A cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism

Abstract

This utility model relates to a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism. The cylinder is mounted on a first connecting arm via a cylinder mounting bracket. The cylinder guide rod is connected to a second connecting arm on the other side via a guide rod linkage plate. The first locking component includes a screw, a nut, and a ball bearing. The second locking component includes a locking head. The screw is mounted on a locking bracket via a nut. A ball bearing is installed at the bottom of the screw's inner cavity. The bottom of the locking head is mounted on the first connecting arm, and a locking hole adapted to the ball bearing is formed at the top of the locking head. The entire locking process of this utility model does not rely on any electrical signals or external power; it is automatically completed by the mechanical structure under the action of gravity and spring force, resulting in fast response, high reliability, and inherent safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of mechanical structure components, and in particular to a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of modern industrial technology, industrial manufacturing lines are paying increasing attention to safety issues during production. In fields such as automated equipment, robotic arms, and construction machinery, cylinders, as common pneumatic actuators, are widely used to achieve linear reciprocating motion. However, cylinders have an inherent safety hazard during operation: when the air supply is suddenly interrupted, the air pressure drops sharply, or the cylinder itself malfunctions, the internal pressure cannot be maintained. Its piston rod (i.e., the cylinder guide rod) may suddenly retract under the influence of load or external force, causing the connected components to fall. This accidental fall may not only damage equipment or workpieces but may also threaten the safety of personnel on site.

[0003] To address this issue, existing technologies typically incorporate mechanical locking devices into the cylinder drive train. However, traditional locking devices often suffer from drawbacks such as complex structure, slow response speed, the need for an additional power source (e.g., electromagnet), or unreliable locking. For example, some friction-based locking mechanisms may experience a decrease in locking force due to wear after prolonged use; while some electrically controlled locking devices fail to function when power is off, thus failing to form a fully mechanical passive safety system.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings, the designer actively researched and innovated in order to create a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism that would have greater industrial application value. Utility Model Content

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism includes a first connecting arm, a cylinder, and a second connecting arm. The cylinder is mounted on the first connecting arm via a cylinder mounting bracket, and the cylinder guide rod is connected to the second connecting arm on the other side via a guide rod linkage plate. A locking bracket is installed on the second connecting arm, a first locking element is installed on the locking bracket, and a second locking element adapted to the first locking element is installed on the first connecting arm. The first locking element includes a screw, a nut, and balls; the second locking element includes a locking head. The screw is mounted on the locking bracket by a nut. A ball bearing is installed at the bottom of the screw's inner cavity. The bottom of the locking head is mounted on the first connecting arm. A locking hole that matches the aforementioned ball bearing is opened at the top of the locking head.

[0007] As a further improvement of this utility model, an elastic element is installed in the inner cavity of the screw above the ball.

[0008] As a further improvement of this utility model, the elastic element is a spring.

[0009] As a further improvement of this utility model, the locking head on the outside of the locking hole has an arc-shaped surface structure.

[0010] As a further improvement of this utility model, a mounting post is provided at the bottom of the locking head, and the mounting post is installed into the mounting hole on the first connecting arm below.

[0011] As a further improvement of this utility model, the mounting post is a pin and the mounting hole is a pin hole.

[0012] As a further improvement of this utility model, at least one notch is provided on the screw outside the ball.

[0013] As a further improvement of this utility model, a first contact block is installed on the first connecting arm, and a second contact block adapted to the first contact block is installed on the second connecting arm.

[0014] As a further improvement of this utility model, both the first contact block and the second contact block are elastic block structures.

[0015] By means of the above solution, this utility model has at least the following advantages: The entire locking process of this invention does not rely on any electrical signals or external power. It is automatically completed by the mechanical structure under the action of gravity and spring force, resulting in fast response, high reliability, and inherent safety.

[0016] The core locking component of this utility model has a simple structure, mainly consisting of a screw, ball bearings, spring, and a locking head with holes. It has low manufacturing and assembly costs and is easy to maintain.

[0017] The height of the screw can be adjusted by the nut to adapt to different installation positions, and the elastic contact block can effectively buffer the impact when the mechanism moves to the limit position.

[0018] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this utility model. In order to better understand the technical means of this utility model and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the following are the preferred embodiments of this utility model and are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention in the open state; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention in the locked state; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partially enlarged structural diagram of the first and second locking components; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the first locking component; Figure 5 yes Figure 3 An exploded view of the second locking element and the first connecting arm.

[0021] The meanings of the labels in the figures are as follows.

