Welding spatter protection device with integrated cleaning system

Abstract

To provide a welding spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system.SOLUTION: A welding spatter protection device (1) comprises: a support structure (2); a movable structure (10), which is movable by means of a first actuator (15) between a lowered position, in which in use a first internal cavity (11) is placed astride the welding zone, and a raised position, in which in use said first internal cavity (11) is moved away from said welding zone; and a cleaning system (20) for cleaning internal side walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) of said first internal cavity from welding spatter, comprising a scraper (21). The scraper (21) is rotationally connected to said movable structure (10) by means of a support arm (22) which is pivoted on a rotation axis (Y1) coincident with the axis (O) of said two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) and supports said scraper (21). Said support arm (22) can be driven by means of a second actuator (25).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a weld spatter prevention device with an integrated cleaning system.

[0002] In operation, such a protection device is intended to be installed on machines for welding longitudinal metal products, in particular billets. [Background technology]

[0003] As is well known, in the field of welding installations for longitudinal metal products, such as billets, bars, blooms, etc., welding is carried out by joining the head and tail of two successive metal products.

[0004] Generally, this type of welding is performed by sparking and passing an electric current through the products, bringing the head of one product and the tail of the other close together, causing a short circuit. The heat generated causes the metal to melt and the two ends to be welded. This welding operation is performed directly on the rolling line of the metal products by a welding machine equipped with two structures equipped with clamps to hold the two metal products to be welded. Both structures are mounted on a carriage that moves at the forward speed of the metal products along the rolling line. The first structure is fixed relative to the carriage, while the second structure slides instead, so that the relative distance between the products to be welded can change until they touch.

[0005] Such welding creates sparks and carries the risk of scattering molten steel particles (spatter or splash) that can strike surrounding structures, deposit there and impair their operation. Furthermore, the accumulation of spatter can lead to the formation of deposits that, over time, can cause dangerous electrical shorts within the machine itself.

[0006] To address these issues, spatter containment devices have been manufactured for installation on welding machines, which include a movable protective shield installed in the welding zone and an internal cleaning system.

[0007] U.S. Patent Application No. 20100072185A1 describes a welding spatter protection device. The protection device employs two protective shields that move along a curved path via multiple linkages to close both the upper and lower welding zones. The device is provided with a scraper that slides inside one of the two protective shields and a guillotine adapted to protect the scraper when not in operation. The protective shields have an open section through which metal products can pass.

[0008] Although operationally effective, this approach has the drawback of being mechanically complex: in fact, it requires the use of four actuators: two for the movement of the protective shield, one for the scraper and one for the guillotine.

[0009] A mechanically simpler welding spatter protection device is described in EP 3442738 B1. Such an approach involves a single protective shield intended to enclose only the top of the welding zone.

[0010] More specifically, the protective shield consists of a box-like structure with an open bottom, in which the scraper is positioned. Two openings for the passage of the product are provided in two opposite side walls near the open bottom. The device is provided with a single actuator suitable for moving the protective shield along a movement axis, which is displaceable between a shielding position and an unshielding position, causing relative movement between the scraper (fixed along the movement axis) and the inner wall of the protective shield with which the scraper contacts.

[0011] Such an approach is mechanically simpler and more compact due to the presence of a single protective shield and a single actuator.

[0012] Generally, in welding machines, the metal products run on the outside of the machine. Therefore, the main structure of the welding machine is mostly installed on one side of the welding zone and partly installed above it. The cooling water collection and discharge channel is located at the bottom of the welding zone.

[0013] The spatter that flies towards the drainage channel and in the opposite direction from where the main machine structure is located does not damage the machine itself, and therefore it is preferable not to block the spatter with a protective device, but to reduce the burden of internal cleaning. For this reason, it would be ideal to have a protective shield with an asymmetric extension relative to the welding zone, i.e., extending above it and mainly on the side facing the main structure of the welding machine, while still ensuring sufficient protection for the operator's safety.

