Welding apparatus and supply device thereof

Abstract

A supply device of a welding apparatus, comprising at least one power supply mechanism (2), the power supply mechanism comprising a fixed-side conductive member (21), a rotation-side conductive member (22) and a pressurizing member (23). The fixed-side conductive member is configured to be fixedly arranged in the circumferential direction of a fixed disc (11) and to be slidably arranged in the axial direction of the fixed disc; the rotation-side conductive member is fixedly arranged on the side of a rotating disc (12) facing the fixed-side conductive member, and is conductively connected to an electrode; the pressurizing member is arranged on the side of the fixed-side conductive member facing away from the rotation-side conductive member, and can push the fixed-side conductive member to linearly move in the axial direction of the fixed disc and apply a preset pressure, such that the fixed-side conductive member and the rotation-side conductive member are tightly pressed to be conductively connected to each other. Also provided is a welding apparatus comprising the supply device. The supply device at least can provide electric power for the welding apparatus without causing the problems of line entanglement and swinging. Using the pressurizing member can ensure close contact between the fixed-side conductive member and the rotation-side conductive member so as to provide a good and stable conductive connection.

Description

Welding equipment and supply devices

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This disclosure claims priority to a Chinese patent application filed with the Patent Office of China on March 26, 2024, with application number CN 2024103548897 and invention name “Welding equipment and its supply device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of welding equipment, and in particular to a welding equipment and a supply device thereof. Background Art

[0004] A nut projection welder is a device used to weld nuts to plate components (e.g., metal plates such as stamped parts and sheet metal). It is commonly used in the automotive and machinery manufacturing industries, where it plays a significant role in product welding quality and production efficiency. The working principle of a nut projection welder is to weld the nut to the plate by applying pressure and current. Specifically, it typically consists of a clamping device (for securing the plate), an electrode (for transmitting current), a power supply (for providing the welding current), and a corresponding control system.

[0005] During operation, the sheet metal is first placed on the clamping device, and the nut is positioned where it will be welded. The upper and lower electrodes then apply pressure to the nut to ensure good contact with the sheet metal. Next, the power supply applies a certain welding current, creating a high-temperature zone between the nut and sheet metal, thus achieving the welded connection. Once the weld is complete, the electrodes are released, the clamping device releases the sheet metal, and the nut projection welder is ready for the next weld. Nut projection welders offer fast welding speeds, high weld quality, and ease of operation, improving production efficiency, reducing manual labor, and ensuring consistent weld quality.

[0006] The existing projection welding machine is only equipped with a pair of upper and lower electrodes. The entire welding circuit from the positive pole of the transformer to the upper electrode, to the nut, to the plate, to the lower electrode and then to the negative pole of the transformer is single. The circulating water circuit and compressed air supply for electrode cooling are also single, and do not require frequent switching. Occasional disassembly and assembly only require simple connection by screwing.

[0007] For nut projection welding machines with multiple sets of electrodes installed on the electrode switching turntable, the structure in which the conductors and water and gas pipelines are screwed together cannot provide water, electricity and gas to the electrodes on the switching turntable. It is necessary to develop a new supply device to connect the welding circuit, cooling water circuit and compressed gas circuit to the upper and lower electrodes in the welding position, and cut off the above supply for the electrodes in the non-welding position.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] In view of this, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a welding device and a supply device thereof to eliminate or improve one or more defects existing in the prior art.

[0010] The technical solutions disclosed in this disclosure are as follows:

[0011] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a supply device for welding equipment, the welding equipment including a turntable-type electrode switching device, the electrode switching device including a fixed disk, a rotating disk, and a plurality of electrode assemblies mounted on the rotating disk, the rotating disk being rotatable relative to the fixed disk;

[0012] The supply device includes at least one power supply mechanism for supplying power to one or more groups of electrode assemblies;

[0013] Wherein, the power supply mechanism includes a fixed side conductive member, a rotating side conductive member and a pressurizing member;

[0014] The fixed-side conductive member is fixedly arranged in the circumferential direction of the fixed disk and slidably arranged in the axial direction of the fixed disk;

[0015] The rotating side conductive member is fixedly arranged on a side of the rotating disk facing the fixed side conductive member and is conductively connected to the electrode;

[0016] The pressure member is located on the side of the fixed-side conductive member away from the rotating-side conductive member. The pressure member can push the fixed-side conductive member to move linearly in the axial direction of the fixed disk and apply a predetermined pressure so that the fixed-side conductive member and the rotating-side conductive member are pressed together and conductively connected.

[0017] In some embodiments, the pressure member includes a fixed first linear actuator, the first linear actuator includes an elastic diaphragm located at an end thereof and capable of being driven to move linearly;

[0018] The first linear actuator is used to drive one, more than two, or all of the fixed-side conductive members;

[0019] When all the fixed-side conductive elements are driven, the elastic diaphragm is in an annular structure.

[0020] In some embodiments, each group of the fixed-side conductive members of the power supply mechanism includes at least one fixed-side conductive unit, and the end face of the fixed-side conductive unit that contacts the rotating-side conductive member is in the shape of a fan ring or a rectangle; when there are two or more fixed-side conductive units, the fixed-side conductive units are spaced apart and distributed along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk; and / or,

[0021] The fixed-side conductive part of each group of the power supply mechanism includes at least one piano-key-type conductive unit, and the end face shape of the piano-key-type conductive unit that is in contact with the fixed-side conductive part is fan-shaped or rectangular. When there are more than two piano-key-type conductive units, each of the piano-key-type conductive units is spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk, and each of the piano-key-type conductive units is spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk by partitions.

[0022] In some embodiments, the piano-key-type conductive unit includes a conductive docking portion, a bending portion, and a tail docking portion;

[0023] Wherein, the conductive docking portion is used for pressurized conductive connection with the rotating side conductive member;

[0024] The bent portion is located on the side of the conductive docking portion away from the axis of the fixed disk, and extends outwardly along the direction to the side away from the rotating side conductive member, and is connected to the tail end docking portion;

[0025] The tail end docking portion is used to connect to the power supply circuit assembly.

[0026] In some embodiments, the power supply mechanism further includes a power supply circuit assembly, wherein the power supply circuit assembly includes a first conductive circuit, a bus conductor, and a second conductive circuit;

[0027] Wherein, the first conductive circuit is connected to the tail end docking portion of the piano-key type conductive unit;

[0028] The bus conductor is fixedly disposed on a side of the fixed plate away from the fixed-side conductive member, and is conductively connected to the piano-type conductive units via the first conductive circuit. The bus conductor is used to connect one or more first conductive circuits. When the bus conductor connects two or more first conductive circuits, one bus conductor connects all the piano-type conductive units of one or more groups of the power supply mechanisms.

[0029] The second conductive line is used to connect the bus conductor and the welding transformer or power supply;

[0030] The first conductive circuit is a flexible conductor that can be bent or stretched at least in the axial direction of the fixed disk, and the second conductive circuit is a rigid conductor or a flexible conductor that can be bent or stretched at least in the axial direction of the welding electrode in a working state.

[0031] In some embodiments, the power supply mechanism further comprises:

[0032] an inner ring fixing member fixedly disposed at an inner ring position of the conductive docking portion of the piano-type conductive unit, for slidably supporting the piano-type conductive unit so that the piano-type conductive unit can slide on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring fixing member; and / or,

[0033] The outer ring first fixing member is fixedly arranged on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the conductive docking portion of the piano-type conductive unit and is located between the bent portion and the fixed-side conductive member, and is used to achieve axial sliding limitation of the piano-type conductive unit; and / or,

[0034] The outer ring second fixing member is fixedly provided on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the conductive docking portion of the piano-type conductive unit and is located on the side of the bent portion away from the fixed-side conductive member, and is used to fix the outer ring first fixing member and compress the elastic diaphragm of the first linear actuator;

[0035] In the axial direction of the fixed disk, a notch is opened on the annular surface between the outer ring first fixing part and the outer ring second fixing part, and the width and depth of the notch are greater than the width and thickness of the bending part of the piano-type conductive unit, so as to limit the axial and circumferential movement of the piano-type conductive unit to a certain range.

