through groove structures are formed on the shaping pressure ring; an annular pressure plate is slidably connected to all positioning rods; at least three slide rods are slidably connected to the annular pressure plate; the slide rods are provided with pin structures; and several insertion holes corresponding to the pin structures of the slide rods are formed on the base.

[0005] Furthermore, the positioning rod is rotatably connected to the base; the positioning rod is provided with several pressure block structures for pressing the shaping pressure ring; each of the shaping pressure rings is provided with several clearance groove structures corresponding to the pressure block structures.

[0006] Furthermore, a lifting rod is fixed to the base; the lifting rod has a perforated structure.

[0007] Furthermore, a heat-absorbing retaining ring is fitted together on the outer sides of all the slide bars.

[0008] Furthermore, the base, annular pressure plate, and heat buffer ring all use ceramic fiber heat buffer material.

[0009] Furthermore, the slide bar is equipped with a clamping plate structure that clamps the bottom of the heat buffer retaining ring.

[0010] Furthermore, an annular electric fan that blows air downwards is placed on the annular pressure plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the thermal buffer ring has several microporous structures.

[0012] Furthermore, the outer casing of the ring-shaped electric fan is fixedly connected to no fewer than three clamping rods that are clamped onto the thermal buffer ring.

[0013] Furthermore, a temperature sensor is installed on the clamp.

[0014] Beneficial Effects: The present invention provides a tempering and stabilizing device for clutch springs. Multiple torsion-limiting springs are compressed and placed in a tempering furnace using a sizing pressure ring and a sizing support ring. This allows the torsion-limiting springs to undergo tempering in a compressed and multi-degree-of-freedom-limited state. During the high-temperature tempering stage, this effectively counteracts the uneven release of residual quenching stress within the springs, ensuring that flatness meets the requirements in one pass. Under the forced compression of the sizing pressure ring, minor unevenness on the spring end faces is corrected and re-stabilized at high temperatures, ensuring that the flatness of the final product directly meets the requirements of the OEM. The included heat buffer ring, in conjunction with the base and annular pressure plate, reduces the heating rate of the torsion spring in the tempering furnace, effectively preventing thermal shock and thermal stress caused by excessive temperature differences. After tempering, an annular electric fan can be used to simultaneously cool the torsion spring and heat buffer ring, balancing production efficiency and product quality. It also solves the technical problems of easy thermal deformation and difficulty in controlling flatness when the torsion spring is thermoformed and subjected to medium-temperature tempering, as well as the high cost, poor effect, and easy generation of new internal stress of manual straightening. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the initial assembly state of the invention;

[0016] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the base of the invention;

[0017] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the shaped compression ring for the invention;

[0018] Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the invention in a compressed state;

[0019] Figure 5A three-dimensional structural diagram of the heat buffer retaining ring of the invention in its initial assembly state;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the heat buffer retaining ring of the invention in the compressed state.

[0021] The markings in the attached diagram are as follows: 1-base, 101-insertion structure, 2-positioning rod, 201-pressure block structure, 3-shaping support ring, 301-first through groove structure, 4-shaping pressure ring, 401-second through groove structure, 402-avoidance groove structure, 5-annular pressure plate, 6-slide rod, 601-insertion structure, 602-clamping plate structure, 7-lifting rod, 701-perforation structure, 8-heat buffer retaining ring, 801-micro-hole structure, 9-annular electric fan, 91-clamping rod, 92-temperature sensor, 10-torsion limiting spring. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Example 1: A tempering stabilizing device for a clutch spring, hereinafter referred to as this tempering stabilizing device, is described below. Figures 1-4 As shown, the device includes a base 1, positioning rods 2, shaping support rings 3, first through-slot structures 301, shaping pressure rings 4, annular pressure plates 5, sliding rods 6, and lifting rods 7. Four positioning rods 2 are rotatably connected to the base 1. A shaping support ring 3 is fixedly connected to the base 1. Several first through-slot structures 301 are formed on the shaping support ring 3. Several shaping pressure rings 4 are slidably connected to all positioning rods 2. Several second through-slot structures 401 are formed on each shaping pressure ring 4. An annular pressure plate 5 is slidably connected to all positioning rods 2. Four sliding rods 6 are slidably connected to the annular pressure plate 5. Each sliding rod 6 has a pin structure 601 at its lower end. Insertion holes 101 are formed on the base 1, corresponding in both number and position to the pin structures 601 on the sliding rods 6. A lifting rod 7 is fixedly connected to the base 1. A through-hole structure 701 is formed on the lifting rod 7.

[0024] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, each positioning rod 2 is provided with several pressing block structures 201 for pressing the shaping ring 4, and the pressing block structures 201 are aligned with each other on the positioning rod 2 in the vertical direction; each shaping ring 4 is provided with several clearance groove structures 402 corresponding to the pressing block structures 201.

