Sub-frame Cleaning Device Using Expanding Air Nozzles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in effectively cleaning aluminum scraps and sand from the hollow cavities of machined sub-frames, as traditional methods struggle to remove residual materials from complex parts like vehicle body mounting points, especially with the increasing use of aluminum alloy sub-frames in automotive manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A sub-frame cleaning and blow-drying device is designed with a rack, water tank, lifting assemblies, rotating assembly, and expanding and cleaning-off assemblies, utilizing compressed air to dislodge and remove debris, and a position adjusting mechanism for versatility across different sub-frame types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional cleaning methods are used for hollow cavity sub-frames, then the cleaning process is simple, but aluminum scraps and sand remain in the hollow cavity and are not easy to remove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning device segments the cleaning function into multiple components: expanding assemblies with cleaning components that can be inserted into vehicle body mounting holes, allowing internal cavity cleaning through targeted access points rather than requiring complete disassembly or complex external cleaning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expanding assemblies are designed to be nested within the sub-frame structure, inserting through vehicle body mounting holes and expanding inside the hollow cavity to reach difficult-to-access areas, enabling thorough cleaning without external complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed cleaning device is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different types of sub-frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different sub-frame typesVSAvoidposition adjusting mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic positioning mechanisms that allow the expanding assemblies to be adjusted to different positions and orientations, enabling the same cleaning device to adapt to various sub-frame configurations and vehicle body mounting hole arrangements through movable and adjustable components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning device is designed with universal adaptability through its adjustable expanding assemblies that can accommodate different sub-frame types and vehicle body mounting hole patterns, allowing one device to perform multiple cleaning tasks across various automotive applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device efficiently cleans and dries sub-frames by expanding to fit vehicle body mounting holes, using compressed air to remove aluminum scraps and sand, and rotating for secondary cleaning, while being adaptable to various sub-frame configurations, ensuring thoroughness and practicality.

Implementation Method 1

compressed air may be blown into the vehicle body mounting holes through the air outlets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

compressed air ports communicate with the air outlets, and compressed air may be blown into the vehicle body mounting holes through the air outlets and may be blown into a cavity of the sub-frame to clean off aluminum scraps and residual sand in the cavity of the sub-frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3747557B1Sub-frame cleaning and blow-drying device
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 CITIC DICASTAL CO LTD
  • EP3747557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3747557B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3747557B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a sub-frame (13) cleaning and blow-drying device, comprising a rack (1), a water tank (2), a bottom lifting assembly (3, 4, 5), supporting assemblies (14, 15, 16), a top lifting assembly (17, 18, 19, 20), a rotating assembly (21-25), an expanding and cleaning-off assembly (31-34) and a blow-drying device (7-11). Expanding assemblies (31-34) expand to be connected with vehicle body mounting holes, compressed air is blown into the vehicle body mounting holes by air outlets and is blown into a cavity of a sub-frame (12) to clean off aluminum scraps and residual sand in the cavity of the sub-frame (12), the rotating assembly (21-25) drives the expanding and cleaning-off assembly (31-34) and the sub-frame (12) to do rotation movement to perform secondary cleaning, so that the aluminum scraps and the sand remaining inside the cavity can be cleaned off, and the sub-frame cleaning and blow-drying device can be flexibly adjusted by a position adjusting assembly (44, 46, 47, 48 und 26, 29) according to different types of sub-frames and is strong in universality.