JP3726293B2 - FRP cylinder manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) cylinder, and in particular, FRP that heats and cures a resin while rotating a mandrel wrapped with a composite material of uncured resin and reinforcing fibers on a carriage. The present invention relates to a cylindrical body manufacturing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A method of manufacturing an FRP cylinder in which a composite material of uncured resin and reinforcing fibers, such as a prepreg or a resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber bundle, is wound around a mandrel and the resin is heated and cured while rotating the mandrel is known. Yes. Since the winding of the composite material and the heating and curing of the resin are normally performed in separate steps, the mandrel around which the composite material is wound must be conveyed to a heating and curing step, for example, a curing furnace.
[0003]
A carriage with a mandrel rotating mechanism is used for transporting to the curing furnace and rotating support of the mandrel in the curing furnace. That is, the mandrel around which the composite material is wound in the composite material winding step is placed on the carriage and carried into the curing furnace together with the carriage. An external rotation drive source is connected to the mandrel rotation mechanism of the carriage carried into the curing furnace, and the resin is cured by heating while the mandrel on the carriage is rotated in the curing furnace.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of using the carriage as described above, the carriage expands thermally as the temperature in the curing furnace rises, and for example, the distance between the wheels provided on both sides of the bottom of the carriage is widened. Along with this thermal expansion, there is a risk that the position of the entire carriage and the position of each part of the carriage will shift. In particular, if the position of the connection portion between the mandrel rotation mechanism of the carriage and the external rotation drive source or the vicinity thereof is shifted, the connection relationship at the connection portion may be out of order, and the rotation drive force may not be transmitted smoothly.
[0005]
Further, in order to efficiently perform a large amount in a curing furnace, it is desirable to mount a large number of mandrels on a cart. In order to mount a large number of mandrels, it is preferable to mount the mandrels in a plurality of rows in the horizontal direction and in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction. However, if a plurality of stages are mounted in the vertical direction, it is usually necessary to mount them sequentially from the lower stage side to the upper stage side so that the mandrels do not interfere with each other. Since each mandrel is rotated in a curing furnace, some kind of rotation support means is required for each mandrel. However, in order to complete predetermined mounting easily and smoothly, when mounting in order as described above, In addition, the interference between the rotating support means and the mandrel must be avoided.
[0006]
Further, when the mandrel is rotated on the rotation support means, the mandrel may be displaced in the axial direction. When the amount of deviation becomes large, the axial end surface of the mandrel may hit one of the fixed parts of the carriage, thereby hindering a desired rotational operation. If the rotation operation is not performed according to the target, unevenness of resin curing may occur, or the molded FRP cylinder may be slightly decentered. Therefore, such inconvenience must be avoided.
[0007]
Furthermore, the rotation of the mandrel in the curing furnace as described above maintains the roundness of the cross section of the molded FRP cylinder, and discharges bubbles that have been taken in by the movement of the resin by centrifugal force. For that, etc. Therefore, it is desirable to control the rotation state of the mandrel to an optimum condition together with the temperature of the curing furnace and the curing time so as to meet these purposes.
[0008]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by maintaining a predetermined relationship between the connection portion of the mandrel rotation mechanism of the carriage and the external rotation drive source in the curing furnace so that the mandrel rotates smoothly. The purpose is to ensure the driving state at all times.
[0009]
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily mount the mandrel on the carriage in multiple stages in the vertical direction in order to satisfy the various demands as described above, and to cause the mandrel to be displaced in the axial direction. Even when the force to be applied acts, the smooth rotation of the mandrel can be maintained, and an excellent quality FRP cylinder having better roundness and less entrained bubbles can be formed. There is to do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An apparatus for manufacturing an FRP cylinder according to the present invention that meets the above-described object is an FRP cylinder that heats and cures a resin while rotating a mandrel wound with a composite material of an uncured resin and a reinforcing fiber on a carriage. In the manufacturing apparatus, of the wheels provided on both sides of the bottom of the carriage, the wheel on one side is used as a grooved guide wheel and the guide wheel is placed on a guide rail having a mountain cross section, and the other wheel is flat. the flat ring placed on the top surface is on a flat rail as wheels, and a mandrel rotating mechanism mounted on the cart, a connection to an external rotational drive source, provided on the guide wheel of the bogie Rutotomoni mandrel The number of rotations is controlled in at least two stages .