[0014] The protective device described in EP 3442738 B1 uses an asymmetric protective shield, which results in an asymmetric axis of the inner wall against which the scraper acts. Therefore, in its relative movement with respect to the protective shield, the scraper is subjected to unbalanced mechanical stresses, which over time can lead to uneven wear and scraper misalignment, with the risk of jamming. This is the first limitation.

[0015] A second limitation is the presence of a single actuator, where scraping is linked to the movement of the entire protective shield.

[0016] Due to scraper wear, one scraping pass may not be sufficient to remove all spatter from the interior walls, so the operation must be repeated. This means that the protective shield must be repeatedly brought close to the hot product, which results in the shield heating up again. Heating the shield makes it easier for hot steel spatter to adhere to the shield, making its removal more difficult.

[0017] Thus, there are currently two unmet needs in the corresponding technology fields.

[0018] The first need is to optimize the effectiveness of the protective device without compromising the functionality of the scraper by employing an asymmetric protective shield.

[0019] A second need is to perform a series of scraping cycles without necessarily encouraging spatter to adhere to the shield wall due to heating of the shield wall. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to eliminate all or part of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system in which an asymmetric protective shield is provided without compromising the functionality of the internal cleaning system.

[0021] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system that allows for a series of scraping cycles to be performed without necessarily encouraging spatter to adhere to the shield wall due to heating of the shield wall.

[0022] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system that is cost effective to manufacture.

[0023] Finally, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system that is operationally simple to administer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] The technical features of the present invention can be clearly found in the content of the following claims, and its advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one or more embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example. [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic side view of a welding machine with a protection device according to a possible embodiment; [Figure 2] 2 shows a different perspective view of the protection device of FIG. 1, shown separately from the welding machine; [Figure 3] 2 shows a different perspective view of the protection device of FIG. 1, shown separately from the welding machine; [Figure 4] 4 shows an orthogonal side view of the device of FIG. 2 along arrow IV. [Figure 5] 3 shows an orthogonal side view of the device of FIG. 2 taken along arrow V. [Figure 6] 5 shows an orthogonal cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 along section line LL shown in FIG. 5, with the protective shield in the active position and the scraper of the integrated cleaning system in the disengaged position. [Figure 7] 7 shows an orthogonal side view of the device of FIG. 2 along arrow VII. [Figure 8] 5 illustrates the device of FIG. 4 with the protective shield in the passive position and the scraper of the integrated cleaning system in the engaged position. [Figure 9] [Figure 10] 7 illustrates the device of FIG. 6 with the protective shield in the passive position and the scraper of the integrated cleaning system in the engaged position. [Figure 11] 9 shows an orthogonal cross section of the device of FIG. 8 along plane HH. [Figure 12] 12 shows an orthogonal cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 11 along section XII-XII.

[0025] Elements or parts of elements that are common to the embodiments described below are designated by the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention relates to a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system.

[0027] In operation, such a protection device is intended to be installed on machines for welding longitudinal metal products, in particular billets, and bars or blooms aligned and moving along an advance axis X.

[0028] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a weld spatter protection device with an integrated cleaning system according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and a welding machine equipped with such a protection device is designated by the reference numeral 100.

[0029] Here and in the following description and claims, reference is made to the device 1 in its state of use, and references to a lower or upper position, or a horizontal or vertical orientation, should thus be understood in this sense.

[0030] According to a general embodiment of the invention, the protection device 1 comprises a support structure 2 intended to be fixed to the welding machine 100 above said advance axis X.

[0031] The apparatus 1 further comprises a movable structure 10, which defines a first internal cavity 11 for the welding spatter shield.

[0032] The movable structure defines the first internal cavity 11 by a plurality of internal side walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d.

[0033] The first internal cavity 11 is accessible via an inlet port 12 defined by an opening in the bottom wall 10 a of the movable structure 10 .

[0034] An opening in the bottom wall 10a of the movable structure 10 extends to two first walls 11a, 11b of the side walls together with two recesses 13, 14. These two first walls 11a, 11b are axially opposite each other along the operating axis Y.

