Lifting arm structure suitable for bulk cargo wharf pipe belt conveyor inspection robot

By adopting a new type of inspection robot lifting arm structure, and utilizing a parallelogram four-bar linkage mechanism and a lead screw motor drive, the problem of high-precision and full-coverage inspection of pipeline conveyor inspection robots in port terminals under harsh environments has been solved, realizing intelligent control and efficient inspection.

CN223971702UActive Publication Date: 2026-03-06SHANDONG YULONG PORT CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-02-13
Publication Date
2026-03-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the field of conveyor belt transportation at ports and terminals, existing technologies make it difficult for inspection robots to achieve equipment adaptability, coverage of inspection range, and effectiveness of inspection of operating devices, especially in harsh environments where high-precision and full-coverage inspection is difficult to achieve.

Method used

A novel inspection robot lifting arm structure is adopted, which utilizes a parallelogram four-bar linkage and a lead screw motor drive to achieve high-precision adjustment and full-coverage inspection of the inspection module. Through the coordinated movement of components such as the fixed base, drive arm, slider, and gimbal arm, the inspection module is ensured to always face forward and be close to the shape of the conveyor belt, thus realizing dynamic inspection.

Benefits of technology

It enables high-precision inspection of conveyor belts in harsh environments, ensuring full coverage of the inspection range and improving the intelligent control and inspection efficiency of the inspection robot.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model relates to a lifting arm structure suitable for a bulk cargo wharf pipe belt conveyor inspection robot, in particular to a fixed base A, a fixed base B, a driving arm, a sliding block, a cradle head upper hinge, a cradle head arm, a cradle head lower hinge, an inspection module, a bent arm, a lead screw motor, an L-shaped folding arm, a hinge point A, a hinge point B and the like. Precise power is provided by the lead screw motor driving system, and accurate adjustment of the position of the inspection system is achieved by means of the characteristics of easy remote control, small screw pitch and stable transmission of the lead screw. The lifting arm has the characteristics of high-precision inspection, adaptability to the arc shape of the pipe belt conveyor, high-efficiency and convenient detection position adjustment in cooperation with a robot inspection track, easiness in intelligent remote control, safety, reliability, simple structural style and the like, the inspection efficiency and accuracy can be greatly improved, and the maintenance labor intensity and the safety risk are reduced; and the application prospect in the field of wharf pipe belt conveyor inspection is wide.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of port bulk cargo transportation safety supervision technology, specifically relating to a lifting arm structure suitable for a pipeline inspection robot at a bulk cargo terminal. Background Technology

[0002] Pipe conveyors, with their advantages of large conveying capacity, strong load-bearing capacity, and ability to transport goods over long distances, are widely used in bulk cargo terminal transportation. However, due to their structural characteristics, pipe conveyors are prone to problems such as twisting, misalignment, belt folding, and tube expansion, which can lead to serious safety accidents in severe cases. Furthermore, the long operating distances, numerous monitoring points, harsh working environments, and poor lighting of pipe conveyors make manual inspection difficult. Introducing intelligent inspection robot technology can effectively improve the operational safety of pipe conveyors.

[0003] The published inspection robot technologies are mainly applied in underground coal mines and power transmission line inspections. However, there are still technological breakthroughs needed to achieve intelligent inspection using robots in port and dock conveyor belt transportation. These breakthroughs mainly involve the adaptability of the equipment to the port conveyor belt transportation process layout, as well as the detection range and capability coverage of the operating devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a new type of lifting arm structure for bulk cargo terminal pipe conveyor inspection robots, which features a simple structure, high precision inspection, accurate detection direction, easy intelligent remote control, efficient and convenient adjustment of the inspection robot's detection position, and full coverage of the pipe conveyor's detection range.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution:

[0006] A lifting arm structure for a conveyor inspection robot suitable for bulk cargo terminals mainly consists of (1) a fixed base A, (2) a fixed base B, (3) a drive arm, (4) a slider, (5) a gimbal top hinge, (6) a gimbal arm, (7) a gimbal bottom hinge, (8) an inspection module, (9) a bending arm, (10) a screw motor, (11) an L-shaped folding arm, (12) hinge point A, and (13) hinge point B. The characteristic feature is that the drive component is a screw motor (10), which drives the slider (4) to move; the fixed base B (2) and the drive arm (3) are hinged together, and the drive arm (3) is hinged to the slider (4). The screw motor (10) drives the slider (4) to move, causing the L-shaped folding arm (11) to move around the hinge point B. (13) Rotation; The fixed base A (1), gimbal arm (6), bending arm (9), and L-shaped folding arm (11) form a parallelogram four-bar linkage mechanism, which can make the gimbal arm (6) always parallel to the fixed base A (1). The fixed base A (1) is vertically fixed to ensure that the gimbal arm (6) remains vertical during the operation. At the same time, the horizontal displacement of the parallelogram swing ensures that the front end of the gimbal arm (6) is always close to the conveyor belt, adapting to the arc shape of the conveyor belt. The inspection module (8) installed at the lower end of the gimbal arm (6) swings up and down and horizontally with the swing of the gimbal arm (6). Due to the action of the four-bar linkage mechanism, the inspection module (8) always faces forward when it moves up and down. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the lifting arm of the pipe conveyor inspection robot of the present invention.