[0036] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with a cooling water circuit, and the cooling circuit has a rotating side water inlet joint and a rotating side water return joint;

[0037] The supply device further includes a water supply mechanism, which is used to connect to the cooling water channel and realize the circulation of cooling water;

[0038] The water supply mechanism includes:

[0039] A water inlet pipe and a fixed-side water inlet joint at one end of the water inlet pipe, wherein the fixed-side water inlet joint is used to connect to the rotating-side water inlet joint;

[0040] a return water pipeline and a fixed-side return water joint at one end of the return water pipeline, wherein the fixed-side return water joint is used to connect to the rotating-side return water joint; and

[0041] The second linear actuator is used to drive the water inlet pipe and the fixed side water inlet joint, the return pipe and the fixed side return joint to move linearly along the axial direction of the fixed plate to achieve the connection or separation of the rotating side water inlet joint, the rotating side return joint and the water inlet pipe and the return pipe.

[0042] In some embodiments, the rotating side water inlet joint, the rotating side water return joint, the fixed side water inlet joint and the fixed side water return joint are all provided with a self-sealing structure to prevent leakage of the rotating side water inlet joint, the rotating side water return joint and the fixed side water inlet joint, the fixed side water return joint of the cooling water circuit when they are in a connected or separated state or process.

[0043] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes an L-shaped electrode arm, the electrode arm is fixedly arranged on one side of the rotating disk, and the cooling water channel is buried in the electrode arm and the rotating disk; and / or,

[0044] The cooling water channel includes an electrode cooling water channel and a conductive member cooling water channel, the electrode cooling water channel is connected to a portion near the electrode, the conductive member cooling water channel is connected to a portion near the rotating side conductive member, and the electrode cooling water channel and the conductive member cooling water channel are connected in series or in parallel; and / or,

[0045] The portion of the rotating disk used for fixedly connecting the rotating side conductive member is provided with a plurality of arc grooves, the arc grooves are sealed by sealing members, and the arc grooves and the sealing members form a cooling water path for the conductive member; and / or,

[0046] The cooling water paths of each group of electrode assemblies are connected in parallel, or the cooling water paths of each group of electrode assemblies are connected in series, and a normally open stop valve is provided on the series water path. The contacts of the normally open stop valve in the non-welding position are not pressed down, and the normally open stop valve is in the on state; the contacts of the normally open stop valve in the welding position are pressed down by the contacts on the second linear actuator in the extended state, and the normally open stop valve is switched to the off state.

[0047] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly and the rotating disk are provided with one or more gas receiving passages, the gas receiving passages being connected to a portion near the electrode, and the gas receiving passages having a gas receiving connector;

[0048] The supply device further includes an air supply mechanism, which includes:

[0049] A gas supply pipeline and a gas supply connector provided at one end of the gas supply pipeline, the gas supply connector being used to connect to the gas receiving connector;

[0050] a third linear actuator, which is used to drive the gas supply pipeline and the gas supply connector to move linearly along the axial direction of the fixed disk to achieve connection or separation between the gas receiving passage and the gas supply pipeline, or the gas supply pipeline and the gas supply connector are driven to move linearly by the second linear actuator.

[0051] In a second aspect, the present disclosure also provides a welding device, which includes the aforementioned supply device.

[0052] The supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure can at least provide power to the turntable multi-electrode welding equipment, and the fixed setting of the power supply side circuit is realized through the detachable fixed side conductive part and the rotating side conductive part, which will not cause the problem of line entanglement and swinging; the supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure also adopts a pressure part to ensure close contact between the fixed side conductive part and the rotating side conductive part, providing a good and stable conductive connection.

[0053] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art after studying the following or may be learned from practice of the present disclosure.

[0054] Those skilled in the art will understand that the purposes and advantages that can be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above specific descriptions, and the above and other purposes that can be achieved by the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The drawings described herein are intended to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, constitute a part of this application, and do not constitute a limitation of the present disclosure. The components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, but are only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. To facilitate the illustration and description of some parts of the present disclosure, the corresponding parts in the drawings may be enlarged, that is, they may be larger than other components in the exemplary devices actually manufactured according to the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0056] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a supply device of a welding device in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG2 is a partial enlarged view of portion A in FIG1 .

[0058] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a supply device of a welding device in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a welding device and a front structure of a supply device in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a welding device and a side structure of a supply device in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG6 is a partial enlarged view of portion B in FIG5 .

[0062] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the power supply mechanism at the side of the tail end docking portion of the piano-key-shaped conductive unit in one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0063] FIG8 is a control schematic diagram of the pneumatic system and the cooling water system of the power supply mechanism in an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0064] Reference numerals:

[0065] 1. Electrode switching device; 11. Fixed disk; 12. Rotating disk; 13. Electrode arm; 14. Welding electrode; 15. Insulation pad; 16. Thread plug; 17. Spring; 18. Cooling jacket; 19. Positioning pin; 101. Nut;

[0066] 2. Power supply mechanism; 21. Fixed-side conductive member; 211. Conductive docking portion; 212. Bend portion; 213. Tail-end docking portion; 22. Rotating-side conductive member; 23. Pressurizing member; 231. Elastic diaphragm; 232. Cylinder base; 241. First conductive circuit; 242. Bus conductor; 243. Second conductive circuit; 244. Transformer; 25. Inner ring fixing member; 26. Outer ring first fixing member; 27. Outer ring second fixing member;

[0067] 1-3, cooling water circuit; 1-3-1, rotating side water inlet joint; 1-3-2, rotating side water return joint;

[0068] 1-3A, electrode cooling water circuit; 1-3B, conductive component cooling water circuit; 1-3-3, normally open stop valve; 1-3-4, arc groove; 1-3-5, sealing element;

[0069] 3. Water supply mechanism; 31. Fixed side water inlet joint; 32. Fixed side water return joint; 33. Second linear actuator;

[0070] 1-4, gas receiving passage; 1-4-1, gas receiving connector; 41, gas supply connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more clearly understood, the present disclosure is further described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments and drawings. Here, the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and their descriptions are used to explain the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0072] It should also be noted here that in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure due to unnecessary details, only structures and / or processing steps closely related to the solutions according to the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the present disclosure are omitted.

[0073] It should be emphasized that the term "include / comprises" when used herein refers to the existence of features, elements, steps or components, but does not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps or components.

[0074] It should also be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the term "connection" herein may refer not only to a direct connection but also to an indirect connection involving an intermediate.

[0075] It can be understood that the "nut" in the so-called "nut projection welding equipment / nut projection welding machine" or "projection welded nut" is a continuation of the traditional naming. In fact, it not only includes nuts connected to plates using the projection welding process, but also includes other fasteners connected to plates using the projection welding process, including studs, bolts and pins.

[0076] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar components, or the same or similar steps.

[0077] In order to provide power and / or cooling water and / or compressed gas to the turntable multi-electrode welding equipment, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a welding equipment and its supply device, which connects the welding circuit, cooling water circuit and compressed gas circuit to the upper and lower electrodes located in the welding position, and cuts off the above supply to the electrodes in the non-welding position.

[0078] As shown in Figures 1-6, the turntable multi-electrode welding equipment in the embodiments of the present disclosure (further explained below using a nut projection welder as an example) may include a rotatable turntable electrode switching device 1, which includes a fixed disk 11, a rotating disk 12, and a plurality of groups of electrode assemblies mounted on the rotating disk 12, such as 2-6 groups, wherein the rotating disk 12 is rotatable relative to the fixed disk 11. Each group of electrode assemblies can be installed with electrodes of different specifications, enabling the welding of multiple projection nuts on a single welding device without the need for manual electrode replacement and debugging, significantly improving production efficiency, reducing the number of welding machines, and lowering costs.

[0079] The fixed disk 11 can serve as a rotary support structure for the rotating disk 12. For example, a rotary drive structure such as a pneumatic rotary motor, a hydraulic rotary motor, or an electric motor can be used to rotate the rotating disk 12, thereby achieving electrode switching, changing types, etc. Generally speaking, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, at the welding station, the lower electrode is located below the plate, the nut 101 to be welded is placed on the plate, and the upper electrode applies a certain pressing force above the nut 101. The upper and lower electrodes, the plate, the nut 101, etc. form a welding circuit.