[0035] In operation, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, via the inlet opening 12, the first internal cavity 11 is suitable for receiving a welding zone S between the ends M1', M2' of two metal products M1, M2.

[0036] More specifically, the first internal cavity 11 receives the welding zone S when the two recesses 12, 13 are aligned with the advancement axis X of the metal products M, i.e. when the movement axis Y is substantially aligned with the advancement axis X of the metal products M1, M2. In this situation, each of the metal products M1, M2 crosses one of the two first side walls 10a, 10b in one of the two recesses 12, 13.

[0037] The movable structure 10 is movable by a first actuator 15 relative to the support structure 2 (and therefore relative to the welder 100 and the advance axis X) between: a lowered position, in which the first internal cavity 11 is positioned across the welding zone in use (see Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6); and Raised position: in use, the first internal cavity 11 is moved away from the welding zone (see Figures 8, 9 and 10).

[0038] The apparatus 1 further comprises a cleaning system 20 for cleaning the inner side walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d of said first inner cavity from welding spatter.

[0039] Such cleaning system 20 includes a scraper 21 that is movable relative to the interior side walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d with an interference relationship between the inlet opening 12 and an interior stop position (see Figures 6 and 10).

[0040] In particular, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the first internal cavity 11 is defined by: two first side walls 11a, 11b, which extend transversely to said axis of movement Y and on which two recesses 12, 13 are provided; two second side walls 11c, 11d, which interconnect the two first side walls 11, 11b in the direction defined by the axis of motion Y;

[0041] According to a first aspect of the invention, two second walls 11c, 11d interconnect the two first walls 11a, 11b to each other and define two concentric cylindrical surfaces.

[0042] These two concentric cylindrical surfaces extend from the inlet opening 12 to the inner stop position.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the central axis O of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces passes through the interior of the movable structure 10.

[0044] Therefore, with the central axis O as a reference, the radially outermost cylindrical surface 11c and the radially innermost cylindrical surface 11d can be identified.

[0045] According to a further aspect of the invention, a scraper 21 is rotatably connected to said movable structure 10 by a support arm 22 .

[0046] The support arm 22 rotates around a rotation axis Y1 that coincides with the axis O of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d, and supports the scraper 21 in a state where it is aligned on a radial plane with the axis O as the reference.

[0047] The support arm 22 is rotatably drivable by a second actuator 25 about an axis Y1 (so as to move the scraper 21 within the first internal cavity 10).

[0048] In particular, the second actuator 25 consists of an electro-pneumatic or hydraulic piston.

[0049] In particular, the second actuator 25 is pivoted at a first portion thereof to rotate about an axis Y2 relative to the movable structure 10, and at a second portion thereof to rotate about an axis Y3 relative to the support arm 22. The second actuator 25 is thus able to follow the movement of the support arm 22 relative to the movable structure 10.

[0050] According to a further aspect of the invention, the circumferential ends 11c', 11c" and 11d', 11d" of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d are radially aligned with each other at the inlet opening 12 and the internal stop position, so that the scraper 21 is always in contact with the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d.

[0051] The two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d are oriented such that the radially outermost cylindrical surface 11c extends beyond the bottom wall 10a of the movable structure 10 to define a shield appendage 16. In other words, the first internal cavity 11 defines an asymmetric protective shield about the axis of movement Y (and therefore about the axis of advancement X when the movable structure 10 is in the lowered position in use).

[0052] The shielding device 1 is positioned on the advancement axis X and on the collection and drainage channel 101 for the cooling water of the machine, and can be oriented so that the shielding attachment 16 faces towards the inside of the welding machine on which the main structure 102 of the machine is installed.

[0053] The first internal cavity 11 is Open at the bottom above the drainage channel 101. · The shield appendage 16 extends downwardly from the bottom wall of the movable structure, resulting in an asymmetrical lateral extension towards the interior 100a of the welder 100 than towards the exterior 100b.