[0011]
The mandrel is supported at both ends on the carriage. This mandrel is preferably mounted in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction.
[0012]
Each mandrel is supported as follows, for example. Each end of the mandrel is rotatably supported by two rollers, and one of the four rollers in total for one mandrel is a driving roller, and the remaining three rollers are driven rollers. Composed. Each of the two rollers is preferably arranged such that the center of rotation and the axis of the mandrel are at the apex positions of the isosceles triangle. The surfaces of the four rollers are preferably subjected to, for example, a twill knurling process.
[0013]
The two driven rollers at one end of the mandrel are preferably provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mandrel, and can be moved simultaneously.
[0014]
Further, it is preferable that a pin is rotatably attached to the shaft end surface of the mandrel, for example, at the center of the shaft end surface. This pin is mounted in a hole drilled so as to extend in the axial direction on the shaft end surface, for example. The outer end surface of the pin is formed into a spherical surface, and the outer end surface protrudes from the shaft end surface of the mandrel so as to be rotatable. It is preferably inserted.
[0015]
Furthermore, in the rotation of the mandrel, the number of rotations of the mandrel can be controlled in at least two stages during the heat curing process of the resin .
[0016]
[Action]
In such an FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus, one of the wheels provided on both sides of the bottom of the carriage is a grooved guide wheel and is engaged with a chevron-shaped guide rail. The position is forcibly restricted to a position on the Yamagata guide rail. Since the other wheel is a flat wheel and is mounted on a flat rail, the position of the guide wheel is restricted to a predetermined position even if the dimension between both wheels is expanded by thermal expansion in the curing furnace. The flat wheel slides on the flat rail, and the thermal expansion is absorbed. Since the connection portion with the external rotation drive source of the mandrel rotation mechanism mounted on the carriage is located on the guide wheel side, the mandrel rotation mechanism and the external rotation drive source at the connection portion are also subjected to the thermal expansion. The relationship between and does not change substantially, and is maintained in a predetermined and constant relationship. Therefore, the driving force from the external rotational driving source is smoothly transmitted even in the curing furnace, and each mandrel is rotated smoothly and satisfactorily.
[0017]
In addition, if both ends of the mandrel are supported by a total of four rollers, one of which is a driving roller and the remaining three are driven rollers, the rotational driving force interferes because there is only one driving roller. Rather, the three driven rollers follow a mandrel that is driven to rotate. Therefore, while the weight of the mandrel is supported at both ends, the mandrel is rotated well at a predetermined rotational speed, and the occurrence of inconvenience such as mandrel dropout is prevented.
[0018]
Also, if the two driven rollers located at one end of the mandrel can be moved in the axial direction of the mandrel, when mounting the mandrel in multiple stages in the vertical direction, when mounting the mandrel in the lower stage The two driven rollers in the upper stage can be retracted in the axial direction, and mandrel mounting in multiple stages is facilitated. Moreover, it is similarly facilitated when the mandrel is detached.
[0019]
Further, if a rotatable pin is attached to the shaft end surface of the mandrel, it is possible to ensure smooth rotation of the mandrel while restricting the axial movement of the mandrel. For example, if a pin with a spherical outer end surface is inserted into the hole in the center of the shaft end surface of the mandrel, the end surface of the mandrel will hit the fixed part of the carriage even when the rotating mandrel is displaced in the axial direction. Instead, the spherical surface of the pin head hits the fixed portion. Since it is a spherical surface, it is substantially a point contact, and the point is substantially located on the rotation center axis of the mandrel. Therefore, the rotation of the mandrel is not hindered by the contact. Rather, it performs the same function as a bearing while restricting further axial movement of the mandrel. Therefore, a smooth rotation of the mandrel is ensured while an excessive axial displacement of the mandrel is appropriately regulated. Further, as will be described later, the resin is rotated at a low rotation speed A until the resin viscosity reaches a minimum value or a value near it from the beginning of the temperature rise, and the resin begins to cure, and after the increase in viscosity appears, at the high rotation speed B. By rotating at least two stages of rotation speed control, it is possible to obtain a good roundness of the molded FRP cylinder, and to realize an excellent quality with few entrained bubbles.
