JP2012115955A - Tank opening forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tank opening forming device holding a cut fragment without providing an operating member such as a cylinder or the like, and simplified and down-sized in structure.SOLUTION: When an engagement shaft part 21 is inserted into a prepared hole 3d, an engagement ball 27 is brought into sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the prepared hole 3d to move it radially inward against elastic force of an elastic member 29 to allow insertion, and when the engagement ball 27 of the engagement shaft part 21 inserted into the prepared hole 3d is positioned below a lower surface of the prepared hole 3d, the engagement ball 27 is moved radially outward by the elastic force of the elastic member 29 to be engaged with the lower surface of the prepared hole 3d.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tank opening forming apparatus for forming an opening for attaching various parts such as a gauge and a sensor to a tank, particularly a vehicle fuel tank.

  When forming an opening for attaching various parts such as gauges and sensors to a tank, particularly a vehicle fuel tank, in order to prevent the cutting residue from falling into the tank and becoming dirty, It is necessary to perform an opening forming operation so that the cutting residue is reliably taken out of the tank.

As a tank opening forming device that makes it possible to take out the cutting residue, for example, a tank drilling device shown in Patent Document 1 is known. The tank drilling device attaches a cutter blade to a drill unit that opens a hole (opening) for mounting various parts at predetermined locations of a tank at a predetermined distance with the spindle as a center of rotation, and also below the spindle. A piston that moves up and down along the axis of the spindle, a piston rod fixed to the lower portion of the piston, and a plurality of arms pivoted downward and equidistantly to surround the piston rod, The arm is provided with a protrusion projecting on the inner side in the vicinity of the pivotal attachment portion, and a lower end portion of the arm is protruded outward to form a claw portion. Further, a cam groove is provided on the piston rod to project the arm. Engaging the cam groove, and providing an expansion mechanism portion in which the projection of the arm is pushed up or down by the vertical movement of the piston, and the lower end of the arm is reduced or expanded in diameter, Therefore, the expansion mechanism is inserted into the lower hole opened at a predetermined position of the tank and penetrated, and the expansion mechanism is expanded to support the lower surface of the lower hole and rotate integrally with the spindle. The cutter blade is brought into contact with the surface of the tank to open a hole having a predetermined diameter, and the cutting residue cut out by the cutter blade is held by the expansion mechanism.

  In the expansion mechanism portion of the conventional tank drilling device described above, a cylinder is provided that includes a piston and a piston rod that expands or contracts the arm that supports the lower surface of the pilot hole, and the cylinder is a spindle. It is comprised so that it may act | operate with the compressed air supplied from the air pipe loosely fitted by.

However, in the above-described tank drilling device, since the structure of the expansion mechanism portion is complicated and enlarged, the hole can be formed only in a tank having a pilot hole of a certain size. . That is, when a small-diameter hole is formed in the tank, the pilot hole also has a small diameter according to the hole to be formed, and in an enlarged expansion mechanism portion, the small-diameter hole is inserted and penetrated. It was difficult to form a hole having a desired size.

Further, the air pipe of the expansion mechanism portion needs to be configured to be loosely fitted to the spindle and not to rotate when the spindle rotates. For this reason, the expansion mechanism part of the tank drilling device provides rotational resistance by inserting the arm into the pilot hole of the tank and penetrating the arm and expanding the arm to support the lower surface part of the pilot hole. Even if the spindle is rotated in this state and the drilling operation is executed, the air pipe does not rotate.

For this reason, prior to forming a hole in the tank, it is necessary to perform an insertion operation of the expansion mechanism portion with respect to the pilot hole and a support operation to expand the arm to support the lower surface portion, and the hole formation operation takes time. Work efficiency was bad.

Japanese Patent No. 3618693

  The problem to be solved is that the expansion mechanism portion of the conventional tank drilling device requires an operating member such as a cylinder for expanding the arm diameter, so that the expansion mechanism portion becomes complicated and large. Therefore, it is difficult to form a small-diameter hole. Further, when the hole is formed by the rotating cutter blade, it is necessary to prevent the expansion mechanism portion from rotating with respect to the spindle of the drill unit, and the arm of the expansion mechanism portion is attached to the periphery of the pilot hole prior to the hole formation. It must be supported on the lower surface, and it takes time to form the hole and the work efficiency is poor.

