Friction-Locked Clamping System for Swivel Bridge Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern machining centers face challenges in securely maintaining the angular position of a swivel bridge during machining operations without continuous drive control, leading to high electric current consumption and potential loss of position control in case of energy breakdown.
Innovation Solution
A friction-locked clamping system using energy storage, such as mechanical springs or hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators, is integrated to provide operation clamping for the swivel bridge, allowing secure and exact positioning without relying on drive control, and featuring a fail-safe mechanism for energy breakdown scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drive control is used to retain the swivel bridge in position during machining, then angular positioning accuracy is maintained, but electric current consumption increases and reliability decreases in case of energy breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is segmented into two independent parts: a mechanical clamping device with energy storage for fail-safe positioning, and an electronic drive control for active positioning. This segmentation allows the mechanical device to handle the fail-safe function without continuous energy consumption while the electronic system provides precise angular positioning when energy is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical clamping device with energy storage (springs or accumulators) is pre-loaded and ready to engage immediately in case of energy breakdown. This preliminary preparation ensures that the swivel bridge can be retained in position without requiring continuous drive control, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If drive control is relied upon for operation clamping, then positioning can be maintained during machining, but the system becomes vulnerable to unregulated pivoting in case of energy breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical clamping device with pre-loaded energy storage elements acts as a cushioning backup that engages automatically when the primary electronic drive control fails due to energy breakdown. This beforehand preparation ensures continuous position stability and prevents unregulated pivoting of the swivel bridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical clamping device serves as an intermediary retaining mechanism between the electronic drive control and the swivel bridge. It provides a fail-safe connection that maintains position stability independently of the electronic system, ensuring reliability during energy breakdown scenarios.
3Reliability
If a mechanical clamping device with energy storage is used for operation clamping, then electric current consumption is reduced and fail-safe functionality is improved, but the clamping force must be generated without drive control
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage function is extracted from the electronic drive control system and implemented as a separate mechanical component (springs or hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators). This extraction allows the clamping device to operate independently with fail-safe functionality while reducing the complexity of the electronic control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical clamping device with energy storage is designed to perform multiple functions: providing fail-safe positioning during normal operation, maintaining position stability during machining, and automatically engaging during energy breakdown. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and simplifies the overall device complexity.
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
This solution reduces electric current consumption during operation clamping, enhances static and dynamic rigidity, and ensures secure clamping of the swivel bridge even in case of energy failures, integrating a double function for both operation and fail-safe clamping.
Implementation Method 1
energy storage, such as mechanical springs or hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators
Implementation Method 3
hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators
Implementation Method 4
friction-locked clamping system
Data Source
AI summary
A machining center that includes a swivel bridge supported by a bearing wall and pivotable about a horizontal axis, at least one drive sprocket attached to a disc-type connector of the swivel bridge, and at least one drive system attached adjacent the bearing wall and operatively connected to the drive sprocket of the swivel bridge. The machining center is characterized by clamping of the swivel bridge being performed by a friction-locked clamping system which is arranged rotationally fixed about a bearing pin of the swivel bridge in a circular ring shape and which is operatively connected to the disc-type connector. A clamping force of the friction-locked clamping system is generated by an energy storage.