Engine transfer trolley

Abstract

The utility model provides an engine transfer trolley which comprises an engine support, an engine transfer trolley body and an engine transfer trolley body. Two sliding grooves which extend horizontally are formed in the frame in parallel, and at least two engine supports are connected in each sliding groove in a sliding mode. Through the sliding connection design of the sliding groove and the engine support, the engine support can freely move along the sliding groove to a certain degree, so that the positions of the mounting holes can be flexibly adjusted to meet the mounting requirements of engine supporting legs of engines of different specifications, and the adaptability and the operation efficiency are remarkably improved. And meanwhile, the risks of thread abrasion, thread sliding and tensile deformation caused by repeated disassembly of the bolt are thoroughly eliminated, and the stability in the transportation process is guaranteed. In addition, dependence on prefabricating engine supports of various specifications is reduced, storage and management cost is effectively reduced, and cost optimization of the whole process is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of transportation technology, and in particular to an engine transfer vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Engine transport is a critical link in ensuring production efficiency and product quality during engine manufacturing, testing, and maintenance. With the diversification of engine models (such as internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cell engines, and hybrid engines), the installation positions, spacing, and dimensions of their support legs vary significantly. Traditional transport vehicles require frequent adjustments or replacements of the support legs to adapt to the different engine leg layouts, posing a serious challenge to transport efficiency, operational convenience, and equipment reliability.

[0003] Currently, widely used engine transfer vehicles typically employ a bolt-fixed support structure. Specifically, the support has pre-drilled mounting holes corresponding to the engine mounts, and bolts rigidly connect the mounts to the support. The support itself is fixed to the transfer vehicle's frame by welding or bolts. When adapting to different engine models, operators must remove the original support bolts, replace them with supports matching the new mount positions, and retighten them. This process involves repeated removal and installation of multiple sets of bolts (each set typically requires 4-8 bolts), and requires strict calibration of the hole alignment accuracy. The operation is time-consuming and relies heavily on manual experience.

[0004] However, this fixing method has significant drawbacks. First, frequent bolt removal and installation can easily lead to thread wear, stripping, or bolt tensile deformation, reducing connection reliability and increasing the risk of engine displacement or even falling during transportation due to loose bolts. Second, the replacement and adjustment of the supports are time-consuming (up to 20-30 minutes per operation), severely impacting production cycle and delivery time. Furthermore, prefabricating support modules of various specifications not only increases warehousing and management costs but also makes it difficult to cover the adaptation needs of future new engines. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a support fixing solution that can quickly adapt to different support layouts, avoid repeated bolt operations, and possess high stability, in order to improve transportation efficiency and eliminate safety hazards. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is that the existing engine transport vehicle support has poor compatibility, requires frequent bolt removal, has low operating efficiency, and has the risk of bolt failure.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this disclosure provides an engine transfer vehicle, which includes: an engine support with mounting holes for mounting engine feet; and a frame with two horizontally extending grooves arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, each groove slidably connecting at least two engine supports.

[0007] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle includes a limiting structure for restricting the engine support from dislodging from the opening of the slide; and / or the engine transfer vehicle includes a positioning structure for positioning the engine support on the slide.

[0008] In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes a recess on the wall of the slide groove and a protrusion on the engine mount, the protrusion being able to engage with the recess to restrict the engine mount to slide only along the extension direction of the slide groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, the positioning structure includes: a magnetic material layer disposed at the bottom of the groove; and a magnetic positioning member detachably adsorbed and fixed to the magnetic material layer and stopped at least one side of the engine mount in the direction of extension of the groove.

[0010] In some embodiments, one end of the slide is an open end, which is configured to allow the engine mount to slide into or out of the slide.

[0011] In some embodiments, the mounting hole is an elongated hole that extends horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle further includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, which includes a drive unit connected to the engine support, the drive unit being used to drive the engine support to move along the extension direction of the slide.

