PRESSING DEVICE FOR FIXING WORKPIECE ONTO WORKTABLE

Abstract

A control circuit for use with a network and a distributed control system. The control circuit incudes a switch module, a communication interface module coupled to the switch module and configured to convert data sampled from industrial field into a format suitable for being transmitted to the switch module via the network, and a controller module coupled to the switch module and configured to receive the converted data from the switch module and process the converted data. The switch module is configured to enable a communication between the communication interface module and external devices outside the control circuit and a communication between the controller module and the external devices.

Claims

1. A control circuit for use with an Ethernet network, comprising: a switch module; a communication interface module coupled to the switch module and configured to convert data sampled from industrial field into a format suitable for being transmitted to the switch module via the Ethernet network; and a controller module coupled to the switch module and configured to receive the converted data from the switch module and process the converted data, wherein the switch module is further configured to enable a communication between the communication interface module and external devices outside the control circuit and a communication between the controller module and the external devices.

2. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a backplane supporting the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module, and configured to provide an Ethernet connection among the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module.

3. The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein the backplane comprises a plurality of slots in which the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module are mounted.

4. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface module comprises a processor configured to process the data sampled from the industrial field.

5. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface module comprises communication ports configured to communicate with the external devices directly.

6. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more redundancy communication interface modules coupled to the switch module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module.

7. The control circuit according to claim 6, wherein the communication interface module is coupled to the one or more redundancy communication interface modules through the Ethernet network directly to exchange the converted data.

8. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more redundancy controller modules coupled to the switch module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module.

9. The control circuit according to claim 8, wherein the controller module is coupled to the one or more redundancy controller modules through the Ethernet network directly.

10. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more redundancy switch modules coupled to the communication interface module and the controller module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module, between the communication interface module and the external devices, and/or between the controller module and the external devices.

11. A distributed control system, comprising: a plurality of control circuits according to claim 1, wherein the switch modules of the plurality of control circuits are coupled to each other.

12. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of control circuits comprises: a backplane supporting the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module, and configured to provide an Ethernet connection among the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module.

13. The distributed control system of claim 12, wherein the backplane of the each of the plurality of control circuits comprises a plurality of slots in which the communication interface module, the controller module and the switch module are mounted.

14. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein the communication interface module of the each of the plurality of control circuits comprises a processor configured to process the data sampled from the industrial field.

15. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein the communication interface module of the each of the plurality of control circuits comprises communication ports configured to communicate with the external devices directly.

16. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of control circuits comprises: one or more redundancy communication interface modules coupled to the switch module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module.

17. The distributed control system of claim 16, wherein the communication interface module of the each of the plurality of control circuits is coupled to the one or more redundancy communication interface modules through the Ethernet network directly to exchange the converted data.

18. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of control circuits comprises: one or more redundancy controller modules coupled to the switch module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module.

19. The distributed control system of claim 18, wherein the controller module of the each of the plurality of control circuits is coupled to the one or more redundancy controller modules through the Ethernet network directly.

20. The distributed control system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of control circuits comprises: one or more redundancy switch modules coupled to the communication interface module and the controller module, and configured to provide one or more redundancy communication paths between the communication interface module and the controller module, between the communication interface module and the external devices, and/or between the controller module and the external devices.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Drawings described herein are provided to further explain the present disclosure and constitute a part of the present disclosure. The example embodiments of the disclosure and the explanation thereof are used to explain the present disclosure, rather than to limit the present disclosure improperly.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a relative arrangement between a pressing device and workpieces to be processed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a relative arrangement between two pressing devices and the workpieces to be processed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure:

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the pressing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure:

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the pressing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the pressing arm is in a closed state; and

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the pressing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the pressing arm is in an opened state.

[0024] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference symbols are used to indicate the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to several example embodiments shown in the drawings. Though example embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that the embodiments are described only to facilitate those skilled in the art in better understanding and thereby achieving the present disclosure, rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

[0026] The term comprises or includes and its variants are to be read as open terms that mean includes, but is not limited to. The term or is to be read as and/or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term based on is to be read as based at least in part on. The term being operable to is to mean a function, an action, a motion or a state can be achieved by an operation induced by a user or an external mechanism. The term one embodiment and an embodiment are to be read as at least one embodiment. The term another embodiment is to be read as at least one other embodiment. The terms first, second, and the like may refer to different or same objects. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below: A definition of a term is consistent throughout the description unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0027] As described above, the conventional manners of fixing the workpieces onto the worktable have various problems. For example, when the hydraulic lever cylinder is used to press the perimeter of the battery tray, the deformation of the middle part of the battery tray is hard to be controlled. Moreover, when the whole plate with the strip-shaped holes is used to press the workpieces of the battery tray; some workpieces of the battery tray can be tightly pressed by the whole plate, but some other workpieces of the battery tray may not be tightly pressed by the whole plate, such that the force applied onto the workpieces by the whole plate is non-uniform.

