JPH0126498B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transport pallet used for transporting an engine, etc. to a test equipment, and the present invention relates to a transport pallet used for transporting an engine, etc., to a test equipment. To provide a transport pallet that can easily and quickly connect and disconnect various piping and wiring for supplying fuel, electric power, etc., thereby increasing the operating rate of a test bench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An engine test facility using a conveying pallet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached illustrative drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1a to 1d are test benches arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the lateral direction, 2 is a main line for transporting engines parallel to the parallel direction of the test benches, and 3a to 1d are 3d is a loading/unloading means provided between the main line 2 and each of the test benches 1a to 1d, and 4a to 4d are loading/unloading means 3a to 4d for loading/unloading engines on the main line 2.
3d, or vice versa, the engine inherited from the loading/unloading means 3a to 3d is sent out at right angles to the transport direction of the main line 2. 5 is the plurality of test benches 1a;
~1d, main line 2, loading/unloading means 3a~3
d, and a conveyor for transporting the engine to the test apparatus 6, which is composed of turning means 4a to 4d, and is connected to the starting end of the main line 2. 7 is a conveyor for carrying out the engine from the test equipment 6, and is connected to the terminal end of the main line 2.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an automatic connection means disposed at the end of the engine carry-in route by the conveyor 5; 9,
This is automatic removal means disposed at the starting end of the engine removal route by the conveyor 7.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the engine 10 to be tested is supported in position on a transport pallet 11 according to the invention via a support attachment 12. As shown in FIGS. This pallet 11 has piping connection units ( A socket) 13 is provided protruding from this piping connection unit 13 to the installed engine 1.
A flexible connecting pipe 15 that connects to the pipe connecting part 14 of 0
are connected to each other via a rotary joint 16, and support means 18 for supporting a connector 17 attached to the tip of the flexible connecting tube 15 in a fixed position are provided protruding from both sides of the pallet 11. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the tip connector 17 of the flexible connecting tube 15 has a clamped portion 19 having protrusions 19a that protrude on both left and right sides, and a built-in sealing material that is elastic. A slide portion 20 that compresses and reduces the diameter of the sealing material by moving backward against the
It has an operating lever 21 for switching between a sealing material diameter-reduced position and a sealing material enlarged-diameter position (the position shown in FIG. 6), and a positioning hole 22. The slide part 20
Since the internal structure and the like are already known, illustration and explanation will be omitted.

The support means 18 is shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9.
As shown in the figure, the connection tool 1 is placed on the support stand 23.
A U-shaped fitting member 25 that fits into the small diameter portion 24 adjacent to the slide portion 20 of No. 7, and the positioning hole 2
2 and a pin 26 that fits into the pin 26 is provided in a protruding manner.

The automatic connecting means 8 and the automatic disconnecting means 9 are provided with a pair of manipulators 27a and 27b at the front and rear of the conveyors 5 and 7 in the conveying direction. These pair of manipulators 27a and 27b are each suspended from a support arm 29 that extends back and forth from a portal frame 28 that spans the conveyors 5 and 7, and a clamping tool 30 that can be opened and closed is provided at the tip of the support arm 29. ing. With this clamping tool 30, FIGS. 6 and 7
As shown in the figure, when the clamped part 19 of the connector 17 is clamped so as not to rotate relative to each other, the U-shaped operation piece 31 that fits loosely into the roller 21a pivotally supported at the tip of the operation lever 21 of the connector 17. , a cylinder unit 32 that pushes and pulls this U-shaped operation piece 31, and a manipulator tip member 33 that pivotally supports the clamping tool 30 between the clamping tools 30.
It is set in.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a stopper 3 is provided at a location of the conveyor 5, 7 corresponding to the automatic connection means 8 and the automatic disconnection means 9, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
4, an elevating body 37 equipped with a positioning pin 36 that can be fitted into and removed from a plurality of positioning holes 35 provided in the pallet 11, and cylinder units 38 and 39 for driving these. ing. 40 is a guide roller rail that guides the pallet 11 from side to side.

As shown in FIG. 5, each test bench 1a to 1
d, a support stand 4 that pivotally supports a free roller 41 that movably supports the engine-mounted pallet 11;
2, and a pallet lifting stand 44 which is movable up and down with respect to the support stand 42 and is equipped with a positioning pin 43 that fits into the positioning hole 35 of the pallet 11.
When the pallet 11 is lifted to a predetermined height by the pallet lifting table 44, each connection unit (socket) 13 of this pallet 11
An automatic piping attachment/detachment means 45 is provided which can be freely connected to and detached from the pipe. This piping automatic attachment/detachment means 45 is
A connection plug 46 that can be fitted into and removed from the piping connection unit 13, a flexible piping 47 having the connection plug 46 at its tip, and the connection plug 4.
6 and a movable body 49 that moves in and out by a cylinder unit 48.
In the illustrated example, one piping connection unit 13 is shown on each side of the left and right sides of the pallet 11 for convenience, but in reality, a plurality of piping connection units 13 are shown on each side of the pallet 11.
3 are arranged in parallel, the movable bodies 49 provided on both the left and right sides of the test bench support a plurality of connection plugs 46 corresponding to each of the plurality of connection units 13 arranged in parallel. Two movable bodies 4
Due to the advance movement of 9, a plurality of connection plugs 46 are
It can be constructed so that it can be connected to or disconnected from each corresponding piping connection unit 13 at the same time.

