DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AND CLAMPING A ROTOR BEARING AND BALANCING MACHINE WITH SUCH A DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing, comprising at least one bearing block arranged transversely to a bearing axis of the rotor bearing and a bearing element designed to receive the rotor bearing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a balancing machine with such a clamping device.

[0002] Balancing machines are used to measure and compensate for the imbalance of rotors and are typically employed for various rotors that differ in diameter and the axial position of their bearings. A typical example is crankshafts for different engines, which can have different main bearing diameters, pitches, and lengths. To precisely compensate for an existing imbalance, the rotor must be mounted on its bearing surfaces in a position centered on the bearing axis of the balancing machine. This mounting is achieved using bearing elements of a bearing assembly, which must be precisely matched to the diameter of the rotor bearings to ensure accurate centering. The rotors are clamped by appropriate clamping devices, where the rotor bearing is held, for example, by clamping bolts that engage in receptacles within the rotor bearing.The clamping bolts usually have to be inserted and removed manually.

[0003] From EP 0 803 720 A2, an unbalance measuring station for determining the unbalance of rotors is known, which has several bearing points, which has bearing devices supported on a vibration bridge for the rotatable bearing of the rotor.

[0004] US Patent 3 090 237 discloses a device for balancing rotors in which two bearing stands can be attached at any point along a machine extending in the axial direction.

[0005] An unbalance measuring device known from DE 103 16 767 A1 has a bearing arrangement for receiving rotor circumferential sections, with open, fluid-supplied bearing shells and fluid-supplied bearing plates assigned to the rotor end faces. To adapt to different rotor types, the bearing shells and bearing plates are interchangeably attached to carriers arranged on a bearing bridge.

[0006] DE 10 2016 208527 A1 describes a holding device for holding a camshaft having an inner shaft and an outer shaft arranged coaxially thereto. The holding device has at least three clamping jaws, at least one of which is movable towards the camshaft. Extendable locking pins may be provided in the three clamping jaws, which, when extended, can be clamped against the outer shaft and the inner shaft, or only against the inner shaft.

[0007] The problem with conventional rotor bearings is that the rotor bearing is usually clamped manually, using bolts to hold the bearing in place. These bolts can shift position, resulting in insecure rotor bearings.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of providing a reproducible, safe and fast rotor bearing clamping device.

[0009] The object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by providing a device for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing, comprising at least one bearing block lying transversely to a bearing axis of the rotor bearing, a bearing element designed to receive the rotor bearing, a clamping arm and a locking device, wherein the clamping arm has an engagement element with which it can engage with the rotor bearing and wherein the locking device comprises at least two engagement elements which are radially movable in the bearing element and which can be inserted into radial receptacles in the rotor bearing by actuating the locking device, so that a rotor bearing that can be received by the bearing element can be clamped by the engagement elements of the clamping arm and the locking device, wherein the clamping arm is movably designed and can be moved from a loading position in which the bearing element is accessible for receiving the rotor bearing.The clamping device can be pivoted into a clamping position where it engages with the mounted rotor bearing. By actuating the locking device, the clamping and unclamping of the rotor bearing can be easily and controllably performed. A stable and secure clamping force is achieved, which can also be automated. Manual actuation of the locking device is also reproducibly possible. This avoids errors that occur when manually inserting the bolts into a clamping device, such as inconsistent bolt positioning, bolt slippage, etc.

[0011] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the device comprises two separate locking devices, each with an engagement element, which are radially movable in the bearing element and can be introduced into radial receptacles in the rotor bearing by actuating the locking devices, so that a rotor bearing which can be received by the bearing element can be clamped by the engagement elements of the clamping arm and the locking devices.

[0012] The clamping arm is designed to be movable and can be pivoted from a loading position, in which the bearing element for receiving the rotor bearing is accessible, to a clamping position in which it can be brought into engagement with the received rotor bearing. After loading, the clamping arm can be moved back into the clamping position in which it can be brought into engagement with the rotor bearing.

[0013] To establish a functional connection between the clamping arm and the rotor bearing, the clamping arm's engagement element can be movably mounted within the clamping arm and move from an unlocked position to a locked position, where it engages with a receptacle in the rotor bearing. The engagement element can, for example, be a bolt in a bore running through the clamping arm and be coupled to an electromechanical unit, such as a motor, so that the bolt can be moved automatically or manually from an unlocked position to a locked position, where it engages with a receptacle in the rotor bearing.

[0014] In one embodiment, the engagement element of the clamping arm is provided as a fixed bolt formed on a head section of the clamping arm. The clamping arm can have a head section on which a fixed engagement element, designed, for example, as a bolt, is located. After the device has been loaded, the clamping arm can be moved from the loading position to the clamping position, in which the engagement element interacts with a receptacle located in the rotor bearing.