[0080] In addition, the structure of the rotating disk 12 may include a conductive disk and an inner disk. The conductive disk is fixedly arranged on the outer side of the inner disk, and an insulating pad 15 can be arranged between the two to avoid shunting of the welding circuit, but it is not limited to this. For example, an insulating structure can also be arranged at the connection between the rotating disk 12 and the fixed disk.

[0081] First, to supply welding current to a multi-electrode welding device, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a supply device, as shown in FIG1 . The supply device includes at least one power supply mechanism 2 for supplying power to one or more electrode assemblies. For example, the power supply mechanism 2 can supply power to one electrode assembly, multiple electrodes, or all electrode assemblies, but only the electrode rotated to the welding station (e.g., a lower electrode) can form a welding circuit with another electrode (e.g., the corresponding upper electrode).

[0082] In the above embodiment, the power supply mechanism 2 may include a fixed-side conductive member 21 , a rotating-side conductive member 22 , a pressurizing member 23 , and the like.

[0083] The fixed-side conductive member 21 is fixed in the circumferential direction of the fixed disk 11 and slidable in the axial direction of the fixed disk 11. The axial sliding of the fixed-side conductive member 21 can avoid rotational interference with the rotating-side conductive member 22 or reduce wear.

[0084] The rotating side conductive member 22 is fixedly arranged on the side of the rotating disk 12 facing the fixed side conductive member 21 and is conductively connected to the electrode. The rotating side conductive member 22 is mainly used to provide an electrical connection with the welding electrode 14. The rotating side conductive member 22 is connected to the electrode assembly so that the current can be transmitted from the power supply mechanism 2 to the electrode. Through contact with the fixed side conductive member 21, the rotating side conductive member 22 guides the current to the electrode of the welding station to form a welding circuit. In addition, the rotating side conductive member 22 is fixedly arranged on the rotating disk 12, and its position is relatively stable. Through good contact with the fixed side conductive member 21 pushed by the pressure member 23, the compression and conductive connection between the electrode assemblies are ensured, which helps to provide stable welding current and welding quality.

[0085] The pressure member 23 is located on the side of the fixed-side conductive member 21 away from the rotating-side conductive member 22. The pressure member 23 can push the fixed-side conductive member 21 to move linearly in the axial direction of the fixed disk 11 and apply a predetermined pressure so that the fixed-side conductive member 21 and the rotating-side conductive member 22 are pressed together and conductively connected.

[0086] Specifically, the pressure member 23 pushes and applies pressure to the fixed-side conductive member 21, ensuring close contact between the fixed-side conductive member 21 and the rotating-side conductive member 22, thereby providing a good conductive connection. Furthermore, due to vibration or other factors that may occur during welding, the electrode assembly may experience slight displacement or loosening. The presence of the pressure member 23 maintains stable contact between the electrodes by applying appropriate pressure, preventing increased resistance or poor contact, thereby ensuring weld quality.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure can at least provide power to the turntable multi-electrode welding equipment, and the fixed setting of the power supply side circuit is realized through the detachable fixed side conductive part 21 and the rotating side conductive part 22, and the problem of line entanglement and swinging due to rotation will not be caused; the supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure also adopts a pressure part 23 to ensure close contact between the fixed side conductive part 21 and the rotating side conductive part 22, providing a good and stable conductive connection.

[0088] Compared with the screw connection method in the prior art that only supplies power to a pair of electrodes, the supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure adopts a pressure contact connection method in the welding circuit connection method of the turntable nut projection welding machine to supply power to the electrode assembly on the rotating disk 12. Although the pressure is reduced and the contact rate is reduced, a better conductive effect can be achieved by applying a larger contact pressure and increasing the contact area through the pressure member 23.

[0089] In some embodiments, the pressure member 23 comprises a fixed first linear actuator, which includes an elastic diaphragm 231 at its end that can be driven to move linearly. In this embodiment, the fixed-side conductive member 21 can be driven and pressurized by controlling the movement of the elastic diaphragm 231 in the first linear actuator. The elastic properties of the elastic diaphragm 231 cause it to displace when subjected to an external force, thereby applying a predetermined pressure. By adjusting the force and displacement of the elastic diaphragm 231, precise control and adjustment of the fixed-side conductive member 21 can be achieved.

[0090] The elastic diaphragm 231 has high flexibility and deformability, can adapt to fixed-side conductive parts 21 of different shapes and sizes, and provide appropriate pressure as needed. The elastic diaphragm 231 can achieve uniform pressure distribution on the contact surface through its soft properties, helping to ensure close contact between the fixed-side conductive part 21 and the rotating-side conductive part 22, thereby providing a stable conductive connection and reducing contact impedance. Flexible compression can prevent damage to the plate through appropriate pressure distribution. Compared with rigid compression methods, flexible compression can reduce the risk of plate damage caused by excessive pressure to a certain extent.

[0091] Furthermore, the first linear actuator is used to drive one, two, or all of the fixed-side conductive members 21. When driving all of the fixed-side conductive members 21, the elastic diaphragm 231 has an annular structure. The annular structure of the elastic diaphragm 231 may better match the shape of the contact surface, ensuring uniform pressure distribution and good contact performance.

[0092] Furthermore, the first linear actuator can adopt a diaphragm cylinder, which uses a diaphragm (elastic diaphragm 231, usually made of elastic material) as a pneumatic actuator to generate movement. The diaphragm is bent or deformed by applying air pressure on one side of the diaphragm, thereby realizing diaphragm movement. As an implementable method, the diaphragm cylinder includes an elastic diaphragm 231 located at its end, which can be driven to move linearly, and a fixed-side mounting plate of the power supply mechanism (or called a cylinder base 232). The diaphragm cylinder can be mounted on the fixed plate through the cylinder base 232. Among them, the elastic diaphragm 231 is pressed against the cylinder base 232 by the inner ring fixing part 25 and the outer ring first fixing part 26 and the outer ring second fixing part 27, so that the space between it and the elastic diaphragm 231 remains in a closed state. When compressed air is filled into this closed space, a pressure is applied to the fixed-side conductive part 21 through the elastic diaphragm 231.

[0093] The advantages of diaphragm cylinders over traditional cylinders include: diaphragm cylinders are lighter overall because they use a diaphragm as a piston; diaphragm cylinders have a simpler structure, lacking components such as piston rods and seals, resulting in lower maintenance costs; the diaphragm of the diaphragm cylinder has good elasticity and can provide a relatively stable force and displacement output during movement; diaphragm cylinders can adapt to plates of different shapes and sizes and have strong adaptability to plate surfaces. The first linear actuator may also adopt other structures, such as traditional cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, linear motors, or connecting rod structures. The first linear actuator preferably uses a flexible fluid as the working medium so that it can simultaneously act on multiple fixed-side conductive members 21 with slight position errors.

[0094] In some embodiments, each group of fixed-side conductive elements 21 of the power supply mechanism 2 includes at least one fixed-side conductive unit, the end face of which contacts the rotating-side conductive element 22 being in the shape of a sector ring or rectangle. Optionally, when there are two or more fixed-side conductive units, the fixed-side conductive units are spaced apart along the circumference of the fixed disk 11 and are electrically connected to each other. Optionally, the fixed-side conductive units are evenly distributed along the circumference of the fixed disk 11 to maximize the contact area between the fixed-side conductive units and the rotating-side conductive element 22.

[0095] As an implementation, the rotating-side conductive element 22 can be a complete conductive ring structure, while the fixed-side conductive unit can be a plurality of sector-shaped, sector-ring-shaped, or rectangular conductive structures. The elastic diaphragm 231 can also be a complete ring structure. The plurality of sector-shaped or sector-ring-shaped structures can be assembled into a ring that substantially overlaps with the elastic diaphragm 231 or the rotating-side conductive element 22. This design ensures good contact between the conductive components and maximizes the electrical connection area, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the power supply system.

[0096] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the present disclosure designs the conductors at the welding circuit breakpoint of the rotary nut projection welder into a ring with rectangular or sector-shaped ends, thereby increasing the contact area within a limited space. Furthermore, to prevent partial conductor loss due to warping, the fixed-side conductive member 21 is cut into segments of rectangular or sector-shaped sections and arranged closely like piano keys, ensuring that each segment aligns with the rotating-side conductive member 22, significantly increasing the contact ratio.