[0054] This structure ensures sufficient protection for the operator's safety by not blocking or only partially blocking spatter that flies toward the drainage channel 101, on the side opposite to the side where the main structure 102 of the machine is installed. This avoids unnecessary "dirtying" of the protective screen with spatter that would not damage the welding machine. Conversely, spatter that flies toward the inside 100a where the main structure 102 of the machine is installed is more effectively blocked.

[0055] However, in accordance with the present invention, the use of an asymmetric protective shield does not impair the functionality of the internal cleaning system.

[0056] Indeed, the scraper 21 is in constant contact with the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d when moving between the inlet opening 12 and said internal stop position. This means that the scraper is therefore subjected to balanced mechanical stresses when moving relative to the internal side wall, and that the scraper is in constant contact with the internal side wall over its entire circumferential extension. This reduces the risk of uneven wear of the scraper over time and of the scraper becoming misaligned, which would entail the risk of jamming.

[0057] The curved structure of the first internal cavity, in combination with the movement of the scraper 21, compensates for the asymmetry of the protective shield.

[0058] Furthermore, the weld spatter protection device with the integrated cleaning system of the present invention allows for a series of scraping cycles to be performed without necessarily promoting spatter adhesion to the shield walls due to its heating.

[0059] The invention makes it possible to separate the two movements, in particular by having the scraper 21 mounted on the movable structure and movable relative to it by an actuator 25 separate from the actuator 15 on the movable structure 10. The scraper 21 can therefore perform a series of scraping cycles when the movable structure 10 is in the raised position. In this way, scraping can be performed repeatedly (by moving the scraper several times between the inlet opening and the internal stop position), without bringing the movable structure close to the welding zone and thus preventing it from being heated.

[0060] Preferably, the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d are oriented such that the radially innermost cylindrical surface 11d terminates at the bottom wall 10a of said movable structure 10. In this way, the exposure of the surfaces of the first internal cavity 11 located outside the welding machine to spatter is minimized.

[0061] Advantageously, as shown for example in Figure 6, the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d extend circumferentially beyond the two recesses 12, 13 so that the scraper 21 is positioned above the two recesses when it reaches its internal stop position. Operationally, in this situation, the two recesses 12, 13 are free and can be engaged by longitudinal metalwork.

[0062] Preferably, the axis O of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 10c, 10d is parallel to said axis Y of movement.

[0063] Preferably, the two first inner side walls 11a, 11b are flat and perpendicular to said axis of movement Y.

[0064] Preferably, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the two first inner side walls 11a, 11b extend in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 10a to the same extent as the two concentric cylindrical surfaces 11c, 11d.

[0065] Advantageously, said mobile structure 10 defines a second internal cavity 17 in which a support arm 22 of a scraper 21 is housed and which is open to said first internal cavity 11 to allow passage of said support arm 22.

[0066] The rotation axis Y1 of the support arm 22 of the scraper 21 coincides with the central axis O of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces and therefore preferably passes inside the movable structure 10. The rotation axis Y1 necessarily passes outside the first internal cavity and preferably passes inside the second internal cavity 17.

[0067] In the accompanying drawings, the second actuator 25 is kinematically connected to the support arm 22, defining a third-degree lever. As the scraper actuator is separate from the moving structure actuator, it is possible to choose the position of the second actuator 25 relative to the scraper 21 and the support arm pivot to define a second-degree lever. In the latter case, the scraping effect obtained is the same, but the applied force can be reduced, or the actuator itself can be made smaller.

[0068] In particular, the second internal cavity 17 is adjacent to the first internal chamber 11 and is separated from the latter by an internal sidewall 11d that defines a radially innermost cylindrical surface.

[0069] Advantageously, the support arm 22 defines an internal conduit 23 for supplying cooling water to the scraper 21, and the scraper 21 is provided with an internal cooling channel 24 communicating with the discharge hole. In the accompanying drawings, the water supply pipe is designated by the reference numeral 220 .

