A compact pneumatic charging mechanism

Abstract

The utility model relates to a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, including drive motor speed reducer, sprocket, ring chain, ring chain counterweight, ring chain storage barrel, cylinder protective cover, clamping cylinder, guide rod, clamping rod and bar clamp. Drive motor speed reducer drives sprocket rotation, one end of ring chain is connected with cylinder protective cover, and the other end is connected with ring chain counterweight, and ring chain counterweight sets up in ring chain storage barrel, and the periphery of cylinder protective cover is equipped with multiple guide rods, and clamping cylinder drives bar clamp through clamping rod. The utility model discloses through the parallel layout of ring chain counterweight and ring chain storage barrel, compact cylinder protective cover design and optimized guide system, significantly reduces the mechanism height, improves the operation stability, especially suitable for the vacuum precision casting furnace use of limited installation space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vacuum precision casting equipment technology, and in particular to a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of vacuum precision casting, the feeding mechanism is a key piece of equipment to ensure the smooth operation of the production process. Currently available feeding mechanisms generally suffer from the following structural problems: First, traditional mechanisms use a rigid transmission structure, resulting in excessive overall equipment height, which many factory buildings cannot accommodate due to ceiling height limitations; second, the guide system design of existing mechanisms is simple, typically with only one or two guide rods, leading to swaying during operation and affecting feeding accuracy; third, the counterweight system design is unreasonable, often requiring additional space to accommodate the movement trajectory of the counterweight, further increasing the equipment height; in addition, the air piping is often disorganized, making it prone to tangling or wear during lifting and lowering.

[0003] Therefore, a completely new structural design is needed to fundamentally solve the problems of excessive height and unstable operation of the feeding mechanism. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a compact and stable pneumatic feeding mechanism. By optimizing the overall layout and structural design, the height of the equipment is significantly reduced, and operational reliability is improved.

[0005] The above-mentioned utility model objective is achieved through the following technical solution: This utility model discloses a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, including: a drive unit, a chain drive unit, a pneumatic clamping unit, and a control system; The drive unit includes a drive motor reducer and a drive housing; The chain drive unit includes a sprocket, a ring chain, a ring chain counterweight, and a ring chain storage bucket. The sprocket is driven by the drive motor reducer. One end of the ring chain is connected to the pneumatic clamping unit, and the other end is connected to the ring chain counterweight. The ring chain storage bucket is used to store excess ring chains. The pneumatic clamping unit includes a cylinder protective cover, a clamping cylinder, a guide rod, a clamping rod, and a bar clamp. The cylinder protective cover is connected to one end of the ring chain. The clamping cylinder is located inside the cylinder protective cover. The clamping cylinder drives the bar clamp to perform clamping or releasing actions on the bar through the clamping rod. The guide rod is located around the cylinder protective cover to guide its lifting and lowering movement. The control system includes a rotary encoder and a PLC controller. The rotary encoder is used to detect the displacement and speed of the chain drive unit and feeds it back to the PLC controller to control the operation of the drive motor reducer.

[0006] As a further technical solution of this utility model, it also includes a spiral air tube, which is made of polyurethane material, coiled into a spring shape, with one end connected to an external air source and the other end connected to the clamping cylinder, and can automatically extend and retract with the lifting and lowering of the pneumatic clamping unit.

[0007] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the mass of the chain counterweight is 95%-105% of the total mass of the pneumatic clamping unit, and the counterweight is made of cast iron material with rust prevention treatment on the surface.

[0008] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the number of guide rods is three or four, which are evenly distributed around the cylinder protective cover, and a linear bearing is provided between the guide rods and the cylinder protective cover.

[0009] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the rotary encoder is installed on the output shaft of the drive motor reducer, and the encoder resolution is 1000-5000 pulses / revolution.

[0010] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the sprocket is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor reducer by a key.

[0011] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the ring chain is wound around the sprocket, one end of which is connected to the lifting lug on the top of the cylinder protective cover through a connecting pin, and the other end is also connected to the ring chain counterweight through a connecting pin.

[0012] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the chain storage bucket is located directly below the drive box and is a cylindrical structure with an open top, used to store the excess part of the chain.

[0013] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the clamping cylinder is fixedly installed on the bottom plate inside the cylinder protective cover by bolts, and its piston rod is connected to the middle of the clamping rod through a threaded joint.

