Iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of manufacturing equipment manufacturing technology, and discloses a kind of iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mould pressing device, comprising: base, it is equipped with for accommodating and pressing the alloy powder cavity;Demoulding coating mechanism is set on the base, it is to automatically apply release agent to the cavity inner wall before powder supply, and the excess release agent is collected and stored for recycling;Alternating actuator, suspended above the cavity, it includes feeding mechanism, pressing forming mechanism and driving switching mechanism.The purpose of the iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mould pressing device is to solve the problem that the release agent coating process and the pressing process are independent of each other in the existing powder metallurgy pressing equipment, and the mould needs to be separated by external auxiliary device for separate coating, resulting in large overall equipment area and low process connection efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of manufacturing equipment technology, specifically to a pressing device for iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy molds. Background Technology

[0002] Iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy is a functional material that enhances hydrogen storage capacity and cycle stability through synergistic modification with iron and nickel elements. Its powder metallurgy pressing process places extremely high demands on the surface quality of the mold and the precision of demolding. Due to the high hardness of this type of alloy powder and the high forming pressure, powder particles easily embed and adhere to the inner wall of the mold under high pressure. If a release agent is not applied to the inner wall of the cavity before pressing, cracks, surface tears, and even mold damage may occur in the blank during demolding, severely affecting the yield and mold lifespan. Therefore, applying a uniform layer of release agent to the inner wall of the cavity before formal material feeding and pressing is an indispensable and crucial step in this process.

[0003] In existing technologies, the release agent coating process is typically performed using additional, independent mechanical devices. The common procedure involves first separating the closed pressing mold, then using an external transfer mechanism to move the mold to a dedicated coating station for operation, or introducing a large, independent robotic arm or similar equipment to spray the coating over the open mold. This separate operation mode results in the pressing machine and coating equipment being dispersed in the equipment layout. To accommodate the long-distance transfer of the mold and the operation and obstacle avoidance requirements of the large external coating equipment, the entire molding system must reserve a very large clearance area around the equipment. This specific structural arrangement directly leads to an excessively large overall footprint for existing powder metallurgy pressing molding systems, severely reducing the space utilization rate of the production workshop. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems in existing powder metallurgy pressing equipment where the mold release agent coating process and the pressing process are independent of each other, requiring external auxiliary devices to separate the mold before coating, resulting in a large overall equipment footprint and low process connection efficiency. Therefore, this invention proposes a pressing device for iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy molds.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A powder metallurgical die pressing device for iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy includes: A base having a cavity for receiving and pressing the alloy powder; A release coating mechanism is provided on the machine base, which is used to automatically apply release agent to the inner wall of the cavity before powder feeding, and to collect and circulate excess release agent. An alternating actuator, suspended above the cavity, includes a feeding mechanism, a pressing and molding mechanism, and a drive switching mechanism. The drive switching mechanism drives the feeding mechanism and the pressing and molding mechanism to alternately move to the top of the cavity, so as to cooperate with the demolding and coating mechanism to complete the cavity lubrication, powder filling and pressing and molding processes in sequence.

[0006] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0007] Furthermore, the base has a portal frame structure with a worktable in the middle; The cavity includes: The side molds, numbering at least two, are connected through and rotatably to the worktable; The bottom mold is vertically slidably connected to the inside of the side mold, and is used to cover the bottom of the side mold; The upper mold is movably suspended above the side mold and can be moved downward toward the center of the side mold to cover the top of the side mold.

[0008] Furthermore, the demolding coating mechanism includes: Storage compartments are located on the side of the workbench near the bottom mold, with an open top, and their number and distribution correspond one-to-one with the side molds; The coating mechanism is connected to the storage silo, with its suction end connected to the storage silo and its liquid outlet located near the side mold.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom outer side of the side mold is provided with an annular air outlet seat and an annular heating seat that are interconnected. The annular air outlet seat is fixed on the worktable, and its inner diameter is the same as that of the side mold. Its top is rotatably connected to the bottom of the side mold, and the bottom mold slides through the side mold and the annular air outlet seat. The annular heating seat is fitted and fixed to the radial outer side of the annular air outlet seat and is fixedly connected to the opening of the storage compartment; the annular heating seat has a heating source inside and an air inlet on the outside; The annular vent seat has several one-way vent valves on its wall surface, and the inner cavity of the annular heating seat is connected to the gap between the side mold and the bottom mold through the one-way vent valves.

[0010] Furthermore, the annular air outlet seat and the inner wall of the side mold are both provided with corresponding slots, and the outer circumferential side of the bottom mold is fixed with a plug that matches the slot. The bottom mold drives the side mold to rotate synchronously through the cooperation of the plug and the slot.

[0011] Furthermore, the drive switching mechanism includes: A translation drive component, mounted on the base, has a drive end capable of reciprocating laterally; A connecting post is fixed to the driving end, and a first protrusion perpendicular to it is fixed on the radially outer side of the connecting post; The connecting frame is horizontally fixed on the base; A rotating seat is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame. The surface of the rotating seat has at least two connecting holes, and the first protrusion is slidably inserted into one of the connecting holes.