Next, to explain how to use it, the conveyor pallet 11, which supports the engine 10 in a fixed position via the support attachment 12, is moved by the conveyor 5 to the stopper 34 as shown in FIG.
When the pallet 1 is transported to a position where it is stopped, the positioning pin 36 is raised and fitted into the positioning hole 35 of the pallet 11.
1 in place. In this state, the pair of manipulators 27a, 2 of the automatic connection means 8
7b is lowered from the retracted position A that allows the engine 10 to pass, to both sides of the engine 10 on the pallet, and the manipulators 27a and 27b are
Support means 1 on each corresponding side are operated by automatic control based on movement information learned and memorized in advance.
A pipe fitting 17 supported on 8 is automatically connected to a pipe connection 14 on the same side of the engine 10.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the clamped portion 19 of the connector 17 supported on the support base 23 of the support means 18 is held relative to the left and right sides by the tip clamping tools 30 of the manipulators 27a and 27b. Hold it in a state where it cannot rotate. At this time, the U-shaped operating piece 31 on the manipulator side is loosely fitted into the tip roller 21a of the operating lever 21 in the connecting tool 17. Then, the connecting tool 17 is connected to the fitting member 25 and the pin 2.
After moving parallel to the top to separate from 6,
Engine 10 as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4
The manipulators 27a and 27b are operated so as to fit into the piping connection portion 14 of.

Once the end fitting 17 of the connecting pipe 15 is fitted into the piping connection part 14 of the engine 10, the cylinder unit 32 moves the U-shaped operating piece 31 forward and moves the operating lever 21 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The connecting tool 17 is moved backward, thereby reducing the diameter of the sealing material built in the connecting tool 17, thereby fixing the connecting tool 17 to the piping connection part 14 and connecting the two in an airtight state. After this, if there is another connecting pipe 15, its connecting fitting 17 is connected to the corresponding piping connecting part 14 in the above-described manner, and all the piping fittings 17 that are the work targets of each manipulator 27a, 27b are connected. After the connection work is completed, the manipulators 27a, 2
7b back to the original retracted position A.

After the above work is completed, the stopper 34 and the positioning pin 36 are lowered, and the engine-mounted pallet 11 is conveyed again by the carrying conveyor 5 and carried into the main line 2 of the test equipment 6. and,
Turning means 4a to 4d and loading/unloading means 3a to 3d
Using this, the engine-mounted pallet 11 is sent to a target test bench, for example, test bench 1a. At this time, the pallet 11 is supported by the free roller 41 as shown in the right half of FIG. 5, and in this state, the lifting table 44 is raised,
(See the left half of FIG. 5) in which the engine-mounted pallet 11 is lifted to a predetermined height with the positioning pin 43 fitted into the positioning hole 35 of the pallet 11). As a result, each piping connection unit 13 on both sides of the pallet 11 is connected to the test bench 1a.
Connection plug 4 in side piping automatic attachment/detachment means 45
You will be facing 6. In this state, the movable body 49 is advanced and moved by the cylinder unit 48, and its connection plug 46 is inserted into the piping connection unit 13 as shown in the left half of FIG. It communicates with the upper connecting pipe 15.

Note that the connection plug 46 may be fitted and pressed into the piping connection unit 13 by the cylinder unit 48 until the engine test is completed to maintain an airtight connection between the two. Plug 46 connects unit 1
It is desirable to apply a known automatic coupling mechanism, which automatically connects the two in an airtight state when the two are fitted to a predetermined depth in the inner part. In addition, when the piping 47 is a fuel or oil supply path or a cooling water circulation path, the connection plug 46, the piping connection unit 13, and even the connector 17 are connected to the other party. Therefore, it can be constructed as an automatic open circuit normally closed valve type that automatically opens the circuit.

As described above, each pipe 4 on the test bench 1a side
7 is connected to a predetermined location on the engine 10 via the connecting pipe 15 on the pallet 11, the engine 10 is started in the same manner as in the past, and various tests are performed. 48, the movable body 49 is moved backward, and each connection plug 46 is connected to each connection unit 13 on the pallet 11.
After separating from the test bench 1a, the engine-mounted pallet 11 is pushed out onto the loading/unloading means 3a by the pushing means provided in the test bench 1a, and is then unloaded using the loading/unloading means 3a, the turning means 4a, and the main line 2. The engine-mounted pallet 11 is sent onto the conveyor 7.