[0015] The device according to the invention has, in particular, a locking device that moves at least two engagement elements, wherein the locking device, in one embodiment, comprises one or more actuators. In this embodiment, one actuator moves one or more engagement elements. However, it can also be provided that the device has two locking devices, each with an actuator operatively connected to an engagement element, which, when actuated, cause a radial movement of the engagement elements. The locking devices or the actuators can be controlled synchronously or asynchronously via a control unit, so that the movement of the engagement elements can, but does not have to, occur synchronously in time.An actuator is in particular a drive unit that converts an electrical signal into mechanical movement and can, for example, be designed as an electromechanical lifting cylinder that is operatively connected to the engagement element or elements via a linkage having joints and causes a linear movement of the engagement elements.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to a balancing machine for determining and correcting rotor imbalance, comprising at least one device for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing as previously described. The aforementioned embodiments and advantages apply analogously to the design and advantages of the balancing machine.

[0017] To ensure adjustability of the device, it may be advantageous for the device for holding and clamping a rotor bearing to be mounted on a machine frame so that it can be moved along the rotor bearing axis. For this purpose, the device can be mounted, for example, on a carriage that can be moved along the machine frame. This allows the device to be moved along the rotor bearing axis.

[0018] Furthermore, a lateral movement of the device can be advantageous, which can be achieved, for example, by arranging the device for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing on a machine frame so that it can be displaced transversely to the rotor bearing axis. In this case, the device can be mounted on an additional carriage, which, in addition to or as an alternative to the longitudinal movement of the device, enables movement transversely to the rotor's longitudinal axis.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawing. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device in the open position, Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a device in the closed position and Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a device with a clamped rotor bearing.

[0020] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing in the open loading position and Figure 2An embodiment of a device in a closed clamping position. The device 1 comprises a bearing block 2, which is supported by a base element 3. The bearing block 2 carries a bearing element 4, which is reversibly or irreversibly connected to the bearing block 2. The base element 3 can have a plate-shaped connecting part 5 on its underside, with which the base element 3 can be attached to a machine frame of a balancing machine. The base element 3 can also be connected via this connecting part to a movable slide, which enables various movements of the bearing block 2.

[0021] The bearing element 4 is designed as a semi-circular or open semi-cylindrical bearing shell, which is used to receive and support a Figure 3The illustrated rotor bearing 6 is provided with a horizontal axis. The bearing shell may contain adjusting means and means for inserting the rotor bearing 6, which simplify the insertion of rotor bearings of various designs. The bearing shell has at least two radially extending bores 7, in particular through bores, in each of which a bolt is radially movable as an engagement element 8. The engagement element 8 can be rod-shaped and have a tapered, rounded, or flat free end. The engagement element 8 is part of or connected to a locking device 9, which can be attached to the bearing block 2 or the base element 3. The locking device 9 comprises an actuator 10, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as an electromechanical lifting cylinder.

[0022] Furthermore, the locking device 9 can have joints and linkages 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston of the lifting cylinder is operatively connected to the engagement element 8, in particular the bolt, via joints and the movable linkage 11, with each locking device 9 or actuator 10 being connected to a bolt 8. However, it can also be provided that both engagement elements 8, in particular bolts, are actuated via one actuator 10. The movement of the actuator 10 can be automatically controlled by a control device (not shown). The control device, along with the corresponding hardware and software, can be part of a balancing machine (not shown). Furthermore, sensors can be provided that detect the position of the actuator or the engagement elements 8 and send this information to an evaluation unit connected to the control device.

[0023] Actuation of the locking device 9 leads to a lifting movement of the actuator 10 and a change in position or movement of the linkage 11, which in turn results in a radial movement of the engagement element 8. The locking device 9 can also be designed such that the linear movement of the engagement elements 8 is achieved by an electric motor, e.g., a linear motor or the like.

[0024] Furthermore, a clamping arm 12 is attached to the base element 3 and is designed to be pivotable. The movement of the clamping arm 12 can also be automatically controlled via a control device (not shown). However, it can also be advantageous for the clamping arm 12 to be moved manually. The clamping arm 12 can lock reversibly in its maximum deflections. At its free end, the clamping arm 12 has a head part designed as a clamping head 13, which is connected to the clamping arm 12 via fastening means, snap-in or plug-in connections. The clamping head 13 has an engagement element 8 directed towards the bearing element 4, which in the illustrated

[0025] In this embodiment, it is designed as a bolt. It can be provided that the end position of the engagement element 8 of the clamping head 13 is adjustable via adjustment means. Furthermore, the clamping arm 12 can be adjustable in height, i.e., vertically.