[0012] Furthermore, the feeding mechanism includes: The guide seat is horizontally and fixedly installed on the machine base; The second protrusion is slidably connected to the guide seat, and the second protrusion is slidably inserted into another connection hole; The feeding hopper is fixedly connected to the end of the second protrusion and has an electrically controlled discharge port.

[0013] Furthermore, the pressing and molding mechanism includes: The upper hydraulic push rod is fixed to the connecting column, and its output end is connected to the mounting column. The lower end of the mounting column is rotatably connected to the upper mold. The ball spline outer cylinder is rotatably mounted on the machine base; A ball spline shaft is inserted into the ball spline outer cylinder, with one end passing through the storage compartment and fixedly connected to the bottom center of the bottom mold. A rotary drive component is mounted on the base and is connected to the ball spline outer cylinder for transmission. The lower hydraulic push rod is mounted on the machine base, and its output end is connected to the other end of the ball spline shaft.

[0014] Furthermore, the worktable is also equipped with an upper mold coating mechanism, which includes: There are two supports, which are fixed on the worktables on both sides of the side mold respectively, and solid release agent is loaded on the supports; A vertical guide rod is fixed vertically to the worktable; A rack is provided with a sliding sleeve that slides in cooperation with the vertical guide rod, and a linear guide rail is fixed on the back of the rack; A ring frame, one end of which is fixed to the top of the upper mold, and the other end of which is fixed with a gear that meshes with the rack; The L-shaped slider has one end fixed to the outside of the mounting post and the other end slidably fitted onto the linear guide rail.

[0015] Furthermore, at least four support arms are fixed to the outer side of the upper mold, and positioning pins are fixed on the support arms. At least six positioning holes that are adapted to the positioning pins are opened on the surface of the worktable.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects: This invention integrates the demolding and coating mechanism directly onto the machine base, creating a compact, integrated layout with the mold cavity. The entire pressing and molding system eliminates the need for pre-reserved space around the equipment for mold transfer and external coating equipment movement, significantly reducing the overall footprint and improving the space utilization of the production workshop. Simultaneously, the demolding and coating mechanism automatically applies the release agent to the inner wall of the cavity before powder feeding and collects and circulates excess release agent on-site, eliminating redundant operations such as mold separation, external transfer, and independent coating. Furthermore, the drive switching mechanism coordinates with the feeding mechanism and pressing and molding mechanism to alternately shift positions, allowing the three processes of cavity lubrication, powder filling, and pressing and molding to be completed continuously in the same station. No equipment switching or downtime is required between processes, resulting in a more compact and efficient overall process flow, improving the automation level and production cycle of the pressing and molding system. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall connection structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the base and the drive switching mechanism of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the worktable and the upper mold coating mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the workbench and the feeding bin of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the annular air outlet seat and the annular heating seat of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the workbench and the coating mechanism of the present invention.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Machine base; 2. Demolding and coating mechanism; 21. Storage bin; 22. Coating mechanism; 221. Pump body; 222. Hose; 223. Mist nozzle; 224. Electric push rod; 3. Feeding mechanism; 31. Guide seat; 32. Second protrusion; 33. Feeding bin; 4. Pressing and molding mechanism; 41. Upper hydraulic push rod; 42. Ball spline outer cylinder; 43. Ball spline shaft; 44. Rotary drive component; 45. Lower hydraulic push rod; 46. Mounting column; 5. Drive switching mechanism; 51. Translation drive component; 52. Connecting column; 53. First protrusion; 54. Connecting frame; 55. Rotary seat; 56. Connecting hole; 6. Worktable; 7. Side mold; 8. Bottom mold; 9. Upper mold; 10. Annular vent seat; 11. Annular heating seat; 12. Slot; 13. Upper mold coating mechanism; 131. Support; 132. Rack; 133. Annular frame; 134. Gear; 135. L-shaped sliding component; 14. Support arm; 15. Positioning pin; 16. Positioning hole; 17. Insert block. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] Reference Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this invention provides a powder metallurgy mold pressing device for iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy. The device is based on a base 1 as the main supporting structure, and the base 1 has a cavity for accommodating and pressing alloy powder. Specifically, the base 1 has a portal frame structure with good overall rigidity, which can effectively withstand the high pressure load generated during powder pressing without deformation, thus ensuring pressing accuracy. A worktable 6 is horizontally arranged in the middle of the base 1. The worktable 6 serves as the core operating platform of the entire device, and all functional modules are spatially arranged based on it.

