Rotating Clamp Cleaning for Axial Workpiece Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning apparatuses are inadequate in effectively clamping and cleaning axially extending workpieces like crankshafts and camshafts, particularly in aligning the center axis with the cleaning axis for efficient deburring and removal of foreign matter from both ends and shaft portions.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus with a cleaning chamber, a lifter to move a top plate between positions, slide shafts and clamp shafts supported in a rotatable manner, driven by motors and cylinders to clamp and rotate the workpiece, and a cleaning nozzle for liquid jet cleaning, ensuring alignment and thorough cleaning of both end and shaft portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional cleaning apparatus is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot effectively clamp and clean axially extending workpieces like crankshafts
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus is divided into multiple functional modules: a clamping mechanism with clamp jaws for securing workpieces, a rotating mechanism for rotating the workpiece, and a cleaning mechanism with cleaning nozzles. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system adaptability for cleaning axially extending workpieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various axially extending workpieces such as crankshafts and camshafts. The clamping mechanism can adapt to different workpiece sizes, the rotating mechanism enables both rotation and axial movement, and the cleaning nozzles can target different surfaces, making the apparatus universally applicable to different workpiece types while managing structural complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the workpiece is not properly aligned, then the cleaning process is simpler, but the cleaning precision and effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary alignment actions before the actual cleaning process. The clamping mechanism first secures the workpiece in a predetermined position, and the rotating mechanism aligns the workpiece axis with the cleaning axis before cleaning nozzles are activated. This preliminary alignment ensures high cleaning precision without requiring overly complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment process utilizes controlled mechanical rotation and positioning mechanisms rather than complex mechanical alignment systems. The rotating mechanism provides precise angular positioning, and the axial movement mechanism ensures proper spacing between cleaning nozzles and workpiece surfaces, achieving high alignment precision through simplified mechanical control.
3Productivity
If the cleaning nozzle is positioned close to the workpiece, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the risk of collision during rotation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus employs dynamic positioning where the cleaning nozzles are mounted on the rotating mechanism and move together with the workpiece during rotation. This dynamic configuration maintains a constant, optimized distance between the nozzles and workpiece surfaces, ensuring high cleaning efficiency while eliminating collision risks that would occur with fixed positioning during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning nozzles are merged with the rotating mechanism as an integrated unit. Both the workpiece and cleaning nozzles rotate together, maintaining consistent relative positioning. This merging eliminates the relative motion between nozzles and workpiece that could cause collisions, while keeping the nozzles positioned optimally close to the workpiece surfaces for efficient cleaning.
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 securely clamps and cleans axially extending workpieces by aligning the center axis with the cleaning axis, effectively removing burrs and foreign matter from both ends and the shaft, enhancing cleaning efficiency and precision.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning nozzle arranged in the cleaning chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Cleaning apparatus capable of clamping an axially extending workpiece on a center axis and cleaning an end portion and a shaft portion of the workpiece is provided. The cleaning apparatus (10) includes a cleaning chamber (19) having a first side wall and a second side wall, a top plate (33), a lifter (71) configured to move the top plate (33) upward or downward between a cleaning position (12) and a retracted position (24), first (57) and second (157) slide shafts reciprocable along a cleaning axis (21), a first clamp shaft (59) that abuts a workpiece (3), a first clamp drive device (63) that reciprocates the first slide shaft (57), a motor (67) that rotates the first clamp shaft (57), a second clamp shaft (159) that abuts the workpiece (3), a second clamp drive device (163) that reciprocates the second slide shaft (157), and a cleaning nozzle (15).