Piston type pneumatic actuator with slider

Abstract

The utility model discloses a fork formula pneumatic actuator of slider belongs to pneumatic actuator technical field. It includes piston rod, prong, sliding block and rotating bearing, and piston rod is equipped with the protruding column, and prong opens the sliding slot, and sliding block can be slidably arranged in the sliding slot, and the inner ring of rotating bearing is fixedly connected with the protruding column, and the outer ring is fixedly connected with sliding block. When piston rod linear motion, rotating bearing drives sliding block to slide along the sliding slot and makes prong rotate. The inner wall of sliding slot is equipped with slider guide slot, and the both sides of sliding block are equipped with guide ear and embed guide slot, and the oil storage sponge is installed in the slider guide slot, and prong is equipped with microchannel and is communicated with guide slot. The utility model converts the traditional direct sliding friction into rolling friction through rotating bearing, combines the guide structure and automatic lubrication design, solves the abrasion, action lag and jam problem of existing actuator because of long -term sliding friction, promotes the operation stability, reduces the maintenance frequency, and is applicable to the industrial automation valve control scene.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pneumatic actuator technology, and in particular to a pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork. Background Technology

[0002] Pneumatic actuators with shift forks are core devices for driving valve opening and closing in the field of industrial automation, and are widely used in critical scenarios such as petrochemicals, power, and water treatment. Their core operation involves the linear motion of a piston rod driving the rotation of a shift fork, thereby achieving precise angle control of the valve stem, which has a significant impact on the stability and safety of industrial processes.

[0003] In existing technologies, the sliding groove of the shift fork and the protrusion on the piston rod mostly use a direct sliding contact to transmit motion. However, as the actuator operates for longer periods and opening and closing actions become more frequent, sliding friction continuously occurs between the inner wall of the groove and the surface of the protrusion. This long-term friction easily leads to wear on the contact surfaces, which in turn gradually increases the clearance between the two. Increased clearance can cause the actuator to experience problems such as sluggish action and uneven opening and closing. In severe cases, it can reduce the control accuracy of the valve and even cause jamming failures, affecting not only the normal operation of industrial processes but also potentially leading to safety hazards and higher maintenance costs.

[0004] Therefore, existing pneumatic actuators with shift forks have revealed problems such as insufficient operational stability and high maintenance frequency due to friction and wear during long-term use, making it difficult to meet the needs of industrial automation for efficient, stable, and low-maintenance equipment. There is an urgent need to improve the existing structure. Utility Model Content

[0005] This utility model discloses a pneumatic actuator with a slider, which aims to solve the technical problem of severe wear and insufficient operational stability caused by sliding friction between the fork groove and the piston rod protrusion in existing pneumatic actuators.

[0006] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows: The pneumatic actuator with slider and fork disclosed in this utility model includes: a piston rod with a protruding post; a fork with a sliding groove; a sliding block slidably disposed in the sliding groove; and a rotary bearing, the inner ring of which is fixedly connected to the protruding post, and the outer ring of which is fixedly connected to the sliding block, such that when the piston rod moves linearly, the rotary bearing drives the sliding block to slide along the sliding groove, thereby driving the fork to rotate.

[0007] This technical solution utilizes a rotary bearing to convert the sliding friction between the piston rod protrusion and the sliding block into rolling friction, significantly reducing the coefficient of friction and wear rate. This avoids the problem of increased clearance due to long-term wear, effectively improving the operational stability and service life of the actuator, and solving the risks of malfunctions such as delayed action and jamming in existing technologies.

[0008] Furthermore, a mounting through hole is provided in the middle of the sliding block, and the outer ring of the rotary bearing is fixedly installed in the mounting through hole.

[0009] This technical solution provides a stable mounting position for the rotary bearing through the mounting hole, ensuring a reliable connection between the outer ring of the rotary bearing and the sliding block.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner wall of the slide groove is provided with a slider guide groove, and the two sides of the sliding block are provided with guide ears, which are slidably embedded in the slider guide groove.

[0011] This technical solution restricts the displacement of the sliding block in the direction perpendicular to the slide groove by the cooperation between the guide ear and the slider guide groove, ensuring that the sliding block slides stably along the slide groove, avoiding the sliding block from deviating or shaking during the movement, and further improving the stability of the transmission.

[0012] Preferably, it also includes an oil-retaining sponge, which is disposed in the slider guide groove, and the oil-retaining sponge is squeezed when the slider moves.