[0022] 1. First connecting arm; 2. Cylinder mounting bracket; 3. Cylinder guide rod; 4. Guide rod linkage plate; 5. Second connecting arm; 6. Locking bracket; 7. First locking component; 8. Second locking component; 9. First contact block; 10. Second contact block; 11. Screw; 12. Nut; 13. Ball bearing; 14. Notch; 15. Screw inner cavity; 16. Mounting hole; 17. Locking head; 18. Locking hole; 19. Mounting post; 20. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this utility model, but are not intended to limit its scope.

[0024] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. 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. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present 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 present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The first embodiment of this utility model: like Figures 1-5 As shown, a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism in this embodiment includes a first connecting arm 1, a cylinder 3, and a second connecting arm 6. The cylinder 3 is mounted on the first connecting arm 1 via a cylinder mounting bracket 2, and the cylinder guide rod 4 of the cylinder 3 is connected to the second connecting arm 6 on the other side via a guide rod linkage plate 5.

[0026] A locking bracket 7 is installed on the second connecting arm 6, a first locking element 8 is installed on the locking bracket 7, and a second locking element 9 adapted to the first locking element 8 is installed on the first connecting arm 1.

[0027] The first locking element 8 includes a screw 12, a nut 13, and a ball bearing 14. The screw 12 is vertically mounted on the locking bracket 7 via the nut 13, making its height and angle adjustable. The screw 12 has an axial screw cavity 16 inside, and the ball bearing 14 is housed at the bottom of the screw cavity 16. An elastic element, which can be a spring, is also installed in the screw cavity above the ball bearing 14 to provide downward preload to the ball bearing.

[0028] The second locking member 9 includes a locking head 18. The bottom of the locking head 18 is mounted on the first connecting arm 1. A locking hole 19 adapted to the aforementioned ball 14 is provided on the top of the locking head 18. The locking head 18 outside the locking hole 19 has an arc-shaped surface structure to facilitate guiding the ball into the locking hole.

[0029] Specifically, a mounting post 20 is provided at the bottom of the locking head 18, and the mounting post 20 is installed into the mounting hole 17 on the first connecting arm 1 below. The mounting post is tightly inserted into the mounting hole, realizing the quick and accurate positioning and fixing of the second locking element.

[0030] Among them, the mounting post 20 can be a pin, and the mounting hole 17 can be a pin hole.

[0031] At least one notch 15 is radially provided on the screw wall outside the ball 14. This notch serves as an observation and adjustment hole, allowing tools to be inserted to hold the ball in place, facilitating adjustment by compressing the elastic element during installation, and also providing space for minor displacement of the ball.

[0032] A first contact block 10 is installed on the first connecting arm 1, and a second contact block 11 adapted to the first contact block 10 is installed on the second connecting arm 6. Both the first contact block 10 and the second contact block 11 are elastic block structures made of polyurethane. When the mechanism is in the non-locking retracted state, the first contact block and the second contact block contact each other, playing a role in buffering and limiting.

[0033] When the cylinder is operating normally, the cylinder guide rod drives the second connecting arm to move relative to the first connecting arm. When the mechanism is in the open state, the first locking member is located to the right of the second locking member, and the two are separated. When locking is required, the cylinder guide rod drives the second connecting arm to move to the left, causing the first locking member on the locking bracket to move to the left closer to the second locking member. When the locking position is reached, the balls on the first locking member, under the preload of the elastic element, abut against the arc-shaped surface of the locking head of the second locking member.

[0034] If the cylinder unexpectedly loses pressure, the second connecting arm, under external load, tends to move to the right (i.e., in the retraction direction). The locking bracket will then move to the right, causing the first locking element to move to the right as well. At this instant, relative motion occurs between the ball and the curved surface. The curved surface exerts a guiding and converging force on the ball, forcing it to quickly fall into the locking hole of the locking head after overcoming the spring pressure. Once the ball falls into the locking hole, it is confined within the hole, thus mechanically preventing the relative separation movement between the first and second locking elements, i.e., preventing the second connecting arm from continuing to move to the right relative to the first connecting arm, achieving automatic and instantaneous mechanical locking.

[0035] The second embodiment of this utility model: like Figures 1-5 As shown in the figure, in this embodiment of a cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism, a first connecting arm 1 serves as a fixed base, on which a standard cylinder 3 is mounted via a cylinder mounting bracket 2. The cylinder guide rod 4 of the cylinder 3 extends out, and its end is fixedly connected to a guide rod linkage plate 5 by bolts. The guide rod linkage plate 5 is then fixedly connected to a second connecting arm 6. The second connecting arm 6 is a moving component, capable of horizontally moving relative to the first connecting arm 1 under the drive of the cylinder 3.

