A two-way damping positioning telescopic device for intake duct remote measurement

Abstract

The application discloses a two-way damping positioning telescopic device and method for remote measurement of an air inlet, and belongs to the field of aerospace industrial measurement. The device comprises a measurement probe, a carbon rod, a circumferential follow-stop mechanism and a height follow-stop mechanism. The circumferential follow-stop mechanism comprises a shaft sleeve, a rotating shaft, a bearing, a locking sleeve and a disc damper, and the disc damper is used to realize follow-stop of the inspection instrument at any angle in the circumferential direction. The height follow-stop mechanism comprises a hinge damper, a rotating shaft, a telescopic assembly, a foot mounting block and a ball damper, and the hinge damper and the ball damper are used to realize follow-stop at any height and in any spatial direction. The application solves the problem of remote measurement of a narrow space in an air inlet of an aircraft, which cannot be entered by personnel, and realizes online measurement of step difference gaps at 360 multi-point positions, and has the advantages of convenient structure, follow-stop, high stability and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aerospace industrial measurement technology, and in particular to a bidirectional damped positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of air intakes. Background Technology

[0002] Step gap inspection is a common inspection item in the aerospace manufacturing industry, widely used in areas such as fuselage docking, skin installation, engine inspection, and pipe gap measurement. Traditional measurement methods involve manual handheld measuring tools directly contacting the part being measured, requiring operators to enter a designated area. However, in some special environments, such as inside aircraft air intakes, the space is extremely confined, and the air intake inlet is usually equipped with a fixed fan-shaped grille, making it impossible for operators to enter, thus hindering the implementation of traditional manual measurement methods. Furthermore, manual measurement suffers from problems such as large human error, low measurement efficiency, and difficulty in ensuring measurement consistency.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies have proposed several remote measurement devices, such as those using a long rod with a measuring probe mounted on its tip. However, these devices generally suffer from the following drawbacks: First, the probe is prone to wobbling during insertion, making it difficult to remain stably in the designated position and affecting measurement accuracy. Second, adjusting the probe's orientation is difficult, especially when measurements need to be taken in a 360° circumference and at multiple heights, making operation cumbersome and difficult to pinpoint precisely. Third, the device itself is quite heavy, causing operator fatigue from prolonged handheld use and making it inconvenient to carry.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a step gap detection device that can achieve long-distance, multi-directional, and high-precision measurement within narrow air intakes to meet the actual needs of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance processes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of air intakes, so as to solve the technical problems of narrow space inside the air intake of aircraft, inability of personnel to enter, and difficulty in accurately positioning the measurement direction, and realize online measurement of step gap at multiple points in 360°.

[0006] This invention is achieved using the following technical solution: a bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of an air intake, comprising a measuring probe, a telescopic rod, a circumferential following-stop mechanism, and a height following-stop mechanism. The circumferential following-stop mechanism includes a handle, a bushing, a rotating shaft, a bearing, a locking sleeve, and a disc damper. The bearing is mounted at both ends of the rotating shaft. The locking sleeve and the disc damper are sequentially sleeved on the gripping side of the rotating shaft. One end of the disc damper is connected to the locking sleeve, and the other end is fixed to the bearing cap. The handle is fixed to the outer end of the rotating shaft. One end of the carbon rod is connected to... One end is connected to the rotating shaft, and the other end is connected to the center of gravity of the measuring probe through the inspection instrument clamp; the height-following stopping mechanism includes a hinge damper, a telescopic component, a foot mounting block, and a ball damper. The telescopic component is a folding arm structure. The hinge damper is set at the hinge of the telescopic component, so that the telescopic component can retract and expand relative to the bushing through the hinge damper and stop at any angle. The end of the telescopic component is connected to the ball damper through the foot mounting block. The disc damper, hinge damper, and ball damper are respectively configured so that their corresponding joints can stop at any angle.