[0097] In other embodiments, the fixed-side conductive elements 21 of each group of the power supply mechanisms 2 include at least one piano-key-shaped conductive unit, the end face of which contacts the fixed-side conductive element 21 being in the shape of a sector ring or rectangle. When there are two or more piano-key-shaped conductive units, the piano-key-shaped conductive units are spaced apart along the circumference of the fixed disk 11, and each piano-key-shaped conductive unit is electrically connected to the rotating-side conductive element. For example, different piano-key-shaped conductive units are electrically connected via wires, or they are connected to the same power source using different wires.

[0098] Similarly, the end face shape of the piano-key-type conductive unit is fan-shaped or rectangular, which can provide a larger contact area and good conductive performance. The fan-shaped or rectangular end face shape helps to ensure the fit with the elastic film or the rotating side conductive member 22. At the same time, by distributing multiple piano-key-type conductive units in a circumferential direction, the conductive performance and structural stability can be balanced to ensure the reliability of the entire system. Similarly, the monomer shape and arrangement of the piano-key-type conductive unit and the fixed side conductive unit can be consistent, which will not be repeated here. Optionally, each piano-key-type conductive unit is distributed along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk 11 by partitions. The partitions can prevent adjacent piano-key-type conductive units from affecting each other.

[0099] Furthermore, in some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the piano-key-shaped conductive unit may include a conductive docking portion 211, a bent portion 212, and a tail docking portion 213. The conductive docking portion 211 is configured to provide a pressurized conductive connection to the rotating-side conductive member 22; the bent portion 212 is located on the side of the conductive docking portion 211 away from the axis of the fixed disk 11, and extends outwardly along the axis to a side away from the rotating-side conductive member 22, and is connected to the tail docking portion 213; the tail docking portion 213 is configured to connect to a power supply circuit assembly.

[0100] Taking the electrode orientation as an example, the conductive docking portion 211 is located at the front end of the piano-key-shaped conductive unit. The front end of the conductive docking portion 211 is used to dock with the rotating-side conductive member 22, while the rear end is used to dock with the first linear actuator. The conductive docking portion 211 functions to establish a pressure-bearing conductive connection with the rotating-side conductive member 22. It serves as the contact point between the conductive unit and the rotating-side conductive member 22, thus transmitting current. The design of the conductive docking portion 211 ensures a stable and reliable electrical connection between the conductive unit and the rotating-side conductive member 22. This allows current to flow from the rotating-side conductive member 22 into the conductive docking portion 211 and then be transferred through the conductive unit to other components, thus achieving power supply. The conductive docking portion 211 exhibits excellent electrical conductivity, ensuring smooth current transfer from the conductive unit to the rotating-side conductive member 22, reducing resistance and power loss. The conductive docking portion 211 also exhibits excellent durability and wear resistance, capable of withstanding the effects of long-term use and mechanical movement. Furthermore, when the conductive docking portion 211 becomes worn, it can be easily replaced without affecting the performance of the device.

[0101] The bending portion 212 is located on the outer peripheral surface of the piano-key-shaped conductive unit (away from the axis of the fixed disk 11). The function of the bending portion 212 is to change the connection direction between the first conductive circuit and the conductive unit, greatly reducing the radial size of the fixed side conductive unit, and making the structure of the supply device more compact.

[0102] The tail end docking portion 213 is used to connect to the power supply circuit assembly, playing a key role in connecting the conductive unit to the power supply circuit to achieve current transmission and power supply functions. The tail end docking portion 213 can be designed as a connecting connector or plug that can match the socket or connector of the power supply circuit assembly. Through the connection of the tail end docking portion 213, the conductive unit can be reliably electrically connected to an external power source or circuit. In this way, current can enter the conductive unit from the power supply circuit through the tail end docking portion 213, and then be transferred to the fixed side conductive member 21 through the conductive docking portion 211, ultimately completing the power supply function.

[0103] In the above-described embodiment, the piano-key-shaped conductive unit design provides a more stable and reliable conductive connection while also reducing friction and wear of the conductive structure. It should be noted that when implementing this design, the shape, size, and position of each piano-key-shaped conductive unit must be precisely controlled to ensure optimal contact and conductive connection with the elastic film or rotating-side conductive member 22. Furthermore, appropriate materials and processing techniques must be selected to ensure that the conductive unit meets the required strength, wear resistance, and conductivity.

[0104] In addition, the piano-key-type conductive unit in the embodiment of the present disclosure is designed with a tail (tail end docking portion 213) with a rectangular cross-section and a bend, which is connected through a flexible power supply line assembly. In this way, even if the piano-key-type conductive unit or the rotating side conductive part 22 is worn, it can be tightly combined under the push of the diaphragm cylinder to ensure good conductive performance.

[0105] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the power supply mechanism 2 further includes a power supply circuit assembly, and the power supply circuit assembly includes a first conductive circuit 241 , a bus conductor 242 and a second conductive circuit 243 .

[0106] The first conductive trace 241 is connected to the tail end docking portion 213 of the piano-key-shaped conductive unit, transferring current from the bus conductor 242 to the piano-key-shaped conductive unit. The first conductive trace 241 can be a flexible conductor with a certain degree of bending or stretching capability, allowing the conductive trace to deform to a certain extent along the axis of the fixed plate 11 to accommodate linear displacement of the conductive unit.

[0107] Furthermore, the bus conductor 242 is fixedly arranged on a side of the fixed disk 11 away from the fixed-side conductive member 21, but is not limited thereto and can also be fixedly arranged on other fixed structures; it is understandable that the installation position of the bus conductor 242 should be provided with an insulating structure to avoid shunting of the welding circuit. The bus conductor 242 is conductively connected to the piano-type conductive unit through the first conductive line 241. The bus conductor 242 is used to connect one or more first conductive lines 241. In the case where the bus conductor 242 connects more than two first conductive lines 241, one bus conductor 242 connects all the piano-type conductive units of one group or more than two groups of the power supply mechanism 2.

[0108] As an implementation method, the busbar conductor 242 can be fixed to the fixed plate 11 via an insulating member, centrally supplying the current from the multiple first conductive lines 241, acting as a current convergence node to effectively concentrate and transmit current from different directions. The design of the busbar conductor 242 enables it to connect multiple conductive units, achieving efficient power supply to the power supply mechanism 2.

[0109] Furthermore, the second conductive line 243 is used to connect the bus conductor 242 and (the output terminal of) the welding transformer 244 or a power source.

[0110] In some embodiments, a single bus conductor 242 can be provided, forming a complete ring structure. Multiple first conductive traces 241 can be provided, equal in number to the number of piano-key-shaped conductive units, i.e., one first conductive trace 241 is connected to one piano-key-shaped conductive unit. Alternatively, only one second conductive trace 243 can be provided, providing power to the bus conductor 242.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the first conductive path 241 is a flexible conductor that can bend or stretch at least in the axial direction of the fixed disk 11, and the second conductive path 243 is a rigid conductor or a flexible conductor that can bend or stretch at least in the axial direction of the welding electrode in an operating state. Taking the upper and lower electrodes of welding equipment as an example, generally speaking, the upper electrode needs to be able to move up and down to release or tighten the nut 101 and the plate for welding, while the lower electrode is generally fixed to reduce control operations and improve efficiency and stability. If the lower electrode is fixed, the second conductive path 243 can be a rigid conductor; if the upper electrode is movable, the second conductive path 243 can be a flexible conductor to accommodate the lifting and lowering movement of the welding electrode in an operating state.

[0112] In some embodiments, in order to support and limit the sliding and axial movement of the piano-key type conductive unit, the power supply mechanism 2 may further include: any one of an inner ring fixing member 25 , an outer ring first fixing member 26 and an outer ring second fixing member 27 .

[0113] Among them, the inner ring fixing part 25 is fixedly arranged at the inner ring position of the conductive docking part 211 of the piano-type conductive unit, and is used to slidingly support the piano-type conductive unit so that the piano-type conductive unit can slide on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring fixing part 25; optionally, the inner ring fixing part 25 has a shoulder for axially limiting the piano-type conductive unit, ensuring that the piano-type conductive unit maintains a stable and correct position during the sliding process, avoiding overpressure of the first linear actuator.