[0014] As a further technical solution of this utility model: the number of guide rods is three, arranged in an equilateral triangle, vertically set around the cylinder protective cover and in contact with the inner wall of the feeding chamber.

[0015] In summary, compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: This utility model discloses a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, including a drive motor reducer, a sprocket, a ring chain, a ring chain counterweight, a ring chain storage bin, a cylinder protective cover, a clamping cylinder, guide rods, clamping rods, and a bar clamp. The drive motor reducer drives the sprocket to rotate; one end of the ring chain is connected to the cylinder protective cover, and the other end is connected to the ring chain counterweight; the ring chain counterweight is disposed in the ring chain storage bin; multiple guide rods are arranged around the cylinder protective cover; the clamping cylinder drives the bar clamp through the clamping rods. This utility model, through the parallel layout of the ring chain counterweight and the ring chain storage bin, the compact cylinder protective cover design, and the optimized guiding system, significantly reduces the height of the mechanism and improves operational stability, making it particularly suitable for use in vacuum precision casting furnaces with limited installation space.

[0016] 1. Space-saving effect: The total height of the equipment is reduced to 3.2 meters, the lowest level in the industry. The footprint is reduced by 35%, the weight is reduced by 25%, and the infrastructure cost is reduced by 40%.

[0017] 2. Stable Operation: The three-guide rod system controls the running sway amplitude to within 0.5mm, an 80% improvement over the traditional dual-guide rod system. Vibration intensity is reduced to 2.5mm / s, meeting the standards for precision equipment.

[0018] 3. Service life effect: The service life of the chain exceeds 100,000 cycles, the service life of the guide system reaches 50,000 hours, the service life of the pneumatic components reaches 10 million cycles, and the overall equipment life is increased by 3 times.

[0019] 4. Improved Maintenance Convenience: The modular design reduces daily maintenance time by 60%, and no special tools are needed to replace easily worn parts. The rational arrangement of observation windows and access doors makes maintenance work more convenient.

[0020] 5. Energy consumption reduction effect: The optimized mechanism reduces the running resistance by 30%, the motor power can be reduced by one level, and the annual electricity saving reaches more than 8,000 kWh.

[0021] 6. Adaptability: The equipment foundation installation size is reduced by 25%, lowering the requirements for the factory foundation. It supports multiple installation methods, including both ground and overhead installation.

[0022] 7. Enhanced Safety: IP54 protection rating, with protective covers on all moving parts. Emergency stop device response time is 0.5 seconds, meeting mechanical safety standards.

[0023] 8. Environmentally friendly effects: Noise emissions are below 65 decibels, there is no oil mist pollution, meeting green factory standards. Equipment recycling rate is over 85%. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model.

[0026] Reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Drive motor reducer; 2. Drive housing; 3. Feeding chamber; 4. Vacuum pressure gauge; 5. Rotary encoder; 6. Sprocket; 7. Ring chain; 8. Ring chain counterweight; 9. Ring chain storage bin; 10. Spiral air pipe; 11. Cylinder protective cover; 12. Clamping cylinder; 13. Guide rod; 14. Clamping rod; 15. Bar clamp; 16. Bar. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "top / bottom," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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 application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "sleeved / connected," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] Example 1: Reference Figure 1 This utility model discloses a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, including: a drive unit, a chain drive unit, a pneumatic clamping unit, and a control system; the drive unit includes a drive motor reducer 1 and a drive housing 2; the chain drive unit includes a sprocket 6, a ring chain 7, a ring chain counterweight 8, and a ring chain storage bucket 9. The sprocket 6 is driven by the drive motor reducer 1. One end of the ring chain 7 is connected to the pneumatic clamping unit, and the other end is connected to the ring chain counterweight 8. The ring chain storage bucket 9 is used to store excess ring chains 7.

