Welding fixture

Abstract

This invention achieves suitable welding. The welding fixture device includes a one-side fixture, a other-side fixture, and fixture clamps. The one-side fixture has a side engagement surface that contacts one side of the exposed surfaces of a plurality of overlapping workpieces. The other-side fixture (20) has another side engagement surface that contacts the other side of the exposed surfaces of the plurality of workpieces. At least one of the one-side fixtures or the other-side fixture is provided with an opening corresponding to a specified welding position among the plurality of workpieces (W). The fixture clamps hold the one-side fixture and the other-side fixture together with the plurality of workpieces from the stacking direction of the plurality of workpieces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a welding fixture device. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, components (hereinafter also referred to as "components") were known to be formed by welding together multiple plate-like metal parts, such as fuel cell units used as components in fuel cells. For components like fuel cell units, not only are the parts joined together, but the flow path of the reactant gas inside the component is also formed by welding. To ensure airtightness, this flow path is formed by welding it into a closed loop around the through-holes provided in the components.

[0003] It should be noted that, as a technique for welding components that form a closed circuit by welding multiple metal components as described above, welding fixture devices or manufacturing methods for fuel cell-related components are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose welding fixture devices that have openings corresponding to the welding locations for specifying the welding locations.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-194876

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-161450 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] However, the welding of the plate-shaped components (hereinafter referred to as "workpieces") constituting the fuel cell unit is performed, for example, in the following sequence. First, the workpieces are stacked and clamped with a fixture. The workpieces are held in close contact with each other by the fixture, and are welded by irradiating a laser through a slit provided in the fixture.

[0010] However, existing welding fixtures sometimes create gaps between workpieces due to workpiece deformation during welding, as the force required to hold the workpiece and fixture together is insufficient. Therefore, fixtures used for welding plate-shaped workpieces require further improvement to achieve suitable welding.

[0011] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a welding fixture device that can achieve suitable welding.

[0012] Solutions for solving technical problems

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, the welding fixture apparatus of the present invention is used for welding a component formed by stacking and welding multiple components. The welding fixture apparatus includes: a side clamp having a side engagement surface that contacts one side of the exposed surfaces of the overlapping multiple components; a other side clamp having another side engagement surface that contacts the other side of the exposed surfaces of the multiple components; and a clamp clamp that clamps the side clamp and the other side clamp together with the multiple components from the stacking direction of the multiple components, wherein at least one of the side clamp or the other side clamp is provided with an opening corresponding to a desired welding position in the component.

[0014] In a welding fixture device according to one aspect of the present invention, the fixture clamp has a side clamping member that contacts the surface of the side clamp and a other side clamping member that contacts the surface of the other side clamp.

[0015] In a welding fixture device according to one aspect of the present invention, a pressure part is provided on the surface direction and on the outer periphery of the plurality of components, which applies pressure from the surface side toward the stacking direction to the clamp on one side and the clamp on the other side.

[0016] In one aspect of the welding fixture device of the present invention, the welding fixture device includes a spacer, which is disposed in the surface direction at the position of the pressure part and in the stacking direction between the one-side fixture and the other-side fixture.

[0017] In a welding fixture device according to one aspect of the present invention, the opening on one side of the fixture corresponds to a portion of a predetermined welding position in the component, and the other side fixture has an opening on the other side, which corresponds to a portion of a predetermined welding position in the component that does not correspond to the opening on one side.

[0018] In a welding fixture device according to one aspect of the present invention, a predetermined welding area formed by the opening on one side and the opening on the other side forms a closed annular path.

[0019] In a welding fixture device according to one aspect of the present invention, the fixture clamp is in contact with the surface of the one-sided fixture and the other-sided fixture at a position where at least one of the one-sided opening and the other-sided opening is not provided.

[0020] The effects of the invention

[0021] The welding fixture device according to the present invention enables proper welding. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram illustrating the general structure of a welding fixture device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It is used to show Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the schematic structure of the welding fixture device shown.

[0024] Figure 3 It is used to show Figure 1 A top view of the schematic structure of the welding fixture device shown.

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The bottom view of the welding fixture shown.

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The side view of the welding fixture shown.

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An enlarged side view of the welding fixture assembly shown.

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A top view of one side of the welding fixture shown.