[0007] Furthermore, the disc damper is connected to the locking sleeve by bolts. The locking sleeve has four through holes in the circumferential direction. One end of the disc damper is connected to the locking sleeve, and the other end is fixed to the bearing cover.

[0008] Furthermore, the bushing, rotating shaft, and telescopic assembly are made of aluminum alloy; the carbon rod is made of carbon fiber composite material; and the inspection instrument fixture is 3D printed from glass nylon.

[0009] Furthermore, the carbon fiber rod adopts a spliced ​​structure, and its length is adjustable to adapt to long-distance operations at different distances; the handle surface is processed with knurled stripes.

[0010] Furthermore, the inspection instrument fixture is connected to the end of the carbon rod and the center of gravity of the measuring probe.

[0011] Furthermore, the bearing is model 6004-2z; all connecting bolts are treated to prevent loosening.

[0012] Furthermore, the device as a whole can operate normally in an alternating temperature environment of -25℃ to 75℃.

[0013] Furthermore, the telescopic component of the height-following mechanism can be retracted relative to the bushing to save space, and unfolded when adjusting the height; the ball damping is configured to enable the telescopic component to rotate in the left and right directions, so as to cooperate with the forward and backward pitch rotation of the telescopic component to achieve multi-directional spatial positioning.

[0014] Furthermore, a rubber buffer pad is connected to the lower end of the ball damper.

[0015] The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of air intakes described in this invention has the following advantages: This invention achieves precise stopping of the step gap checker in a 360° circumferential direction and at multiple heights within a narrow air intake by employing dual damping positioning of a circumferential stopping mechanism and a height stopping mechanism. Operators do not need to apply continuous force, thus avoiding the influence of hand tremors and vibrations on the measurement results and significantly improving measurement stability and accuracy.

[0016] The carbon rod is made of carbon fiber composite material, the bushing and telescopic assembly are made of aluminum alloy, and the inspection instrument fixture is made of glass nylon 3D printing. The overall structure is lightweight, making it easy for operators to operate and carry with one hand, and meets the stringent lightweight requirements of the aviation industry.

[0017] The device has a compact overall structure, and the telescopic components can be combined and folded up, occupying little space and making it easy to store and transport.

[0018] It has good adaptability to high and low temperatures and can work normally in alternating temperature environments from -25℃ to 75℃, making it suitable for online inspection scenarios before and after aircraft operation.

[0019] It solves the problem of long-distance measurement in confined spaces where personnel cannot enter the aircraft air intake, fills the gap in dedicated measurement devices in this field, and has significant engineering application value. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. The drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the circumferential following and stopping mechanism of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the height-following stopping mechanism of the present invention; In the diagram, 1-handle, 2-shaft sleeve, 3-bearing cover, 4-disc damper, 5-locking sleeve, 6-rotating shaft, 7-bearing, 8-carbon rod, 9-hinge damper, 10-telescopic assembly, 11-foot mounting block, 12-ball damper. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0023] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0024] Example 1: like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a bidirectional damped positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of air intake ducts, including a step gap checker, a telescopic rod 8, a circumferential following-stop mechanism, and a height following-stop mechanism. The circumferential following-stop mechanism is used to position the step gap checker at any angle in the horizontal plane, while the height following-stop mechanism is used to position the checker in any vertical direction and any spatial direction. One end of the telescopic rod 8 is connected to the rotation shaft 6 of the circumferential following-stop mechanism, and the other end is connected to the center of gravity of the step gap checker via a checker clamp. The circumferential and height following-stop mechanisms work together, enabling the operator to remotely deliver the checker to a designated position within the air intake duct for precise measurement.

