Radial Press Yoke Drive Mechanism for Compact Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radial presses, specifically yoke presses, face difficulties in handling and processing heavy components fixed close to the ground due to the need to lift them significantly, leading to handling challenges and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates two synchronously acting drive units outside the tool installation space that directly act on yoke extensions, allowing for reduced overall height and eliminating the need for a frame, enhancing precision, reproducibility, and reducing weight, space, and manufacturing costs, while enabling the yokes to mutually stiffen and guide each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a conventional frame structure with lateral tie rods is used, then the radial press provides stable pressing force, but the overall height increases and heavy components must be lifted to the pressing axis level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional frame structure by placing drive units directly on the yokes rather than using lateral tie rods connected to a frame. This inversion eliminates the need for a supporting frame structure, thereby reducing overall height while maintaining pressing stability through direct drive-yoke connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the frame structure and lateral tie rods from the conventional design. By taking out these supporting elements and replacing them with direct-acting drive units on the yokes, the overall height is reduced and the pressing mechanism becomes more compact without compromising structural stability.
2Force
If a frame with lateral tie rods is used, then the pressing force is transmitted, but the device weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure and lateral tie rods are extracted and removed from the design. The pressing force transmission is achieved directly through the yokes and drive units, eliminating the need for additional frame components and reducing overall device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of the frame and tie rods for force transmission are merged into the yoke structure itself. The yokes directly transmit the pressing force from the drive units to the pressing point, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component and reducing total weight.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a frame structure is used, then the radial press is stable, but the flexibility and reproducibility are impaired due to frame flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible frame structure is extracted and removed. By eliminating the frame, the design achieves greater stiffness and reproducibility through the direct connection of drive units to yokes, while stability is maintained through the rigid yoke geometry and penetration zone design.
Solution Approach 2:
The yokes are designed with optimized curvature and geometry in the penetration zones to achieve mutual stiffening. The curved or optimized shapes of the yokes provide structural stability while maintaining precision, replacing the need for a flexible frame.
4Force
If the drive system is arranged laterally outside the tool installation space, then the pressing force is transmitted, but the overall height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive units are arranged in a different spatial configuration - directly on the yokes in the vertical dimension rather than laterally in the horizontal dimension. This dimensional change allows the drive system to be compact in height while still transmitting the necessary pressing force through the yoke mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A radial press (1) for the radial deformation of a workpiece centered on a press axis (X) comprises two yokes (2, 3) and a press tool (4), which includes a press jaw set (5) with press jaws (6) arranged concentrically around the press axis (X) and housed in a tool installation space (7) defined between the yokes (2, 3). The two yokes (2, 3) are movable relative to each other along a drive axis (A) perpendicular to the press axis (X) by means of a drive system; and the distance of the press jaws (6) to the press axis (X) depends on the position of the two yokes (2, 3) relative to each other. The two yokes (2, 3) intersect each other on both sides of the tool installation space (7); and the drive system comprises two synchronously acting drive units (10) arranged outside the two intersection zones (D), which act on yoke extensions (8, 9).