Robotic Clamp Installation for CFRP Heat-Curing Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing process of CFRP products, especially long and curved components like aircraft stringers, existing clamp installation methods require drilling holes and struggle to maintain pressure during heat curing, making it difficult to achieve consistent and efficient clamping.
Innovation Solution
A clamp installation apparatus featuring a robot arm with a rotary table, a clamp holding section, a fastening section, and a measuring section, which automatically positions and secures clamps using a spring-based elastic section to apply a predetermined clamp force, allowing for precise and efficient clamping without drilling, enabling heat curing while maintaining the clamp state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a robot arm with automatic positioning and measuring sections is used, then manufacturing precision and clamp force consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm integrates multiple functions including positioning, measuring clamp force via laser sensors, and installing clamps. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices, improving precision while managing overall system complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring section uses laser sensors to detect the position of the elastic section and provides real-time feedback to the control device. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of clamp force to maintain consistency, directly improving manufacturing precision through closed-loop control.
2Ease of operation
If a spring-based elastic section is used to apply clamp force, then ease of operation and automatic control are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-based elastic section automatically generates and maintains clamp force without requiring continuous external input. The spring self-adjusts to maintain contact pressure, enabling automatic operation while reducing the need for complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex active mechanical control systems with a passive spring-based elastic section that naturally provides the required clamp force. This substitution simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining ease of operation through automatic elastic response.
3Manufacturing precision
If clamps are installed without drilling holes in the workpiece, then manufacturing precision is improved by avoiding structural modification, but reliability of clamping may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the elastic section with spring) that enables reliable clamping without direct mechanical penetration into the workpiece. This intermediary provides the necessary friction and contact pressure to secure the workpiece while preserving its structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus enables automatic clamp installation and removal, ensuring consistent clamping force measurement and application, facilitating efficient heat curing of CFRP products by preventing oil leakage and reducing curing time, while maintaining product quality.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic section connected with the screw section and configured to give the clamp force to the work
Implementation Method 2
The elastic section includes: a spring
Implementation Method 3
The measuring section may have a laser sensor section configured to measure the position data of the spring-section upper plate and the spring-section lower plate
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp installation apparatus includes a robot arm pedestal having a rotary table; a robot arm installed on the rotary table of the robot arm pedestal and having a plurality of arms and a plurality of joints; a robot hand installed to a forefront arm of the plurality of arms; and a control device. The robot hand includes: a clamp holding section configured to hold the clamp; a fastening section configured to fasten an engaging section of the clamp to give a clamp force to a work; and a measuring section configured to collect position data of a predetermined member of the clamp. The clamp can be automatically installed and removed. Also, the heat curing can be carried out in the condition to have installed the clamp.