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the cavity is composed of three parts: a side mold 7, a bottom mold 8, and an upper mold 9. There are at least two side molds 7, which are mounted through and rotatably on the worktable 6. They are arranged in a multi-station parallel configuration, allowing for simultaneous coating, feeding, and pressing operations on multiple cavities within a single work cycle. The rotatable design of the side molds 7 allows them to rotate around their own axis under the drive of the rotary drive 44, providing a structural basis for the subsequent use of centrifugal force to assist in the uniform adhesion of the release agent. The bottom mold 8 is vertically slidably connected to the inside of the side molds 7, sealing the bottom of the side molds 7. It can move axially up and down within the cavity of the side molds 7, achieving precise vertical positioning through the lower hydraulic push rod 45, thereby controlling the closed state of the cavity bottom. The upper mold 9 is movably suspended above the side molds 7 and can move downwards towards the center of the side molds 7 to seal the top of the side molds 7. Driven downwards by the upper hydraulic push rod 41, it applies molding pressure to the alloy powder within the cavity. The side mold 7, bottom mold 8 and upper mold 9 work together to form a closed pressing cavity, which together completes the constraint and pressing of the powder.

[0022] To ensure a reliable rotational linkage between the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7 during vertical displacement, corresponding slots 12 are provided on the inner walls of both the annular vent seat 10 and the side mold 7. A plug block 17, compatible with the slot 12, is fixed to the outer circumferential side of the bottom mold 8. Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, during the process of the lower hydraulic push rod 45 driving the bottom mold 8 to rise, the insert block 17 first passes through the slot 12 on the annular air outlet seat 10, and continues to move upwards before entering the corresponding slot 12 on the inner wall of the side mold 7. This forms a circumferentially fixed connection between the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7. The bottom mold 8 can then drive the side mold 7 to rotate synchronously through the cooperation of the insert block 17 and the slot 12. After rotation, the lower hydraulic push rod 45 drives the bottom mold 8 to descend, and the insert block 17 disengages from the slot 12 of the side mold 7 and returns to the position of the slot 12 on the annular air outlet seat 10. The circumferential connection between the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7 is then released, and the side mold 7 returns to a relatively stationary state, preparing for the subsequent material feeding process. This structure of the insert block 17 and the slot 12 has the characteristics of reliable engagement and convenient disengagement, effectively avoiding slippage or misalignment during rotational linkage.

[0023] The release coating mechanism 2 is directly integrated onto the base 1, allowing the release agent coating process and the pressing process to be completed continuously within the same device. The release coating mechanism 2 automatically applies the release agent to the inner wall of the cavity before powder feeding and collects and circulates excess release agent. Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, specifically, the release coating mechanism 2 comprises two main parts: a storage chamber 21 and a coating mechanism 22. The storage chambers 21 are located on the side of the worktable 6 near the bottom mold 8, with open tops. Their number and distribution correspond one-to-one with the side molds 7, with each side mold 7 having its own independent storage chamber 21, enabling independent storage, supply, and recycling management of the release agent at each workstation. The open top design of the storage chambers 21 allows excess release agent in the cavity to flow back into the storage chambers 21 naturally under gravity after the bottom mold 8 is lowered, achieving closed-loop recycling of the release agent and avoiding material waste and environmental pollution.

[0024] The suction end of the coating mechanism 22 is connected to the storage chamber 21, and the discharge end is located near the side mold 7. For example... Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, exemplarily, the coating mechanism 22 includes a pump body 221, a hose 222, a mist nozzle 223, and an electric actuator 224. The pump body 221 is located inside the storage chamber 21 and serves as the power source for delivering the liquid release agent. It pumps the release agent from the storage chamber 21 to the mist nozzle 223 via the hose 222. One end of the hose 222 is connected to the outlet of the pump body 221, and the other end extends sequentially through the storage chamber 21 and the worktable 6 to the vicinity of the side mold 7 and connects to the mist nozzle 223. The hose 222 has good flexibility to accommodate displacement changes when the electric actuator 224 drives the mist nozzle 223 to adjust its angle. The output end of the electric actuator 224 is connected to the mist nozzle 223. Through the extension and retraction of the electric actuator 224, the mist nozzle 223 can be driven to align with the inner cavity of the side mold 7, ensuring that the release agent is evenly sprayed in an atomized state onto all effective areas of the inner wall of the side mold 7, guaranteeing coating uniformity and coverage. It is worth noting that the coating mechanism 22 is not limited to the above-mentioned atomized spraying method. For example, a brush roller coating mechanism or an ultrasonic atomized spraying mechanism can also be used. The specific implementation can be flexibly selected according to the physicochemical properties of the release agent and the production process requirements.

[0025] To further accelerate the adhesion and curing of the release agent on the inner wall of the mold cavity, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, an annular vent seat 10 and an annular heating seat 11, which are interconnected, are provided on the outer side of the bottom of the side mold 7. The annular vent seat 10 is fixed on the worktable 6, and its inner diameter is the same as that of the side mold 7. Its top is rotatably connected to the bottom of the side mold 7. This rotatable connection structure ensures that the side mold 7 can rotate freely relative to the annular vent seat 10, and the two are not affected by rotational movement. The bottom mold 8 is slidably inserted into the side mold 7 and the annular vent seat 10. The outer diameter of the bottom mold 8 is adapted to the inner diameter of the annular vent seat 10 and the side mold 7, ensuring that the bottom mold 8 maintains a good sealing fit during vertical displacement.