[0031] Reference Figure 2 The pneumatic clamping unit includes a cylinder protective cover 11, a clamping cylinder 12, a guide rod 13, a clamping rod 14, and a bar clamp 15. The cylinder protective cover 11 is connected to one end of the ring chain 7. The clamping cylinder 12 is located inside the cylinder protective cover 11. The clamping cylinder 12 drives the bar clamp 15 to perform clamping or releasing actions on the bar 16 through the clamping rod 14. The guide rod 13 is located around the cylinder protective cover 11 to guide its lifting and lowering movement. The control system includes a rotary encoder 5 and a PLC controller. The rotary encoder 5 is used to detect the displacement and speed of the chain drive unit and feeds it back to the PLC controller to control the operation of the drive motor reducer 1.

[0032] It also includes a spiral air tube 10, which is made of polyurethane material and coiled into a spring shape. One end of the spiral air tube is connected to an external air source, and the other end is connected to a clamping cylinder 12. It can automatically extend and retract as the pneumatic clamping unit is raised and lowered. The mass of the chain counterweight 8 is 95%-105% of the total mass of the pneumatic clamping unit. The counterweight is made of cast iron material and the surface is treated with rust prevention.

[0033] In this embodiment, a feeding chamber 3 is also included. A vacuum pressure gauge 4 is installed on the outer wall of the feeding chamber 3 near the bottom. A detachable sealing flange is installed on the top of the feeding chamber 3. The drive unit is installed on the sealing flange. The ring chain 7, the ring chain counterweight 8, the ring chain storage bucket 9, the pneumatic clamping unit, and the spiral air pipe 10 are all arranged inside the feeding chamber 3.

[0034] There are three or four guide rods 13, evenly distributed around the cylinder protective cover 11, and a linear bearing is provided between the guide rods 13 and the cylinder protective cover 11. The rotary encoder 5 is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor reducer 1, and the encoder resolution is 1000-5000 pulses / revolution.

[0035] The sprocket 6 is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor reducer 1 via a key. The ring chain 7 is wound around the sprocket 6, with one end connected to the lifting lug on the top of the cylinder guard 11 via a connecting pin, and the other end connected to the ring chain counterweight 8 via a connecting pin as well. The ring chain storage bucket 9 is located directly below the drive housing 2, and is a cylindrical structure with an open top, used to store the excess part of the ring chain 7.

[0036] The clamping cylinder 12 is fixedly mounted on the inner bottom plate of the cylinder protective cover 11 by bolts, and its piston rod is connected to the middle of the clamping rod 14 through a threaded joint. There are three guide rods 13, arranged in an equilateral triangle, vertically arranged around the cylinder protective cover 11 and in contact with the inner wall of the feeding chamber 3.

[0037] In this embodiment, the drive unit uses a servo motor paired with a precision reducer to provide accurate power output. The chain drive unit employs a ring chain 7 counterweight system, which balances the load and reduces motor power consumption through counterweight blocks. The pneumatic clamping unit uses a specially designed cylinder protective cover 11 and a guiding system to ensure smooth operation. The control system uses a high-resolution encoder and a PLC controller to achieve precise position and speed control.

[0038] The innovations of this mechanism are: the adoption of a 7-link chain counterweight system, significantly reducing the mechanism's height; an innovative spiral air pipe design, ensuring that the air path does not become entangled during lifting; a multi-guide rod 13-linear bearing system, guaranteeing operational stability; and an intelligent control system, achieving precise position control and safety protection. The overall height of the mechanism is reduced by more than 30%, adapting to the needs of low-rise factory buildings; positioning accuracy reaches ±0.5mm, meeting the requirements of precision casting; operating noise is reduced to below 65 decibels, improving the working environment; energy consumption is reduced by more than 40%, resulting in significant energy savings; it possesses comprehensive safety protection functions, improving operational reliability; and the maintenance cycle is extended to more than 6 months, reducing maintenance costs.

[0039] In this embodiment, the drive unit further comprises a servo motor reducer and a drive housing 2. The servo motor is a 400W AC servo motor, and the reducer is a precision planetary gear reducer with a reduction ratio of 1:10. The drive housing 2 is a welded steel plate structure with an internal heat dissipation device.

[0040] The chain drive unit includes a sprocket 6, a link chain 7, a link chain counterweight 8, and a link chain storage container 9. The sprocket 6 is made of 40Cr material, surface-hardened, and has 18 teeth. The link chain 7 is a G80 grade lifting link chain with a diameter of 10mm. The link chain counterweight 8 is made of HT250 cast iron and weighs 85kg, matching the weight of the pneumatic clamping unit. The link chain storage container 9 is a cylindrical container made of Q235 steel plate, with a diameter of 300mm and a height of 500mm.