[0020]
【Example】
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 6 show an FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage that carries and transports a large number of mandrels 2. As shown in FIG. 4, a composite material 3 of uncured resin and reinforcing fibers is wound around each mandrel 2 and is used for forming an FRP cylinder.
[0021]
The composite material 3 may be wound in the form of a prepreg of a woven fabric or a sheet, or may be formed by a method in which a resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber bundle is wound around the mandrel 2 by a so-called filament winding method. The reinforcing fiber is not limited to carbon fiber, and for example, glass fiber, aramid fiber, or the like can be used, and these can be used in combination. As the uncured resin that becomes the matrix resin of the FRP cylinder, a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyimide resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an unsaturated polyester resin is used. However, it is also possible to use other resins or thermoplastic resins such as polyamide, polycarbonate and polyetherimide.
[0022]
1 to 3, the mandrel 2 around which the composite material 3 is wound is mounted on the carriage 1 in a plurality of stages in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. After the carriage 1 is conveyed into the curing furnace 4, the uncured resin is heated and cured while each mandrel 2 is rotated.
[0023]
As shown also in FIG. 4, each end of each mandrel 2 is rotatably supported by two cantilever rollers 5a, 5b and 5c, 5d. Of the total four rollers, one roller 5a is configured as a driving roller, and the remaining three rollers 5b, 5c, and 5d are configured as driven rollers. The surface of each roller is twilled knurled.
[0024]
The position of each roller is such that the rollers 5a and 5b and the rollers 5c and 5d are respectively arranged in the horizontal direction, and the line connecting the rotation centers of the rollers 5a and 5b and the line connecting the rotation centers of the rollers 5c and 5d is the bottom side. They are arranged so as to form an isosceles triangle whose apex is the axis of the mandrel 2.
[0025]
A sprocket 6 is attached to the shaft end of each drive roller 5a, and a chain 9 is connected from the sprocket 8 attached to the output shaft of the miter gear 7 to the sprocket 6 for each drive roller 5a as shown in FIG. It is handed over. The chain 9 is properly stretched by a tight nasprocket 10 provided at an appropriate place in the middle, and an appropriate winding angle is given to the sprocket 6 for the drive roller 5a.
[0026]
The miter gear 7 changes the direction of the input rotational driving force by 90 degrees. A coupling 11 a is provided on the input shaft 7 a of the miter gear 7. An external rotary drive source 12, for example, a combination mechanism of a motor and a speed reducer, is installed outside the curing furnace 4, and its output shaft 12 a extends into the curing furnace 4. A coupling 11b is provided at the tip of the output shaft 12a. By connecting the couplings 11a and 11b, the external rotation driving source 12 and the mandrel rotation mechanism mounted on the carriage 1 are connected. It has become. Therefore, the coupling 11a portion constitutes a connection portion with the external rotation drive source 12 provided on the cart 1 side.
[0027]
Wheels are provided on both sides of the bottom of the carriage 1. In the present embodiment, a total of four wheels are provided. Among these, the wheel 13 on one side (two in total) is configured as a V-shaped ring whose outer peripheral surface is formed in a V-groove shape as a grooved guide wheel. The V-shaped wheel 13 is placed on a guide rail 15 whose cross section is chevron so that the V groove of the wheel 13 and the chevron of the guide rail 15 are just fitted together. The other wheel 14 (two in total) is configured as a flat wheel having a flat outer peripheral surface. The flat wheel 14 is slidable in a lateral direction on a rail 16 having a flat upper surface.
[0028]
The connecting portion of the mandrel rotation mechanism mounted on the carriage 1 with the external rotation drive source 12, specifically, the coupling 11 a is provided on the V-shaped wheel 13 side of the carriage 1.
[0029]
Two pairs of driven rollers 5c and 5d positioned at one end of the mandrel 2 are rotatably supported on two shafts 17 via bearings 18 as shown in FIG. The two shafts 17 are connected to each other at the end opposite to the rollers 5c and 5d by a plate body 19, and the handle 21 is simultaneously moved in the axial direction (horizontal direction) of the mandrel 2 with respect to the side plate 20 of the carriage 1. It is moved by the operation, and after the movement, it is locked at the moved position by a lock mechanism 23 having a handle 22.