[0028] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to overcome the typical shortcomings of the conventional solution of fixing the workpieces onto the worktable, a pressing device comprising a supporting member, a pressing arm, a first driving assembly, a locking assembly, and a second driving assembly is provided for fixing the workpiece onto the worktable. The above idea may be implemented in various manners, as will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0029] Hereinafter, the principles of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1-5. Referring to FIGS. 1-2 first, FIG. 1 illustrates a relative arrangement between a pressing device 100 and workpieces 200 to be processed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 illustrates a relative arrangement between two pressing devices 100 and the workpieces 200 to be processed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, several workpieces 200 (for example, two, three, four, or more) are arranged on a worktable 300 so as to be processed in a subsequent procedure.

[0030] In some embodiments, the workpieces 200 may be used to constitute a battery tray of a new energy vehicle by a friction stir welding process. The workpieces 200 are arranged side by side on the worktable 300, such that welding seams 201 are formed between the adjacent workpieces 200. The pressing device 100 is arranged around a first workpiece among the workpieces 200 and near to one of the welding seams 201, so as to fix the first workpiece onto the worktable 300 when the pressing device 100 moves downwards.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, for each welding seam 201, two pressing devices 100 may be provided near to the welding seam 201, so as to press the respective workpieces 200. FIG. 2 only illustrates the pressing devices 100 corresponding to one of the welding seams 201. For each of the other welding seams 201, two pressing devices 100 may be provided in the similar manner.

[0032] It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the workpieces 200 may be fixed onto the worktable 300 for other processing, instead of the friction stir welding process. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0033] Hereinafter, example structures and operating principles of the pressing device 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3-5.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the pressing device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing device 100 described herein generally includes a supporting member 1, a pressing arm 2, a first driving assembly 8, a locking assembly 5, and a second driving assembly 7.

[0035] The supporting member 1 extends substantially in a first direction X, e.g., a horizontal direction. The supporting member 1 is of an elongated shape. The supporting member 1 includes first and second ends 101, 102 opposite to each other in the first direction X and first and second sides 111, 112 opposite to each other in a second direction Y normal to the first direction X. The supporting member 1 may be used to support other parts of the pressing device 100.

[0036] The pressing arm 2 is connected to the first end 101 of the supporting member 1. The pressing arm 2 is capable of rotating between a closed state and an opened state with respect to the supporting member 1. In FIG. 3, the pressing arm 2 is illustrated as being in the closed state. The opened state of the pressing arm 2 is illustrated in FIG. 5, which will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state, a space 40 for receiving the workpiece 200 is formed between the pressing arm 2 and the supporting member 1. In this way, the pressing device 100 may be arranged around the workpiece 200 so as to press the workpiece 200 downwards and thus fix the workpiece 200 onto the worktable 300, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] In order to drive the pressing arm 2 to rotate with respect to the supporting member 1, the first driving assembly 8 is arranged on the first side 111 of the supporting member 1 to push or pull the pressing arm 2. In this way, the first driving assembly 8 may drive the pressing arm 2 to rotate between the closed state and the opened state with respect to the supporting member 1.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the locking assembly 5 is arranged on the first side 111 of the supporting member 1 near to the second end 102 of the supporting member 1. The locking assembly 5 is configured to lock the pressing arm 2 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. When the pressing arm 2 is locked by the locking assembly 5, the pressing arm 2 will be unable to rotate with respect to the supporting member 1.

[0040] The second driving assembly 7 is coupled to the second side 112 of the supporting member 1 and configured to drive the supporting member 1 to move in the second direction Y. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the second driving assembly 7 drives the supporting member 1 to move downwards in the second direction Y, the pressing arm 2 may press the workpiece 200 downwards and thus fix the workpiece 200 onto the worktable 300. In contrast, when the second driving assembly 7 drives the supporting member 1 to move upwards in the second direction Y, the pressing arm 2 may release the workpiece 200.

