Welding aid

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of welding auxiliary devices, comprising: mobile base;Workbench is set on mobile base and moves along the length direction parallel to the workpiece to be welded;Welding execution mechanism is the welding robot of plasma arc welding machine;Positioning correction mechanism moves synchronously with workbench, including position adjustment component and clamping correction component;Position adjustment component includes first driving element, first mounting seat and first rolling contact part, clamping correction component includes second driving element, second mounting seat and second rolling contact part, by the driving of first driving element and second driving element, two rolling contact parts are clamped in the opposite sides of the workpiece to be welded, and continuously abut and roll when moving along the length direction of the workpiece to be welded, to apply correction force to the workpiece to be welded in front of welding robot in welding process to maintain its straightness.The present application guarantees welding straightness and precision, while improving the level of automation and efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of welding equipment technology, and in particular to a welding auxiliary device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of heavy steel structure manufacturing, to improve the rigidity, strength, and stability of panel steel, it is usually necessary to weld long strip reinforcing ribs such as spherical flat steel and angle steel onto the panel steel. The core difficulty of this type of welding operation lies in the fact that the weld shrinkage stress and uneven heat input generated during the welding process can easily cause the long strip reinforcing ribs to bend longitudinally, shift laterally, or deform angularly, seriously affecting the straightness, dimensional accuracy, and assembly quality of the welded components.

[0003] To control welding deformation, traditional processes mainly employ the following methods: First, the rigid fixing method, which uses positioning blocks, pressure plates, bolt clamps, and other tooling to forcibly fix the workpiece in a straight line, or uses jacks to apply pre-pressure along the length to counteract welding shrinkage. This method involves complex tooling, time-consuming setup, and the possibility of deformation rebound when releasing the constraints after welding. Second, the reverse deformation method, which pre-applies a reverse deformation amount to the workpiece before welding, such as pre-arching or reserving a reverse assembly angle, in order to shrink and rebound to the target shape after welding. However, this method heavily relies on experience to estimate the amount of deformation, making it difficult to control precisely and resulting in poor process stability. Third, the symmetrical welding method, which involves arranging two welders to weld simultaneously on both sides of the component to balance the heat input. This method is not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also requires extremely high skill and coordination from the operators, making it difficult to guarantee consistent quality. Therefore, current methods for preventing welding deformation either rely on complex and heavy tooling and pre-tightening operations, are constrained by experience parameters that are difficult to quantify, or require a large number of skilled personnel to perform synchronous operations. All of these methods suffer from common defects such as cumbersome operation, low efficiency, unstable quality control, and high dependence on human experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a welding auxiliary device that can effectively and in real time overcome the dynamic deformation of long strip workpieces caused by the welding heat process during the welding process, especially in automated or semi-automated welding operations, and ensure that the workpieces maintain a precise position and posture throughout the welding path. This device can significantly improve work efficiency and reduce labor intensity and the impact of human factors while ensuring welding quality and precision.

[0005] The present invention provides a welding auxiliary device, comprising: Mobile base; The worktable is mounted on the movable base and can reciprocate along a direction parallel to the length of the workpiece to be welded; The welding actuator is mounted on the worktable; A positioning and correction mechanism is disposed on the worktable and can move synchronously with the worktable, including a position adjustment component and a clamping and correction component; The position adjustment assembly includes a first driving member, a first mounting base driven by the first driving member to move linearly, and a first rolling contact portion mounted on the first mounting base. The clamping and correction assembly includes a second driving member, a second mounting base driven by the second driving member to move linearly, and a second rolling contact portion mounted on the second mounting base. Through the driving of the first driving member and the second driving member, the first rolling contact portion and the second rolling contact portion can be clamped on opposite sides of the workpiece to be welded, and continuously abut and roll as they move along the length direction of the workpiece to be welded, so as to apply a corrective force to the workpiece to be welded in front of the welding actuator during the welding process to maintain its straightness.

[0006] In one embodiment, the mobile base includes a chassis and a slide fixedly mounted on the chassis, the worktable being reciprocally movable on the slide via a sliding assembly.

[0007] In one embodiment, the sliding assembly includes a slide rail disposed on the slide table and a slider disposed on the bottom of the worktable and cooperating with the slide rail.

