A TIG welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten electrodes

Abstract

An argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping a tungsten needle, comprising a basic function component, an automatic clamping component and an extended length adjustment component arranged in a housing. The basic function component includes an electrode plate slidably arranged; a first mounting hole is arranged on the electrode plate, and a second mounting hole and a third mounting hole are arranged side by side below the first mounting hole, and a tungsten needle clamping plate is arranged below the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. The automatic clamping component includes a first servo cylinder, a top block and a pair of pressing blocks; the first servo cylinder is installed on the electrode plate, and the output end of the first servo cylinder is connected to the top block; the top block is slidably installed in the first mounting hole; a pair of pressing blocks are respectively installed in the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole, and both ends of the pressing block are respectively connected to the top block and the tungsten needle on the tungsten needle clamping plate. The argon arc welding torch in this case can automatically clamp the tungsten needle when replacing the tungsten needle, and during the welding process, it can also automatically adjust the extended length of the tungsten needle, effectively improving the efficiency of robot argon arc welding applications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of tungsten inert gas arc welding equipment, and particularly relates to a tungsten inert gas arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping a tungsten electrode needle. Background Art

[0002] With the high-speed development of industrial automation, the application of replacing manual labor with robots in tungsten inert gas arc welding is becoming more and more widespread, that is, more and more tungsten inert gas arc welding torches have become end-effectors of industrial robots. At present, in the application of robotic tungsten inert gas arc welding, it is often necessary to manually replace the tungsten electrode needle. The following problems exist when manually replacing the tungsten electrode needle:

[0003] 1) It is necessary to stop the machine for replacement, delaying the on-line production time;

[0004] 2) Manually replacing the tungsten electrode needle requires entering a dangerous area, greatly increasing the risk of personnel injury;

[0005] 3) It is very difficult to ensure the consistency of the length of the tungsten electrode needle protruding from the nozzle each time during manual replacement, indirectly resulting in the following two adverse consequences:

[0006] Firstly, since the distance from the tungsten electrode needle of tungsten inert gas arc welding to the workpiece is the welding voltage of tungsten inert gas arc welding, if the length of the tungsten electrode needle protruding from the nozzle is inconsistent, the distance from the tungsten electrode needle to the workpiece will change, resulting in a change in the welding voltage, and ultimately leading to uneven welds, and even situations such as burn-through and sticking of the tungsten electrode needle may occur;

[0007] Secondly, when entering the subsequent automatic grinding process of the tungsten electrode needle, the actuator moves the welding torch to a specified position for grinding. If the length of the tungsten electrode needle protruding from the nozzle is inconsistent, the grinding disc will be misaligned with the tungsten electrode needle, and it is necessary to stop the machine to re-adjust the position, resulting in an increase in the time required for grinding the tungsten electrode needle and affecting the efficiency of the application of robotic tungsten inert gas arc welding. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a tungsten inert gas arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping a tungsten electrode needle to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is realized through the following technical solutions:

[0010] A tungsten inert gas arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping a tungsten electrode needle, comprising a basic function component, an automatic clamping component, and an extension length adjustment component arranged in a housing. Further:

[0011] The basic function component includes a slidably arranged electrode plate; a first mounting hole is arranged on the electrode plate, a second mounting hole and a third mounting hole are arranged side by side below the first mounting hole, and a tungsten electrode needle clamping plate is arranged below the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole;

[0012] The automatic clamping component includes a first servo electric cylinder, a top block, and a pair of pressing blocks. The first servo electric cylinder is installed on the electrode plate, and the output end of the first servo electric cylinder is connected to the top block. The top block is slidably installed in the first mounting hole. A pair of pressing blocks are respectively installed in the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. The top of the pressing block is connected to the top block, and the bottom surface of the pressing block abuts against the tungsten needle on the tungsten needle clamping plate.

[0013] Further, the extension length adjustment component includes a second servo electric cylinder, which is fixed on the housing, and the output end of the second servo electric cylinder is connected to the electrode plate.