[0070] Preferably, the first actuator 15 and the second actuator 25 are supported by the movable structure 10 above the first internal cavity 11 and the second internal cavity 17. These two actuators 15, 25 are located at the farthest part of the movable structure 10 from the bottom wall 10a and are thus less exposed to heat.

[0071] Advantageously, the movable structure 10 comprises a plurality of protective walls 18, 19 for the first actuator 15 and the second actuator 25.

[0072] According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the mobile structure 10 is defined by a box-like body, preferably by flat walls.

[0073] In particular, the flat walls of the box-like structure are constructed with removable panels to allow easy access to the mechanical parts of the actuator and scraper.

[0074] In particular, the two first internal side walls 11a, 11b are flat and define the outer part of the box-like body.

[0075] In particular, the bottom wall 10a of the mobile structure 10 is flat and defines the outer part of said box-like body.

[0076] Preferably, the bottom wall 10a is parallel to the axis of movement Y.

[0077] Preferably, the mobile structure 10 is connected to the support structure 2 by at least one linear guide device 3 suitable for guiding the movement of the mobile structure 10 between the lowered position and the raised position.

[0078] In particular, the device 1 is intended to be installed in the welding machine 100 so that the bottom wall 10a is horizontal, and the movement between the raised and lowered positions is along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the bottom wall, i.e., vertical direction.

[0079] The present invention relates to a welding machine 100 according to the present invention, in particular equipped with a welding spatter protection device 1 as described above, said welding spatter protection device 1 being installed on the machine, with the shielding attachment 16 being located on the inside 110b of the machine 100 where the main structure 102 of the machine 100 is installed.

[0080] The invention further relates to a method for shielding from welding spatter in a welding machine for longitudinal metal products aligned and moving along an advance axis X.

[0081] The method includes the following operational steps: a) Installing a weld splatter protection device 1 according to the present invention, particularly as described above, in a welding machine 100. b) moving the scraper 21 to the internal stop position by driving the second actuator 25, and then moving the movable structure 10 to the lowered position by driving the first actuator 15; c) welding step. d) moving the movable structure 10 from the lowered position to the raised position by actuating the first actuator 15; e) performing one or more cleaning cycles of the first internal cavity 11 by driving the second actuator 25 to move the scraper 21 between the internal stop position and the inlet opening 12 of the first internal cavity 11 one or more times.

[0082] The advantages of the shielding method according to the invention are clear from the above description of the device and will not be repeated here.

[0083] The present invention achieves several advantages as described herein.

[0084] The welding spatter protection device 1 with integrated cleaning system according to the invention can be equipped with asymmetrical protective shields without impairing the functionality of the internal cleaning system.

[0085] The welding spatter protection device 1 with the integrated cleaning system according to the present invention makes it possible to carry out a series of scraping cycles without necessarily promoting the deposition of spatter on the walls of the shield due to its heating.

[0086] The weld spatter protection device 1 with integrated cleaning system according to the present invention is cost-effective to manufacture.

[0087] The weld spatter protection device 1 with integrated cleaning system according to the present invention is operationally simple to manage.

[0088] The invention thus conceived therefore achieves its intended objects.

[0089] Obviously, in practice it is possible to adopt shapes and configurations different from those described above without departing from the scope of protection.

[0090] Furthermore, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements, and any size, shape and material may be used as required.