[0008] In one embodiment, the movable base further includes a linear drive assembly for driving the worktable to move. The linear drive assembly includes a rack disposed on the slide, a servo motor disposed on the worktable, and a gear driven by the servo motor and meshing with the rack.

[0009] In one embodiment, the rack and gear are helical or spur gears.

[0010] In one embodiment, the welding actuator is a six-degree-of-freedom welding robot.

[0011] In one embodiment, the position adjustment assembly further includes a first support arm and a first guide shaft. The first support arm is fixed to the worktable, one end of the first guide shaft passes through the first support arm, and the other end is connected to the first mounting base. The first driving component is a first telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed to the first support arm, and its output shaft is connected to the first mounting base.

[0012] In one embodiment, the clamping and correction assembly further includes a second support arm and a second guide shaft. The second support arm is fixed to the first mounting base, one end of the second guide shaft passes through the second support arm, and the other end is connected to the second mounting base. The second driving component is a second telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed to the second support arm, and its output shaft is connected to the second mounting base.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first telescopic cylinder and the second telescopic cylinder are electric cylinders or hydraulic cylinders.

[0014] In one embodiment, the position adjustment assembly further includes a positioning element, which includes a positioning shaft fixed to the first mounting base or the second support arm, and a first rolling contact portion mounted on the end of the positioning shaft.

[0015] In one embodiment, the clamping and correction assembly further includes a correction section, which includes a correction shaft fixed to the second mounting base and a second rolling contact section mounted on the end of the correction shaft.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first rolling contact portion and the second rolling contact portion are bearing-type rollers.

[0017] In one embodiment, the position adjustment assembly further includes a pressure holder disposed on the second support arm for applying pressure from the top of the workpiece to be welded.

[0018] In one embodiment, the pressing member includes a support, an adjustable adjusting screw mounted on the second support arm, and a roller mounted on the support.

[0019] The aforementioned welding auxiliary device integrates a positioning and correction mechanism with a position adjustment component and a clamping and correction component onto a worktable that can move along the length of the workpiece to be welded. It utilizes a first rolling contact part and a second rolling contact part, each controlled by two independent drive components, to dynamically clamp the workpiece from both sides. This allows the device to simultaneously move the first and second rolling contact parts along the weld seam while the welding actuator moves along the weld. In the real-time process of workpiece deformation caused by welding heat input, the rolling contact continuously applies a lateral correction force to the workpiece in front of the welding point, actively counteracting its bending or offset tendency. This achieves online, continuous, and automated correction of welding deformation in long, narrow workpieces. It effectively overcomes the technical shortcomings of traditional rigid fixing methods (complex tooling, post-weld springback), anti-deformation methods (reliant on experience and insufficient precision), and symmetrical welding methods (low efficiency and reliance on manual labor). While ensuring welding straightness and accuracy, it significantly improves the level of automation and efficiency of the operation. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a welding auxiliary device according to one embodiment; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and correction mechanism. Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part B in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and correction mechanism from another angle.

[0022] Figure label: 100. Movable base; 110. Chassis; 120. Slide table; 122. Slide rail; 124. Rack; 130. Worktable; 132. Slider; 134. Servo motor; 140. Positioning and correction mechanism; 141. Second support arm; 142. First support arm; 143. Second drive component; 144. First drive component; 145. Second guide shaft; 146. First guide shaft; 147. Second mounting base; 148. First mounting base; 149. Second rolling contact part; 342. Holding component; 344. First rolling contact part; 150. Welding actuator; 50. Workpiece to be welded; 60. Welding base plate. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0026] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] The following is combined with Figures 1-5 The welding auxiliary device of the present invention is described.

[0029] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment, a welding auxiliary device includes a movable base 100, a worktable 130, a positioning and correction mechanism 140, and a welding execution mechanism 150.