[0014] Preferably, the top surface of the pressing block is provided with an inclined groove, and the bottom surface of the top block is provided with an inclined notch. The inclined groove on the pressing block cooperates with the inclined notch on the top block.

[0015] Preferably, the electrode plate includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate integrally connected into an L shape. The first mounting hole, the second mounting hole, and the third mounting hole are provided on the side surface of the vertical plate of the electrode plate, and the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole, and the third mounting hole are all square holes.

[0016] Preferably, the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate is provided with a semi-circular groove, and the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole are also provided with semi-circular grooves. The semi-circular groove on the tungsten needle clamping plate corresponds to the semi-circular grooves on the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole, so that a tungsten needle clamping groove is formed between the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate and the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole.

[0017] Preferably, the electrode plate is sequentially connected to a flexible connection component, a fixing plate, and an electrode, and the electrode extends backward outside the housing.

[0018] Preferably, the first servo electric cylinder and the second servo electric cylinder are respectively electrically connected to an external controller.

[0019] Preferably, the top block is connected to the first servo electric cylinder by a thread. The horizontal plate of the electrode plate is connected to the output end of the second servo electric cylinder by a bolt. One end of the flexible connection component is connected to the electrode plate by a bolt, and the other end is connected to the fixing plate. The fixing plate and the electrode are respectively connected to the housing by bolts.

[0020] Preferably, the flexible connection component is made of a flexible conductive material. When the tungsten needle moves up and down, the flexible connection component can ensure the stable current from the electrode to the tungsten needle.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0022] 1) An argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles in this case can automatically clamp tungsten needles when replacing tungsten needles, and during the welding process, it can also automatically adjust the extension length of the tungsten needle, effectively improving the efficiency of the application of robotic gas tungsten arc welding.

[0023] 2) An argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles in this case realizes the functions of automatically clamping tungsten needles and automatically adjusting the protruding length of tungsten needles by the first servo cylinder and the second servo cylinder respectively. The two servo cylinders are driven separately and closed-loop controlled, with high driving accuracy.

[0024] 3) An argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles in this case realizes the automatic clamping of tungsten needles through the cooperation between the inclined opening on the bottom surface of the top block and the inclined opening groove on the top surface of the pressing block, turning the lateral movement of the top block into the vertical movement of the pressing block. It has a pure mechanical structure and is stable and reliable.

[0025] In order to understand the present invention more clearly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the housing of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 It is an assembly schematic diagram of the electrode plate in the present invention.

[0029] Reference Signs in the Drawings:

[0030] 1 - Housing, 9 - Tungsten Needle; 21 - Electrode Plate, 22 - Flexible Connection Assembly, 23 - Fixed Plate, 24 - Electrode; 211 - First Mounting Hole, 212 - Second Mounting Hole, 213 - Third Mounting Hole, 214 - Tungsten Needle Clamp; 31 - First Servo Cylinder, 32 - Top Block, 33 - Pressing Block, 331 - Inclined Opening Groove; 41 - Second Servo Cylinder. Detailed Embodiments

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more.

[0032] In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are for descriptive purposes only, mainly used to distinguish different devices, components or parts (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance and quantity of the indicated devices, components or parts, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In addition, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "installed", "provided with", "sheathed / connected", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be the communication inside two components; for those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0034] Please also refer to Figures 1-3 , the present invention provides a tungsten electrode automatic clamping argon arc welding torch, which includes a basic function component, an automatic clamping component and an extended length adjustment component arranged in a housing 1. The basic function component can complete the basic functions of a conventional argon arc welding torch; the automatic clamping component can automatically clamp (tighten or loosen) the inserted tungsten electrode 9 when replacing the tungsten electrode 9; the extended length adjustment component can automatically adjust the length of the tungsten electrode 9 extending out of the nozzle during use.

[0035] The basic function component includes a slidably arranged electrode plate 21, which is butted against a fixing plate 23 through a flexible connection component 22. The other end of the fixing plate 23 is connected to an electrode 24, and the electrode 24 extends backward out of the housing 1. Preferably, in this embodiment, the flexible connection component is a flexible conductive material, and when the tungsten electrode moves up and down, the flexible connection component can ensure the stable current from the electrode to the tungsten electrode.