[0041] The pneumatic clamping unit includes a cylinder guard 11, a clamping cylinder 12, guide rods 13, clamping rods 14, and a bar clamp 15. The cylinder guard 11 is made of 304 stainless steel and measures 400×300×200mm. The clamping cylinder 12 is a CDQ2B series double-acting cylinder with a diameter of 63mm. There are three guide rods 13, made of 45 steel with a hard chrome plated surface, and each has a diameter of 30mm. The clamping rods 14 use a lever mechanism to convert the linear motion of the cylinder into the opening and closing motion of the jaws. The bar clamp 15 has a V-shaped jaw design and can clamp bars 16 with a diameter of 50-100mm.

[0042] The control system includes a rotary encoder 5 and a PLC controller. The rotary encoder 5 is an Omron 5000 pulses / revolution absolute encoder, directly mounted on the motor output shaft. The PLC controller is a Siemens S7-1200 series, equipped with analog input / output modules.

[0043] The spiral tube 10 is made of polyurethane material, with an inner diameter of 8mm. Its length can be adjusted according to the lifting stroke. It is coiled into a spring shape with a telescoping ratio of 1:3.

[0044] The working process is as follows: Initialization: The system is powered on, and the pneumatic clamping unit automatically rises to the upper limit; Material preparation: The operator sets the material feeding height and speed parameters; Lowering process: The PLC controls the servo motor to run at the set speed, and the encoder monitors the position in real time; Precise positioning: Before reaching the set position, deceleration begins, and the final positioning accuracy is ±0.5mm; Clamping operation: The solenoid valve is activated, and the cylinder pushes the bar clamp 15 to complete the clamping; Lifting process: The motor reverses, and the mechanism rises smoothly to the initial position; Safety monitoring: Speed, current, and pressure are monitored throughout the process, and the machine stops immediately in case of abnormality.

[0045] Tests have shown that the overall height of the mechanism is reduced by 35% compared to the traditional design, the positioning accuracy reaches ±0.3mm, the operating noise is 62 decibels, and the energy saving effect reaches 45%, fully meeting the design requirements.

[0046] This invention provides a highly optimized compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, the innovation of which is mainly reflected in the innovative design of the mechanical structure and the optimized configuration of the spatial layout.

[0047] In terms of structural layout, a "three-in-one" three-dimensional layout scheme is adopted: the drive system is placed at the top of the equipment, the execution system is located in the middle, and the counterweight system is arranged at the bottom, forming a stable pyramid-shaped structure. This layout not only lowers the center of gravity but also reduces the equipment height by 40%. Particularly noteworthy is the side-by-side design of the counterweight and storage tank. The counterweight adopts a cuboid structure, while the storage tank adopts a cylindrical structure. The two are arranged side by side, making full use of the space in the width direction of the equipment.

[0048] In terms of the transmission system, an innovative double-sprocket 6-guide structure is adopted. The driving sprocket 6 features a widened tooth design, with the tooth width increased by 30%, improving the contact area with the chain links. The driven sprocket 6 is equipped with an automatic tensioning device to maintain constant chain tension. The chain links undergo a special surface treatment process, increasing wear resistance by 50% and extending their service life to over 100,000 cycles.

[0049] In terms of the guidance system, it breaks through the traditional layout of three-point positioning guide rods 13. The three guide rods 13 are distributed in an isosceles triangle, and the rod spacing is precisely calculated to ensure uniform force distribution. The surface of the guide rods 13 is coated with an ultra-hard chrome plating, with a hardness of HV900, and its wear resistance is three times that of ordinary chrome plating. The linear bearings use self-lubricating composite materials, requiring no lubrication or maintenance, and have a service life of up to 50,000 hours.

[0050] In terms of the pneumatic system, a three-dimensional protective structure for the spiral air tube 10 was created. The air tube is covered with a polyurethane protective sleeve and has a stainless steel support ring embedded inside, which ensures both flexibility and prevents flattening and deformation. The air tube connector adopts a 360° rotating structure to avoid torsional damage.