The engine-mounted pallet 11 sent out as described above is transferred to the automatic connecting means 8 between the pair of manipulators 27a and 27b in the automatic removing means 9 disposed at the starting end of the conveyor 7 for carrying out.
Then, the manipulators 27a and 27b are operated by automatic control based on motion information that has been learned and stored in advance, and the end clamping tool 30 is held in place, and the automatic connection means 8 is stopped. The manipulators 27a and 27b perform a connecting tool removal movement in the opposite direction to the movement of the tip clamping tool 30 during the connection work. However, in the manipulators 27a and 27b of this automatic removal means 9, the U-shaped operation piece 31 is at the extension limit position, and the tip clamp holder 30
When the connecting tool 17 connected to the piping connection part 14 on the engine side is clamped, the tip roller 2 of the operating lever 21 is in the operating position shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
Fits into 1a. In this state, by moving the U-shaped operation piece 31 backward using the cylinder unit 32, the operation lever 21 is returned to the non-operating position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the slide portion 20 is returned forward, and the sealing material is The diameter is expanded and the fixation of the connecting tool 17 is released.

The connector 17 that has been separated from the piping connector 14 of the engine 10 is moved to the manipulators 27a, 2
7b, it is returned onto the original support means 18, and the fitting member 25 is fitted into the small diameter portion 24, and the pin 26 is fitted into the positioning hole 22, thereby holding it in a fixed position. After the connecting pipe 15 is disconnected from the engine 10 in this manner, the engine-mounted pallet 11 is transported to a predetermined location by the unloading conveyor 7.

As is clear from the above embodiment, the engine 1
The work of connecting and disconnecting the connecting pipe 15 to the piping connecting part 14 of No. 0 is difficult because the piping connecting parts 14 are irregularly arranged in various parts of the engine, and the position of the piping connecting part 14 may vary depending on the type of engine to be supported. Because of the differences, it would be a very time-consuming task if done manually. Further, even when this work is performed mechanically or automatically, the required time cannot be shortened, although an expensive manipulator and the like are required as in the embodiment. Therefore, if this work is performed on each test bench, the operating rate of the test bench will be extremely poor, and if a manipulator or the like is installed on each test bench, the equipment cost will increase significantly, so it is difficult to obtain such benefits. I can't.

However, in the conveying pallet of the present invention, a connecting unit for connecting various external piping, wiring, etc. is attached to the conveying pallet that supports the engine etc. in a fixed position, and the connecting unit and the pallet are supported on the pallet. A flexible connecting pipe or wiring that connects to the engine, etc. is connected from the connecting unit, and a connecting fitting provided at the tip of the flexible connecting pipe or wiring can be attached and detached in a fixed position. For example, when testing an engine, the pallet is equipped with support means to support the engine. , exhaust gas,
(Oil, fuel, etc.) and electrical system wiring, and after the test is completed, the piping and wiring are removed from the engine. Connecting and disconnecting connecting pipes, etc. to the engine on the pallet, and the work provided on the pallet. The work can be divided into connecting and disconnecting the piping on the test bench side to the connection unit. Moreover, the connection unit provided on the pallet should be located at a location where the piping, etc. on the test bench side can be easily and quickly removed, whether by hand or mechanization, regardless of the location of the piping, etc. connections on the engine itself. I can do it. Therefore, the former work, which takes time whether done manually or mechanized, should be done on the transport route to the test bench, for example, by using the waiting time until the test bench is open. By performing only the latter work that can be done efficiently on the test bench, the operating rate of the test bench can be greatly increased. Furthermore, even when each of the above operations is mechanized as in the embodiment, it can be carried out at a relatively low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the whole, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the working state of the automatic connection means, Fig. 4 is a side view of the same, Fig. 5 is a test 6 is a side view showing the fitting at the tip of the piping and the tip of the manipulator that clamps it; FIG. 7 is its front view; FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the connector supported by the support means. 1a to 1d... Test bench, 2... Main line, 3a to 3d... Carrying in/out means, 4a to 4d
... Diverting means, 5... Conveyor for carrying in, 6... Test device, 7... Conveyor for carrying out, 8... Automatic connecting means, 9... Automatic disconnecting means, 10... Engine, 11... Pallet for conveyance. , 13... Piping connection unit (socket), 14... Piping connection part on the engine side, 15... Flexible connecting pipe, 17... Connector, 18... Supporting means, 27a, 27b... Manipulator, 30...Holder that can be opened and closed, 45
...Piping automatic attachment/detachment means, 46...Connection plug, 4
7...Flexible piping, 49...Movable body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A connection unit for connecting various external piping, wiring, etc. is attached to a transportation pallet that supports an engine, etc. in a fixed position, and this connection unit can be connected to the engine, etc. supported on the pallet. A flexible connecting pipe or wiring is connected to the connecting unit, and a hand holding means for removably supporting the connecting fitting provided at the tip of the flexible connecting pipe or wiring in a fixed position is provided on the pallet. A pallet for transporting engines, etc. to the test equipment installed in