[0013] In some embodiments, the adaptive adjustment mechanism further includes: a sensor unit configured to detect the real-time position of the engine mount and engine feet; and a controller electrically connected to the sensor unit and the drive unit to automatically control the action of the drive unit based on the position data detected by the sensor unit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle further includes a wheel assembly disposed at the bottom of the frame; and / or the engine transfer vehicle further includes an operating assembly comprising a handle and a push rod, one end of the push rod being fixed to the frame and the other end being connected to the handle.

[0015] In some embodiments, the wheel assembly includes a wheel mount, a wheel bearing, and a wheel. The wheel mount is bolted to the bottom of the frame, and the wheel bearing is mounted in the wheel mount and connected to the wheel.

[0016] Through the aforementioned technical solution, the engine transport vehicle provided in this disclosure utilizes a sliding connection design between a horizontal groove on the chassis and the engine mount. This design allows the engine mount to move freely along the groove to a certain extent, enabling flexible adjustment of the mounting hole position to accommodate the installation requirements of engine mounts for different engine specifications. This eliminates the need to replace the engine mount or repeatedly disassemble bolts, significantly improving adaptability and operational efficiency. Simultaneously, it completely eliminates the risks of thread wear, stripping, and tensile deformation caused by repeated bolt disassembly, ensuring the engine's stability during transportation and preventing displacement or falling hazards. Furthermore, it reduces reliance on prefabricated engine mounts of various specifications, effectively lowering warehousing and management costs and achieving cost optimization throughout the entire process. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the engine transfer vehicle disclosed in this embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the engine transfer vehicle disclosed in this embodiment.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0021] 1. Frame; 11. Slide; 111. Recess; 2. Wheel assembly; 21. Wheel mount; 22. Wheel bearing; 23. Wheel; 3. Engine mount; 31. Mounting hole; 32. Protrusion; 4. Operating components; 41. Push rod; 42. Handle. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of this disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of this disclosure by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

[0023] These embodiments are provided to make the disclosure thorough and complete, and to fully express the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, material composition, numerical expressions, and values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as exemplary only and not as limiting.

[0024] It should be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationship, are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. "Vertical" is not strictly vertical, but within the permissible margin of error. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but within the permissible margin of error. Terms such as "including" or "contains" mean that the element preceding the word encompasses the element listed after the word, and do not exclude the possibility of encompassing other elements as well.

[0026] It should also be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure depending on the specific circumstances. When a particular device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, an intermediary device may or may not be present between the particular device and the first or second device.

[0027] All terms used in this disclosure have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant art, and not as idealized or highly formalized, unless expressly defined herein.

[0028] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, they should be considered part of the specification.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, this disclosure provides an engine transfer vehicle, which includes: an engine support 3, the engine support 3 being provided with mounting holes 31 for mounting engine feet; and a frame 1, the frame 1 being provided with two horizontally extending slide grooves 11 parallel to each other and spaced apart, each slide groove 11 having at least two engine supports 3 slidably connected in it.

[0030] Specifically, with Figure 1 For example, each slide groove 11 is equipped with two engine supports 3 that can slide within the slide groove 11, and the four engine supports 3 correspond one-to-one with the four engine feet set at the four corners of the engine. The spacing between the engine supports 3 in each slide groove 11 can be flexibly adjusted by sliding to accommodate different engine lengths; the two slide grooves 11 are arranged in parallel to correspond to the relatively fixed width of the engine (the engine width is strictly limited by the carrier space, and the width difference of mainstream models in the industry is very small, while the length difference is significant).

[0031] For some longer engines, to ensure sufficient support strength, more than three engine feet may need to be spaced apart along their length. In this case, multiple engine supports 3 corresponding to the number of engine feet can be slidably connected in the slide groove 11. For example, three engine supports 3 are slidably connected in each slide groove 11, and when all six engine supports 3 are in the installation position, the mounting hole 31 of any engine support 3 is aligned with a pre-installed engine foot on the engine.