[0030] The worktable 130 is mounted on the movable base 100 and can reciprocate along a direction parallel to the length of the workpiece to be welded. The welding execution mechanism 150 is mounted on the worktable 130, and the positioning and correction mechanism 140 is mounted on the worktable 130 and can move synchronously with the worktable 130. The worktable 140 includes a position adjustment component and a clamping and correction component. The position adjustment component includes a first drive member 144, a first mounting base 148 driven by the first drive member 144 to move linearly, and a first rolling contact portion 344 mounted on the first mounting base 148. The clamping and correction component includes a second drive member 143 and a first rolling contact portion 344 mounted on the first mounting base 148. A second mounting base 147, driven to move linearly, and a second rolling contact portion 149 mounted on the second mounting base 147, are driven by a first driving member 144 and a second driving member 143. This allows the first rolling contact portion 344 and the second rolling contact portion 149 to clamp onto opposite sides of the workpiece 50 to be welded, continuously abutting and rolling as they move along the length of the workpiece 50. This applies a corrective force to the workpiece in front of the welding actuator 150 during welding to maintain its straightness, thus allowing the workpiece 50 to be welded in a straight line onto the welding base plate 60 (such as panel steel). An optional positioning and correction mechanism 140 is fixedly connected to one side of the worktable 130 and extends into the welding work area, its extension direction perpendicular to the slide table 120 on the movable base 100. The positioning and correction mechanism 140 is externally equipped with a housing. The welding actuator 150 is a six-degree-of-freedom welding robot, which can use a plasma arc welding machine (high energy density, small heat-affected zone, high welding precision) or a laser welding machine.

[0031] The welding auxiliary device of this embodiment integrates a positioning and correction mechanism 140 with a position adjustment component and a clamping and correction component onto a worktable 130 that can move along the length of the workpiece 50 to be welded. The device uses a first rolling contact part 344 and a second rolling contact part 149, which are controlled by two independent drive components, to dynamically clamp the workpiece 50 from both sides. This allows the device to drive the first rolling contact part 344 and the second rolling contact part 149 to move synchronously while the welding execution mechanism 150 moves along the weld seam. In the real-time process of deformation of the workpiece 50 caused by welding heat input, the device continuously applies a lateral correction force to the workpiece part in front of the welding point through rolling contact, actively counteracting its bending or offset trend. This achieves online, continuous and automated correction of welding deformation of long strip workpieces, effectively overcoming the technical defects of traditional rigid fixing method (complex tooling, post-weld springback), anti-deformation method (reliant on experience and insufficient accuracy), and symmetrical welding method (low efficiency and reliance on manual labor). It significantly improves the level of automation and efficiency of the operation while ensuring welding straightness and accuracy.

[0032] The movable base 100 includes a chassis 110 and a slide 120 fixedly mounted on the chassis 110. A worktable 130 is reciprocally mounted on the slide 120 via a sliding assembly. The sliding assembly includes a slide rail 122 mounted on the slide 120 and a slider 132 mounted on the bottom of the worktable 130 and cooperating with the slide rail 122. The movable base 100 also includes a linear drive assembly for driving the worktable 130. The linear drive assembly includes a rack 124 mounted on the slide 120, a servo motor 134 mounted on the worktable 130, and a gear driven by the servo motor 134 and meshing with the rack 124. The rack 124 and the gear employ a spur or helical gear structure. Using a helical gear rack drive not only improves transmission smoothness but also helps increase the axial stiffness of the system during continuous reciprocating motion, reducing wobbling caused by backlash, thereby further improving the trajectory accuracy and stability of the applied correction force in long-stroke welding. In the linear drive assembly, helical gear rack is the preferred solution, and alternatives may include high-precision ball screw pairs or synchronous belt drive systems. The slide rail 122 on the slide table 120 has a concave slide path on its side, which cooperates with the slider 132 adapted to the shape of the bottom of the worktable 130. This structure not only provides strong lateral support resistance for the positioning and correction mechanism 140 when applying lateral correction force, but its concave mechanical interlocking structure also provides effective longitudinal resistance when the worktable 130 moves carrying loads such as the welding mechanism 150 and the positioning and correction mechanism 140, preventing the worktable assembly from tilting or lifting due to force during operation, thus ensuring the rigidity and trajectory stability of the entire moving system during dynamic welding. The chassis 110 also houses welding devices such as gas cylinders, as well as electrical mechanisms such as electrical cabinets.