[0025] Specific structural combination of circumferential following mechanism Figure 1 Description: The bushing 2 is a cylindrical structure that houses the rotating shaft 6 and related parts. The rotating shaft 6 passes through the bushing 2, with a bearing 7 installed at each end to support the shaft 6 and reduce friction. At the end of the rotating shaft 6 closest to the operator's grip, a locking sleeve 5 and a disc damper 4 are sequentially fitted. The locking sleeve 5 fits tightly against the inner ring of the bearing 7 for axial positioning and has four through holes in its circumference. The disc damper 4 is a disc-shaped damping element; its outer edge is fixedly connected to the bearing cover 3, and its inner edge is connected to the locking sleeve 5 by bolts passing through the four through holes in the locking sleeve 5 to secure them together. The bearing cover 3 covers the end of the bushing 2, providing protection and sealing. A handle 1 is fixed to the outermost end of the rotating shaft 6. The surface of the handle 1 is machined with knurled stripes to prevent slippage during operation; for further effortless and slip-resistant operation, an additional handle can be optionally installed on the handle 1.

[0026] The disc damper 4 has a preset damping torque, sufficient to prevent the step gap inspector from rotating due to gravity or external vibration at any angle, while allowing the operator to easily rotate it manually. In a preferred embodiment, the torque of the disc damper 4 is 1 N·m, which meets the design requirement of locking the device in any direction without rotation, while also allowing the operator to rotate it manually. During operation, the operator holds handle 1 and rotates the rotating shaft 6. Through the damping force provided by the disc damper 4, the step gap inspector can stop and remain stable at any angle in the circumference, thus achieving precise positioning of the measurement direction. When a change of direction is needed, the operator applies a force slightly greater than the damping torque to rotate it; it automatically locks upon release.

[0027] The specific construction combination of the height-to-stop mechanism Figure 2 Description: One end of the hinge damper 9 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the bushing 2, and the other end is connected to the telescopic assembly 10. The telescopic assembly 10 is a folding arm structure, which retracts and expands relative to the bushing 2 through the hinge damper 9. The end of the telescopic assembly 10 is fixedly connected to the foot mounting block 11, and the lower end of the foot mounting block 11 is connected to the ball damper 12, the lower end of the ball damper 12 is connected to the rubber buffer pad. The hinge damper 9 has a preset damping torque, which is 2.0 N·m in this embodiment, satisfying the support force requirements for arbitrary height adjustment, and also allowing for manual adjustment by the operator. The torque of the ball damper 12 is adjustable, with an adjustment range of 0.2~12 N·m, which can adapt to different loads and usage scenarios. The rubber buffer pad is used to protect the inner wall of the pipe from bumps and scratches.

[0028] The number of telescopic components 10 can be increased according to actual needs, with more telescopic components providing greater extensibility. In this embodiment, two telescopic components 10 are provided, which can meet the measurement requirements of general air intake depth (approximately 1.5 meters). When not in use, the telescopic components 10 can be folded relative to the bushing 2, saving storage space; they can be unfolded when needed. The ball damper 12 compensates for the limitation of the telescopic components 10 in only being able to pitch and rotate forward and backward, increasing the degree of freedom in the left and right directions, thereby enabling the entire height to be positioned in any direction in space by the following mechanism.

[0029] The telescopic rod 8 is made of carbon fiber composite material, which is lightweight and high-strength. One end is connected to the side of the bushing 2, and the other end is connected to the center of gravity of the step clearance inspector via the inspection instrument clamp. The telescopic rod 8 adopts a splicing structure and its length is adjustable to adapt to remote operations at different distances. The inspection instrument clamp is made of glass nylon material and is 3D printed, which not only fits the shape of the inspection instrument better but also meets the requirements of lightweight. The inspection instrument clamp is connected to the end of the telescopic rod 8 and the center of gravity of the step clearance inspector to ensure that there is no extra torque interference during rotation.

[0030] The step gap inspector is the core of this device. Its working principle is as follows: it emits a horizontal laser line, which must be perpendicular to the gap to be measured. The inspector has an internal processor that captures the gap's outline image using a built-in camera and calculates the gap's dimensions. An indicator light on the inspector's casing only records data when the laser line is perpendicular to the gap; otherwise, the light will alert the operator to adjust the direction. When passing through the fan-shaped grille at the air intake inlet, due to the narrow grille gaps, the inspector and its clamps must pass vertically. After passing through the grille, it is swung to a horizontal position (i.e., the inspector is perpendicular to the gap to be measured) by a circumferential following mechanism before measurement can be performed.