  According to the present invention, a cutting blade provided at a required distance in a direction orthogonal to the axis from the axis of a spindle that is driven to rotate is rotated around the spindle to center a pilot hole formed in a component mounting portion of a tank. In the tank opening forming apparatus for forming an opening having a required inner diameter, a base end portion is rotatably supported with respect to the shaft end portion of the spindle, and a required length in the axial direction coincides with the axis line of the spindle. An outer diameter engaging shaft portion that can be inserted into the prepared hole, and a lower portion of the engaging shaft portion that extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis line, and has a small diameter outer peripheral side. The engaging ball is mounted in the support hole and urges the engaging ball outward in the radial direction. An elastic member to be inserted, and when the engaging shaft portion is inserted into the prepared hole The engaging ball of the engaging shaft portion inserted into the prepared hole is made possible by inserting the engaging ball in the radial direction against the elastic force of the elastic member by sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the prepared hole. Is located below the lower surface of the lower hole, the main feature is that the engaging ball is moved radially outward by the elastic force of the elastic member so that it can be engaged with the lower surface of the lower hole.

  According to the present invention, the cutting residue can be held by rushing into the pilot hole without providing an operation member such as a cylinder, and the structure can be simplified and downsized.

It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the components attachment part of the tank by which an opening is formed by the tank opening formation apparatus. It is a whole perspective view showing the outline of the tank opening formation device concerning the present invention. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tank opening formation apparatus. It is a partially exploded perspective view which shows the engagement structure in a tank opening formation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows a tank opening formation initial state. It is explanatory drawing which shows a tank opening formation middle state. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of tank opening formation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which extracts a cutting | disconnection residue from a tank opening. It is explanatory drawing which shows the removal state of a cutting | disconnection residue.

  According to the present invention, when the engaging shaft portion is inserted into the prepared hole, the engaging ball is moved radially inward against the elastic force of the elastic member by sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the prepared hole and can be inserted. When the engagement ball of the engagement shaft portion inserted into the hole is positioned below the lower hole lower surface, the engagement ball can be moved radially outward by the elastic force of the elastic member to engage the lower hole lower surface. This is the best embodiment.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing examples.
First, a description will be given of a vehicle fuel tank 5 as a tank provided with a component mounting portion 3 in which an opening 7 is formed by the tank opening forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. It is made of a synthetic resin in which a plurality of different synthetic resin sheets are laminated, and the number of parts according to various parts such as gauges, various sensors, fuel pumps, and the like mounted on the vehicle fuel tank 5 on the upper surface thereof A mounting portion 3 is formed.

  The component mounting portion 3 includes a cylindrical portion 3c having a required outer diameter and height, a male screw 3a being turned on the outer peripheral surface, and an upper surface being closed by an upper surface plate 3b. In the central portion of the upper surface plate 3b, a recess 3e having a required depth and having a pilot hole 3d having a required inner diameter formed in the central portion in advance is provided. The opening 7 is formed by cutting the top plate 3b along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 3c.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the tank opening forming apparatus 1 for forming the opening 7 in the upper surface plate 3b is, for example, an arm of an industrial robot that is controlled to move in at least a three-dimensional direction (none is shown). An opening 7 is automatically formed in the component mounting portion 3 of the vehicle fuel tank 5 by controlling the movement of the arm.

  A spindle 9 is rotatably supported on a main body (not shown) of the tank opening forming apparatus 1, and a rotary shaft of an electric motor 11 provided on the main body is drivingly connected to the spindle 9. The spindle 9 is rotated at a required number of rotations by driving the electric motor 11.

  A rotating body 13 is fixed to the spindle 9, and the rotating body 13 is provided with a blade attachment arm 15 that extends in the radial direction with the spindle 9 as a rotation center. A cutting blade 17 that extends downward in the figure and coincides with the axis of the spindle 9 and has a blade edge of both blades or a single blade is attached to the tip of the blade mounting arm 15.

  A balancer member 19 is attached to the rotating body 13 on the side opposite to the blade mounting arm 15 and is adjusted so that the weight on the side opposite to the blade mounting arm 15 side coincides with the spindle 9 as a center.

  At the center of the rotating body 13, a base end portion of a center shaft body 19 having an axis that coincides with the spindle 9 is rotatably supported by a bearing 19 a. As the bearing 19a, an angular bearing that receives loads in both the thrust direction and the radial direction is suitable.