[0033] The position adjustment assembly also includes a first support arm 142 and a first guide shaft 146. The first support arm 142 is fixed on the worktable 130, one end of the first guide shaft 146 passes through the first support arm 142, and the other end is connected to the first mounting base 148. The first drive component 144 is a first telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed on the first support arm 142, and its output shaft is connected to the first mounting base 148. The clamping and correction assembly also includes a second support arm 141 and a second guide shaft 145. The second support arm 141 is fixed to the first mounting base 148, and one end of the second guide shaft 145 passes through the second support arm 141, while the other end is connected to the second mounting base 147. The second drive component 143 is a second telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed to the second support arm 141, and its output shaft is connected to the second mounting base 147. The first and second telescopic cylinders are specifically electric cylinders. The first and second telescopic cylinders may also include servo hydraulic cylinders or precision pneumatic cylinders, and are used in conjunction with high-precision pressure and displacement sensors to form a closed-loop control, which can also achieve precise controllability and rapid response of the clamping force. The position adjustment assembly also includes a positioning component, which includes a positioning shaft fixed to the first mounting base 148 or the second support arm 141, and a first rolling contact portion 344 installed at the end of the positioning shaft. The clamping and correction assembly also includes a correction section, which comprises a correction shaft fixed to the second mounting base 147 and a second rolling contact portion 149 mounted on the end of the correction shaft. Both the first rolling contact portion 344 and the second rolling contact portion 149 are bearing-type rollers. Using bearing-type rollers not only results in a low coefficient of friction, but also allows the internal raceways and rolling element structure to withstand high radial loads. While continuously applying correction force, it ensures a pure rolling relationship with the workpiece contact surface, greatly reducing wear and the risk of scratching the workpiece surface coating. The position adjustment assembly also includes a clamping member 342, which is disposed on the second support arm 141 for applying pressure from the top of the workpiece 50 to be welded. The clamping member 342 includes a support, an adjusting screw adjustablely mounted on the second support arm 141, and a roller mounted on the support. The clamping component 342 adopts a screw and roller structure with independently adjustable height, which can adapt to workpieces of different heights or with initial assembly errors. The vertical pressure is ensured to be uniform and effective through individual leveling, and together with the lateral clamping force, it forms a three-dimensional spatial constraint to more comprehensively suppress complex deformation.

[0034] Preferably, two first rolling contact portions 344 are provided, respectively mounted on both sides of the end of the second support arm 141 via corresponding positioning shafts, and abut against one side of the workpiece 50 to be welded, forming a clamping and straightening effect on the workpiece 50 with the second rolling contact portion 149 on the other side. The two first rolling contact portions 344 are arranged at a certain distance along their length on the same side of the workpiece, cooperating with the single-point second rolling contact portion 149 on the opposite side, forming a short-span "two-point clamping one-point" stable constraint structure. This mechanism significantly increases the constraint arm within the cross-section of the workpiece. When the workpiece tends to bend towards the clamping side or the opposite side due to welding heat input, this structure can provide more effective resistance to bending moment, thereby improving the ability to suppress longitudinal bending deformation and the stability of correction. At the same time, the two first rolling contact portions 344 disperse the pressure applied to one side of the workpiece, avoiding excessive local pressure or stress concentration that may be caused by single-point contact. This is particularly important for protecting the workpiece surface (such as pre-coating) and preventing local indentation or deformation of thin-walled or high-strength materials under strong pressure. Furthermore, when the workpiece has initial slight bending or assembly misalignment, the two first rolling contact parts 344, due to their span, can better adapt to this initial unevenness. Through their own rolling and elastic adjustment, they achieve smoother and more continuous contact and guidance, reducing the risk of correction failure due to single-point contact "jamming" or "loosening". From a kinematic perspective, the two rolling contact points together with one rolling contact point form a more stable kinematic pair, making the posture of the positioning and correction mechanism 140 relative to the workpiece (especially the deflection around the vertical axis) more stable as the worktable 130 moves along the length of the workpiece. This reduces the fluctuation of the correction force caused by the mechanism's wobbling and helps maintain the continuity and uniformity of the correction force.

