Valve-regulated sealed lead-acid storage battery pole laser welding method

Abstract

The invention discloses a laser welding method for a pole of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid storage battery, which comprises the following steps of: embedding the pole into a lead sheath, and then placing the assembled lead-acid storage battery on a welding workbench; protective gas is applied to the pole, so that the pole and a welding area between the pole and the lead sheath are wrapped by the protective gas; the laser emits laser to weld the pole and the lead sheath. Compared with the prior art, the laser welding method for the pole of the valve-regulated sealed lead-acid storage battery has the advantages that the pole and the lead sheath are welded through laser, the laser energy density is high, the acting time is short, heat is highly concentrated, precise welding can be achieved, thermal shock to the root of the pole and plastic of a battery cover is reduced to the maximum extent, and the service life of the battery cover is prolonged. The problems of plastic deformation and carbonization are effectively avoided, and the risk of liquid leakage is fundamentally eliminated; and human factor interference is eliminated, no air hole or slag inclusion exists in a welding seam, the sealing performance is excellent, and the consistency and reliability of products are greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lead-acid battery manufacturing technology, specifically to a method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals. Background Technology

[0002] Valve-regulated sealed lead-acid batteries are an important type of chemical power source, widely used in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), communication base stations, and electric vehicles due to their advantages such as good sealing, maintenance-free operation, and safety. The seal between the battery terminals and the battery cover is one of the key factors determining battery life and safety. Battery covers sealed by welding the terminals typically have lead sheaths. The terminals are usually embedded in the battery cover through the lead sheaths, and then the lead sheaths and terminals are welded together to form a permanent seal.

[0003] Currently, the most commonly used welding method in the industry is oxy-acetylene flame welding, where operators manually heat and weld the lead sheath of the electrode post using an oxy-acetylene torch. However, this method has significant drawbacks: 1) Large heat-affected zone: The flame heating area is large and the heating time is long (generally up to 12-18 seconds). The heat input is not easy to control precisely, which leads to excessive temperature rise of the plastic (usually ABS or PP material) of the battery cover at the root of the terminal post and the surrounding area, causing deformation, carbonization, and potential leakage.

[0004] 2) Unstable welding quality: It relies entirely on the skills and experience of the operators, resulting in large differences in the uniformity and density of the weld, which easily leads to defects such as porosity, slag inclusion, and lack of fusion, making it difficult to guarantee the reliability of the seal.

[0005] 3) Low production efficiency: Manual operation is slow and cannot meet the rapid production requirements of automated production lines.

[0006] In summary, existing electrode welding methods have become a bottleneck restricting the improvement of valve-regulated sealed batteries' quality and the automation of production. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned technical deficiencies and propose a laser welding method for valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals, solving the technical problem that oxyacetylene flame welding in the prior art easily damages other parts of the battery.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention provides a method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals, comprising the following steps: Embed the terminal post into the lead sheath, and then place the assembled lead-acid battery on the welding workbench. A protective gas is released onto the electrode post so that the protective gas envelops the electrode post and the welding area between the electrode post and the lead sheath; The laser emits laser light to weld the electrode post and lead sheath.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method of laser welding of the electrode post and lead sheath by emitting laser light includes using a camera to identify the electrode post and the welding area, driving the laser to align with the welding area by a robotic arm based on the identification result, then emitting laser light, and the robotic arm driving the laser to move to weld the electrode post and lead sheath together.

[0010] In some embodiments, the electrode post is embedded in the lead sheath to form an assembly gap of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0011] In some embodiments, the robotic arm drives the laser to make a circumferential motion around the electrode post to weld and fill the assembly gap.

[0012] In some embodiments, the laser emitted by the laser has a power of 600W to 1000W.

[0013] In some embodiments, the laser welding speed is 30 mm / s to 40 mm / s.

[0014] In some embodiments, the diameter of the laser spot formed on the welding area is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

[0015] In some embodiments, the laser is a fiber laser or a semiconductor laser.

[0016] In some embodiments, the protective gas is argon.

[0017] In some embodiments, the flow rate of the protective gas is 5 L / min to 10 L / min.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminal laser welding method provided by this invention utilizes laser welding of the terminal and lead sheath. The laser has high energy density, short action time, and highly concentrated heat, enabling precision welding. It also greatly reduces the thermal shock to the terminal root and battery cover plastic, effectively avoiding plastic deformation and carbonization, and fundamentally eliminating the risk of leakage. Furthermore, it eliminates human interference, resulting in a beautiful, dense, and uniform weld without pores or slag inclusions, excellent sealing performance, and significantly improved product consistency and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery before welding of the terminals; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery after the terminals have been welded. Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the laser welding method for valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0021] To address the technical problem that existing oxyacetylene flame welding can easily damage other parts of the battery, this invention provides a laser welding method for valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals, which can achieve precision welding and avoid problems such as plastic deformation and carbonization.

[0022] Please see Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery before welding of the terminals; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery after the terminals have been welded. Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the laser welding method for valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals provided by the present invention.

[0023] This method for laser welding the terminals of a valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery includes the following steps: Insert the terminal 1 into the lead sheath 2, and then place the assembled lead-acid battery onto the welding workbench. The welding workbench has a clamp corresponding to the lead-acid battery for fixing it in place.