An engagement shaft portion 21 having an outer diameter that can be inserted into the prepared hole 3d and longer than the axial length of the prepared hole 3d is provided at the distal end portion of the central shaft body 19. That is, the engagement shaft portion 21 is smaller in diameter than the central shaft body 19 and has a required axial length, and is screwed to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 23 fixed to the distal end portion of the central shaft body 19. The mounting shaft body 25 and the engagement ball 27 inserted into the support hole 25a formed in each mounting shaft body 25 while being prevented from coming off.

Each mounting shaft 25 is a cylindrical body having an outer diameter that can be inserted into the pilot hole 3d and an axial length that substantially matches the fixed shaft 23, and having a space portion into which the fixed shaft 23 is fitted at the center. It consists of a split shape. In addition, the support holes 25a formed in each attachment shaft body 25 extend in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis, and are formed at a 45 degree position and a 135 degree position with the axis as the center.

Each support hole 25a has an inner diameter through which the engagement ball 27 can move from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference, and the outer circumference side has a slightly smaller diameter to prevent the engagement ball 27 from coming off. The engagement ball 27 mounted in the support hole 25a is mounted such that a part of the engagement ball 27 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 25 when moved outward in the radial direction.

Further, an elastic member 29 such as a compression spring or rubber is mounted inside the engagement ball 27 in each support hole 25a, and each engagement ball 27 is moved outward in the radial direction by the elastic force of the respective elastic member 29. Energized to move.

Each attachment shaft body 25 is fixed by a screw 31 in a state in which the mating surfaces are aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 23. Further, a retaining member 33 is screwed to the tip of the fixed shaft 23 to restrict the attachment shaft body 25 attached to the fixed shaft 23 from coming off.

Next, the operation of forming the opening 7 by the tank opening forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
First, the initial state of the engagement ball 27 in the tank opening forming device 1 will be described. The engagement ball 27 mounted in each support hole 25a of each mounting shaft 25 is radiated by the elastic force of the elastic member 29. It is urged outward in the direction, and a part thereof protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft body 25.

Next, in order to form the opening 7 in the component mounting portion 3 by the tank opening forming device 1 described above, the arm of the work robot is controlled to move the tank opening forming device 1 to the engagement shaft portion 21 and the pilot hole 3d. Then, the engaging shaft portion 21 is inserted into the pilot hole 3d to a position where the cutting edge of the cutting blade 17 is in contact with or close to the upper surface of the upper surface plate 3b. When the engagement shaft portion 21 passes through the lower hole 3d, the engagement ball 25 in each support hole 25a resists the elastic force of the elastic member 29 by sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lower hole 3d. It moves to the inside in the radial direction, and enables the engagement shaft portion 21 to be inserted into the pilot hole 3d. (See Figure 5)
After the engagement shaft portion 21 has passed through the lower hole 3d, the engagement balls 25 in the respective support holes 25a move outward in the radial direction by the elastic force of the elastic member 29, and the lower surface of the lower hole 3d. It will be in the state which can be engaged by being located in the side. (See Figure 6)

  Next, by rotating the cutting blade 17 around the spindle 9 by driving the electric motor 11 while pressurizing the tank opening forming device 1 with the required pressure downward in the axial direction of the spindle 9 in the above state. Cutting for forming the opening 7 in the upper surface plate 3b is started.

  When the opening 7 is formed in the upper surface plate 3b by the progress of the cutting of the upper surface plate 3b by the cutting blade 17, the cutting remaining piece 3f including the recess 3e and the cut part of the upper surface plate 3b is partially attached. It protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 25, and is maintained in a state where it can be held by the engagement ball 27 located on the lower surface side of the prepared hole 3d. (See Figure 7)

  Note that the cut remaining piece 3f including the prepared hole 3d into which the engagement shaft portion 21 is inserted may fall due to its own weight. When the protruding engagement ball 27 engages with the lower surface of the lower hole 3d, the cutting residual piece 3f is prevented from coming out of the engagement shaft portion 21, and the holding state can be maintained.

In order to take out the cutting residue 3 f from the opening 7, the arm of the work robot is controlled to move after the opening forming operation, and the tank opening forming device 1 is controlled to move away from the component mounting portion 3. At this time, the cutting residual piece 3f in which the engagement shaft portion 21 that moves upward in the axis is inserted into the prepared hole 3d is the outer periphery of the mounting shaft body 23 with respect to the engagement shaft portion 21 that moves upward in the axis. Since a part of the engagement ball 25 protruding outward from the surface engages with the lower surface of the lower hole 3d and is prevented from coming off, the holding state is maintained. It is taken out outside. (See Figure 8)

In order to remove the cutting residue 3f from the engagement shaft portion 21, the movement of the tank opening forming device 1 is controlled to, for example, the standby position, and the arm of the planar substantially U-shaped removal jig 41 arranged at the standby position. The central shaft body 19 is positioned between the portions 41a so that the upper surface plate 3b of the remaining cutting piece 6f faces the lower surface of the arm portion 41a. In this state, the tank opening forming device 1 is moved in the axial direction of the central shaft body 19 shown in the figure, and the cutting residue 3f is pressed against the arm portion 41a.