[0026] An annular heating seat 11 is fitted and fixed radially to the outer side of the annular vent seat 10 and is fixedly connected to the opening of the storage chamber 21, thereby forming an interconnected sealed cavity system between the inner cavity of the annular heating seat 11, the annular vent seat 10, and the storage chamber 21. The annular heating seat 11 has a heating source inside and an air inlet on the outside. The heating source can be, for example, an electric heating wire, a PTC ceramic heating element, or an electromagnetic induction heating coil. External gas, such as dry compressed air or nitrogen, introduced from the air inlet is heated to a set temperature, and the hot gas flows into the inner cavity of the annular vent seat 10. Several one-way valves are provided on the wall of the annular vent seat 10. The inner cavity of the annular heating seat 11 is connected to the gap between the side mold 7 and the bottom mold 8 through these one-way valves. The one-way valves ensure that the hot gas can only flow upwards from the annular vent seat 10 into the annular gap between the side mold 7 and the bottom mold 8, preventing backflow of gas. The hot airflow diffuses upwards along the gap, drying the release agent freshly sprayed on the inner wall of the side mold 7 and the surface of the bottom mold 8. This accelerates solvent evaporation and promotes rapid curing and adhesion of the release agent film, effectively shortening the waiting time for the coating process. Simultaneously, the bottom mold 8 and side mold 7 rotate synchronously under the drive of the rotary drive 44. The resulting centrifugal force causes the liquid release agent on the inner wall of the cavity to expand radially outwards, further improving the uniformity and adhesion of the coating.

[0027] This invention is equipped with an alternating actuator, suspended above the cavity, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it includes a feeding mechanism 3, a pressing and forming mechanism 4, and a drive switching mechanism 5. The three form a coordinated and interconnected whole in space, and are uniformly scheduled by the drive switching mechanism 5. They realize the alternating switching of the two major functional modules of feeding and pressing on the same horizontal motion trajectory, eliminating the need for multiple power systems that would otherwise be required to independently drive each module. The structure is compact and the movements are precise.

[0028] The drive switching mechanism 5 includes a translation drive component 51, a connecting column 52, a first protrusion 53, a connecting frame 54, and a rotating base 55. The translation drive component 51 is mounted on the base 1 and has a drive end capable of lateral reciprocating movement; for example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, exemplarily, the translation drive 51 can be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or an electric linear module. In this embodiment, an electric linear module is preferred because it has a large output force and precise stroke control, which can meet the requirements for driving force and positioning accuracy during alternating switching. Alternatively, the translation drive 51 can also be in the form of a servo motor combined with a lead screw and nut mechanism to achieve higher positioning accuracy and smoother movement. The specific choice can be flexibly made according to the production cycle and accuracy requirements. The connecting column 52 is fixed to the driving end of the translation drive 51. A first protrusion 53 perpendicular to the connecting column 52 is fixed to its radially outer side. The first protrusion 53 moves laterally in a linear reciprocating motion along with the connecting column 52. The connecting frame 54 is horizontally fixed to the base 1. A rotating seat 55 is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame 54 and can rotate freely relative to the connecting frame 54 in the horizontal plane. The surface of the rotating seat 55 has at least two connecting holes 56, and the first protrusion 53 is slidably inserted into one of the connecting holes 56. When the translation drive 51 drives the connecting column 52 to move laterally, the first protrusion 53 slides radially relative to the connecting hole 56, and at the same time pushes the rotating seat 55 to rotate. This transmission principle is similar to a crank-slider mechanism, which converts the lateral linear motion into a fixed-angle rotational motion of the rotating seat 55. Then, through the second protrusion 32 in another connecting hole 56 of the rotating seat 55, the rotational motion is converted back into the lateral linear movement of the feeding mechanism 3, thereby realizing the linkage switching between the feeding mechanism 3 and the pressing and forming mechanism 4.