[0031] To achieve lightweight and portability, the device has been optimized in terms of materials and processes: the bushing 2, rotating shaft 6, and telescopic component 10 are made of aluminum alloy, which has low density and sufficient strength; the telescopic rod 8 is made of carbon fiber composite material, which is extremely lightweight; the inspection instrument fixture is made of glass nylon material, 3D printed, which fits the shape and is lightweight; all connecting bolts are treated with anti-loosening measures to prevent bolts from falling off due to vibration, which could cause damage to personnel, pipelines, or equipment.

[0032] Because this device involves online monitoring, it may encounter high or low temperature environments after the aircraft begins operation. Therefore, the entire device was placed in an oven for high and low temperature alternating experiments. The temperature range was set from -25℃ to 75℃, and five temperature points were selected: -25℃, 0℃, 25℃, 50℃, and 75℃, with each temperature point lasting for 30 minutes. The experimental results show that the device functioned and appeared normally at all temperature points, without any impact.

[0033] The above embodiments describe the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of air intake ducts, characterized in that, The device includes a measuring probe, a telescopic rod (8), a circumferential stopping mechanism, and a height-based stopping mechanism. The circumferential stopping mechanism includes a handle (1), a bushing (2), a rotating shaft (6), a bearing (7), a locking sleeve (5), and a disc damper (4). The bearing (7) is installed at both ends of the rotating shaft (6). The locking sleeve (5) and the disc damper (4) are sequentially fitted onto the gripping side of the rotating shaft (6). One end of the disc damper (4) is connected to the locking sleeve (5), and the other end is fixed to the bearing cover (3). The handle (1) is fixed to the outer end of the rotating shaft (6). One end of the telescopic rod (8) is connected to the rotating shaft (6), and the other end is connected to the inspection instrument clamp. The height-following stopping mechanism includes a hinge damper (9), a telescopic component (10), a foot mounting block (11), and a ball damper (12). The telescopic component (10) is a folding arm structure. The hinge damper (9) is set at the hinge of the telescopic component (10), so that the telescopic component (10) can retract and expand relative to the bushing (2) through the hinge damper (9) and stop at any angle. The end of the telescopic component (10) is connected to the ball damper (12) through the foot mounting block (11). The disc damper (4), the hinge damper (9), and the ball damper (12) are respectively configured so that their corresponding joints can stop at any angle.

2. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The disc damper (4) is connected to the locking sleeve (5) by bolts. The locking sleeve (5) has four through holes in the circumferential direction. One end of the disc damper (4) is connected to the locking sleeve (5), and the other end is fixed on the bearing cover (3).

3. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bushing (2), rotating shaft (6), and telescopic assembly (10) are made of aluminum alloy; the telescopic rod (8) is made of carbon fiber composite material; and the inspection instrument fixture is made of glass nylon material 3D printed.

4. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic rod (8) adopts a splicing structure and its length can be adjusted to adapt to remote operations at different distances; the handle (1) has knurled stripes on its surface.

5. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inspection instrument clamp is connected to the end of the telescopic rod (8) and the center of gravity of the measuring probe.

6. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing (7) is model 6004-2z; all connecting bolts are treated to prevent loosening.

7. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device as a whole can operate normally in an alternating temperature environment of -25℃ to 75℃.

8. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic component (10) of the height-following mechanism can be retracted relative to the bushing (2) to save space and unfolded when the height is adjusted; the ball damper (12) is configured to enable the telescopic component (10) to rotate in the left and right directions to cooperate with the pitch rotation of the telescopic component (10) to achieve multi-directional spatial positioning.

9. The bidirectional damping positioning telescopic device for remote measurement of the air intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the ball damper (12) is connected to a rubber buffer pad.

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