[0025] In the initial assembly process, the worker removes the annular pressure plate 5 and all the shaping pressure rings 4 from the positioning rod 2. A torsion-limiting spring 10 is placed on the upper surface of the shaping support ring 3. Then, a shaping pressure ring 4 is passed through the positioning rod 2 and stacked on top of the shaping support ring 3 and the placed torsion-limiting spring 10. The next torsion-limiting spring 10 is then placed on top of the placed shaping pressure ring 4, and so on, alternating between the torsion-limiting springs 10 and the shaping pressure rings 4, ensuring that each torsion-limiting spring 10 is aligned with a shaping pressure ring 4. Finally, the worker passes the annular pressure plate 5 through the positioning rod 2 and stacks it on top of the first shaping pressure ring 4 on the upper side. Figure 1 As shown, when the worker passes the shaping ring 4 through the positioning rod 2, the pressure block structure 201 of the positioning rod 2 passes through the clearance groove structure 402 of the shaping ring 4, allowing the shaping ring 4 to smoothly pass through the pressure block structure 201 of the positioning rod 2 and move downward.

[0026] After placing the torsion-limiting spring 10, the shaping ring 4, and the annular pressure plate 5, the worker places the tempering and stabilizing device under an external press. The external press applies a downward pressing force to the annular pressure plate 5, causing the shaping ring 4 below it to move downwards until it presses firmly against the surface of the torsion-limiting spring 10. At this point, the torsion-limiting spring 10 is compressed, and the insertion structure 601 of the slide rod 6 aligns with the insertion hole structure 101 of the base 1, fixing the annular pressure plate 5 to the base 1 via the slide rod 6, serving as the first locking structure. The worker then rotates the positioning rod 2 so that the pressure block structure 201 of the positioning rod 2 is no longer aligned with the clearance groove structure 402 of the shaping ring 4, thus locking the corresponding shaping ring 4 below it via the pressure block structure 201, serving as the second locking structure. Figure 4 As shown, the worker then holds a clamp through the perforated structure 701 of the lifting rod 7, lifts the lifting rod 7, and puts the torsion-limiting spring 10, which is connected and pressed by the tempering and shaping device, into the tempering furnace for tempering treatment. The hot air in the tempering furnace passes through the first through groove structure 301 on the shaping support ring 3 and the second through groove structure 401 on the shaping pressure ring 4 and comes into uniform contact with the surface of the torsion-limiting spring 10.

[0027] This embodiment achieves efficient, precise, and reliable clamping and shaping of the torsion spring 10 through the aforementioned layered assembly and double locking structure design. The rapid layered assembly steps significantly improve clamping efficiency. This assembly method eliminates the need for individual locking of each torsion spring 10, making it convenient and repeatable. It is particularly suitable for the batch production needs of simultaneous tempering and shaping of multiple torsion springs 10. The torsion spring 10 is tempered in a compressed state, utilizing the stress relaxation window during the tempering heating process when the material yield strength decreases. This is achieved through the shaping pressure ring 4. The constant axial constraint is applied to forcibly correct the flatness and free length of the end face of the torsion spring 10, effectively counteracting the deformation trends of the torsion spring 10 caused by uneven release of residual stress in the previous quenching process, such as warping, outer diameter expansion and contraction, and end face offset. This ensures that the geometric dimensions of the torsion spring 10 are precisely locked within the design tolerance range. During this period, the torsion spring 10 is always in a compressed state, avoiding dimensional fluctuations caused by thermal expansion and contraction or microstructure transformation, which greatly improves production efficiency and product consistency, while also improving the tempering effect of the torsion spring 10.

[0028] Example 2, based on Example 1, such as Figures 1-6 As shown, a removable heat buffer ring 8 is fitted together on the outer sides of all the slide rods 6; the base 1, the annular pressure plate 5 and the heat buffer ring 8 are all made of ceramic fiber heat buffer material with low thermal conductivity and large heat capacity; each slide rod 6 is provided with a clamping plate structure 602, which is clamped to the bottom of the heat buffer ring 8 to prevent the heat buffer ring 8 from sliding down from the slide rod 6 during the tempering process.

[0029] Since the tempering furnace is a continuously heating furnace, the internal temperature of the tempering furnace remains constant. When the torsion-limiting spring 10 in this tempering stabilizing device is directly placed into the tempering furnace, there is a large temperature difference between the torsion-limiting spring 10 itself and the ambient temperature in the tempering furnace. In this embodiment, the torsion-limiting spring 10 is pressed tightly under the shaping ring 4 according to the above implementation steps, and a heat buffer ring 8 is fitted between the outer sides of all the sliding rods 6. When the pressed torsion-limiting spring 10 is placed into the tempering furnace for tempering treatment along with this tempering stabilizing device, the hot air in the tempering furnace is initially isolated by the heat buffer of the base 1, the annular pressure plate 5, and the heat buffer ring 8. The seat 1, the annular pressure plate 5, and the heat buffer ring 8 absorb most of the heat in the hot air, slowing down the rate at which heat is transferred to the torsion spring 10. This significantly reduces the direct heating rate of the torsion spring 10, allowing it to undergo a mild and uniform preheating process before entering the tempering stage. This effectively avoids thermal shock and thermal stress caused by excessive temperature difference, greatly reducing the risk of irreversible deformation such as warping and twisting of the torsion spring 10 in the early stage of heating. It ensures the dimensional stability and microstructure uniformity of the subsequent tempering process, ultimately achieving high-quality, high-consistency tempering and stable processing of the torsion spring 10.