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A top view of the other side of the welding fixture shown.

[0030] Figure 9 yes Figure 3 A sectional view (AA) of one side clamp and the other side clamp of the welding fixture shown.

[0031] Figure 10 It is used to show by Figure 1 A top view of the schematic structure of a component manufactured by the welding fixture device shown.

[0032] Figure 11 This is a top view illustrating the schematic structure of a welding fixture device for a reference example. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[0034] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following embodiments, an example of a method for manufacturing a fuel cell unit, which is an example of a component manufactured by overlapping and joining multiple metal components, using the welding fixture device of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the general structure of the welding fixture device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the general structure of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 3 This is a top view showing the general structure of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 5 This is a side view of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 6 This is an enlarged side view of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 7 This is a top view of one side clamp 10 of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 8 This is a top view of the clamp 20 on the other side of the welding fixture device 1. Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view (AA) of one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 of the welding fixture device 1.

[0036] For ease of explanation, the following will be... Figures 3 to 5 The direction in which one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, or multiple components, are stacked (the stacking direction) in the welding fixture device 1 shown is designated as the z-axis direction. The z-axis direction is also called the up-down direction. Furthermore, in the welding fixture device 1, the direction orthogonal to the z-axis direction, along the long side of one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, is designated as the x-axis direction. The x-axis direction is also called the left-right direction. Further, in the welding fixture device 1, the direction orthogonal to the z-axis direction, along the short side of one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 (the direction orthogonal to the x-axis direction), is designated as the y-axis direction. The y-axis direction is also called the front-back direction. In one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, the face-to-face surfaces of one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 are designated as the back surfaces, and the surfaces opposite to the back surfaces are designated as the front surfaces. Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In the middle, the surface of one side clamp 10 faces upward. Additionally, in... Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In the middle, the surface of the other clamp 20 faces downward. In the following description, when the positional relationship and orientation of each structural element are described as right side, left side, front side, rear side, upper side, and lower side, it is only to show the positional relationship and orientation in the attached drawings and does not limit the positional relationship and orientation in the actual welding clamp device.

[0037] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the welding fixture device 1 of this invention is used for welding components formed by stacking and welding multiple components (workpieces W). The welding fixture device 1 includes a one-side clamp 10, a other-side clamp 20, and a clamping clamp 30. Figure 6As shown, one side clamp 10 has a side engagement surface 12 that contacts one side of the exposed surfaces of one of the overlapping workpieces W. The other side clamp 20 has another side engagement surface 22 that contacts the other side of the exposed surfaces of one of the multiple workpieces W. At least one of the one side clamp 10 or the other side clamp 20 is provided with an opening (one side opening 13, the other side opening 23) corresponding to the desired (specified) welding position of the multiple workpieces W. The clamp clamp 30 clamps the one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 together with the multiple workpieces W from the stacking direction (y-axis direction) of the multiple workpieces W. Hereinafter, the welding clamp device 1 will be described in detail.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the welding fixture device 1 is used to manufacture component 5 by welding together multiple workpieces W, all of which are made of metal.

[0039] Figure 10 This is a top view used to illustrate the schematic structure of component 5 manufactured by welding fixture 1. (Example) Figure 10 As shown, the component 5, manufactured by joining multiple workpieces W using a welding fixture device 1, includes a component body 51 with the workpieces W joined together and an opening 52 extending through the thickness direction of the component body 51. Additionally, the component 5 includes a welding portion 53, which is a region where the multiple workpieces W are joined together by welding. The welding portion 53, for example, forms a closed, annular path.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, laser welding machine 2 welds components (workpieces) by irradiating them with laser B. Laser welding machine 2 includes a YAG laser source using YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) as the dielectric. For example, laser welding machine 2 irradiates workpiece W with a laser output of approximately 500W and a wavelength of approximately 1070nm in the infrared region. Laser welding machine 2 includes a laser reflector (not shown) as part of a scanning optical system for scanning the laser across workpiece W. The scanning range of the current mirror included in laser welding machine 2 is, for example, a 180mm square area in the xy-plane. Laser welding machine 2 is configured to move along the surface of workpiece W in the xy-plane via a drive mechanism (not shown) so that the laser can irradiate the entire workpiece W.