[0032] Of course, the engine mount 3 can also be replaced with a composite mount with a position adjustment function (here, the position adjustment function refers to the fact that the components of the composite mount can be relatively displaced in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide groove). For example, the composite mount can include the engine mount 3 and a connector, wherein the engine mount 3 can be displaced relative to the connector in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide groove, and the connector is used to connect the engine mount 3 and the slide groove 11 to realize the sliding of the composite mount in the slide groove 11; or, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the two parallel slide grooves 11 can be added to accommodate engines of different widths. It is worth noting that although this will increase production costs, it can also accommodate more different engine specifications (especially wide-body models or special layout engines), and the choice can be made according to the actual production needs.

[0033] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle includes a limiting structure for restricting the engine support 3 from disengaging from the groove of the slide 11; and / or the engine transfer vehicle includes a positioning structure for positioning the engine support 3 on the slide 11.

[0034] The positioning structure primarily functions during the adjustment phase of the engine support 3. When transporting engines of the same specification, only initial positioning is required. This involves selecting the corresponding number of engine supports 3 based on the engine's pre-set support feet, and sliding each engine support 3 until they correspond one-to-one with each engine support foot, or until every engine support foot aligns with a mounting hole 31. At this point, the positioning structure is operated to position the engine supports 3 in place, preventing displacement during engine transport and ensuring stability. Furthermore, if the specifications of the engine to be transported change, the positioning of the engine supports 3 must be released first, and then repositioned after the engine supports 3 have been adjusted.

[0035] In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes a recess 111 disposed on the groove wall of the slide 11 and a protrusion 32 disposed on the engine support 3. The protrusion 32 can cooperate with the recess 111 to restrict the engine support 3 to slide only along the extension direction of the slide.

[0036] Specifically, the recess 111 can be formed at any position on the groove wall, or it can be formed only on one side of the groove wall of the slide groove 11, and its specific extension direction is not limited. For example, a recess 111 of the same length as the slide groove 11 can be formed at the middle position of one side of the groove wall of the slide groove 11 (the middle position here specifically refers to the middle between the groove opening and the groove bottom, not the middle of the two groove walls). This recess 111 extends in the vertical direction of the groove depth, so that the slide groove 11 is T-shaped as a whole. Another example is that recesses 111 of the same length as the slide groove 11 can be symmetrically formed on both sides of the groove wall near the groove bottom. The angle between the extension direction of the recess 111 and the groove depth direction is an acute angle, so that the slide groove 11 is Y-shaped or arrow-shaped as a whole, depending on the inclination direction. In summary, the recess 111 restricts the lateral movement of the fitting component, i.e., the protrusion 32, by matching its shape, ensuring that the engine support 3 can only slide along the extension direction of the slide groove 11.

[0037] In some embodiments, a protrusion is provided on the groove wall of the slide 11, and a corresponding groove is provided on the engine support 3 that can engage with the protrusion. Similarly, the engine support 3 can be restricted to sliding only along the extending direction of the slide 11.

[0038] In some embodiments, the positioning structure includes: a magnetic material layer disposed at the bottom of the groove 11; and a magnetic positioning member detachably adsorbed and fixed to the magnetic material layer and stopped at least one side of the engine support 3 in the direction of extension of the groove.

[0039] Specifically, when the engine transfer vehicle includes the aforementioned limiting structure, or when there is a specific concave-convex fit between the slide 11 and the engine support 3, the engine support 3 itself can only slide along the extension direction of the slide 11. In this case, it is only necessary to restrict the displacement of the engine support 3 in the extension direction of the slide to achieve the positioning of the engine support 3. In this case, the magnetic positioning element can be multiple magnetic strips that are integrally rectangular, with the number of magnetic strips being twice that of the engine support 3. Taking the positioning process of a single engine support 3 as an example, after the engine support 3 is in place, two magnetic strips are inserted against the two side walls of the engine support 3 respectively. The end of the magnetic strip facing the slide 11 is fixed when it contacts the magnetic material layer at the bottom of the slide, thereby forming a spatial barrier on both sides of the engine support 3, restricting the sliding of the engine support 3, i.e., the displacement in the extension direction of the slide. In some embodiments, the positioning structure can also be a positioning pin and a positioning hole that cooperate with each other. The positioning hole needs to be preset for different specifications of engines, so it is not as flexible as the combination of magnetic material layer and magnetic positioning element, but its mechanical fixing method is more stable than magnetic adsorption fixing.