[0114] Furthermore, the outer ring first fixing member 26 is fixedly disposed on one side of the outer circumference of the conductive docking portion 211 of the piano-type conductive unit and is located between the bent portion 212 and the fixed-side conductive member 21, and is used to achieve axial sliding limitation of the piano-type conductive unit. The outer ring first fixing member 26 and the shoulder of the inner ring fixing member 25 jointly achieve axial sliding limitation in the forward direction of the piano-type conductive unit, preventing it from sliding too much in the axial direction or beyond the required range. Optionally, in the circumferential direction of the fixed disk, a partition is distributed at the rear end of each outer ring first fixing member 26 to space out the piano-type conductive units.

[0115] Furthermore, the outer ring second fixing member 27 is fixedly arranged on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the conductive docking portion 211 of the piano-type conductive unit, and is located on the side of the bending portion 212 away from the fixed side conductive member 21. The outer ring second fixing member 27 is away from the side of the rotating disk 12, and is used to fix the outer ring first fixing member 26 and press the elastic diaphragm 231 of the first linear actuator.

[0116] Optionally, as shown in Figure 7, a notch is provided on the annular surface between the outer ring first fixing member 26 and the outer ring second fixing member 27 in the axial direction of the fixed disk 11, and the width and depth of the notch are both greater than the width and thickness of the bent portion 212 of the piano-type conductive unit, so as to limit the axial and circumferential movement of the piano-type conductive unit to a certain range.

[0117] To further explain the functions of the inner ring fixing member 25 and the second fixing member 27, referring to Figures 2 and 7, the elastic diaphragm 231 of the annular structure is pressed against the cylinder base 232 by the inner ring fixing member 25 and the outer ring first fixing member 26 and the outer ring second fixing member 26, so that the space between it and the elastic diaphragm 231 remains in a closed state. When compressed air is filled into this closed space, pressure is applied to the fixed side conductive member or the piano key-type conductive unit through the elastic diaphragm 231, so that the fixed side conductive member presses the rotating side conductive member, and the welding circuit is connected; conversely, the elastic diaphragm 231 returns to its original position, the fixed side conductive member is separated from the rotating side conductive member, and the welding circuit is disconnected.

[0118] In the above embodiment, the design and installation positions of the various fixing components of the power supply mechanism 2 ensure that the piano-key-shaped conductive unit has an appropriate sliding and movement range during use, and limit its movement beyond the design requirements. In this way, the power supply mechanism 2 can better support and protect the function and performance of the piano-key-shaped conductive unit.

[0119] In welding equipment, electrode cooling is very important because the electrodes are subjected to high temperatures and thermal stress during welding. Without proper cooling measures, the electrodes may overheat, resulting in shortened electrode life, reduced weld quality, and even equipment failure.

[0120] Common electrode cooling methods include water cooling, air cooling and heat sink cooling. The water cooling method uses a water cooling system to circulate cooling water around the electrode, and the heat generated by the electrode is taken away by the flow of water. Generally, cooling channels are set at the bottom or side of the electrode, and cooling water flows through these channels through the electrode to achieve the cooling effect. The air cooling method uses compressed air or other gases to cool the electrode by spraying or blowing. This method is relatively simple and does not require a water source and a cooling system, but the cooling effect is generally worse than the water cooling method. Heat sink cooling increases the heat dissipation surface area by installing a heat sink on the surface of the electrode, promotes heat dissipation, and thus reduces the electrode temperature. This method is suitable for small welding equipment or low-power applications, but may have limited effect under high power or long-term continuous operation.

[0121] Regardless of the cooling method used, it is not applicable to the turntable multi-electrode welding equipment in the embodiment of the present disclosure. The supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure may also include a cooling structure, which can provide a refrigerant such as cooling water, coolant or cooling gas for cooling. The cooling structure in the embodiment of the present disclosure uses cooling water as an example to further explain its cooling method and supply device. When welding the nut 101, the extremely large current passing through the welding circuit will generate some heat. It is necessary to pass a sufficient amount of cooling water into the conductor in pressure contact so that the heat and temperature rise of the welding circuit can be controlled during continuous operation, thereby ensuring the quality of the projection welding of the nut 101.

[0122] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the electrode assembly is provided with a cooling water circuit 1-3, wherein the cooling circuit has a rotating side water inlet connector 1-3-1 and a rotating side water return connector 1-3-2. The cooling water circuit 1-3 can be used to cool at least the electrode. It should be noted that although the term "cooling water" is used to refer to the cooling water circuit, water supply mechanism, water inlet connector, and water return connector, this is only for the convenience of general description and does not exclude refrigerants such as coolant and cooling gas.

[0123] The supply device also includes a water supply mechanism 3, which is used to connect the cooling water paths 1-3 and realize the circulation of cooling water; the water supply mechanism 3 includes: an inlet pipe, a fixed side water inlet joint 31, a return pipe, a fixed side return joint 32, a second linear actuator 33 and a water tank, etc.

[0124] Among them, the fixed side water inlet joint 31 is used to connect with the rotating side water inlet joint 1-3-1, and the fixed side return water joint 32 is used to connect with the rotating side return water joint 1-3-2; the second linear actuator 33 is used to drive the inlet pipe and the fixed side water inlet joint 31, the return pipe and the fixed side return water joint 32 to move linearly along the axial direction of the fixed disk 11, so as to realize the connection or separation of the rotating side water inlet joint 1-3-1, the rotating side return water joint 1-3-2 and the inlet pipe and return pipe.

[0125] In the above embodiment, the water inlet pipe is used to transport coolant into the electrode assembly, and the fixed-side water inlet connector 31 is located at one end of the water inlet pipe and is used to connect to the rotating-side water inlet connector 1-3-1. The function of the fixed-side water inlet connector 31 is to provide a sealed and secure connection during connection. The return pipe is used to discharge coolant from the electrode assembly, and the fixed-side return connector 32 is located at one end of the return pipe and is used to connect to the rotating-side return connector 1-3-2. The function of the fixed-side return connector 32 is to provide a sealed and secure connection during connection.

[0126] Optionally, the second linear actuator 33 may adopt a slide structure installed on the fixed plate 11, and the structure adopted includes but is not limited to a guide rail linear mechanism, a ball screw linear mechanism, a linear motor linear mechanism, a cylinder linear mechanism, etc.

[0127] In some embodiments, the rotating side water inlet joint 1-3-1, the rotating side return water joint 1-3-2, the fixed side water inlet joint 31 and the fixed side return water joint 32 are all provided with a self-sealing structure to prevent leakage from the rotating side water inlet joint 1-3-1, the rotating side return water joint 1-3-2 and the fixed side water inlet joint 31, the fixed side return water joint 32 of the cooling water circuit 1-3 when they are in a connected or separated state or process.

[0128] Optionally, the rotating side water inlet joint 1-3-1, the rotating side water return joint 1-3-2, the fixed side water inlet joint 31 and the fixed side water return joint 32 can adopt quick-plug joints, and the quick-plug joints can adopt a self-sealing structure, such as a self-sealing one-way valve or an elastic seal, a main and auxiliary seal combination, an expansion seal, etc., to ensure that there is no leakage during the on-off switching process and in the disconnected state.

[0129] It is understood that the rotating disk 12 for switching electrodes on the rotary disk multi-electrode nut projection welder in the disclosed embodiment may rotate in the same direction multiple times continuously. To avoid entanglement of the pipeline, the cooling water supply can be cut off before the rotating disk 12 rotates and then restored after it rotates to the desired position. Since the welding station is generally fixed, only one set of water supply mechanisms 3 can be provided at the welding station.

[0130] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes an L-shaped electrode arm 13, and the electrode arm 13 is fixedly arranged on one side of the rotating disk 12, and the cooling water path 1-3 is buried in the electrode arm 13 and the rotating disk 12. As an implementable method, the cooling water path 1-3 can be buried inside the electrode arm 13 and the rotating disk 12, or attached to the outer wall surface of the electrode arm 13 and the rotating disk 12. Of course, it can also be buried inside and attached to the surface at the same time. The cooling water path 1-3 in the embodiment of the present disclosure is arranged inside the rotating disk 12 body and the n L-shaped electrode arms 13, which not only avoids damage to the pipeline caused by the high-speed rotation of the electrode switching turntable, but also enhances its cooling effect. The electrode arm 13 can also use other structures, such as C-type or other special-shaped structures.