[0024] A protective gas is released to the electrode post 1 so that the protective gas envelops the electrode post 1 and the welding area between the electrode post 1 and the lead sheath 2.

[0025] Laser 3 emits a laser to weld electrode 1 and lead sheath 2.

[0026] In some embodiments, the specific method for laser 3 to emit laser to weld the electrode post 1 and the lead sheath 2 includes using a camera to identify the electrode post 1 and the welding area, driving the laser 3 to align with the welding area via a robotic arm based on the identification result, and then the laser 3 emits a laser, with the robotic arm driving the laser 3 to move to weld the electrode post 1 and the lead sheath 2 together.

[0027] After welding, allow it to cool naturally or with slight air cooling. Perform a 100% visual inspection of the weld, ensuring it is continuous, full, and smooth, free from cracks, porosity, undercut, or other defects. Finally, conduct an airtightness test to ensure reliable sealing.

[0028] In the actual implementation process, a high-resolution industrial camera is used, which can accurately capture image information of the electrode and welding area, providing a reliable basis for subsequent precise welding. The robotic arm has high-precision motion control capabilities and can quickly and accurately drive the laser to the designated position based on the camera recognition results.

[0029] In some embodiments, after the pole post 1 is embedded in the lead sheath 2, an assembly gap of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm is formed, which is the object to be welded.

[0030] Based on the above embodiments, the robotic arm drives the laser 3 to make a circumferential motion around the pole post 1 to weld and fill the assembly gap, which can make the welding more uniform and firm, and further improve the welding quality and sealing performance.

[0031] In some embodiments, the shielding gas is argon, which is chemically stable and can effectively protect the welding area, preventing adverse phenomena such as oxidation during the welding process. The flow rate of the shielding gas is 5 L / min to 10 L / min. A suitable flow rate ensures that the shielding gas fully covers the welding area, providing good protection. Preferably, the nozzle of the shielding gas is coaxial with the laser beam to cover and envelop the welding area.

[0032] In some embodiments, the laser power emitted by the laser is set in the range of 600W to 1000W. This power range has been verified by a large number of experiments to ensure that there is enough energy to achieve effective welding of the pole and the lead sheath, without causing damage to surrounding components due to excessive power.

[0033] The laser welding speed is 30mm / s to 40mm / s. This speed, combined with appropriate power, enables a stable and efficient welding process. The diameter of the laser spot formed on the welding area is 2.5mm to 3.5mm. The appropriate spot size helps to precisely target the welding area, further improving welding accuracy.

[0034] In some embodiments, laser 3 is a fiber laser or a semiconductor laser. Both types of lasers have advantages such as stable performance and good output laser quality, which can meet the welding requirements of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals.

[0035] Using laser welding of pole post 1 and lead sheath 2 has the following significant advantages: 1. Precise heat input and small heat-affected zone: The high energy density and short action time of the laser result in highly concentrated heat, enabling precision welding. This greatly reduces the thermal shock to the base of the electrode and the plastic of the battery cover, effectively avoiding plastic deformation and carbonization, and fundamentally eliminating the risk of leakage.

[0036] 2. High and stable welding quality: The laser welding process is controlled by a CNC system, eliminating human interference. The weld is aesthetically pleasing, dense, and uniform, free of porosity and slag inclusions, with excellent sealing performance, significantly improving product consistency and reliability.

[0037] 3. Non-contact welding, no tool wear: Laser welding is a non-contact process, eliminating electrode wear and adhesion problems, reducing equipment maintenance costs, and improving equipment utilization and production continuity.

[0038] 4. High production efficiency and easy automation integration: Laser welding is fast and can be seamlessly integrated with robots and automated production lines to achieve high-speed, continuous production and significantly improve production efficiency.

[0039] 5. Environmental protection and safety: The entire electrode welding process is carried out in a protective gas atmosphere. The welding time is short and very little lead fume is generated. Combined with a highly efficient fume purification system, the working environment can be greatly improved, which meets the requirements of green manufacturing.

[0040] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Embed the terminal post into the lead sheath, and then place the assembled lead-acid battery on the welding workbench. A protective gas is released onto the electrode post so that the protective gas envelops the electrode post and the welding area between the electrode post and the lead sheath; The laser emits laser light to weld the electrode post and lead sheath.

2. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method for laser welding of pole posts and lead sheaths using a laser includes using a camera to identify pole posts and welding areas, using a robotic arm to drive the laser to align with the welding areas based on the identification results, then the laser emits a laser beam, and the robotic arm moves the laser to weld the pole posts and lead sheaths together.

3. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrode post is embedded in the lead sheath, forming an assembly gap of 0.3mm to 0.5mm.

4. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 3, characterized in that, The robotic arm drives the laser to make a circular motion around the electrode to weld and fill the assembly gap.

5. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser emitted by the laser has a power of 600W to 1000W.

6. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser welding speed is 30mm / s to 40mm / s.

7. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the laser spot formed when the laser irradiates the welding area is 2.5mm to 3.5mm.

8. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser is a fiber laser or a semiconductor laser.

9. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective gas is argon.

10. The method for laser welding of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery terminals according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow rate of the protective gas is 5 L / min to 10 L / min.

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