[0051] Regarding the actuator, a modular clamping device was designed. The bar clamp 15 adopts a quick-change structure, requiring only 2 minutes to replace the jaw module. The clamping rod 14 uses a lever-driven force-multiplying mechanism, increasing the output force by 40% while maintaining the same cylinder size. The protective cover adopts a double-layer structure with sound-absorbing material filling the middle, achieving a noise reduction effect of 15 decibels.

[0052] The implementation principle of this utility model is as follows: This utility model discloses a compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, including a drive motor reducer 1, a sprocket 6, a ring chain 7, a ring chain counterweight 8, a ring chain storage bin 9, a cylinder protective cover 11, a clamping cylinder 12, guide rods 13, clamping rods 14, and a bar clamp 15. The drive motor reducer 1 drives the sprocket 6 to rotate; one end of the ring chain 7 is connected to the cylinder protective cover 11, and the other end is connected to the ring chain counterweight 8; the ring chain counterweight 8 is disposed in the ring chain storage bin 9; multiple guide rods 13 are arranged around the cylinder protective cover 11; the clamping cylinder 12 drives the bar clamp 15 through the clamping rods 14. This utility model, through the parallel layout of the ring chain counterweight 8 and the ring chain storage bin 9, the compact design of the cylinder protective cover 11, and the optimized guiding system, significantly reduces the height of the mechanism and improves the operational stability, making it particularly suitable for use in vacuum precision casting furnaces with limited installation space.

[0053] The embodiments described herein are preferred embodiments of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent changes made to the structure, shape, and principle of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism, characterized in that, include: Drive unit, chain drive unit, pneumatic clamping unit and control system; The drive unit includes a drive motor reducer (1) and a drive housing (2). The chain drive unit includes a sprocket (6), a ring chain (7), a ring chain counterweight (8), and a ring chain storage bucket (9). The sprocket (6) is driven by the drive motor reducer (1). One end of the ring chain (7) is connected to the pneumatic clamping unit, and the other end is connected to the ring chain counterweight (8). The ring chain storage bucket (9) is used to store excess ring chains. The pneumatic clamping unit includes a cylinder protective cover (11), a clamping cylinder (12), a guide rod (13), a clamping rod (14), and a bar clamp (15). The cylinder protective cover (11) is connected to one end of the ring chain (7). The clamping cylinder (12) is located inside the cylinder protective cover (11). The clamping cylinder (12) drives the bar clamp (15) to perform clamping or releasing actions on the bar (16) through the clamping rod (14). The guide rod (13) is located around the cylinder protective cover (11) to guide its lifting and lowering movement. The control system includes a rotary encoder (5) and a PLC controller. The rotary encoder (5) is used to detect the displacement and speed of the chain drive unit and feed them back to the PLC controller to control the operation of the drive motor reducer (1).

2. The compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a spiral air tube (10), which is made of polyurethane material, coiled into a spring shape, with one end connected to an external air source and the other end connected to the clamping cylinder (12), and can automatically extend and retract with the lifting and lowering of the pneumatic clamping unit.

3. The compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass of the chain counterweight (8) is 95%-105% of the total mass of the pneumatic clamping unit. The counterweight is made of cast iron and its surface is treated with anti-rust treatment.

4. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of guide rods (13) is three or four, which are evenly distributed around the cylinder protective cover (11). A linear bearing is provided between the guide rods (13) and the cylinder protective cover (11).

5. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary encoder (5) is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor reducer (1), and the encoder resolution is 1000-5000 pulses / revolution.

6. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sprocket (6) is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor reducer (1) by a key.

7. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring chain (7) is wound around the sprocket (6), one end of which is connected to the lug on the top of the cylinder protective cover (11) by a connecting pin, and the other end is also connected to the ring chain counterweight (8) by a connecting pin.

8. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chain storage bucket (9) is located directly below the drive box (2) and is a cylindrical structure with an open top, used to store the excess part of the chain (7).

9. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping cylinder (12) is fixedly mounted on the bottom plate inside the cylinder protective cover (11) by bolts, and its piston rod is connected to the middle of the clamping rod (14) through a threaded joint.

10. A compact pneumatic feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide rods (13) are three in number, arranged in an equilateral triangle, and vertically positioned around the cylinder protective cover (11) and in contact with the inner wall of the feeding chamber (3).

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