[0131] Different parts of the electrode assembly may produce different temperatures due to different workloads, which may cause some parts to overheat and affect the stability and reliability of the system. The burial of cooling water channels 1-3 can evenly distribute the flow of cooling water, making the temperature of each part more balanced and improving the stability of the system. High temperature environment has a certain impact on the life of the electrode assembly. Excessive temperature may cause aging, oxidation and other problems of components, and may cause fatigue damage to the material. By burying cooling water channels 1-3, the operating temperature of the electrode assembly can be effectively reduced and its life can be extended.

[0132] In addition, the built-in setting of the cooling water channels 1-3 not only improves the cooling effect of structures such as electrodes, but also avoids damage to external water pipes, joints, etc. when the rotating disk 12 rotates the rod to switch the working electrode. It can also reserve sufficient operating space for welding plates, thereby increasing the applicability of welding plates.

[0133] In some embodiments, the cooling water channel 1-3 includes an electrode cooling water channel 1-3A and a conductive component cooling water channel 1-3B, the electrode cooling water channel 1-3A is connected to a portion near the electrode, and the conductive component cooling water channel 1-3B is connected to a portion near the rotating side conductive component 22, and the electrode cooling water channel 1-3A and the conductive component cooling water channel 1-3B are connected in series or in parallel.

[0134] In view of the heating characteristics of the electrode assembly of the turntable multi-electrode nut projection welding machine, that is, the high heat of the conductive ring and the electrode part, the cooling water path 1-3 in the embodiment of the present disclosure is divided into two parts, namely the electrode cooling water path 1-3A and the conductive part cooling water path 1-3B, so that the cooling water can flow more accurately to the part that needs cooling. In this way, the cooling effect can be better controlled and the heat dissipation efficiency of the entire system can be improved. Both electrodes and conductive parts are key mechanical components. If they are affected by excessively high temperatures, their service life may be shortened. Dividing the cooling water path 1-3 into two parts can more accurately control the temperature, reduce the operating temperature of the electrodes and conductive parts, and thus extend their service life.

[0135] Furthermore, as an implementable method, a plurality of arc grooves 1-3-4 are provided at the portion of the rotating disk 12 for fixedly connecting the rotating side conductive member 22. The arc grooves 1-3-4 are sealed and insulated from the rotating side conductive member 22 by a seal 1-3-5. The arc grooves 1-3-4 and the seal 1-3-5 form the conductive member cooling water path 1-3B.

[0136] In the above embodiment, by providing n circular arc grooves 1-3-4 on the rotating disk 12, cooling water can be directed around the conductive member. The n circular arc grooves are arranged on a concentric circle with the rotating disk, and the radius of curvature of these grooves is equal to the radius of the concentric circle, that is, the circular arc grooves are discontinuous. Furthermore, the presence of the seal 1-3-5 ensures that the cooling water forms an effective isolation layer between the circular arc grooves 1-3-4 and the conductive member, preventing direct contact between the cooling water and the conductive member and achieving an insulated connection. However, this is not limiting. The seal 1-3-5 can also be made of a conductive material. Since the voltage design of the welding circuit is often lower than the human safety voltage, the low voltage requirement for whether the cooling water channel is energized does not require strict design. This design ensures the effective operation of the conductive member cooling water channel 1-3B. The cooling water can flow through the circular arc grooves 1-3-4 and provide a cooling effect on the surface of the conductive member. Furthermore, the presence of the seal 1-3-5 prevents cooling water leakage, ensuring the stability and safety of the system.

[0137] The conductive part cooling water path 1-3B in the embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with n segments of circular arc grooves at the joint surface between the adjacent electrode assemblies of the rotating disk 12 body and the conductive ring, so that the cooling water paths 1-3A of the various electrode assemblies are connected in series, and are fully cooled when the turntable nut projection welding machine is working, so that the fixed side conductive part 21 and the rotating side conductive part 22 (conductive ring) are maintained in a high conductivity state at a low temperature.

[0138] In some embodiments, the cooling water paths 1-3 of each group of electrode assemblies are connected in parallel, or the cooling water paths 1-3 of each group of electrode assemblies are connected in series, and a normally open stop valve 1-3-3 is provided in the series water path. When the normally open stop valve 1-3-3 is in the non-welding position, its contact is not depressed, and the normally open stop valve 1-3-3 is in the on state. When the normally open stop valve 1-3-3 is in the welding position, its contact is depressed by the contact of the extended second linear actuator, and the normally open stop valve 1-3-3 is switched to the off state.

[0139] In the above embodiment, the cooling water paths 1-3 of each electrode assembly can be connected in parallel or in series. Parallel connection refers to connecting the cooling water paths 1-3 of multiple electrode assemblies together so that they can simultaneously receive cooling water from the same cooling water source. Series connection, on the other hand, involves connecting the cooling water paths 1-3 of multiple electrode assemblies in series so that cooling water flows through each electrode assembly in sequence.

[0140] Installing a normally open stop valve 1-3-3 in the series water path facilitates control of cooling water flow. Normally open stop valve 1-3-3 can be opened or closed as needed, thereby controlling the cooling water flow rate and the series and parallel connection configuration. When the cooling water flow to a particular electrode assembly needs to be increased or decreased, this can be achieved by controlling the corresponding stop valve. This allows for more flexible adjustment of the cooling effect of different electrode assemblies, improving system stability and efficiency.

[0141] The cooling water paths 1-3 of each group of electrode assemblies in the embodiment of the present disclosure can be connected in series to avoid the problem of insufficient cooling water flow in some groups. However, since the water supply mechanism 3 may be connected to any one of the n groups of electrode assemblies, the logical relationship between the water paths of the electrodes in the connected state and the water paths of the electrodes in the non-connected state is exactly opposite. A mechanically controlled stop valve can be arranged between each group of electrode water paths and the conductive ring water path, and its on and off can be controlled by the contacts on the water and gas on-off slide.

[0142] As one possible implementation, the normally open shut-off valve 1-3-3 is positioned between the electrode cooling water path 1-3A and the conductive component cooling water path 1-3B. Alternatively, the normally open shut-off valve 1-3-3 can be a mechanically controlled shut-off valve. This valve stem is controlled by a mechanical device or electric actuator, causing the sealing surfaces between the valve core and the valve seat to contact or separate, thereby opening or closing the fluid. When the valve is closed, the valve core is in full contact with the valve seat, preventing the passage of fluid. When the valve is open, the valve core is separated from the valve seat, allowing fluid to flow freely. For example, the control device can utilize contacts positioned on the second linear actuator 33 (water-gas on-off slide). When the second linear actuator 33 moves to the point where the water channel connectors are connected, the contacts press against the mechanically controlled shut-off valve, achieving closed control of the valve. The mechanically controlled shut-off valve also prevents cooling water from returning to the water tank via the shortest path, preventing the hot areas of the conductive ring from being effectively cooled.

[0143] Because the electrode assemblies at the welding stations generate a large amount of heat, the cooling water paths 1-3 of each group of electrode assemblies are connected in series, and heat can also be transferred to the electrode assemblies at other non-welding stations. Since the electrode assemblies have a large volume, they can also serve as a heat absorption source. The electrode assemblies at non-welding stations have a large contact area with the air, and can be air-cooled to slowly dissipate heat, further enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the water cooling system.

[0144] Nut projection welders incorporate compressed air primarily to prevent spatter from flying inward during welding and adhering to the internal threads of the nut, causing defects. It also prevents spatter from attaching to the weld and affecting weld quality. Using compressed air to remove weld slag also reduces the time and cost of manual thread tapping. Conventional methods in the prior art incorporate a compressed air source into the nut projection welder, controlling the intensity of the gas jet by adjusting the pressure and flow rate of the source.