[0008] In the diagram: 1. Fixed base A; 2. Fixed base B; 3. Drive arm; 4. Slider; 5. Upper hinge of the gimbal; 6. Gimbal arm; 7. Lower hinge of the gimbal; 8. Inspection module; 9. Bending arm; 10. Screw motor; 11. L-shaped folding arm; 12. Hinge point A; 13. Hinge point B. Detailed Implementation

[0009] See Figure 1 The working principle and manufacturing process of this invention are as follows:

[0010] Fixed base A(1) and fixed base B(2) are the installation bases for the entire lifting arm structure. They are installed and fixed below the walking robot body to ensure that the lifting arm structure and the inspection robot body move synchronously along the inspection track to achieve inspection walking.

[0011] One end of the L-shaped folding arm (11) and the curved arm (9) are respectively hinged to the fixed base A (1) through hinge point B (13) and hinge point A (12), and the other end is respectively hinged to the gimbal arm (6) through the gimbal top hinge (5) and the gimbal bottom hinge (7). The L-shaped folding arm (11), the curved arm (9), the gimbal arm (6) and the fixed base A (1) form a movable parallelogram four-bar linkage mechanism.

[0012] The outer end of the slider (4) is embedded inside the horizontal section of the L-shaped folding arm (11), and the lead screw of the lead screw motor (10) passes through the inner side. It can move along the horizontal section of the L-shaped folding arm (11). The lead screw motor (10) is installed at the end of the horizontal section of the L-shaped folding arm (11). When the motor is activated, the lead screw rotates, driving the slider to move in a specified direction.

[0013] The upper end of the drive arm (3) is hinged to the fixed base B (2), and the lower end is hinged to the slider (4). When the slider (4) moves, it drives the L-shaped folding arm (11) and the gimbal arm (6) to swing up and down, thereby realizing the position adjustment of the inspection module (8).

[0014] The inspection module (8) installed at the lower end of the gimbal arm (6) swings up and down with the swing of the gimbal arm (6). At the same time, the horizontal displacement of the parallelogram swing ensures that the front end of the gimbal arm (6) is always close to the conveyor belt, adapting to the arc shape of the conveyor belt. Due to the action of the four-bar linkage mechanism of the L-shaped folding arm (11), the bending arm (9), the gimbal arm (6) and the fixed base A (1), the inspection module (8) always faces forward during the swing process.

[0015] By remotely controlling the start, stop and rotation of the lead screw motor (10), the inspection module (8) can be manipulated to swing to the required height and close to the outer contour of the pipe conveyor being inspected. During the swing, the monitoring device always faces the object being inspected, thereby achieving dynamic inspection and full coverage of the same section inspection position.

[0016] The lifting arm structure enables vertical attitude adjustment and horizontal adjustment of the conveyor cross-section. The inspection robot track is laid out along the length of the conveyor. The inspection robot body, along with the entire lifting arm structure, can move horizontally along the length of the conveyor. The vertical swing of the lifting arm structure and the horizontal adjustment of the conveyor cross-section, combined with the horizontal movement of the inspection robot along the length of the conveyor, can ultimately achieve full coverage of the inspected conveyor by the monitoring area of ​​the inspection module.

Claims

1. A kind of suitable for bulk cargo wharf pipe belt machine inspection robot lifting arm structure, mainly by fixed base A (1), (2) fixed base B, (3) drive arm, (4) slider, (5) gimbal upper hinge, (6) gimbal arm, (7) gimbal lower hinge, (8) inspection module, (9) curved arm, (10) screw motor, (11) L-shaped folding arm, (12) hinge point A, (13) hinge point B, it is characterized by: The driving component is a screw rod motor (10) which drives the sliding block (4) to move; the fixed base B (2) and the driving arm (3) are hinged, the driving arm (3) is hinged with the sliding block (4), the screw rod motor (10) drives the sliding block (4) to move to drive the L-shaped folding arm (11) to rotate around the hinge point B (13); the fixed base A (1), the holder arm (6), the curved arm (9) and the L-shaped folding arm (11) constitute a parallelogram four-link mechanism, so that the action direction of the holder arm (6) is always parallel to the fixed base A (1), the vertical fixing of the fixed base A (1) ensures that the direction of the holder arm (6) is always vertical during the action process, and meanwhile, the horizontal displacement of the parallelogram swinging ensures that the front end of the holder arm (6) is always close to the pipe belt machine, so as to adapt to the arc-shaped appearance of the pipe belt machine; the inspection module (8) installed at the lower end of the holder arm (6) swings up and down and horizontally with the holder arm (6), and due to the action of the four-link mechanism, the inspection module (8) is always directed to the front during the swinging process.