[0041] It should be noted that the laser welding machine 2 is not limited to the structure described above, and can also be used in manufacturing methods for parts welded by various welding machines. For example, the welding machine can also be a carbon dioxide laser welding machine.

[0042] As described above, the welding fixture device 1 includes a one-side fixture 10, a other-side fixture 20, and a fixture clamp 30.

[0043] One side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 are formed of metal or resin with excellent durability and heat resistance to infrared lasers. For example... Figure 6 As shown, one-side clamp 10 and the other-side clamp 20 are engaged and mounted on the clamping clamp 30 with one-side mating surface 12 and the other-side mating surface 22 facing each other. In use, the one-side clamp 10 and the other-side clamp 20 hold multiple workpieces W, which are to be welded, overlapping between the one-side mating surface 12 and the other-side mating surface 22. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, in order to prevent misalignment in the left-right and front-back directions during use, one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 are provided with positioning pins 17 to engage with each other.

[0044] Next, regarding the specific structure of one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, refer to... Figures 7 to 9 To explain.

[0045] like Figure 7 as well as Figure 9 As shown, both the one-side clamp 10 and the other-side clamp 20 have a shape that can cover the portion of the plate-shaped workpiece W other than the welding part 53. The one-side clamp 10 includes a clamp body 11, a one-side mating surface 12, a one-side opening 13, an inclined surface of the opening 14, a through hole 15, and a through part 16.

[0046] The fixture body 11 defines the approximate shape of one side fixture 10. The fixture body 11 has an approximate plate-like shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece W to be welded using the one side fixture 10. One side mating surface 12 is formed in the fixture body 11 to contact the exposed surface of the workpiece W. One side mating surface 12 is also formed in the fixture body 11 to face the other side fixture 20. For example, the one side mating surface 12 has a concave-convex shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece W.

[0047] One-sided opening 13 is an elongated hole in the fixture body 11 that passes through the thickness direction (the stacking direction on the welding fixture device 1, the z-axis direction), that is, an elongated hole that passes through the surface on one side of the mating surface 12 (inner side) and the opposite side (outer side), i.e., the outer surface 18 on one side. One-sided opening 13 is provided corresponding to a part of the desired welding portion 53 in the component 5 to be manufactured, in which the workpiece W is held in the welding fixture device 1. One-sided opening 13 opens with an increased diameter relative to the outer surface 18 on one side. In the fixture body 11, an opening inclined surface 14 is provided around one-sided opening 13. The opening inclined surface 14 is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the z-axis in the cross-section of the fixture body 11 in the thickness direction. The inclination of the opening inclined surface 14 is provided in such a way that the laser irradiated from the laser welding machine 2 can easily enter the workpiece W through the one-sided opening 13.

[0048] Through-hole 15 and through-part 16 are provided in positions where the side opening 13 is not provided in the fixture body 11. In other words, through-hole 15 and through-part 16 are provided corresponding to the positions of the other side opening 23 of the other side clamp 20 (described later) in the desired welding part 53 of the fuel cell unit to be manufactured, which is held by the welding fixture device 1. Through-hole 15 is an elongated hole that penetrates between the inner side of one mating surface 12 and the outer side 18 of the opposite side (outer side) in the thickness direction of the fixture body 11. Through-part 16 is a groove-shaped elongated cavity with a predetermined depth from the inner side of one mating surface 12 toward the outer side 18 in the thickness direction of the fixture body 11. Through-hole 15 and through-part 16 are provided in appropriate positions in the fixture body 11 where the side opening 13 is not provided, in a manner such as alternating between through-hole 15 and through-part 16. In other words, the through hole 15 and the through portion 16 can be provided at the position of the clamp body 11 where the side opening 13 is not provided, and the specific position and the area ratio of the through hole 15 and the through portion 16 are not limited. In addition, in one side clamp 10, only either the through hole 15 or the through portion 16 may be provided.

[0049] Next, as Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 As shown, both the other clamp 20 and the one clamp 10 have a shape that can cover the portion of the plate-shaped workpiece W other than the welding part 53. The other clamp 20 includes a clamp body 21, a other mating surface 22, a other opening 23, an inclined surface of the opening 24, a through hole 25, and a through part 26.