[0013] This technical solution allows the oil-storing sponge to squeeze out lubricant under the pressure of the sliding block, providing real-time lubrication to the contact surface between the sliding block and the groove, reducing friction and wear, and avoiding the hassle of frequent manual lubrication, thus improving maintenance convenience.

[0014] More specifically, the shift fork is provided with a micro-channel, which communicates with the slider guide groove.

[0015] This technical solution provides a convenient channel for replenishing lubricating oil to the oil storage sponge, allowing lubrication maintenance to be completed without disassembling the actuator, thus extending the maintenance cycle and reducing maintenance costs.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes a cylinder and a housing, the cylinder and the housing being detachably fixed together by bolts, and the piston rod passing through the cylinder and the housing.

[0017] This technical solution provides a stable support frame for the internal structure through the rigid connection between the cylinder and the housing, and the through-type piston rod ensures the smooth transmission of linear motion, improving the overall reliability of the actuator structure; the detachable connection design facilitates later maintenance and component replacement.

[0018] Preferably, a piston is provided in the cylinder body, the piston is rigidly connected to the piston rod, and the piston rod slides back and forth in the cylinder body with the piston.

[0019] This technical solution ensures that the rigid connection between the piston and piston rod can efficiently transmit the driving force generated by the change in air pressure inside the cylinder to the piston rod, realizing the stable linear motion of the piston rod and providing a reliable power source for the subsequent rotation of the shift fork; the reciprocating sliding characteristics are adapted to the bidirectional action requirements of valve opening and closing.

[0020] Preferably, the shift fork is rotatably mounted inside the housing, and one end of the shift fork is used to be fixed to the valve stem by a key.

[0021] This technical solution ensures that the rotating installation of the shift fork allows for flexible rotation, while the keyed connection with the valve stem guarantees the precise transmission of rotational motion, thus achieving precise control over the opening and closing of the valve.

[0022] Furthermore, it also includes an end cap, which is fixed to the end of the housing.

[0023] This technical solution enables the end cap to protect core components such as the shift fork and sliding block inside the housing from dust, water, and impurities, while ensuring the sealing performance inside the actuator and extending the service life of the components.

[0024] In summary, the pneumatic actuator with slider disclosed in this utility model addresses the problem of severe wear and insufficient operational stability caused by sliding friction between the fork groove and the piston rod protrusion in existing pneumatic actuators, and proposes an innovative solution. Its core improvement lies in adding a sliding block with a rotary bearing between the fork groove and the piston rod protrusion, constructing a transmission structure of "protrusion-rotary bearing-sliding block-groove". The inner ring of the rotary bearing is fixed to the protrusion, and the outer ring is fixed to the sliding block. When the piston rod moves linearly, the protrusion drives the sliding block to slide along the groove through the rotary bearing, while the rotary bearing simultaneously achieves relative rotation between the two, transforming traditional sliding friction into low-resistance rolling friction.

[0025] Compared to existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: First, the introduction of rolling friction significantly reduces the coefficient of friction and wear rate, avoiding the problem of increased clearance due to long-term operation. This fundamentally solves the risks of sluggish action, uneven opening and closing, and jamming, significantly improving the actuator's operational stability and control accuracy. Second, the guide ears on both sides of the sliding block cooperate with the slider guide groove in the slide groove, further limiting the sliding block's offset and ensuring stable and reliable transmission. The lubrication structure composed of an oil storage sponge and microchannels automatically squeezes out lubricating oil when the sliding block moves, reducing friction and lowering the frequency of manual maintenance, thus improving the equipment's maintenance convenience. Finally, the overall structure is compact, requiring no major modifications to the existing actuator's main structure, making it easy to manufacture and assemble, reducing modification costs, and meeting the industrial automation requirements for efficient, stable, and low-maintenance equipment, thereby extending the equipment's service life. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0027] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork. Figure 1 .

[0028] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork. Figure 2 .

[0029] Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of the engagement between the shift fork and the sliding block.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the shift fork and the sliding block.