Claims

1. A welding splatter protection device (1) intended to be installed on a welding machine for longitudinal metal products moving in alignment along an advance axis (X), comprising: a support structure (2) intended to be fixed to the welding machine (100) above said advance axis (X); a movable structure (10) defining a first internal shielded cavity (11) by a plurality of internal side walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d), the first internal cavity (11) is defined by an opening provided on the bottom wall (10a) of the movable structure (10), has two recesses (13, 14) and is accessible by an inlet (12) extending to the two first walls (11a, 11b) of the side walls axially opposite along the axis of motion (Y); Via said inlet opening (12), said first internal cavity (11) is suitable for receiving a welding zone between the ends of two metal products, The two recesses (12, 13) are aligned with the advancement axis (X) of the metal product (M), a movable structure (10) that can be moved by a first actuator (15) relative to the support structure (2) between a lowered position in which the first internal cavity (11) is positioned across a welding zone in use and a raised position in which the first internal cavity (11) is moved away from the welding zone in use; a cleaning system (20) for cleaning the internal side walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) of the first internal cavity from weld splatter, the cleaning system (20) comprising a scraper (21) movable relative to the internal side walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) in an interference relationship between the inlet opening (12) and an internal stop position, two second walls (11c, 11d) of the side walls interconnect the two first walls (11a, 11b) and define two concentric cylindrical surfaces extending from the inlet opening (12) to the internal stop position; The scraper (21) pivots on a rotation axis (Y1) coinciding with the axis (O) of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) and is rotatably connected to the movable structure (10) by a support arm (22) that supports and aligns the scraper (21) in a radial plane, the support arm (22) being drivable by a second actuator (25); the circumferential ends (11c', 11c"; 11d', 11d") of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) at the inlet (12) and the internal stop position are radially aligned, so that the scraper (21) is always in contact with the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d), and the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) are oriented such that the radially outermost cylindrical surface (11c) extends beyond the bottom wall (10a) of the movable structure (10) to define a shield appendage (16).

2. 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) are oriented such that the radially innermost cylindrical surface (11d) terminates at the bottom wall (10a) of the movable structure (10).

3. 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (11c, 11d) extend circumferentially beyond the two recesses (12, 13), so that the scraper (21) is positioned above the two recesses when it reaches its stop position.

4. 4. The device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the axes (O) of the two concentric cylindrical surfaces (10c, 10d) are parallel to the axis of movement (Y).

5. 5. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movable structure (10) defines a second internal cavity (17) in which a support arm (22) of a scraper (21) is housed and which is open to the first internal cavity (11) to allow the passage of the support arm (22).

6. 6. The device (1) of claim 5, wherein the second internal cavity (17) is adjacent to the first internal chamber (11) and separated from the first internal chamber by an internal sidewall (11d) defining a radially innermost cylindrical surface.

7. 7. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support arm (22) defines an internal conduit (23) for supplying cooling water to the scraper (21), and the scraper (21) is provided with an internal cooling channel (24) communicating with the discharge hole.

8. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first actuator (15) and the second actuator (25) are supported by the movable structure (10) above the first internal cavity (11) and the second internal cavity (17).

9. 9. The device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the movable structure (10) comprises protective walls (18, 19) for the first actuator (15) and the second actuator (25).

10. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two first internal side walls (11a, 11b) are flat and perpendicular to the axis of movement (Y).

11. The device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movable structure (10) is defined by a box-like body, preferably by flat walls.

12. 12. The device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the two first internal side walls (11a, 11b) are flat and define the outer part of the box-like body.

13. 13. Device (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the bottom wall (10a) is flat and defines the outer part of the box-like body.

14. 14. The device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the bottom wall (10a) is parallel to the axis of movement (Y).

15. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the movable structure (10) is connected to the support structure (2) by at least one linear guide device (3) suitable for guiding the movement of the movable structure (10) between the lowered position and the raised position.

16. A welding machine (100) with a weld splatter protection device, comprising: The weld splatter protection device is a weld splatter protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, A welding machine (100) in which the welding splatter protection device (1) is installed on a machine and the shield attachment (16) is arranged inside (110b) of the machine (100) where the main structure (102) of the machine is installed.

17. 1. A method of shielding from weld splatter in a welding machine for longitudinal metal products moving in alignment along an advance axis (X), comprising: a) installing a welding splatter protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in a welding machine (100); b) moving the scraper (21) to an internal stop position by driving the second actuator (25), and then moving the movable structure (10) to a lowered position by driving the first actuator (15); c) welding; d) moving the movable structure (10) from the lowered position to the raised position by actuating the first actuator (15); e) performing one or more cleaning cycles of the first internal cavity (11) by driving the second actuator (25) to move the scraper (21) between an internal stop position and the inlet opening (12) of the first internal cavity (11).

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