[0041] Since the supporting member 1 and the pressing arm 2 extend in the first direction X, the pressing device 100 may provide long-distance compression for the workpiece 200 on the worktable 300. Moreover, the force applied onto the workpiece 200 may be uniformly distributed, such that the compression is stable. Further, the pressing device 100 has a compact structure, reducing the occupied space.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the pressing device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the pressing device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state.

[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the supporting member 1 includes an elongated supporting plate 11 and a first connecting member 12. The elongated supporting plate 11 extends substantially in the first direction X. The first connecting member 12 is coupled to the elongated supporting plate 11 at the first end 101 of the supporting member 1. With these embodiments, the elongated supporting plate 11 and the first connecting member 12 may be fabricated separately and then assembled together with each other. In this way, the supporting member 1 is easy to be manufactured, reducing the manufacture cost of the supporting member 1.

[0044] It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the supporting member 1 may be formed integrally or have other structures, as long as the supporting member 1 extends substantially in the first direction. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0045] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the pressing arm 2 includes a first arm 21 and a second arm 22. The first arm 21 is coupled to the first end 101 of the supporting member 1 via a first rotating shaft 91. The second arm 22 is coupled to the first arm 21. The first arm 21 and the second arm 22 may be formed integrally or assembled together in various manners.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second arm 22 extends substantially in the first direction X when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. The second arm 22 includes a third side 221 facing the first side 111 of the supporting member 1 and a fourth side 222 opposite to the third side 221.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, the second arm 22 extends substantially in the second direction Y when the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state. It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the second arm 22 may extend in a direction different from the second direction Y when the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state. For example, the second arm 22 may extend obliquely when the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state.

[0048] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing arm 2 further includes a plurality of pressing blocks 25 arranged on the third side 221 of the second arm 22. The pressing blocks 25 are arranged side by side on the second arm 22 to press different positions of the workpiece 200 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. With these embodiments, the pressing blocks 25 may apply uniform pressure onto the workpiece 200, such that the workpiece 200 may be fixed stably.

[0049] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing arm 2 further includes a plurality of gaskets 26. Each of the gaskets 26 is arranged between the third side 221 of the second arm 22 and the respective pressing block 25. The height of each of the gaskets 26 is adjustable, such that the height of the pressing blocks 25 protruding from the second arm 22 may be adjusted according to the thickness of the workpiece 200. In this way, the thickness tolerance between different workpieces 200 may be eliminated, such that the workpieces 200 may be pressed firmly. Moreover, with such an arrangement, the deformation of the workpieces 200 after the welding may be controlled effectively.

[0050] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing arm 2 further includes a first positioning member 24 arranged on the third side 221 of the second arm 22. The pressing device 100 further includes a second positioning member 61 arranged on the first side 111 of the supporting member 1 near to the second end 102 of the supporting member 1. The second positioning member 61 is configured to support the first positioning member 24 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. In other words, when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state, the second positioning member 61 is aligned with the first positioning member 24 and in contact with the first positioning member 24 so as to support the first positioning member 24 and thus support the pressing arm 2. When the pressing arm 2 is locked by the locking assembly 5, the space 40 for receiving the workpiece 200 may have a stable shape.

[0051] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing device 100 further includes a buffering member 62 arranged on the second positioning member 61. The buffering member 62 is configured to buffer the second arm 22 when the pressing arm 2 is switched from the opened state to the closed state. The buffering member 62 may include a spring or other types of buffering components. With these embodiments, when the pressing arm 2 is switched from the opened state to the closed state, the buffering member 62 may apply a buffering force to the pressing arm 2, reducing the impact of the pressing arm 2 on the second positioning member 61.

[0052] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first driving assembly 8 includes a mounting base 80, a first driving member 81, and a second connecting member 82. The mounting base 80 is arranged on the first side 111 of the supporting member 1. The first driving member 81 is arranged on the mounting base 80 via a second rotating shaft 92 and includes a driving shaft 811 capable of switching between an extended state and a retracted state. As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state when the driving shaft 811 is in the retracted state. As shown in FIG. 5, the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state when the driving shaft 811 is in the extended state. When the pressing arm 2 rotates between the closed state and the opened state, the first driving member 81 may rotate about the second rotating shaft 92 with respect to the mounting base 80. The second connecting member 82 is arranged on the driving shaft 811 and coupled to a third connecting member 23 of the pressing arm 2 via a third rotating shaft 93. When the pressing arm 2 rotates between the closed state and the opened state, the first driving member 81 may rotate with respect to the mounting base 80. With these embodiments, the first driving member 81 may drive the pressing arm 2 to precisely and reliably rotate between the closed state and the opened state.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first driving member 81 includes an oil cylinder. In other embodiments, the first driving member 81 may include other types of driving devices, such as a pneumatic motor. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0054] It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the first driving assembly 8 may have other structures, as long as the first driving assembly 8 may drive the pressing arm 2 to rotate with respect to the supporting member 1.