[0029] The feeding mechanism 3 includes a guide seat 31, a second protrusion 32, and a feeding bin 33. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the guide seat 31 is horizontally fixedly installed on the base 1, providing precise motion guidance for the lateral sliding of the second protrusion 32, effectively constraining the movement trajectory of the feeding bin 33, and ensuring that it always moves smoothly along the set direction. The second protrusion 32 is slidably connected to the guide seat 31 and slidably inserted into another connecting hole 56 of the rotating seat 55, thereby converting the rotational motion of the rotating seat 55 into a lateral linear displacement along the guiding direction of the guide seat 31. The feeding bin 33 is fixedly connected to the end of the second protrusion 32, and is provided with an electrically controlled discharge port and a feeding pipe; the electrically controlled discharge port can be exemplarily a gate controlled by a solenoid valve, a screw feeder driven by a stepper motor, or a pneumatic butterfly valve, etc., and can be selected according to the flowability, particle size distribution, and single filling accuracy requirements of the alloy powder. When the rotating seat 55 rotates to the corresponding position, the feeding chamber 33 moves to the top of the cavity, the electrically controlled discharge port opens, and a fixed amount of iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder falls freely into the cavity enclosed by the side mold 7. After the powder filling process is completed, the discharge port closes, the rotating seat 55 rotates in the opposite direction, and the feeding chamber 33 exits the top of the cavity, making room for the subsequent pressing and molding mechanism 4 to intervene.

[0030] The pressing and forming mechanism 4 includes an upper hydraulic push rod 41, a mounting column 46, a ball spline outer cylinder 42, a ball spline shaft 43, a rotary drive component 44, and a lower hydraulic push rod 45. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the upper hydraulic push rod 41 is fixed on the connecting column 52, and its output end is connected to the mounting column 46. The lower end of the mounting column 46 is rotatably connected to the upper mold 9. The upper mold 9 can rotate freely relative to the mounting column 46 through this rotatable connection structure. Thus, when the upper mold 9 rotates, the upper hydraulic push rod 41 and the mounting column 46 do not need to rotate with it, effectively avoiding the problem of hydraulic pipeline entanglement and ensuring the stability and sealing of the hydraulic system. The ball spline outer cylinder 42 is rotatably mounted on the base 1. The ball spline shaft 43 passes through the ball spline outer cylinder 42, with one end penetrating the storage chamber 21 and fixedly connected to the bottom center of the bottom mold 8. The ball spline shaft 43 can undergo axial relative displacement within the ball spline outer cylinder 42 and rotates synchronously with the ball spline outer cylinder 42, achieving complete decoupling of rotational motion and axial displacement motion. It should be noted that the ball spline outer cylinder 42 and the ball spline shaft 43 together form a ball spline lifting and rotating mechanism. The ball spline lifting and rotating mechanism is existing technology, and its specific structure and working principle need not be elaborated here. The rotary drive component 44 is mounted on the base 1 and is connected to the ball spline outer cylinder 42 for transmission. For example, the rotary drive component 44 can be in the form of a servo motor and a synchronous belt pulley. The driving pulley on the output shaft of the servo motor drives the driven pulley mounted on the ball spline outer cylinder 42 through the synchronous belt, thereby driving the ball spline outer cylinder 42 to rotate. In addition, the rotary drive 44 can also be a servo motor with gear transmission or other indirect couplings to meet the needs of different speed and torque conditions. After the rotary drive 44 is started, the rotational motion is transmitted to the ball spline shaft 43 through the ball spline outer cylinder 42, which in turn drives the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7 to rotate synchronously, so that the release agent on the inner wall of the cavity is evenly spread outward under the action of centrifugal force, completing the coating and strengthening. The lower hydraulic push rod 45 is installed on the machine base 1, and its output end is connected to the other end of the ball spline shaft 43. It is responsible for driving the ball spline shaft 43 and the bottom mold 8 to move vertically. During the upward stroke, the insertion block 17 is engaged with the slot 12 of the side mold 7. During the downward stroke, the bottom mold 8 is retracted to below the annular air outlet seat 10, the bottom of the cavity is opened, and the excess release agent flows back to the storage chamber 21 under the action of gravity, completing the recycling cycle of the release agent.

[0031] To achieve automatic coating of the release agent on the surface of the upper mold 9, an upper mold coating mechanism 13 is also provided on the worktable 6. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the upper mold coating mechanism 13 includes a support 131, a vertical guide rod, a rack 132, a ring frame 133, a gear 134, and an L-shaped slider 135. Two supports 131 are fixed to the worktables 6 on both sides of the side mold 7, and solid release agent is loaded on the supports 131. Compared to liquid release agents, solid release agent has advantages such as less flow, controllable coating, and strong adhesion, making it particularly suitable for applying release agent to mold components like the upper mold 9, which primarily move by vertical downward pressure. The vertical guide rod is vertically fixed to the worktable 6, providing constraint and guidance for the vertical sliding of the rack 132. The rack 132 is equipped with a sliding sleeve that slides with the vertical guide rod, ensuring that the rack 132 and gear 134 can move smoothly in the vertical direction without lateral sway. A linear guide rail is fixed to the back of the rack 132, providing a precise linear motion reference for the L-shaped slider 135. One end of the ring frame 133 is fixed to the top of the upper mold 9, and the other end is fixed with a gear 134 that meshes with the rack 132. When the drive switching mechanism 5 drives the connecting column 52 to move laterally, the mounting column 46 drives the upper mold 9 to move laterally. The upper mold 9 drives the gear 134 to move laterally synchronously through the ring frame 133. At this time, the gear 134 rolls along the tooth surface of the rack 132, thereby causing the upper mold 9 to rotate relative to the mounting column 46. When the upper mold 9 moves laterally to the surface of the solid release agent on the support 131, the upper mold 9 makes full contact with the solid release agent while rotating, and evenly coats the release agent on the bottom working surface of the upper mold 9, thus completing the application of the release agent to the upper mold 9. One end of the L-shaped slider 135 is fixed to the outside of the mounting post 46, and the other end is slidably engaged with the linear guide rail on the back of the rack 132. When the upper hydraulic push rod 41 drives the mounting post 46 to move vertically downward, the L-shaped slider 135 drives the linear guide rail and the rack 132 to move downward synchronously, ensuring that the gear 134 and the rack 132 always maintain a meshing state. During the process of the upper mold 9 entering the cavity of the side mold 7, it can continuously follow the vertical displacement of the rack 132 and maintain a precise rotation-guide engagement, ensuring that the upper mold 9 is accurately aligned with the cavity axis when it is pressed down.