[0030]
A hole 24 extending in the axial direction is formed in the center of the mandrel in the axial end surface 2a (both end surfaces in this embodiment) as shown in FIG. A rivet pin 26 having an outer end surface (head) formed on a spherical surface 25 is rotatably inserted into the hole 24. The pin 26 is inserted into the hole 24 with the spherical outer end face 25 protruding from the axial end face 2 a of the mandrel 2 and with a depth that does not fall out of the hole 24. Note that reference numeral 20 in FIG. 6 denotes a side plate of the carriage 1.
[0031]
The mandrel 2 is rotated in the curing furnace 4 as described above, and the rotation speed of the mandrel 2 can be controlled in at least two stages in the process of heat curing the resin. This control is performed by the control device 27 connected to the external rotational drive source 12 shown in FIG.
[0032]
The operation of the embodiment apparatus configured as described above will be described.
First, since one wheel 13 of the two wheels of the cart 1 is engaged with the mountain-shaped guide rail 15 as a V-shaped wheel, even when the cart 1 is thermally expanded in the curing furnace 4, the other wheel is used. When a certain flat wheel 14 slides on the flat rail 16, the amount of thermal expansion is absorbed, and the position of the V-shaped wheel 13 is regulated to the original position by the guide rail 15. Since the connection mechanism (coupling 11a) of the mandrel rotation mechanism of the carriage 1 to the external rotation drive source 12 is located on the V-shaped wheel 13 side, the position of the coupling 11a is not substantially changed. As a result, even when heated in the curing furnace 4, the predetermined connection state between the mandrel rotation mechanism of the carriage 1 and the external rotation drive source 12 is stably maintained, and the mandrel 2 causes trouble. It rotates smoothly and well.
[0033]
In addition, the mandrel 2 is a pair of two on one side, and is supported at both ends by a total of four rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, and the two pairs of rollers are disposed at positions where an isosceles triangle is formed. Therefore, the weight of the mandrel 2 is reliably received at each end of the mandrel 2, and the mandrel 2 is supported in a stable state.
[0034]
Of the four rollers, only one roller 5a is a driving roller, and the remaining three rollers 5b, 5c, 5d are driven rollers, so that the rotational driving force does not interfere with each other, The peripheral speed of the shaft portion of the mandrel 2 and the peripheral speed of each roller completely coincide. Therefore, troubles in the case of inconsistent peripheral speeds, such as mandrel dropout, are completely prevented.
[0035]
Further, since the two pairs of driven rollers 5c and 5d positioned at one end of the mandrel 2 can be simultaneously retracted in the axial direction of the mandrel 2 by the operation of the handle 21, when the mandrel 2 is to be mounted on the lower stage. The upper driven rollers 5c and 5d can be retracted. As a result, when the mandrel 2 is mounted on the lower stage, interference between the mandrel 2 and the rollers 5c and 5d is avoided, and the mounting is performed extremely smoothly and easily. When the mandrel 2 is mounted on the upper stage after mounting on the lower stage, the driven rollers 5c and 5d may be returned to their original positions. This movement of the driven rollers 5c and 5d can also be used when the mandrel is detached after the resin is cured.
[0036]
Further, by inserting the pin 26 into the hole 24 on the end face of the mandrel 2, even when a displacement force acts on the rotating mandrel 2 in the axial direction, the head of the pin 26 and the side plate 20 of the carriage 1. Further displacement is regulated by the contact with the. Since the head of the pin 26 is formed on the spherical surface 25, the head and the side plate 20 are substantially in point contact. The hole 24 is formed in the center of the mandrel end face, that is, the axial center of the mandrel 2, and the pin 26 inserted therein is located on the axial center of the mandrel 2, so that the point contact point is also the mandrel 2. It will be located on the axis. Therefore, even if the contact occurs, the contact does not hinder the rotation of the mandrel 2, but rather performs a kind of bearing function with respect to the rotation of the mandrel 2. As a result, a smooth rotation state is ensured while the axial displacement of the mandrel 2 is restricted.
[0037]
Further, the rotational speed of the mandrel 2 can be controlled in at least two stages based on a command from the control device 27. That is, the rotation speed of the mandrel 2 can be controlled by the curing temperature and time of the resin. This control is performed, for example, as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
[0038]
The viscosity of the thermosetting resin generally exhibits a behavior as shown in FIG. 7 (a), but with respect to this behavior, the resin rotates at a low speed from the initial temperature rise until the resin viscosity reaches a minimum value or a value in the vicinity thereof. The resin is rotated at a number A, and after the resin begins to harden and an increase in viscosity appears, the resin is rotated at a high speed B.