[0036] The electrode plate 21 includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate integrally connected to form an L shape; on the side surface of the vertical plate of the electrode plate 21, a first mounting hole 211 is provided along the width direction of the vertical plate; on the side surface of the vertical plate of the electrode plate 21, a second mounting hole 212 and a third mounting hole 213 are provided at intervals along the length direction of the vertical plate; on the side surface of the vertical plate of the electrode plate 21, a tungsten needle clamping plate 214 is further provided along the length direction of the vertical plate. The tungsten needle clamping plate 214 is opposite to the second mounting hole 212 and the third mounting hole 213 up and down, and a semi-circular groove is provided on the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate 214 corresponding to the semi-circular grooves on the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole 212 and the third mounting hole 213, so that a tungsten needle clamping groove (not shown in the figure) is formed between the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate 214 and the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole 212 and the third mounting hole 213. The tungsten needle 9 inserted from the front end into the argon arc welding torch can be fixed on the electrode plate 21 through this tungsten needle clamping groove. In this embodiment, a three-layer position relationship is formed among the first mounting hole 211, the second mounting hole 212, the third mounting hole 213, and the tungsten needle clamping plate 214.

[0037] The automatic clamping and picking component includes a first servo cylinder 31, a top block 32, and a pair of pressing blocks 33.

[0038] The first servo cylinder 31 is fixedly installed on the electrode plate 21 and moves together with the electrode plate 21. The output end of the first servo cylinder 31 is screwed to the top block 32, and the first servo cylinder 31 is electrically connected to an external controller (not shown in the figure).

[0039] The top block 32 is slidably installed in the first mounting hole 211 of the electrode plate 21, and the first mounting hole 211 guides the top block 32.

[0040] A pair of pressing blocks 33 are respectively installed in the second mounting hole 212 and the third mounting hole 213; an inclined groove 331 is provided on the top surface of the pressing block 33 to cooperate with the inclined openings (not shown in the figure) provided at both ends of the bottom surface of the top block 32, and the bottom surface of the pressing block 33 abuts against the tungsten needle 9 in the tungsten needle clamping groove.

[0041] The working principle of the automatic clamping and picking component is as follows: Under the control of the external controller, the first servo cylinder 31 drives the top block 32 to move back and forth. With the cooperation of the inclined opening on the bottom surface of the top block 32 and the inclined groove 331 on the top surface of the pressing block 33, the top block 32 drives the pressing block 33 to move up and down. By converting the horizontal movement of the top block 32 into the vertical movement of the pressing block 33, the pressing block 33 presses (or releases) the tungsten needle 9 in the tungsten needle clamping groove, so that the tungsten needle 9 is fixed on the electrode plate 21 (or released from the electrode plate 21), realizing the automatic clamping and picking of the tungsten needle.

[0042] The extended length adjustment assembly includes a second servo cylinder 41. The second servo cylinder 41 is fixed on the housing 1, and the output end of the second servo cylinder 41 is connected to the horizontal plate of the electrode plate 21. The second servo cylinder 41 is electrically connected to an external controller.

[0043] The working principle of the extended length adjustment assembly is as follows: Under the control of the external controller, the second servo cylinder 41 drives the electrode plate 21 to move back and forth, thereby driving the electrode plate 21 to move back and forth, and also driving the tungsten needles on the electrode plate 21 to move back and forth. At the same time, since the first servo cylinder 31 is fixedly driven to move with the electrode plate 21, the first servo cylinder 31 always keeps the tungsten needle 9 in a clamped (or loosened) state, so as to realize the adjustment of the length of the tungsten needle extending out of the nozzle.

[0044] Preferably, in this embodiment, the first mounting hole 211, the second mounting hole 212, and the third mounting hole 213 are all square holes.