[0040] Furthermore, when the engagement between the slide groove 11 and the engine support 3 does not restrict the engine support 3 to move only along the extension direction of the slide groove, the engine support 3 is only blocked by the groove wall in the slide groove 11. Therefore, although it cannot move in the direction perpendicular to the groove wall, it can move parallel to the plane where the groove wall is located, including displacement along the extension direction of the slide groove and lateral displacement. In this case, a positioning structure is needed to restrict the parallel displacement of the engine support 3 relative to the plane where the groove wall is located, thereby completely constraining its degrees of freedom and achieving positioning. At this time, the shape of the magnetic positioning member can be specifically U-shaped or gate-shaped, etc., to correspond to the outer contour of the engine support 3. When the magnetic positioning member is inserted into the slide groove 11 and its two ends are fixed to the magnetic material layer, the magnetic positioning member and the slide groove 11 together form a closed space for the engine support 3, restricting its displacement.

[0041] In some embodiments, one end of the slide 11 is an open end, which is configured to allow the engine support 3 to slide into or out of the slide 11 from the open end.

[0042] Specifically, setting a single open end makes it easier to replace or add / remove the engine mount 3, which is beneficial for the maintenance of the engine mount 3 and increases the efficiency of adjusting the engine mount 3 to match the engine feet. This is especially suitable for situations where the engine mount 3 can only move along the extension direction of the slide groove 11, because in this case, the engine mount 3 can only slide in or out from both ends of the slide groove 11.

[0043] In some embodiments, both ends of the slide 11 are open. Specifically, the advantages of having both ends of the slide 11 open include: the engine mount 3 can be installed into or removed from the slide 11 from either end, reducing the operating space requirement and enabling quick assembly and disassembly; and even if one end is deformed by collision or blocked by foreign objects, the engine mount 3 can still be assembled or disassembled through the other end, reducing the risk of downtime due to malfunction. However, having both ends open also leads to a decrease in the overall rigidity of the slide 11, increases the risk of accidental slippage when the engine mount 3 is not locked, and makes it easier for dust, debris, etc. to enter the slide 11, thus exacerbating the risk of wear or jamming. In conclusion, whether to provide open ends on the slide 11 and how many open ends to provide need to be determined based on the specific circumstances.

[0044] In some embodiments, the mounting hole 31 is an elongated hole that extends horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove.

[0045] Specifically, the extension direction of the elongated hole or the long axis direction of the elongated hole is parallel to the width direction of the engine. Replacing the traditional circular bolt hole with an elongated hole can expand the adaptability of the engine mount 3, specifically by using the redundant space of the elongated hole in the long axis direction to accommodate the installation of engine feet for engines with slight width differences; on the other hand, it is conducive to error-tolerant installation, so that the engine feet do not need to be precisely aligned with the mounting holes 31 on the engine mount 3 during installation.

[0046] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle further includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, which includes a drive unit connected to the engine support 3, the drive unit being used to drive the engine support 3 to move along the extension direction of the slide.

[0047] Specifically, the adaptive adjustment mechanism is designed to automatically adjust the position of the engine mount 3, thereby improving the accuracy of engine mount installation. The drive unit can be located inside the slide groove 11 and can be an electric push rod or a hydraulic cylinder, etc. By setting up the adaptive adjustment mechanism, operators can quickly position the engine mount 3 to the target position without manual adjustment, significantly reducing labor costs, avoiding manual alignment errors, and improving installation efficiency and safety.