[0050] The fixture body 21 defines the approximate shape of the other fixture 20. Like the fixture body 11, the fixture body 21 has a plate-like approximate shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece W to be welded using the other fixture 20. The other mating surface 22 is formed in the fixture body 21 to contact the exposed surface of the workpiece W. The other mating surface 22 is also formed in the fixture body 21 to face the first fixture 10. The other fixture 20, for example, has a concave-convex shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece W.

[0051] The other opening 23 is an elongated hole in the jig body 21 that extends through the thickness direction, that is, an elongated hole that extends through the other side (inner side) of the mating surface 22 and the opposite side (outer side), i.e., the other side outer surface 28. The other opening 23 is provided corresponding to the part of the component 5 to be manufactured by holding the workpiece W in the welding jig device 1, which is different from the one-sided opening 13 in the one-sided jig 10. In other words, it is provided corresponding to the position of the through hole 15 and through part 16 of the one-sided jig 10 in the desired welding part 53 of the fuel cell unit to be manufactured by holding the workpiece W in the welding jig device 1. The other opening 23 is widened while opening relative to the other side outer surface 28. In the jig body 21, an opening inclined surface 24 is provided around the other opening 23. The opening inclined surface 24 is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the z-axis in the cross section of the jig body 21 in the thickness direction. The inclination of the inclined surface 24 of the opening is set in such a way that the laser irradiated from the laser welding machine 2 can easily enter the workpiece W through the opening 23 on the other side.

[0052] The welding fixture device 1 forms an opening that is substantially equivalent to the welding portion 53 in component 5 through one side opening 13 of one side fixture 10 and the other side opening 23 of the other side fixture 20. Specifically, for example, in order to form Figure 10 The annular welded portion 53 in component 5 shown, as Figure 7 as well as Figure 8 As shown, one side opening 13 and the other side opening 23 each form a half-circumference of the annular welding portion 53. By welding from such one side opening 13 and the other side opening 23 using a laser welding machine 2, the component 5 can be suitably welded with complex shapes such as annular welding portions 53.

[0053] Through-hole portion 25 and through-hole portion 26 are provided in positions in the jig body 21 where the other side opening portion 23 is not provided. In other words, through-hole portion 25 and through-hole portion 26 are provided corresponding to the positions of the one side opening 13 of one side jig 10 of the desired welding part 53 in the component 5 to be manufactured, which is held by the welding jig device 1. Through-hole portion 25 is an elongated hole that penetrates between the other side (inner side) of the mating surface 22 and the other side (outer side) of the opposite side in the thickness direction of the jig body 21. In addition, through-hole portion 26 is a groove-shaped elongated cavity with a predetermined depth from the other side (inner side) of the mating surface 22 toward the other side (outer side) in the thickness direction of the jig body 21. Through-hole portion 25 and through-hole portion 26 are provided in appropriate positions in the jig body 21 where the other side opening portion 23 is not provided, in a manner such as alternating through-hole portion 25 and through-hole portion 26. In other words, the through hole 25 and the through portion 26 can be provided at the position of the clamp body 21 where the other side opening 23 is not provided, and the specific position and the area ratio of the through hole 25 to the through portion 26 are not limited. In addition, in the other clamp 20, only either the through hole 25 or the through portion 26 may be provided.

[0054] Next, the structure of the clamp 30 in the welding fixture device 1 will be described.

[0055] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the clamp 30 has a clamping member 31 on one side, a clamping member 32 on the other side, a pressure part 33, and a spacer 34.

[0056] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the clamping member 31 has an outer peripheral member 311 and an inner peripheral member 312.

[0057] One outer peripheral member 311 is a frame with a shape corresponding to the planar shape of one clamp 10, such as a rectangular or approximately rectangular shape, to surround the outer peripheral side of one clamp 10. One inner peripheral member 312 is configured to cover the inner peripheral side portion, such as the center portion, of one clamp 10 from the outside (surface side). That is, one inner peripheral member 312 is connected to one outer surface 18 at a position where one opening 13 is not provided.

[0058] One outer peripheral component 311 and one inner peripheral component 312 are integrated by means of bolt fastening or other appropriate methods so that they function as a single component, i.e., one-sided clamp component 31, in use. Figure 3 As shown, one side of the outer peripheral member 311 and one side of the inner peripheral member 312 are in contact with the surface of one side of the clamp 10, namely the outer side surface 18.