[0039]
The reason why the rotational speed of the mandrel 2 is changed in this way is as follows. As for the rotational speed A, for example, when the resin is excessively attached by the filament winding method, the rotational speed necessary for leaching excess resin by centrifugal force when the viscosity is lowered is given. When the appropriate amount of resin is applied, the resin does not bleed out due to centrifugal force, but the rotation speed necessary to keep the cross section circular (that is, maintain roundness) is provided. With respect to the rotation speed B, the resin whose viscosity has increased appears to be able to discharge bubbles taken inside during filament winding molding due to the movement of the excess resin, and is necessary to actively cause this movement. Give the correct rotation speed.
[0040]
The control of the rotational speed is not limited to the above control. For example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the low-speed rotational speed A is gradually increased near the minimum viscosity value, and then the high-speed rotational speed B is increased. You may make it change to.
[0041]
By controlling the number of rotations as described above, it is possible to obtain a good roundness of the molded FRP cylinder, and it is possible to realize an excellent quality with few entrained bubbles.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, when the FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is used, the mandrel can be smoothly moved even in the curing furnace by using the grooved guide wheel and specifying the installation position of the connecting portion with the external rotational drive source. A rotating state can be obtained.
[0043]
Further, if each mandrel is supported by a pair of two rollers and a total of four rollers on each side, one of which is a driving roller and the remaining three are driven rollers, a stable and smooth rotation support state can be ensured at all times. Further, if the two pairs of driven rollers are configured to be movable in the axial direction of the mandrel, the mandrel can be easily attached and detached even in the case of multi-stage mounting. Furthermore, if a pin is attached to the shaft end face of the mandrel, an excessive displacement of the mandrel in the axial direction can be appropriately regulated while maintaining a smooth rotation state of the mandrel.
[0044]
Furthermore, by making it possible to control the number of rotations of the mandrel in at least two stages, it is possible to form a good quality FRP cylinder with excellent roundness and fewer entrained bubbles.
[0045]
The FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention having such excellent performance is extremely useful when applied to the manufacture of FRP propeller shafts and FRP rolls.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a cart equipped with a mandrel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic front view of the cart of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a plan view of the cart of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a mandrel support state in the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a mandrel support roller portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the mandrel end of the apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the viscosity behavior of the resin during curing and the rotation speed control of the mandrel.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Cart 2 Mandrel 2a Mandrel end face 3 Composite material of uncured resin and reinforcing fiber 4 Curing furnace 5a Drive roller 5b, 5c, 5d Driven roller 6, 8, 10 Sprocket 7 Miter gear 7a Input shaft 9 Chain 11a, 11b Cup Ring 12 External rotation drive source 12a Output shaft 13 V-shaped ring 14 as grooved guide wheel Flat wheel 15 Mountain-shaped guide rail 16 Flat rail 17 Shaft 18 Bearing 19 Plate body 20 Side body 21 Handle 22 Handle 23 Lock mechanism 24 Hole 25 Spherical surface 26 pin 27 control device

Claims (5)

In an FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus that heats and hardens the resin while rotating a mandrel wrapped with a composite material of uncured resin and reinforcing fibers on the carriage, of the wheels provided on both sides of the bottom of the carriage The one wheel is used as a grooved guide wheel, and the guide wheel is placed on a guide rail having a cross-sectional cross section. The other wheel is used as a flat wheel and the flat wheel is placed on a flat rail. and, the mandrel rotating mechanism mounted on the cart, a connection to an external rotational drive source, Rutotomoni provided in the guide wheel side of the truck, the rotational speed of the mandrel, which can be controlled at least two stages An apparatus for manufacturing an FRP cylinder, characterized by that.   The apparatus for manufacturing an FRP cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the mandrel is supported at both ends and is mounted in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction on the carriage.   Each end of the mandrel is rotatably supported by two rollers, and one of the four rollers in total for one mandrel is a driving roller, and the remaining three rollers are The FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the FRP cylinder body is configured as a driven roller.   4. The FRP cylinder manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein two driven rollers at one end of the mandrel are provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mandrel.   The apparatus for manufacturing an FRP cylinder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a pin is rotatably attached to an end surface of the mandrel.

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