[0048] In some embodiments, the adaptive adjustment mechanism further includes: a sensor unit configured to detect the real-time position of the engine mount 3 and the engine foot; and a controller electrically connected to the sensor unit and the drive unit to automatically control the action of the drive unit based on the position data detected by the sensor unit.

[0049] Specifically, the sensor unit can be a displacement or vision sensor, used to continuously detect the real-time positional deviation of the engine mount 3 and the engine feet. Through real-time monitoring and automatic control, the dynamic and precise alignment of the engine mount 3 and the engine feet can be ensured, solving problems that may cause the engine mount 3 to shift, such as the movement of the transport vehicle.

[0050] In some embodiments, the engine transfer vehicle further includes a wheel assembly 2 disposed at the bottom of the frame 1; and / or the engine transfer vehicle further includes an operating assembly 4, which includes a handle 42 and a push rod 41, one end of the push rod 41 being fixed to the frame 1 and the other end being connected to the handle 42.

[0051] In some embodiments, the wheel assembly 2 includes a wheel mount 21, a wheel bearing 22, and a wheel 23. The wheel mount 21 is bolted to the bottom of the frame 1, and the wheel bearing 22 is installed inside the wheel mount 21 and connected to the wheel 23. Specifically, the bolt-fixed wheel mount 21 and wheel bearing 22 ensure structural stability under high loads and facilitate quick disassembly and replacement of the wheel 23. Through modular design, the load-bearing capacity and maintenance convenience of the engine transfer vehicle are effectively balanced.

[0052] The embodiments of this disclosure have now been described in detail. To avoid obscuring the concept of this disclosure, some details known in the art have not been described. Those skilled in the art can fully understand how to implement the technical solutions disclosed herein based on the above description.

[0053] While specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the examples are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner.

Claims

1. An engine transfer vehicle, characterized in that, include: Engine support (3), wherein the engine support (3) is provided with mounting holes (31) for mounting engine feet; and The frame (1) has two horizontally extending grooves (11) arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, and at least two engine supports (3) are slidably connected in each groove (11).

2. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The engine transfer vehicle includes a limiting structure for preventing the engine support (3) from disengaging from the groove (11); and / or The engine transfer vehicle includes a positioning structure for positioning the engine support (3) on the slide (11).

3. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting structure includes a recess (111) provided on the groove wall of the slide (11) and a protrusion (32) provided on the engine support (3). The protrusion (32) can cooperate with the recess (111) to restrict the engine support (3) to slide only along the extension direction of the slide.

4. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning structure includes: A magnetic material layer is disposed at the bottom of the groove (11); A magnetic positioning element is detachably adsorbed and fixed to the magnetic material layer and stops the engine support (3) on at least one side of the slide groove extension direction.

5. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the slide (11) is an open end, and the open end is configured to allow the engine support (3) to slide into or out of the slide (11) from the open end.

6. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting hole (31) is an elongated hole that extends horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove.

7. The engine transfer vehicle according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The engine transfer vehicle also includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, which includes a drive unit connected to the engine support (3) and is used to drive the engine support (3) to move along the extension direction of the slide groove.

8. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The adaptive adjustment mechanism further includes: A sensor unit configured to detect the real-time position of the engine mount (3) and the engine feet; A controller is electrically connected to the sensor unit and the drive unit to automatically control the operation of the drive unit based on the position data detected by the sensor unit.

9. The engine transfer vehicle according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The engine transfer vehicle also includes a wheel assembly (2) disposed at the bottom of the frame (1); and / or The engine transfer vehicle also includes an operating component (4), which includes a handle (42) and a push rod (41). One end of the push rod (41) is fixed to the frame (1), and the other end is connected to the handle (42).

10. The engine transfer vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that, The wheel assembly (2) includes a wheel mount (21), a wheel bearing (22), and a wheel (23). The wheel mount (21) is fixed to the bottom of the frame (1) by bolts. The wheel bearing (22) is installed in the wheel mount (21) and connected to the wheel (23).

Images