[0059] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the other clamping member 32 has an outer peripheral member 321 and an inner peripheral member 322.

[0060] The other outer peripheral member 321 is a frame with a shape corresponding to the planar shape of the other clamp 20, such as a rectangular or approximately rectangular shape, to surround the outer peripheral side of the other clamp 20. The other inner peripheral member 322 is configured to cover the inner peripheral side, such as the central portion, of the other clamp 20 from the outside (surface side). The other outer peripheral member 321 and the other inner peripheral member 322 are integrated by a suitable method such as bolt fastening so that they function as a single component, namely the other clamp member 32, in the use state.

[0061] The outer peripheral member 321 and the inner peripheral member 322 on the other side are in contact with the outer surface 28 of the clamp 20 on the other side. That is, the inner peripheral member 322 on the other side is in contact with the outer surface 28 on the other side at a position where the opening 23 on the other side is not provided.

[0062] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the pressure part 33 is located on the outer periphery of the surface of the plurality of workpieces W, and is provided on the outer periphery of one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32. Specifically, it is provided on one side outer periphery member 311 and the other side outer periphery member 321. The pressure part 33 is provided at appropriate positions such as the corner of one side outer periphery member 311 and the center of the long side of the other side outer periphery member 321.

[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, a pressurizing device 35, such as a cylinder, is provided in the pressurizing section 33 for applying force from the surface (upper or lower side) of the clamp 30 toward the stacking direction. Through the pressurizing device 35 provided in the pressurizing section 33, the clamp 30 presses one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 from the surface toward the opposite side, for example, from the upper side toward the lower side. By pressing the clamp 30, the one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 held by the clamp 30 are also pressed. Furthermore, by pressing the one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, multiple workpieces W held by the one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 are also mutually pressed.

[0064] like Figures 3 to 6 As shown, the spacer 34 is provided in the planar direction (xy-plane direction) at the position where the pressure portion 33 is provided on one side of the outer peripheral member 311. Furthermore, the spacer 34 is provided in the lamination direction (z-axis direction) between one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32. The spacer 34 has a thickness that maintains a suitable distance between one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32 in the lamination direction when one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32 are pressurized.

[0065] [Manufacturing method for components using welding fixtures]

[0066] Next, the manufacturing method of the component performed by the welding fixture device 1 with the above-described structure will be described.

[0067] The process involves manufacturing a product by overlapping multiple workpieces W and welding these workpieces W together. Figure 10 When component 5 is shown, in the welding fixture 1, multiple workpieces W are held between one side fixture 10 and the other side fixture 20. From one side opening 13 and the other side opening 23 (see reference...) Figure 9 Welding multiple workpieces W.

[0068] First, multiple workpieces W, which are to be welded, are held between a side mating surface 12 in one side clamp 10 and a side mating surface 22 in another side clamp 20 of the welding fixture device 1. The plate-shaped workpieces W are clamped between the side mating surface 12 and the other side mating surface 22, thereby fixing the position of the plate-shaped workpieces W between the side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20. The side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 are connected by... Figure 3 The positioning pin 17 shown engages one side clamp 10 with the other side clamp 20 to prevent misalignment in the left-right and front-back directions.

[0069] In the welding fixture device 1, one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20, together with the workpiece W to be welded between the clamps, are fixed by the clamp clamp 30. For example... Figure 2 As shown, in the clamp 30, one side clamping member 31 holds one side clamp 10 from the surface, and the other side clamping member 32 holds the other side clamp 20 from the surface. Additionally, as... Figure 1 As shown, the clamp 30 applies pressure to multiple workpieces W together with the clamp 10 and the clamp 20 via the pressure device 35 from the pressure portion 33 of the outer peripheral member 311 of the clamp member 31 on one side and the outer peripheral member 321 of the clamp member 32 on the other side. While the multiple workpieces W are held between the clamp 10 and the clamp 20 by the clamp 30, gaps in the stacking direction are suppressed.