[0036] A locking bracket 7 is fixedly installed below the second connecting arm 6. A first locking element 8 passes through the top horizontal plate of the locking bracket 7 and is locked in place by a nut 13, thereby enabling fine-tuning of its vertical height. The core of the first locking element 8 is a hollow screw 12, which forms an inner screw cavity 16. A steel ball bearing 14 is placed at the bottom of the inner screw cavity 16, and a spring (as an elastic element) is pressed above the ball bearing 14. Two symmetrical notches 15 are opened on the side wall of the screw 12.

[0037] On the first connecting arm 1, directly below the first locking member 8, a second locking member 9 is installed. The locking head 18 of the second locking member 9 has a smooth arc-shaped top surface and a hemispherical locking hole 19 machined in the center. The bottom of the locking head 18 has a ring of mounting posts 20, which are pressed into the pre-machined mounting holes 17 on the first connecting arm 1 with an interference fit, achieving precise positioning and secure installation.

[0038] In addition, a first contact block 10 made of polyurethane is installed at the end of the first connecting arm 1, and a second contact block 11 of the same material is installed at the corresponding position of the second connecting arm 6.

[0039] The working process of this embodiment: Open status: such as Figure 1 As shown, when cylinder 3 is vented, cylinder guide rod 4 retracts to the left, driving the second connecting arm 6 to move to its leftmost position. At this time, the first locking member 8 is located to the right of the second locking member 9, and the two are completely separated, with the mechanism in the unlocked open state.

[0040] Locking process: (e.g.) Figure 2 As shown, when the locking action is required, the cylinder 3 is vented, causing the cylinder guide rod 4 to push to the right, driving the second connecting arm 6 to move to the right. When it reaches the designated locking position, the ball 14 of the first locking member 8, under spring pressure, contacts the arc-shaped surface of the locking head 18 of the second locking member 9. If the cylinder unexpectedly loses pressure at this time, the second connecting arm 6 tends to retract to the left under the load. This tendency causes the first locking member 8 to move to the left along with the locking bracket 7, and the ball 14, guided by the arc-shaped surface, quickly falls into the locking hole 19 (as shown). Figure 3 As shown in the figure, mechanical locking is achieved to prevent the second connecting arm 6 from retracting uncontrollably.

[0041] Normal operation and reset: When cylinder 3 resumes pressure and drives cylinder guide rod 4 to push to the right, the second connecting arm 6 is pushed to the right. This action causes the edge of locking hole 19 to exert a rightward thrust on ball 14, squeezing ball 14 out of locking hole 19. Ball 14 then slides along the arc surface again, the mechanism is released from locking, and controllable movement is restored.

[0042] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0043] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" 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 mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0044] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism, comprising a first connecting arm (1), a cylinder (3) and a second connecting arm (6), wherein the cylinder (3) is mounted on the first connecting arm (1) via a cylinder mounting bracket (2), and the cylinder guide rod (4) of the cylinder (3) is connected to the second connecting arm (6) on the other side via a guide rod linkage plate (5); Its features are: A locking bracket (7) is installed on the second connecting arm (6), a first locking member (8) is installed on the locking bracket (7), and a second locking member (9) adapted to the first locking member (8) is installed on the first connecting arm (1). The first locking member (8) includes a screw (12), a nut (13) and a ball (14), and the second locking member (9) includes a locking head (18). The screw (12) is mounted on the locking bracket (7) by a nut (13). A ball (14) is installed at the bottom of the screw cavity (16) inside the screw (12). The bottom of the locking head (18) is mounted on the first connecting arm (1). A locking hole (19) adapted to the ball (14) is opened at the top of the locking head (18).

2. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An elastic element is installed in the screw cavity (16) above the ball (14).

3. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic element is a spring.

4. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking head (18) outside the locking hole (19) has an arc-shaped surface structure.

5. A cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A mounting post (20) is provided at the bottom of the locking head (18), and the mounting post (20) is installed into the mounting hole (17) on the first connecting arm (1) below.

6. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The mounting post (20) is a pin, and the mounting hole (17) is a pin hole.

7. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one notch (15) is provided on the screw (12) outside the ball (14).

8. The cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A first contact block (10) is installed on the first connecting arm (1), and a second contact block (11) adapted to the first contact block (10) is installed on the second connecting arm (6).

9. A cylinder anti-fall locking mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Both the first contact block (10) and the second contact block (11) are elastic block structures.

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