[0045] Preferably, in this embodiment, the top block 32 is threadedly connected to the first servo cylinder 31; the horizontal plate of the electrode plate 21 is connected to the second servo cylinder 41 by bolts; one end of the flexible connection assembly 22 is connected to the electrode plate 21 by bolts, and the other end is connected to the fixed plate 23; the fixed plate 23 and the electrode 24 are respectively connected to the housing 1 by bolts.

[0046] Working principle:

[0047] 1) The automatic clamping of the tungsten needle is realized through the automatic clamping component. Specifically, when replacing the tungsten needle, the external controller controls the first servo cylinder 31 to retract, driving the pressing block 33 to loosen the tungsten needle in the tungsten needle clamping groove. The old tungsten needle exits due to the action of an external mechanism or gravity, and the new tungsten needle is inserted into the tungsten needle clamping groove in the welding torch. The first servo cylinder 31 extends, pushing the pressing block 33 to press the new tungsten needle in the tungsten needle clamping groove.

[0048] 2) The adjustment of the length of the tungsten needle extending out is realized through the extended length adjustment component. Specifically, during the welding process, the welding torch can, according to the external feedback data, control the second servo cylinder 41 to move back and forth through the external controller, thereby driving the motor plate to move back and forth, and the tungsten needles installed on the electrode plate 21 also move back and forth accordingly, realizing the automatic adjustment of the length of the tungsten needle extending out according to actual needs during the welding process.

[0049] Compared with the prior art, the argon arc welding torch in this case can automatically clamp the tungsten needle when replacing the tungsten needle, and during the welding process, it can also automatically adjust the length of the tungsten needle extending out, effectively improving the efficiency of the application of robotic gas tungsten arc welding.

[0050] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation manners of the present invention. The description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation to the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles, comprising a basic function component, an automatic clamping component, and an extended length adjustment component arranged inside a housing, characterized in that: The basic functional component includes a slidably arranged electrode plate; a first mounting hole is provided on the electrode plate, and a second mounting hole and a third mounting hole are arranged side by side below the first mounting hole, and a tungsten needle clamping plate is arranged below the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. The automatic clamping component includes a first servo cylinder, a top block and a pair of pressing blocks; the first servo cylinder is installed on the electrode plate, and the output end of the first servo cylinder is connected to the top block; the top block is slidably installed in the first mounting hole; a pair of pressing blocks are respectively installed in the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole, the top of the pressing block is connected to the top block, and the bottom surface of the pressing block abuts against the tungsten needle on the tungsten needle clamping plate; an inclined groove is arranged on the top surface of the pressing block, an inclined port is arranged on the bottom surface of the top block, and the inclined groove on the pressing block cooperates with the inclined port on the top block. The extending length adjusting component includes a second servo cylinder, which is fixed on the housing, and the output end of the second servo cylinder is connected to the electrode plate.

2. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode plate includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate integrally connected into an L shape; the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole are arranged on the side surface of the vertical plate of the electrode plate, and the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole are all square holes.

3. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 2, characterized in that: A semi-circular groove is arranged on the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate, and semi-circular grooves are also arranged on the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. The semi-circular groove on the tungsten needle clamping plate corresponds to the semi-circular grooves on the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole, so that a tungsten needle clamping groove is formed between the top surface of the tungsten needle clamping plate and the bottom surfaces of the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole.

4. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 2, characterized in that: The electrode plate is sequentially connected to a flexible connection component, a fixing plate and an electrode, and the electrode extends backward outside the housing.

5. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first servo cylinder and the second servo cylinder are respectively electrically connected to an external controller.

6. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top block is connected to the first servo cylinder by a thread; the horizontal plate of the electrode plate is connected to the output end of the second servo cylinder by a bolt; one end of the flexible connection component is connected to the electrode plate by a bolt, and the other end is connected to the fixing plate; the fixing plate and the electrode are respectively connected to the housing by bolts.

7. The argon arc welding torch capable of automatically clamping tungsten needles according to claim 4, characterized in that: The flexible connection component is made of a flexible conductive material.

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