[0035] After the aforementioned welding auxiliary device is in place, the first mounting base 148 and its positioning parts are first moved laterally by the first telescopic cylinder 144, so that the first rolling contact part 344 abuts against one side of the bulb flat steel workpiece 50 to be welded. Then, the second telescopic cylinder 143 drives the second mounting base 147 and its correction part to move laterally, so that the second rolling contact part 149 clamps the workpiece from the other side, and the roller of the pressing part 342 applies pressure from above the workpiece to achieve initial fixation. After spot welding is completed at the welding start point, the servo motor 134 drives the worktable 130 to move smoothly along the slide rail 122, and the welding robot performs continuous welding operations. At the same time, the positioning and correction mechanism 140, which always moves synchronously with the worktable 130, continuously clamps and rolls the workpiece in front of the welding point through its rolling contact parts on both sides. It applies lateral correction force by rolling contact to actively counteract the bending or displacement tendency of the workpiece caused by the welding heat input. Among them, the first guide shaft 146 and the second guide shaft 145 ensure the linear accuracy and longitudinal stiffness of the movement of the first mounting base 148 and the second mounting base 147. The helical gear rack pair provides the worktable 130 with high precision and low noise linear feed power, and the electric cylinder realizes the precise adjustment and control of the clamping force. This device integrates the movable clamping and correction mechanism 140 with the welding execution mechanism 150 and achieves synchronous movement. During the welding process, it performs follow-up and online dynamic correction on the long strip workpiece, fundamentally replacing the passive anti-deformation method in traditional processes that relies on complex tooling, experience prediction, or multiple simultaneous operations. It realizes the automation and real-time suppression of welding deformation, significantly improves the straightness, dimensional accuracy, and work efficiency of welding long strip reinforcing ribs, and reduces the dependence on skilled workers and labor intensity.

[0036] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0037] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A welding auxiliary device, characterized in that, include: Mobile base; The worktable is mounted on the movable base and can reciprocate along a direction parallel to the length of the workpiece to be welded; The welding actuator is mounted on the worktable; A positioning and correction mechanism is disposed on the worktable and can move synchronously with the worktable, including a position adjustment component and a clamping and correction component; The position adjustment assembly includes a first driving member, a first mounting base driven by the first driving member to move linearly, and a first rolling contact portion mounted on the first mounting base. The clamping correction assembly includes a second driving member, a second mounting base driven by the second driving member to move linearly, and a second rolling contact portion mounted on the second mounting base. Through the driving of the first driving member and the second driving member, the first rolling contact portion and the second rolling contact portion can be clamped on opposite sides of the workpiece to be welded, and continuously abut and roll as they move along the length direction of the workpiece to be welded, so as to apply a corrective force to the workpiece to be welded in front of the welding actuator during the welding process to maintain its straightness. Two first rolling contact parts are provided, which are arranged at a certain distance along the length of the workpiece on the same side. They cooperate with the single-point second rolling contact parts on the opposite side to form a stable constraint structure. The mobile base includes a chassis and a slide fixedly mounted on the chassis. The worktable is reciprocally mounted on the slide via a sliding assembly. The clamping and correction assembly includes a second support arm, and the position adjustment assembly further includes a pressing member disposed on the second support arm for applying pressure from the top of the workpiece to be welded.

2. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding assembly includes a slide rail disposed on the slide table and a slider disposed on the bottom of the worktable and cooperating with the slide rail.

3. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The movable base also includes a linear drive assembly for driving the worktable to move. The linear drive assembly includes a rack disposed on the slide, a servo motor disposed on the worktable, and a gear driven by the servo motor and meshing with the rack. The rack and gear are helical or spur gears.

4. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The position adjustment assembly further includes a first support arm and a first guide shaft. The first support arm is fixed on the worktable, one end of the first guide shaft passes through the first support arm, and the other end is connected to the first mounting base. The first driving component is a first telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed on the first support arm, and its output shaft is connected to the first mounting base.

5. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The clamping and correction assembly further includes a second guide shaft, the second support arm is fixed on the first mounting base, one end of the second guide shaft passes through the second support arm, and the other end is connected to the second mounting base; the second driving component is a second telescopic cylinder, the body of which is fixed on the second support arm, and its output shaft is connected to the second mounting base, and the first telescopic cylinder and the second telescopic cylinder are electric cylinders or hydraulic cylinders.

6. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The position adjustment assembly further includes a positioning element, which includes a positioning shaft fixed to the first mounting base or the second support arm, and a first rolling contact portion mounted on the end of the positioning shaft.

7. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The clamping and correction assembly further includes a correction part, which includes a correction shaft fixed on the second mounting base and a second rolling contact part mounted on the end of the correction shaft. The first rolling contact part and the second rolling contact part are bearing-type rollers.

8. The welding auxiliary device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing member includes a support, an adjustable adjusting screw mounted on the second support arm, and a roller mounted on the support.

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