[0031] Icon labels: 100. Actuator body; 110. Cylinder body; 120. Housing; 130. End cap; 200. Piston rod; 210. Piston; 220. Protruding post; 300. Shift fork; 310. Slide groove; 311. Slider guide groove; 312. Miniature channel; 400. Sliding block; 410. Guide ear; 420. Mounting through hole; 430. Oil reservoir sponge; 500. Rotary bearing; 600. Valve stem. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solution of this application will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely 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 inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] In the field of industrial automation, pneumatic actuators with shift forks control valve opening and closing by rotating a shift fork through the linear motion of a piston rod. Their operational stability directly impacts the safety of industrial processes. In existing actuators, the direct sliding friction between the shift fork groove and the piston rod protrusion easily leads to wear, causing problems such as delayed action and jamming. For example, in petrochemical pipelines, if the actuator jams due to wear, the valve may fail to open or close in a timely manner, potentially leading to media leaks and other safety accidents.

[0034] In response, this application proposes a pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork, which reduces friction and wear and improves operational stability by optimizing the transmission structure.

[0035] This embodiment discloses a pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork, comprising an actuator body 100. Its core transmission structure consists of a piston rod 200, a fork 300, a sliding block 400, and a rotary bearing 500. The piston rod 200 has a protruding post 220, the fork 300 has a sliding groove 310, and the sliding block 400 is slidably disposed within the sliding groove 310. The inner ring of the rotary bearing 500 is fixedly connected to the protruding post 220, and the outer ring is fixedly connected to the sliding block 400. A mounting through hole 420 is provided in the center of the sliding block 400, and the outer ring of the rotary bearing 500 is fixedly installed within this mounting through hole 420, forming a stable transmission connection.

[0036] To ensure stable movement of the sliding block 400, a slider guide groove 311 is provided on the inner wall of the slide groove 310, and matching guide ears 410 are provided on both sides of the sliding block 400. The guide ears 410 are slidably embedded in the slider guide groove 311, limiting the displacement of the sliding block 400 in the direction perpendicular to the slide groove 310. At the same time, an oil storage sponge 430 is provided in the slider guide groove 311, and a micro channel 312 is provided on the shift fork 300, which communicates with the slider guide groove 311. The oil storage sponge 430 can store lubricating oil. When the sliding block 400 moves, it squeezes the oil storage sponge 430 to cause the lubricating oil to seep out, and the lubricating oil can be easily replenished through the micro channel 312.

[0037] The overall support structure of the actuator includes a cylinder body 110 and a housing 120, which are detachably fixed together by bolts. A piston rod 200 passes through the cylinder body 110 and the housing 120. A piston 210 is installed inside the cylinder body 110, and the piston 210 is fixedly connected to the piston rod 200. The piston rod 200 slides back and forth inside the cylinder body 110 with the piston 210. A shift fork 300 is rotatably installed inside the housing 120, and one end of it is fixed to the valve stem 600 by a key connection. An end cap 130 is fixed to the end of the housing 120 to protect the internal structure.

[0038] It can be understood that the rotary bearing 500 refers to a rolling bearing with an inner and outer ring structure, such as a deep groove ball bearing or a needle roller bearing. Its inner ring can be connected by an interference fit protruding post, and its outer ring can be connected to the sliding block by bolts or a snap-fit ​​structure. This structure converts the sliding friction between the piston rod 200 and the shift fork 300 into bearing rolling friction, reducing wear on the contact surfaces.

[0039] The sliding block 400 refers to a metal block with a guiding structure, which can be made of surface-hardened alloy steel. Guide ears 410 are provided on both sides to engage with the slider guide groove 311, ensuring the stability of the linear motion trajectory. The mounting through hole 420 is a hole-like structure that penetrates the middle of the sliding block 400 and accommodates the outer ring of the rotary bearing 500; it can be formed by machining. The slider guide groove 311 is a groove structure extending along the inner wall of the groove 310; it can be implemented using a U-shaped or T-shaped cross-section groove, and its function is to provide linear motion trajectory constraint for the sliding block. The guide ears 410 are protrusions on both sides of the sliding block; they can be integrally formed metal bosses with the slider or assembled wear-resistant blocks, and their function is to form a sliding fit with the slider guide groove 311, reducing the contact area between the sliding block 400 and the groove 310.

[0040] The oil-absorbing sponge 430 refers to an oil-absorbing material with a porous structure, specifically polyurethane foam, whose pore structure can absorb and store lubricating oil. When compressed, the oil-absorbing sponge 430 releases lubricating oil to the contact surface, forming a lubricating film to reduce friction. The microchannel 312 refers to a tiny flow channel that penetrates the interior of the shift fork and communicates with the slider guide groove 311. It can be implemented using machined channels or an internal capillary structure, and is used to transport the lubricating medium in the oil-absorbing sponge 430 to the slider guide groove 311.