[0032] To further ensure the precise alignment of the upper mold 9 with the cavity during the pressing process, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, at least four support arms 14 are fixed to the outer side of the upper mold 9, and positioning pins 15 are fixed on the support arms 14. At least six positioning holes 16, which are adapted to the positioning pins 15, are formed on the surface of the worktable 6. The cooperation between the positioning pins 15 and the positioning holes 16 synchronously completes the circumferential positioning of the upper mold 9 when it descends to the pressing station, effectively preventing the upper mold 9 from rotating or shifting relative to the worktable 6 during the pressing process. This ensures the coaxial accuracy of the upper mold 9, side molds 7, and bottom mold 8 during the pressing process, thereby ensuring the geometric accuracy and density uniformity of the pressed blank. The number of positioning holes 16 is greater than the number of positioning pins 15, allowing the middle positioning hole 16 to be shared by two adjacent side molds 7, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the number of positioning holes 16 is greater than the number of positioning pins 15. For example, there are four positioning pins 15 and six positioning holes 16. When pressing the left cavity, the positioning pins 15 on the support arm 14 are inserted into the two sets of positioning holes 16 on the left. When pressing the right cavity, the positioning pins 15 are inserted into the two sets of positioning holes 16 on the right. The two positioning holes 16 located in the middle can participate in positioning during the pressing of the cavities on both sides, realizing the sharing of the middle positioning hole 16. Without increasing the complexity of the machining holes on the worktable 6, it effectively meets the positioning requirements of each cavity pressing under the multi-station layout.

[0033] In summary, the entire working cycle of this invention is as follows: Cavity lubrication stage: Before each work cycle begins, the lower hydraulic push rod 45 first drives the ball spline shaft 43, together with the bottom mold 8, to move downwards. The bottom mold 8 exits the cavity of the side mold 7 and descends into the storage chamber 21, at which point the bottom of the cavity is open. Subsequently, the rotary drive 44 is activated, and the rotational motion is transmitted to the ball spline shaft 43 via the ball spline outer cylinder 42, which in turn drives the bottom mold 8 to rotate around its own axis. Since the insertion block 17 of the bottom mold 8 is not yet within the slot 12 of the side mold 7, a circumferential connection has not yet been formed between the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7, and the side mold 7 remains stationary.

[0034] After the above preparation is completed, the demolding coating mechanism 2 is started. The liquid demolding agent in the storage chamber 21 is pumped by the pump body 221 through the hose 222 to the mist nozzle 223. The electric push rod 224 drives the mist nozzle 223 to spray in the direction of aiming at the inner cavity of the side mold 7 and the upper surface of the bottom mold 8. The demolding agent is evenly sprayed in a mist state onto all effective areas of the inner wall of the side mold 7 and the upper surface of the bottom mold 8.

[0035] After spraying, the lower hydraulic push rod 45 drives the bottom mold 8 to rise. The insert 17 on the outside of the bottom mold 8 passes through the slot 12 on the annular air outlet seat 10 and continues to move upward, entering the corresponding slot 12 on the inner wall of the side mold 7. The bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7 then form a reliable circumferential fixed connection. At the same time, the rotary drive 44 is started again, driving the bottom mold 8 and the side mold 7 to rotate synchronously. The liquid release agent that was just sprayed on the inner wall of the cavity spreads evenly outward radially under the action of centrifugal force generated by rotation, and the coverage and adhesion uniformity are significantly improved. Then, the lower hydraulic push rod 45 is started again to lower the bottom mold 8 into the storage chamber 21. The excess release agent flows down along the outside of the bottom mold 8 under the combined action of centrifugal force and gravity and flows back into the storage chamber 21, realizing the closed-loop recycling of the release agent.