Each of the engagement balls 25 moves inward in the radial direction against the elastic force of the elastic member 27 in accordance with the sliding contact with the lower surface and the inner peripheral surface of the lower hole 3d in the remaining cutting piece 3f. The engagement shaft portion 21 can be pulled out from the top. Then, by removing the engagement shaft portion 21 from the inside of the prepared hole 3d, the retention of the cutting residue 3f by the engagement shaft portion 21 is released and released. (See Figure 9)

  In this embodiment, when the engaging shaft portion 21 is inserted into the prepared hole 3d, the engaging ball 27 is moved inward in the radial direction against the elastic force of the elastic member 29 to enable the insertion. At the same time, when the engaging ball 27 is positioned below the prepared hole 3d, the engaging ball 27 is moved radially outward by the elastic force of the elastic member 29 so that it can be engaged with the lower surface of the prepared hole 3d. It is possible to hold the cutting residue 3f by the engagement shaft portion 21 and prevent the cutting residue 3f from falling into the vehicle fuel tank 5 and being contaminated when the opening 7 is formed in the upper surface plate 3b. .

  In addition, after the opening 7 is formed, the cutting ball 3f is held by the engagement shaft portion 21 by the engagement ball 27 moved outward in the radial direction by the elastic force of the elastic member 29. It can be taken out of the vehicle fuel tank 5 while being held in the portion 21.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank opening formation apparatus 3 Parts attachment part 3a Male screw 3b Upper surface board 3c Cylindrical part 3d Pilot hole 3e Recess 3f Cutting residue 5 Vehicle fuel tank 7 as a tank 9 Opening 9 Spindle 11 Electric motor 13 Rotating body 13a Balancer member 15 Cutlery Mounting arm 17 Cutting blade 19 Central shaft body 19a Bearing 21 Engaging shaft portion 23 Fixed shaft 25 Mounting shaft body 25a Support hole 27 Engaging ball 29 Elastic member 31 Screw 33 Retaining member 41 Removal jig 41a Arm portion

Claims (3)

A cutting blade provided at a required distance in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the spindle that is driven to rotate is rotated around the spindle, and the required inner diameter around the pilot hole formed in the part mounting part of the tank In the tank opening forming device for forming the opening of
A base end portion is rotatably supported with respect to the shaft end portion of the spindle. The base end portion extends in the axial direction so as to coincide with the axis line of the spindle and has an outer diameter that can be inserted into the pilot hole. The shaft section,
The engaging shaft portion extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis, and the outer peripheral side is movable in a radial direction in a support hole formed in a small diameter, and is prevented from being detached, and a part thereof is on the outer peripheral surface side. An engaging ball mounted so as to be able to protrude;
An elastic member mounted in the support hole and biasing the engagement ball radially outward;
When the engaging shaft portion is inserted into the prepared hole, the engaging ball is moved radially inward against the elastic force of the elastic member by sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the prepared hole and can be inserted. When the engagement ball of the engagement shaft portion inserted into the position is positioned below the lower surface of the lower hole, the engagement ball can be moved radially outward by the elastic force of the elastic member to engage with the lower surface of the lower hole. Tank opening forming device. 2. The engagement shaft portion according to claim 1, wherein the engagement shaft portion is fixed to a lower portion of the central shaft body whose base end portion is rotatably supported with respect to the spindle, and the radiation is orthogonal to the spindle axis at the lower portion. Mounting shaft body extending in the direction and having a support hole having a small diameter portion on the outer peripheral side, an engagement ball inserted in the support hole so as to be movable in a radial direction, and inserted into the support hole A tank opening forming device comprising an elastic member for urging the engaging ball radially outward. The mounting shaft body according to claim 2, wherein the mounting shaft body includes a pair of mounting shaft bodies each having a half-cylindrical shape that extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of the spindle at a lower portion and has a support hole having a small diameter portion on an outer peripheral side. A tank opening forming device that is fixed to a shaft.

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