[0055] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second driving assembly 7 includes a second driving member 72, a guiding shaft 70, and a bush 71. The second driving member 72 is coupled to the second side 112 of the supporting member 1 and configured to drive the supporting member 1 to move. The guiding shaft 70 is coupled to the second side 112 of the supporting member 1. The bush 71 surrounds the guiding shaft 70. The guiding shaft 70 may move with respect to the bush 71 in the second direction Y. The bush 71 may be supported by a bracket (not shown). With these embodiments, the second driving member 72 may drive the supporting member 1 to move. Meanwhile, the guiding shaft 70 and the bush 71 may ensure that the supporting member 1 moves in the second direction Y.

[0056] In some embodiments, the second driving member 72 includes an oil cylinder, such as a thin oil cylinder. In other embodiments, the second driving member 72 may include other types of driving devices, such as a pneumatic motor. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0057] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second driving assembly 7 may include two sets of second driving members 72, guiding shafts 70, and bushes 71. The first set of second driving member 72, guiding shaft 70, and bush 71 is arranged near to the first end 101 of the supporting member 1. The second set of second driving member 72, guiding shaft 70, and bush 71 is arranged near to the second end 102 of the supporting member 1. With the two sets of second driving members 72, guiding shafts 70, and bushes 71, the stability and reliability of the movement of the supporting member 1 can be further improved.

[0058] It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the second driving assembly 7 may have other structures, as long as the second driving assembly 7 may drive the supporting member 1 to move in the second direction Y.

[0059] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking assembly 5 includes a third driving member 51 and a locking member 52. The third driving member 51 is arranged on the first side 111 of the supporting member 1 near to the second end 102 of the supporting member 1. The locking member 52 is configured to be driven by the third driving member 51 to lock the pressing arm 2 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. With these embodiments, the third driving member 51 may drive the locking member 52 to reliably lock the pressing arm 2 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state.

[0060] In some embodiments, the third driving member 51 includes an oil cylinder, such as a lever cylinder. In other embodiments, the third driving member 51 may include other types of driving devices, such as a pneumatic motor. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0061] It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the locking assembly 5 may have other structures, as long as the locking assembly 5 may lock the pressing arm 2 when the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state.

[0062] Hereinafter, the operation of the pressing device 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the driving shaft 811 of the first driving assembly 8 is in the retracted state, such that the pressing arm 2 is in the closed state. At this time, the first positioning member 24 is supported by the second positioning member 61, and the pressing arm 2 is locked by the locking assembly 5. The second driving assembly 7 may drive the supporting member 1 to move downwards, such that the pressing arm 2 presses the workpiece 200 arranged in the space 40. In this way, the workpiece 200 may be fixed onto the worktable 300 for further processing, such as the welding.

[0064] In order to release the workpiece 200 after the completion of the processing, the second driving assembly 7 may drive the supporting member 1 to move upwards, such that the pressing arm 2 does not press the workpiece 200. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking assembly 5 unlocks the pressing arm 2, and the driving shaft 811 of the first driving assembly 8 transitions from the retracted state into the extended state, such that the pressing arm 2 is in the opened state. At this time, the workpiece 200 may be taken out from the worktable 300.

[0065] The inventors found that a surface profile tolerance of the battery tray achieved by welding in such a workpiece fixing manner can reach about 3 mm, or even smaller. Thus, the pressing device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure is suitable for fixing the workpieces of the battery tray during the friction stir welding.

[0066] It should be appreciated that the above detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are only to exemplify or explain principles of the present disclosure and not to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent alternatives and improvement, etc. without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure shall be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Meanwhile, appended claims of the present disclosure aim to cover all the variations and modifications 10 falling under the scope and boundary of the claims or equivalents of the scope and boundary.