[0036] Next, the bottom mold 8 is driven to the bottom of the exhaust check valve. External dry gas is introduced through the air inlet of the annular heating seat 11. After being heated by the internal heating source, it enters the inner cavity of the annular heating seat 11. The hot gas is sprayed upward into the annular gap between the side mold 7 and the bottom mold 8 through the exhaust check valve on the wall of the annular exhaust seat 10. The hot gas flow spreads upward along the gap to the inner wall surface of the side mold 7, drying the release agent film layer, accelerating solvent evaporation and promoting rapid curing and adhesion of the release agent film layer, effectively shortening the waiting time of the coating process.

[0037] After the rotation and drying process is completed, the rotation drive 44 stops outputting, and the lower hydraulic push rod 45 drives the bottom mold 8 to rise slightly. The insert block 17 on the bottom mold 8 is inserted into the slot 12 of the side mold 7. The bottom mold 8 re-covers the bottom of the side mold 7, and the cavity enters the waiting state. The cavity lubrication stage is now completed.

[0038] Powder filling stage: After the cavity lubrication process is completed, the translation drive 51 is activated, driving the connecting column 52 to move linearly back and forth in the transverse direction. The first protrusion 53 on the connecting column 52 slides radially relative to the connecting hole 56 of the rotating seat 55, pushing the rotating seat 55 to rotate at a certain angle around the rotation axis on the connecting frame 54. The second protrusion 32 in the other connecting hole 56 of the rotating seat 55 is then driven and moves linearly in the transverse direction through the constraint of the guide seat 31. The feeding bin 33, which is fixedly connected to the end of the second protrusion 32, moves laterally synchronously until it is positioned directly above the cavity. After the feeding bin 33 is positioned, its electrically controlled discharge port opens, and a fixed amount of iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder falls freely into the cavity enclosed by the side mold 7 under the action of gravity, completing the precise quantitative filling of the powder.

[0039] After filling is completed, the electrically controlled discharge port closes, the translation drive 51 reverses its direction, the rotating seat 55 rotates in the opposite direction, and the feeding bin 33 returns to its initial position along the original path, releasing the space directly above the cavity and preparing for the intervention of the pressing and molding mechanism 4. At the same time, during the retraction of the feeding bin 33, the connecting column 52 drives the mounting column 46 and the upper mold 9 to move laterally. The upper mold 9 is driven by the ring frame 133 to drive the gear 134 to roll along the tooth surface of the rack 132. The rolling of the gear 134 causes the upper mold 9 to rotate relative to the mounting column 46. When the upper mold 9 moves laterally to the surface of the solid release agent on the support 131, the upper mold 9 makes full contact with the solid release agent while rotating continuously. The release agent is evenly coated on the bottom working surface of the upper mold 9, completing the automatic application of the release agent to the upper mold 9. The entire upper mold coating process is completed synchronously during the lateral movement of the feeding bin 33 during retraction, without requiring additional process time.

[0040] During the pressing and molding stage: After the material supply hopper 33 exits and the upper mold 9 completes the application of release grease, the upper mold 9 has moved to the top of the cavity. The upper hydraulic push rod 41 is activated, driving the mounting column 46 to move vertically downwards. The mounting column 46 drives the upper mold 9 to press down towards the center of the side mold 7. The L-shaped sliding member 135 moves down synchronously with the mounting column 46, driving the rack 132 to move down synchronously through the linear guide rail. This ensures that the gear 134 and the rack 132 remain engaged throughout the entire pressing stroke of the upper mold 9, ensuring the rotational guidance accuracy and axial alignment accuracy of the upper mold 9 during its entry into the cavity of the side mold 7. When the upper mold 9 descends to the pressing station, the positioning pin 15 on the outer support arm 14 of the upper mold 9 is simultaneously inserted into the positioning hole 16 on the surface of the worktable 6, completing the circumferential positioning and radial constraint of the upper mold 9, thereby ensuring the coaxial accuracy of the upper mold 9, the side mold 7, and the bottom mold 8 during the high-pressure pressing process. After the upper mold 9 seals the top of the side mold 7, the upper hydraulic push rod 41 continuously outputs pressure to apply the set molding pressure to the iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder in the cavity. Under the bidirectional constraint of the upper mold 9 and the bottom mold 8, the powder is pressed into a blank with a set shape and density.

[0041] After pressing is completed, the upper hydraulic push rod 41 returns, the upper mold 9 is lifted and exits the cavity, and the formed blank is removed from the side mold 7 with the assistance of the demolding mechanism. After the formed blank is removed, the device immediately enters the next working cycle, repeating the cycle to realize the continuous automated pressing production of iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder blanks.

[0042] It is worth noting that, such as Figure 3 As shown, while one cavity is coated with a release agent, another cavity is filled with iron-nickel alloy modified AB type hydrogen storage alloy powder.