[0145] Specifically, compressed air is usually filled into the gap between the lower electrode and the nut locating pin during welding. The compressed air rushes out from the gap between the lower end face of the nut and the upper surface of the plate, and from the center to the surrounding areas at high pressure and high flow rate. When the metal near the convex point of the nut melts after passing through a large current, the internal pressure of the molten core rises sharply, breaking through the upper electrode pressure scattering and splashing, it is blown to the surrounding areas by the high-pressure and high-speed compressed air without entering the interior.

[0146] In some embodiments, in order to be suitable for a turntable multi-electrode nut projection welding machine, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the electrode assembly and the rotating disk 12 are provided with one or more groups of gas receiving passages 1-4, and the gas receiving passages 1-4 are connected to the vicinity of the electrode, and the gas receiving passages 1-4 have a gas receiving connector 1-4-1.

[0147] The supply device also includes a gas supply mechanism for providing compressed gas. The gas supply mechanism may include a gas supply pipeline and a gas supply connector 41 disposed at one end of the gas supply pipeline. The gas supply connector 41 is configured to connect to the gas receiving connector 1-4-1. As one implementation method, the gas supply mechanism may also include a third linear actuator configured to drive the gas supply pipeline and gas supply connector 41 to move linearly along the axis of the fixed disk 11 to connect or disconnect the gas receiving passage 1-4 from the gas supply pipeline. As another implementation method, the gas supply pipeline and gas supply connector 41 are driven to move linearly by the second linear actuator 33.

[0148] It is understood that the rotating disk 12 for switching electrodes on the rotary disk multi-electrode nut projection welder in the disclosed embodiment may rotate in the same direction multiple times in a row. To avoid entanglement of the pipeline, the compressed gas supply can be cut off before the rotating disk 12 rotates and then restored after it rotates to the desired position. Since the welding station is generally fixed, only one set of gas supply mechanisms can be installed at the welding station.

[0149] The gas receiving passages 1-4 and the gas supply mechanism in the embodiment of the present disclosure use gas jet cleaning technology to clean the welding parts, which can improve the working efficiency and cleanliness of the nut projection welding machine. At the same time, the design of this embodiment also makes it possible to easily connect and separate the gas receiving passages 1-4 and the gas supply pipeline, making it easy to operate and maintain.

[0150] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, Figure 6 shows an electrode assembly of a specific embodiment. Taking the following electrode as an example, the electrode assembly includes a welding electrode 14, a positioning pin 19, a cooling sleeve 18, a spring 17, a wire plug 16, an L-shaped electrode arm 13, a machine-controlled stop valve, a water inlet joint 1-3-1 on the rotating side, a water return joint 1-3-2 on the rotating side, a gas receiving joint 1-4-1 (1 to 4), etc.

[0151] The welding electrode 14 can be cylindrical or conical. The cylindrical electrode can provide a larger contact area during welding, making the weld more stable. The conical electrode has a smaller contact area and is suitable for welding smaller nuts 101. A locating pin 19 is provided at the center hole of the welding electrode 14 to locate the axis of the corresponding holes on the nut and the plate to ensure that their coaxiality meets the requirements; the locating pin 19 is installed by a spring 17 and has a certain telescopic ability, and a screw plug 16 is provided at the other end of the spring 17 for fixing. In some embodiments, a cooling jacket 18 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the welding electrode 14, and the cooling water path 1-3 can be provided in the cooling jacket 18, or the cooling jacket 18 can be in contact with the wall of the welding electrode 14, but the two should maintain a sealed connection. It can be understood that the structure of the nut locating pin 19, welding electrode 14, electrode cooling sleeve 18, spring 17, and wire plug 16 is only one of the structures in the lower electrode assembly, and other structures can also be used (such as connecting the locating pin 19 to a linear actuator so that the locating pin 19 is extended or retracted under the drive of the linear actuator), or the upper electrode assembly does not require nut positioning, and parts such as the locating pin 19 and spring 17 can also be omitted.

[0152] The supply device in the disclosed embodiment, as part of a rotary nut projection welding machine, fully utilizes the characteristic that no welding is performed when the electrodes are switched, and therefore no water, electricity, and gas are required. It proposes to quickly cut off the water, electricity, and gas supply before the rotating disk 12 rotates when the nut specifications change or the electrodes are switched (in this process, it is necessary to ensure that the cooling water paths 1-3 are leak-proof), and quickly restore the connection after the rotating disk 12 rotates into place. This innovation eliminates the need for a rotary gas / liquid distribution device, eliminates the need for water, electricity, and gas paths to entangle and swing around the turntable, and eliminates the need to be limited by the speed of the rotary liquid distribution seal. This allows the rotating disk 12 to freely select the shortest path for high-speed rotation according to the phase of the electrodes before and after the switching.

[0153] Compared with the nut projection welding machine in the prior art which only installs a pair of upper and lower electrodes, the conductors of its welding circuit are all connected by screws, the water and gas pipeline joints are all connected by threads, and the electrodes cannot be replaced without human intervention, the welding circuit of the supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure adopts a piano-key-type conductive block compressed by a diaphragm cylinder, and the water and gas joint adopts a quick-insert pipe joint installed on a pneumatic slide, which can quickly realize the cutting off and connection of water, electricity and gas when the rotating disk of the electrode switching is changed.

[0154] The supply device in the embodiment of the present disclosure is part of the overall solution of the turntable nut projection welding machine. In the production process after industrialization, when welding projection welding nuts of different specifications on plates of the same specification, there is no need for manual participation in replacing electrodes, debugging parameters, etc., and when switching plate specifications, there is no need for replacement and adjustment. The mold change time can be greatly shortened, and small-batch flexible production can be realized, which greatly improves production efficiency, greatly reduces the number of operators, greatly reduces the floor space, and greatly reduces production costs.

[0155] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic and cooling water systems for the welding equipment and power supply mechanism in one disclosed embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, using pneumatic drive as an example, the rotation control of the electrode switching rotary disk of the welding equipment can be implemented using a locking cylinder and a clutch cylinder. The locking cylinder is used to lock the rotary disk, securing the electrode assembly at the welding station and preventing rotation; the clutch cylinder is used to unlock the rotary disk. Normally closed single air control valves, shuttle valves, dual-pressure valves, and other valves can be installed in the air paths of the locking and clutch cylinders.

[0156] As the power supply mechanism's drive structure, the first linear actuator can utilize a conductive ring-pressurized cylinder (diaphragm cylinder). A two-position, three-way, single air-controlled valve, for example, can be installed in the cylinder's air path. This air-controlled valve is only one option; other types of reversing valves, such as solenoid valves and mechanical valves, can also be used. The pressurization logic for moving the conductive ring's first linear actuator is consistent with the activation logic for the second linear actuator, which switches the water and gas on and off. Sharing a two-position, five-way, single air-controlled valve is an option, but each can also be controlled independently.

[0157] As the driving structure of the water supply mechanism and the air supply mechanism, the second linear actuator can adopt a water-air supply cylinder, and a two-position five-way solenoid valve can be set on the air path of the water-air supply cylinder.

[0158] In a second aspect, the present disclosure also provides a welding device, which includes the aforementioned supply device.

[0159] The welding equipment of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be used as a nut projection welder, or can be other types of welding equipment, such as a laser welder, an ultrasonic welder, etc.

[0160] In the present disclosure, features described and / or illustrated for one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, and / or combined with or replace features of other embodiments.

[0161] The foregoing description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall be within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A supply device for welding equipment, characterized in that: The welding device comprises a turntable-type electrode switching device (1), wherein the electrode switching device (1) comprises a fixed disk (11), a rotating disk (12), and a plurality of electrode assemblies mounted on the rotating disk (12), wherein the rotating disk (12) is capable of rotating relative to the fixed disk (11); The supply device comprises at least one power supply mechanism (2) for supplying power to one or more than two groups of electrode assemblies; Wherein, the power supply mechanism (2) comprises a fixed-side conductive member (21), a rotating-side conductive member (22) and a pressurizing member (23); The fixed-side conductive member (21) is configured to be fixed in the circumferential direction of the fixed disk (11) and configured to be slidable in the axial direction of the fixed disk (11); The rotating side conductive member (22) is fixedly arranged on a side of the rotating disk (12) facing the fixed side conductive member (21) and is conductively connected to the electrode; The pressure member (23) is located on a side of the fixed-side conductive member (21) that is away from the rotating-side conductive member (22). The pressure member (23) can push the fixed-side conductive member (21) to move linearly in the axial direction of the fixed disk (11) and apply a predetermined pressure, so that the fixed-side conductive member (21) and the rotating-side conductive member (22) are pressed tightly and electrically connected.

2. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure member (23) includes a fixed first linear actuator, wherein the first linear actuator includes an elastic diaphragm (231) located at an end thereof and capable of being driven to move linearly; The first linear actuator is used to drive one, two or more, or all of the fixed-side conductive members (21); When all the fixed-side conductive members (21) are driven, the elastic diaphragm (231) is an annular structure.

3. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixed-side conductive member (21) of each group of the power supply mechanism (2) includes at least one fixed-side conductive unit, and the end face of the fixed-side conductive unit that contacts the rotating-side conductive member (22) is in the shape of a fan ring or a rectangle; when there are more than two fixed-side conductive units, each of the fixed-side conductive units is spaced apart and distributed along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk (11); and / or, The fixed side conductive member (21) of each group of the power supply mechanism (2) includes at least one piano-key type conductive unit, and the end face shape of the piano-key type conductive unit that is in contact with the fixed side conductive member (21) is fan-shaped or rectangular. When there are more than two piano-key type conductive units, each of the piano-key type conductive units is spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk (11), and each of the piano-key type conductive units is spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the fixed disk (11) by partitions.

4. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The piano-key-type conductive unit comprises a conductive docking portion (211), a bending portion (212) and a tail end docking portion (213); The conductive docking portion (211) is used for pressurized conductive connection with the rotating side conductive member (22); The bent portion (212) is located on a side of the conductive docking portion (211) away from the axis of the fixed disk (11), and extends outwardly in this direction to a side away from the rotating side conductive member (22), and is connected to the tail end docking portion (213); The tail end docking portion (213) is used for connecting to a power supply circuit assembly.

5. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The power supply mechanism (2) further includes a power supply circuit assembly, wherein the power supply circuit assembly includes a first conductive circuit (241), a bus conductor (242), and a second conductive circuit (243); Wherein, the first conductive circuit (241) is connected to the tail end docking portion (213) of the piano-key type conductive unit; The bus conductor (242) is fixedly arranged on a side of the fixed disk (11) away from the fixed side conductive member (21), and the bus conductor (242) is conductively connected to the piano-type conductive unit through the first conductive line (241); wherein the bus conductor (242) is used to connect one or more first conductive lines (241), and when the bus conductor (242) is connected to two or more first conductive lines (241), one bus conductor (242) is connected to all the piano-type conductive units of one group or more than two groups of the power supply mechanism (2); The second conductive line (243) is used to connect the bus conductor (242) and the welding transformer (244) or power supply; The first conductive line (241) is a flexible conductor that can be bent or stretched at least in the axial direction of the fixed disk (11), and the second conductive line (243) is a rigid conductor or a conductor that can be bent or stretched at least in the axial direction of the fixed disk (11). A flexible conductor that bends or stretches in the axial direction of the welding electrode below.

6. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The power supply mechanism (2) further comprises: an inner ring fixing member (25) fixedly arranged at an inner ring position of the conductive docking portion (211) of the piano-type conductive unit, for slidably supporting the piano-type conductive unit so that the piano-type conductive unit can slide on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring fixing member (25); and / or, an outer ring first fixing member (26), fixedly arranged on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the conductive docking portion (211) of the piano-type conductive unit and located between the bent portion (212) and the fixed-side conductive member (21), for realizing axial sliding limitation of the piano-type conductive unit; and / or, The outer ring second fixing member (27) is fixedly arranged on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the conductive docking portion (211) of the piano-type conductive unit and is located on the side of the bending portion (212) away from the fixed-side conductive member (21). The outer ring second fixing member (27) is on the side away from the rotating disk (12) and is used to fix the outer ring first fixing member (26) and press the elastic diaphragm (231) of the first linear actuator; In the axial direction of the fixed disk (11), a notch is provided on the annular surface between the outer ring first fixing member (26) and the outer ring second fixing member (27), and the width and depth of the notch are both greater than the width and thickness of the bent portion (212) of the piano-type conductive unit, so as to limit the axial and circumferential movement of the piano-type conductive unit to a certain range.

7. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode assembly is provided with a cooling water circuit (1-3), and the cooling circuit has a rotating side water inlet joint (1-3-1) and a rotating side water return joint (1-3-2); The supply device further comprises a water supply mechanism (3), and the water supply mechanism (3) is used to connect the cooling water path (1-3) and realize the circulation of cooling water; The water supply mechanism (3) comprises: A water inlet pipeline and a fixed-side water inlet joint (31) located at one end of the water inlet pipeline, wherein the fixed-side water inlet joint (31) is used to connect to the rotating-side water inlet joint (1-3-1); A return water pipeline and a fixed-side return water joint (32) located at one end of the return water pipeline, wherein the fixed-side return water joint (32) is used to connect to the rotating-side return water joint (1-3-2); and A second linear actuator (33) is used to drive the water inlet pipe and the fixed-side water inlet joint (31), the water return pipe and the fixed-side water return joint (32) to move linearly along the axis of the fixed plate (11), so as to achieve connection or separation between the rotating-side water inlet joint (1-3-1) and the rotating-side water return joint (1-3-2) and the water inlet pipe and the water return pipe.

8. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The rotating side water inlet joint (1-3-1), the rotating side water return joint (1-3-2), the fixed side water inlet joint (31), and the fixed side water return joint (32) are all provided with a self-sealing structure, which is used to prevent leakage of the rotating side water inlet joint (1-3-1), the rotating side water return joint (1-3-2) and the fixed side water inlet joint (31), and the fixed side water return joint (32) of the cooling water channel (1-3) when they are connected or separated or during the process.

9. The supply device for welding equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The electrode assembly comprises an L-shaped electrode arm (13), the electrode arm (13) is fixedly arranged on one side of the rotating disk (12), and the cooling water path (1-3) is buried in the electrode arm (13) and the rotating disk (12); and / or, The cooling water path (1-3) includes an electrode cooling water path (1-3A) and a conductive member cooling water path (1-3B), wherein the electrode cooling water path (1-3A) is connected to a portion near the electrode, and the conductive member cooling water path (1-3B) is connected to a portion near the rotating side conductive member (22), and the electrode cooling water path (1-3A) and the conductive member cooling water path (1-3B) are connected in series or in parallel; and / or, The portion of the rotating disk (12) for fixedly connecting the rotating side conductive member (22) is provided with a plurality of circular arc grooves (1-3-4), the circular arc grooves (1-3-4) are sealed by a sealing member (1-3-5), and the circular arc grooves (1-3-4) and the sealing member (1-3-5) form a cooling water path (1-3B) for the conductive member; and / or, The cooling water paths (1-3) of the electrode assemblies of each group are connected in parallel, or the cooling water paths (1-3) of the electrode assemblies of each group are connected in series, and a normally open stop valve (1-3-3) is provided on the series water paths; The contact of the normally open stop valve (1-3-3) in the non-welding position is not pressed down, and the normally open stop valve (1-3-3) is in the on state; the contact of the normally open stop valve (1-3-3) in the welding position is pressed down by the contact on the second linear actuator in the extended state, and the normally open stop valve (1-3-3) is switched to the off state.

10. The supply device of the welding equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The electrode assembly and the rotating disk (12) are provided with one or more gas receiving passages (1-4), the gas receiving passages (1-4) are connected to the vicinity of the electrode, and the gas receiving passages (1-4) have a gas receiving connector (1-4-1); The supply device further includes an air supply mechanism, which includes: A gas supply pipeline and a gas supply connector (41) provided at one end of the gas supply pipeline, wherein the gas supply connector (41) is used to be connected to the gas receiving connector (1-4-1); A third linear actuator is used to drive the gas supply pipeline and the gas supply connector (41) to move linearly along the axial direction of the fixed disk (11) to achieve connection or separation between the gas receiving passage (1-4) and the gas supply pipeline, or the gas supply pipeline and the gas supply connector (41) are driven to move linearly by the second linear actuator (33).

11. A welding device comprising the supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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