[0026] The device 1 according to the invention is in a loading position and in a clamping position, wherein the loading position is determined by the Figure 1 and the clamping position from the Figure 2 illustrated. A characteristic of the loading position is that the bearing element 4 is accessible for receiving a rotor bearing 6. To simplify the insertion of the rotor bearing 6 into the bearing element 4, it can be advantageous if the engagement elements 8 are retracted into the bearing element 4, i.e., into the bores 7 provided in the bearing element 4. This means that the bolts are countersunk into the bearing shell. The same applies to the clamping arm 12, which, in the loading position, is in a position in which the bearing element 4 is accessible for a rotor bearing 6.

[0027] Figure 3Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 with a pre-tensioned rotor bearing 6. The rotor bearing 6 to be tensioned has at least two, preferably three, receptacles 14 for engagement elements 8. The receptacles 14 extend radially within the rotor bearing 6. The rotor bearing 6 to be tensioned is inserted into the bearing shell of the bearing element 4, which is preferably in the loading position in which the engagement elements 8 are retracted and the clamping arm 12 is in the loading position in which the bearing shell is accessible. The rotor bearing 6 may have centering means that simplify the insertion of the rotor bearing 6 into the correct position, in which the receptacles 14 are concentric with the bores 7 of the bearing element 4. Once the rotor bearing 6 is in the correct position, the locking device 9 is actuated, so that the engagement elements 8, designed as bolts, are moved radially into the receptacles 14 of the rotor bearing 6 by a movement of the actuator 10.Furthermore, the clamping arm 12 is pivoted from the loading position into the clamping position, in which its engagement element 8, in particular a bolt, engages with a correspondingly aligned receptacle 14 in the rotor bearing 6.

[0028] In one embodiment, the actuation of the locking device 9 and the movement of the clamping arm 12 can occur simultaneously and, in particular, automatically. However, it can also be provided that these actions are performed sequentially. The movements can also be coordinated with each other, for example, by the movement of the clamping arm 12 from its loading position to its clamping position automatically triggering the actuation of the locking device 9 and thus clamping the rotor bearing 6. The geometric shape of the bolts, i.e., the engagement elements 8, is adapted to the receptacles 14 present in the rotor bearing 6, particularly with regard to their length and diameter. Universally compatible engagement elements 8 can be provided that can be inserted into a variety of rotor receptacles.To ensure secure clamping of the rotor bearing 6, the locking device 9 can be mechanically locked in the clamping position in which the engagement elements 8 engage in the receptacles 14 of the rotor bearing 6. This prevents unintentional release of the locking device 9 and the engagement elements, and consequently, a loosening of the rotor bearing 6.

Claims

1. Device (1) for receiving and clamping a rotor bearing (6), comprising at least one bearing block (2) that is located transversely to a bearing axis of the rotor bearing (6) and is supported by a base element (3), a bearing element (4) designed to receive the rotor bearing (6), a clamping arm (12) and a locking device (9), the clamping arm (12) having an engagement element (8) by means of which it can be brought into engagement with the rotor bearing (6), and wherein the locking device (9) comprises at least two engagement elements (8) which are radially movable in the bearing element (4) and by actuation of the locking device (9) can be introduced into radial receptacles (14) in the rotor bearing (6), such that a rotor bearing (6) which can be received by the bearing element (4) can be clamped by the engagement elements (8) of the clamping arm (12) and of the locking device (9), wherein the clamping arm (12) is movable, characterized in that the clamping arm (12) is attached to the base element (3) and can be pivoted from a loading position, in which the bearing element (4) is accessible for the receiving of the rotor bearing (6), into a clamping position, in which it can be brought into engagement with the received rotor bearing (6).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement element (8) of the clamping arm (12) is mounted such that it can move in the clamping arm (12) and can be moved out of a unlocking position into a locking position, in which it can be engaged with a receptacle (14) present in the rotor bearing (6).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the engagement element (8) of the clamping arm (12) is provided as a fixed stud formed on a head part (13) of the clamping arm (12).

4. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing element (4) is designed as a semi-circular bearing shell.

5. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that bores (7) running radially and accommodating the engagement elements (8) are present in the bearing element (4).

6. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has two locking devices (9) each having an actuator (10) operatively connected to an engagement element (8), which devices (9) cause a radial movement of the engagement elements (8) when actuated.

7. A balancing machine for determining the unbalance of a rotor and correcting it, with at least one device (1) for the receiving and clamping of a rotor bearing (6) according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6.

8. A balancing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the device (1) for the receiving and clamping of a rotor bearing (6) is arranged on a machine frame such that it can be displaced along a rotor bearing axis.

9. A balancing machine according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the device (1) for the receiving and clamping of a rotor bearing (6) on a machine frame is arranged such that it can be displaced transversely to the rotor bearing axis.