[0070] like Figure 1As shown, with the workpiece W held between one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20 in the welding fixture 1, laser B is irradiated onto the workpiece W from the laser welding machine 2 located above the one side clamp 10. Specifically, in the welding fixture 1, for the one side clamp 10, the side opposite to the side with the side mating surface 12, i.e., the side outer surface 18, faces the laser welding machine 2. Therefore, within the scanning range of the current mirror, laser B irradiates the welding portion 53 on the workpiece W, which is held inside the side mating surface 12, through the side opening 13 of the one side clamp 10. Furthermore, the laser welding machine 2 is configured to move along the surface of the workpiece W in the xy plane within a predetermined movable range via a drive mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the laser welding machine 2 can irradiate the welding portion 53 corresponding to the side opening 13 throughout the entire workpiece W with laser B.

[0071] After welding workpiece W with one side clamp 10 in the upper position, the welding clamping device 1 maintains the state of multiple workpieces W and flips one side clamp 10 and the other side clamp 20. That is, in the welding clamping device 1, the other side outer surface 28 of the other side clamp 20 is arranged to face upward a. In the welding clamping device 1, the other side clamp 20, the side opposite to the side with the other side mating surface 22, i.e., the other side outer surface 28, faces the laser welding machine 2. The laser welding machine 2, which is set above the other side clamp 20, irradiates the workpiece W with laser B. Therefore, within the scanning range of the current mirror, laser B passes through the other side opening 23 of the other side clamp 20 and irradiates the welding part 53 on the workpiece W held inside the other side mating surface 22. Therefore, the laser welding machine 2 can irradiate the welding part 53 corresponding to the other side opening 23 throughout the entire workpiece W with laser B.

[0072] Furthermore, when welding component 5, multiple welding fixture devices 1 can be prepared for each workpiece W corresponding to each of the multiple components 5. In this way, the welding fixture device 1 can be replaced relative to the laser welding machine 2, thereby improving the productivity of component 5.

[0073] As described above, by using the welding fixture device 1, multiple workpieces W can be brought into close contact and held in the stacking direction during welding, thereby suppressing the deformation of workpieces W caused by the shrinkage of the welded portion.

[0074] Furthermore, the welding fixture 1 is provided with a spacer 34 at the position of the pressure section 33. Specifically, the spacer 34 is provided at the position of the pressure section 33 in the planar direction (xy direction) and in the stacking direction (z direction) between one side mating surface 12 of one side fixture 10 and the other side mating surface 22 of the other side fixture 20. By providing the spacer 34, the welding fixture 1 can distribute the force applied to one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32 via the pressure section 33 to the entirety of one side fixture 10 and the other side fixture 20.

[0075] Therefore, according to the welding fixture device 1, it is possible to perform high-quality welding to join the components 5.

[0076] Figure 11 This is a top view showing the schematic structure of the welding fixture device 100 for reference examples. Figure 11 The welding fixture device 100 shown in the reference example differs from the welding fixture device 1 in that it does not include the fixture clamp 30. In the welding fixture device 100 of the reference example, one side clamp 110 and the other side clamp 120 are fixed, for example, by fastening bolts 117 from one side clamp 110 to bolt holes (not shown) provided in the other side clamp 20.

[0077] As described above, the welding fixture 100, which fixes one side clamp 110 to the other side clamp 120 in the reference example, sometimes cannot apply sufficient force F to multiple workpieces W at locations far from the bolt 117's mounting position in the planar direction. Furthermore, in the welding fixture 100, the locations where bolts 117 and bolt holes can be mounted, primarily on the outer periphery of the workpiece W, are limited, thus sometimes preventing the application of sufficient force F to the workpiece. Additionally, since the welding fixture 100 fixes one side clamp 110 to the other side clamp 120 with bolts 117 during welding operations, the operation time increases, requiring improved productivity. Furthermore, foreign matter generated during bolt loading and unloading in the welding fixture 100 can become a major cause of welding defects when welding workpieces W. Moreover, since the welding fixture 100 loads and unloads bolts 117 with each welding operation, bolts 117 need to be replaced due to wear, requiring cost reduction.