[0041] The cylinder block 110 is a sealed cavity structure that houses the piston. It is made of cast aluminum alloy using a die-casting process, and its inner wall is precision-machined to form a pneumatic drive working space. Air ports are located at both ends for compressed air to enter. The housing 120 is a rigid shell structure that houses the transmission components. It is made of gray cast iron using a sand casting process and has bearing mounting holes machined inside to provide a stable rotational support environment for the shift fork 300. The mating surface between the housing 120 and the cylinder block 110 has a locating stop to ensure coaxiality during assembly. The end cap 130 is a closed structure that covers the end opening of the housing. It is made of stamped steel plate and connected to the housing flange with bolts. Rubber gaskets are provided on the mating surface to isolate external dust and moisture from the internal space of the housing.

[0042] The piston rod 200 is a rod-shaped component that transmits linear motion. It passes through the housing 120, mates with the protruding post 220, and is fixedly connected to the piston 210. The piston 210 is a cylindrical structure located inside the cylinder and forming a seal with the inner wall of the cylinder. It is made of aluminum alloy and has a sealing ring embedded on its outer edge to form an air seal with the inner wall of the cylinder, ensuring that the air pressure can be effectively converted into linear driving force.

[0043] During operation, the pneumatic pressure inside the cylinder 110 drives the piston 210, which in turn drives the piston rod 200 in a linear motion. The protrusion 220 of the piston rod 200 drives the sliding block 400 to slide along the groove 310 of the shift fork 300 via the rotary bearing 500. Due to the action of the rotary bearing 500, the sliding friction between the protrusion 220 and the sliding block 400 is converted into rolling friction, significantly reducing wear. The guide ear 410 of the sliding block 400 moves along the slider guide groove 311 to ensure stable sliding. The oil reservoir sponge 430 provides continuous lubrication under the compression of the sliding block 400. The sliding of the sliding block 400 drives the shift fork 300 to rotate around the mounting shaft inside the housing 120, which in turn drives the valve rod 600 to rotate via a key connection, thereby realizing the opening and closing control of the valve.

[0044] This embodiment replaces sliding friction with rolling friction, and combined with a guiding structure and automatic lubrication design, effectively solves the problems of severe wear and unstable operation of existing actuators, improves the reliability and service life of the equipment, reduces maintenance costs, and is suitable for various industrial scenarios with high requirements for valve control accuracy.

[0045] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A pneumatic actuator with a slider and a fork-type actuator, characterized in that, include: A piston rod (200) is provided with a protruding post (220); A shift fork (300) is provided with a sliding groove (310); A sliding block (400) is slidably disposed within the groove (310); and A rotary bearing (500) is provided, the inner ring of which is fixedly connected to the protruding post (220), and the outer ring of which is fixedly connected to the sliding block (400), so that when the piston rod (200) moves linearly, the rotary bearing (500) drives the sliding block (400) to slide along the slide groove (310) to drive the shift fork (300) to rotate.

2. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding block (400) has a mounting through hole (420) in the middle, and the outer ring of the rotary bearing (500) is fixedly installed in the mounting through hole (420).

3. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the slide groove (310) is provided with a slider guide groove (311), and the two sides of the sliding block (400) are provided with guide ears (410), which are slidably embedded in the slider guide groove (311).

4. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes an oil-retaining sponge (430), which is disposed in the slider guide groove (311), and the oil-retaining sponge (430) is squeezed when the slider block (400) moves.

5. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The shift fork (300) is provided with a micro channel (312), which is connected to the slider guide groove (311).

6. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cylinder (110) and a housing (120), the cylinder (110) and the housing (120) being detachably fixedly connected by bolts, and the piston rod (200) passing through the cylinder (110) and the housing (120).

7. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The cylinder (110) is provided with a piston (210), the piston (210) is fixedly connected to the piston rod (200), and the piston rod (200) slides back and forth in the cylinder (110) with the piston (210).

8. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The shift fork (300) is rotatably mounted inside the housing (120), and one end of the shift fork (300) is used to be fixed to the valve stem (600) by a key.

9. The pneumatic actuator with slider as described in claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes an end cap (130), which is fixed to the end of the housing (120) for sealing and protection.

Images