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

[0044] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A pressing device for iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold, characterized in that, include: The base (1) is provided with a cavity for receiving and pressing the alloy powder; The mold release coating mechanism (2) is set on the base (1) and is used to automatically apply the mold release agent to the inner wall of the cavity before the powder is fed, and to collect and store the excess mold release agent in a cycle. An alternating actuator is suspended above the cavity and includes a feeding mechanism (3), a pressing and molding mechanism (4), and a drive switching mechanism (5). The drive switching mechanism (5) drives the feeding mechanism (3) and the pressing and molding mechanism (4) to alternately move to the top of the cavity, so as to cooperate with the demolding and coating mechanism (2) to complete the cavity lubrication, powder filling and pressing and molding processes in sequence.

2. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (1) has a portal frame structure, and a workbench (6) is provided in the middle. The cavity includes: Side molds (7), at least two in number, are rotatably connected to the worktable (6); The bottom mold (8) is vertically slidably connected to the inside of the side mold (7) and is used to cover the bottom of the side mold (7); The upper mold (9) is movably suspended above the side mold (7) and can be moved down toward the center of the side mold (7) to cover the top of the side mold (7).

3. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The demolding coating mechanism (2) includes: Storage compartments (21) are located on the side of the workbench (6) near the bottom mold (8), with an open top, and their number and distribution correspond one-to-one with the side molds (7); The coating mechanism (22) is connected to the storage bin (21), with its suction end connected to the storage bin (21) and its liquid outlet end located near the side mold (7).

4. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom outer side of the side mold (7) is provided with an annular air outlet seat (10) and an annular heating seat (11) that are interconnected. The annular air outlet seat (10) is fixed on the workbench (6), and its inner diameter is the same as that of the side mold (7). Its top is rotatably connected to the bottom of the side mold (7). The bottom mold (8) slides through the side mold (7) and the annular air outlet seat (10). The annular heating seat (11) is fitted and fixed on the radial outer side of the annular air outlet seat (10) and fixedly connected to the opening of the storage chamber (21); the annular heating seat (11) is provided with a heating source inside and an air inlet on the outside; The annular vent seat (10) is provided with several one-way vent valves on its wall surface. The inner cavity of the annular heating seat (11) is connected to the gap between the side mold (7) and the bottom mold (8) through the one-way vent valves.

5. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner walls of the annular air outlet seat (10) and the side mold (7) are provided with corresponding slots (12). The bottom mold (8) has a plug (17) that matches the slot (12) fixed on its outer circumferential side. The bottom mold (8) drives the side mold (7) to rotate synchronously through the cooperation of the plug (17) and the slot (12).

6. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive switching mechanism (5) includes: Translation drive (51), mounted on the base (1), has a drive end that can move laterally back and forth; A connecting post (52) is fixed to the driving end, and a first protrusion (53) perpendicular to it is fixed on the radial outer side of the connecting post (52). The connecting frame (54) is horizontally fixed on the base (1); A rotating seat (55) is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame (54). The surface of the rotating seat (55) has at least two connecting holes (56), and the first protrusion (53) is slidably inserted into one of the connecting holes (56).

7. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism (3) includes: The guide seat (31) is horizontally fixedly installed on the machine base (1); The second protrusion (32) is slidably connected to the guide seat (31), and the second protrusion (32) is slidably inserted into another connection hole (56); The feeding bin (33) is fixedly connected to the end of the second protrusion (32) and has an electrically controlled discharge port.

8. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The compression molding mechanism (4) includes: The upper hydraulic push rod (41) is fixed on the connecting column (52), and its output end is connected to the mounting column (46). The lower end of the mounting column (46) is rotatably connected to the upper mold (9). The ball spline outer cylinder (42) is rotatably mounted on the machine base (1); A ball spline shaft (43) is inserted into the ball spline outer cylinder (42), with one end passing through the storage compartment (21) and fixedly connected to the bottom center of the bottom mold (8). A rotary drive (44) is mounted on the base (1) and is connected to the ball spline outer cylinder (42) for transmission. The lower hydraulic push rod (45) is mounted on the machine base (1), and its output end is connected to the other end of the ball spline shaft (43).

9. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The workbench (6) is also equipped with an upper mold coating mechanism (13), which includes: There are two supports (131), which are fixed on the worktables (6) on both sides of the side mold (7) respectively. The supports (131) are loaded with solid release paste. A vertical guide rod is vertically fixed to the worktable (6); A rack (132) is provided with a sliding sleeve that slides with the vertical guide rod, and a linear guide rail is fixed on the back of the rack (132); The ring frame (133) has one end fixed to the top of the upper mold (9) and the other end fixed with a gear (134) that meshes with the rack (132). The L-shaped slider (135) has one end fixed to the outside of the mounting post (46) and the other end slidably fitted onto the linear guide rail.

10. The iron-nickel alloy modified AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder metallurgy mold pressing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, At least four support arms (14) are fixed on the outer side of the upper mold (9), and positioning pins (15) are fixed on the support arms (14). At least six positioning holes (16) that are adapted to the positioning pins (15) are opened on the surface of the worktable (6).

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