[0030] Example 3, based on Example 2, such as Figures 1-6 As shown, a removable annular electric fan 9 is placed on the annular pressure plate 5, and the air outlet of the annular electric fan 9 is aligned with the central circular hole structure of the annular pressure plate 5; a number of micro-hole structures 801 are opened on the heat buffer ring 8; four clamping rods 91 are fixed to the outer shell of the annular electric fan 9, and the clamping rods 91 are clamped on the outer surface of the heat buffer ring 8; a temperature sensor 92 is installed on each clamping rod 91.

[0031] When tempering the torsion-limiting spring 10, the annular electric fan 9 and clamping rod 91 are not installed between the annular pressure plate 5 and the heat buffer retaining ring 8. After completing the tempering of the torsion-limiting spring 10 according to the above implementation steps, the tempering and shaping device is removed from the tempering furnace, allowing all the shaping pressure rings 4 to keep the torsion-limiting spring 10 pressed tightly. Then, the annular electric fan 9 is placed on the annular pressure plate 5, and the clamping rod 91 is clamped on the outer surface of the heat buffer retaining ring 8. The position of the annular electric fan 9 on the annular pressure plate 5 is positioned by the clamping rod 91, so that the air outlet of the annular electric fan 9 is aligned with the central circular hole structure of the annular pressure plate 5. At this time, the heat buffer retaining ring 8 is kept on the outside of all the torsion-limiting springs 10. Figure 6 As shown.

[0032] The annular electric fan 9 is turned on to continuously blow cold air from the outside into the area below the annular pressure plate 5. The airflow first passes through the second through-slot structure 401 of all the shaping pressure rings 4 and then flows outward along the heat buffer ring 8. The airflow continuously flows over the outer surface of the torsion limiting spring 10 and the inner surface of the heat buffer ring 8, while uniformly cooling the torsion limiting spring 10 and the heat buffer ring 8. The heat buffer ring 8 has several micro-hole structures 801, and some airflow can pass through the micro-hole structures 801 to flow outward, enhancing the cooling efficiency of the airflow in carrying away heat from the heat buffer ring 8. In this step, the tempered torsion limiting spring 10 is kept in a compressed state for air cooling. The low-speed cooling process ensures that the torsion spring 10 is always rigidly limited by the upper and lower shaping pressure rings 4 during the cooling process. This effectively suppresses the spring's rebound and warping caused by uneven thermal shrinkage and phase transformation stress, ensuring that its flatness, free length, and outer diameter still meet high-precision requirements after cooling. In addition, this air-cooling method significantly shortens the cooling time compared to natural cooling, balancing production efficiency and product quality. During this period, the temperature sensor 92 continuously monitors the temperature of the thermal buffer ring 8 and the temperature of the airflow flowing out of the microporous structure 801 to see if it has cooled down to room temperature, thereby directly determining whether the cooling process of the torsion spring 10 and the thermal buffer ring 8 is complete.

[0033] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring, comprising a base (1); characterized in that: It also includes positioning rods (2), shaping support rings (3), first through groove structures (301), shaping pressure rings (4), annular pressure plates (5) and sliding rods (6); at least three positioning rods (2) are connected to the base (1); a shaping support ring (3) for supporting the first torsion limiting spring (10) on the lower side is fixed to the base (1); several first through groove structures (301) are opened on the shaping support ring (3); several shaping pressure rings (4) for pressing the torsion limiting spring (10) are slidably connected between all positioning rods (2); several second through groove structures (401) are opened on the shaping pressure rings (4); annular pressure plates (5) are slidably connected between all positioning rods (2); at least three sliding rods (6) are slidably connected on the annular pressure plates (5); the sliding rods (6) are provided with pin structures (601); several insertion hole structures (101) corresponding to the pin structures (601) of the sliding rods (6) are opened on the base (1).

2. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning rod (2) is rotatably connected to the base (1); the positioning rod (2) is provided with several pressure block structures (201) for pressing the shaping ring (4); the shaping ring (4) is provided with several clearance groove structures (402) corresponding to the pressure block structure (201).

3. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: A lifting rod (7) is fixedly connected to the base (1); a perforated structure (701) is provided on the lifting rod (7).

4. A tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: A heat-absorbing retaining ring (8) is fitted together on the outer sides of all the slide bars (6).

5. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 4, characterized in that: The base (1), the annular pressure plate (5) and the heat buffer ring (8) are all made of ceramic fiber heat buffer material.

6. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 5, characterized in that: The slide bar (6) is provided with a clamping plate structure (602) for clamping the bottom of the heat buffer retaining ring (8).

7. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 6, characterized in that: An annular electric fan (9) that blows air downwards is placed on the annular pressure plate (5).

8. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 7, characterized in that: The thermal buffer ring (8) has several microporous structures (801).

9. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outer casing of the ring-shaped electric fan (9) is fixed with no less than three clamping rods (91) that are clamped on the heat buffer ring (8).

10. The tempering and stabilizing device for a clutch spring according to claim 9, characterized in that: A temperature sensor (92) is installed on the clamp (91).

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