[0078] On the other hand, the welding fixture device 1, including the clamp 3, is provided with an outer peripheral member 311 on one side and an outer peripheral member 321 on the other side that are in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the workpiece W, as well as an inner peripheral member 312 on one side and an inner peripheral member 322 on the other side that are in contact with the central portion. Therefore, the welding fixture device 1 can apply sufficient pressure to multiple workpieces W even at locations far from the bolt 117 in the planar direction, such as the inner peripheral side of the workpiece W. In addition, since the welding fixture device 1 is provided with a pressure part 33 that applies pressure to the clamping member 31 on one side and the clamping member 32 on the other side by a pressure device 35, the operation of fixing the clamp 10 on one side and the clamp 20 on the other side can be reduced, and productivity can be improved. Furthermore, since the welding fixture device 1 does not use fastening connecting components such as bolts 117, welding defects caused by foreign objects generated during welding operations can be reduced. Furthermore, the welding fixture device 1 applies pressure to one side clamping member 31 and the other side clamping member 32 by the pressure device 35, thereby reducing costs by suppressing the replacement of consumables.

[0079] Therefore, the welding fixture device 1 described above can achieve suitable welding.

[0080] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and also includes the concept of the present invention and all the embodiments included in the claims. Furthermore, in order to make at least some of the above-described problems and effects function, the various structures can be selectively combined as appropriate. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc., of the structural elements in the above embodiments can be appropriately changed according to the specific application scheme of the present invention.

[0081] For example, the workpiece W welded by the welding fixture device 1 can also be a component other than metal. Furthermore, the opening is not limited to being provided in the fixture body 11 of one side fixture 10 and the fixture body 21 of the other side fixture 20 as described above; it can be provided in either one side fixture 10 or the other side fixture 20. In such a case, the opening provided in either one side fixture 10 or the other side fixture 20 corresponds entirely to the welding part 53.

[0082] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0083] 1. 100 Welding fixture device; 2. Laser welding machine; 5. Components; 10, 110 One-sided fixture; 11. Fixture body; 12. One-sided mating surface; 13. One-sided opening; 14. Inclined surface of opening; 15. Through hole; 16. Through part; 17. Pin; 18. One-sided outer surface; 20, 120 The other-sided fixture; 21. Fixture body; 22. The other-sided mating surface; 23. The other-sided opening; 24. Inclined surface of opening; 25. Through hole; 26. Through part; 28. The other-sided outer surface; 30. Fixture clamp; 31. One-sided clamping component; 32. The other-sided clamping component; 33. Pressurizing part; 34. Spacer; 35. Pressurizing device; 51. Component body; 52. Opening; 53. Welding part; 117. Bolt; 311. One-sided outer peripheral component; 312. One-sided inner peripheral component; 321. The other-sided outer peripheral component; 322. The other-sided inner peripheral component; W. Workpiece; B. Laser.

Claims

1. A welding fixture for welding components formed by welding together multiple stacked components, the welding fixture comprising: One side clamp has a side engagement surface that contacts one side of the exposed surface of one of the overlapping plurality of components. The other clamp has a mating surface that contacts the other side of the exposed surface of the plurality of components; and The clamps hold the plurality of components together with the clamps on one side and the clamps on the other side, from the stacking direction of the plurality of components. At least one of the clamps on one side or the clamp on the other side is provided with an opening corresponding to a specified welding position in the component. The welding fixture device also includes a pressure unit and a spacer. The pressurizing part applies pressure to the one-side clamp and the other-side clamp in the surface direction and on the outer periphery of the plurality of components from the surface towards the stacking direction. The spacer is disposed at the position of the pressurizing part in the surface direction, and is disposed between the one-side clamp and the other-side clamp in the stacking direction. The clamp has: A side clamping member that contacts the surface of the side clamp; and The other clamping member that is in contact with the surface of the other clamp. The spacer has a thickness such that, when the one-side clamping member and the other-side clamping member are pressurized, it maintains the spacing between the one-side clamping member and the other-side clamping member in the stacking direction.

2. The welding fixture device according to claim 1, wherein, One side opening of the clamp corresponds to a portion of a designated welding area in the component. The other side clamp has an opening on the other side, which corresponds to a portion of the specified welding position in the component that does not correspond to the opening on the other side.

3. The welding fixture device according to claim 2, wherein, A closed, annular path is formed by a predetermined welding area created by the opening on one side and the opening on the other side.

4. The welding fixture device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The clamping clamp is in contact with the surface of the one-sided clamp and the other-sided clamp at a position where at least one of the one-sided opening and the other-sided opening is not provided.

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