Transfer Shuttle for Balancing Machine Unbalance Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for unbalance correction in rotors, such as propeller shafts, are complex and costly due to the need for pneumatic devices and require unnecessary movements, leading to inefficiencies in feeding and attaching corrective elements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a transfer shuttle capable of reciprocating movements along a guideway parallel to the rotor axis, using a controllable motion drive mechanism for feeding corrective elements from a supply unit to an attachment device, eliminating the need for additional driving devices and enabling rapid, reliable, and secure loading with minimal energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic devices are used to transfer and hold the metal element, then the metal element can be securely transferred, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pneumatic devices from the transfer shuttle and welding device, eliminating the complex pneumatic system while maintaining reliable transfer through a simplified mechanical gripper-based system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system with a purely mechanical transfer and holding mechanism using grippers on the transfer shuttle and welding device, eliminating the need for pneumatic components while maintaining functional reliability
2Reliability
If the welding device leaves its working area to pick up the metal element, then the metal element can be transferred, but the productivity decreases due to unnecessary movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into separate functional components: the transfer shuttle handles metal element acquisition and transport, while the welding device remains stationary in its working area performing only welding operations, eliminating unnecessary movements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the transfer and holding functions into the transfer shuttle itself, which carries the metal element to the welding device, eliminating the need for the welding device to leave its working area
Data Source
AI summary
A device for feeding and attaching corrective elements for unbalance correction on propeller shafts in a balancing machine includes an attachment device positionable longitudinally to the rotor axis, with a receptacle for receiving a corrective element attachable to the outer rotor circumference. Associated with the balancing machine is a supply unit supplying corrective elements measured for the individual unbalance correction. A feeding device feeds supplied corrective elements to the attachment device and includes a transfer shuttle for performing reciprocating movements between the supply unit and the attachment device on a guideway parallel to the rotor axis via a controllable motion drive mechanism. The transfer shuttle includes a loading device for performing an active loading operation by displacing a corrective element from a receptacle of the transfer shuttle into the receptacle of the attachment device, the loading device being driven via the controllable motion drive mechanism of the transfer shuttle.