Laser welding system and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a laser welding system configured to weld together two thermoplastic components, said system comprising a welding collector (1) comprising a through-passage (10) which extends along the longitudinal axis (X) and is configured to enable the positioning of an overlapping portion of the thermoplastic components, at least one internal channel (11) for guiding laser radiation, the internal channel (11) comprising a plurality of inlets (12) which are angularly distributed about the longitudinal axis (X) and in which laser sources (2) are mounted, and a single circumferential outlet (13) formed in an inner face of the through-passage (10) so as to weld the peripheral welding zone. The internal channel (11) comprises front (31) and rear (32) guide walls, forming a flared shape from the inlets (12) towards the outlet (13).

Description

Laser welding system and its associated process

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aircraft fluid circuits. The invention specifically concerns the assembly of pipes intended to be mounted in an aircraft fluid circuit by laser welding.

[0002] As is known, an aircraft fluid circuit comprises a plurality of pipes mechanically and fluidically connected to each other. In practice, with reference to the diagram, each pipe 101 extends longitudinally along an X-axis and includes a tube 102 mechanically connected to a connector 103. The connector 103 is then connected to a tube 102 of an adjacent pipe 101 (directly or via a fitting) to form the fluid circuit.

[0003] In order to reduce the mass of an aircraft, pipes are increasingly being made from a thermoplastic material, and more specifically from a polymer known as PEEK (meaning polyetheretherketone), which allows the manufacture of semi-rigid, lightweight and robust pipes.

[0004] The tube 102 and the connector 103 of such pipelines 101 are generally assembled by fitting and secured by a welding process.

[0005] As is well known, laser welding of thermoplastic polymers requires a component that is transparent to laser radiation and another that absorbs it. During laser welding, the radiation-absorbing component (in this example, the tube) is inserted into the transparent component (in this example, the connector). A laser beam passes through the transparent component and is absorbed by the absorbing component, forming the weld. Laser welding thus allows the tube and connector to be joined together quickly, creating a pipeline while ensuring its watertightness and structural integrity.

[0006] In practice, the weld must be uniform around the entire circumference of the pipe to guarantee structural integrity over time. Transparent PEEK parts typically have "black spots" on their surface or within the part itself. When a black spot is illuminated by laser beams, the area around it is susceptible to burning and damage, as a black spot is not transparent to the laser beam. Consequently, welding is not performed on this damaged area, resulting in suboptimal weld quality.

[0007] To avoid the creation of such damaged areas, it is known to perform laser welding of the pipeline components by controlling the power density on the area to be welded.

[0008] To weld a peripheral joint, a single laser beam is commonly used. This beam is fixed and directed towards the area of ​​the pipe to be welded while the pipe is rotated on its axis to weld the peripheral joint. By varying the rotation speed and the number of passes of the laser beam, the energy input from the laser radiation can be advantageously controlled. However, this has the drawback of creating a thermal gradient across the peripheral joint. This induces stresses in the weld, which can weaken the assembled pipe.

[0009] To eliminate this drawback, with reference to the, it is known to use a welding system comprising a single laser 104 positioned in the X axis of a pipe 106 with one or more mirrors 105 to form a peripheral radiation zone corresponding to the peripheral bonding zone.

[0010] It is possible to perform simultaneous welding across the entire area of ​​the pipe to be welded. In practice, such a welding system is only suitable for a single pipe diameter. The mirror(s) must be replaced when the diameter changes. Furthermore, this type of welding system does not allow for welding at different positions along a longitudinal pipe due to the positioning constraints of the laser and mirrors, particularly when welding a pipe to a T-connector.

[0011] DE 10 2020 127922 B4 and DE 10 2012 106645 A1 teach laser welding devices according to the prior art.

[0012] The invention thus aims to eliminate at least some of these drawbacks. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention relates to a laser welding system configured to weld together two thermoplastic components nested along a longitudinal axis extending from back to front, the two thermoplastic components having an overlap portion, the laser welding system being configured to perform welding of the overlap portion along a peripheral welding zone defined in a welding plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the welding system comprising: a welding manifold including: a through-through opening extending along the longitudinal axis configured to allow positioning of the overlap portion of the thermoplastic components, the through-through opening defining an inner face, at least one internal channel for guiding a laser beam, the internal channel comprising a plurality of inlets distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis, configured to receive laser sources,and a single circumferential outlet formed in the inner face of the through-hole so as to weld the peripheral welding zone.

[0014] A welding system allows for the simultaneous welding of the entire periphery of thermoplastic components. The diffusion of laser radiation within the internal channel ensures simultaneous coverage of the entire surface of the peripheral welding zone, resulting in a homogeneous weld. This minimizes intensity peaks and thus the formation of burn zones around black spots. Similarly, it reduces the presence of areas with limited laser radiation exposure, guaranteeing high weld quality across the entire peripheral welding area. Thanks to the geometry of the welding manifold, the system allows for simple laser welding of thermoplastic components of varying diameters using the same process. Insertion and removal of the thermoplastic components are quick and easy. Furthermore, the welding manifold is simple to manufacture.Finally, the laser radiation is advantageously confined within the welding collector and is thus protected from external interference. The collector also protects any operator moving around or working near the welding system from laser radiation. Furthermore, the collector has a transverse, rather than axial, footprint, which allows for the welding of complex thermoplastic parts with joints or curved sections.

[0015] In one aspect, the welding manifold has an outer periphery, and the plurality of inlets is positioned at this outer periphery. This simplifies machining of the welding manifold and thus reduces its manufacturing cost. The inlets are easily accessible.

[0016] In one aspect, the inputs are distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis, preferably uniformly. This improves the homogeneity of the welding while spacing the laser sources apart and limiting their heating.

[0017] In one aspect, the weld manifold comprises at least two bodies, preferably hinged, each body including at least one inlet. These bodies allow the weld manifold to open, thus facilitating the positioning of thermoplastic components in the through-hole.

[0018] In one aspect, the through-hole is centered in the weld manifold. This minimizes the weld manifold's footprint and positions the inlets at the same distance from the through-hole.

[0019] In one configuration, the welding system includes laser sources mounted in the inputs. In a preferred configuration, the laser sources are power-controlled, allowing for optimal adjustment of the power density for welding based on the diameter of the workpieces and their materials.

[0020] In one aspect, the internal channel has polished guide walls, preferably made of metallic material. Polishing the guide walls optimizes the reflection of laser radiation, thus minimizing energy loss. This, in turn, optimizes the energy efficiency of the welding system.

[0021] In one aspect, each inlet has an inlet diameter, and the outlet extends along the longitudinal axis over an outlet length. The outlet length is greater than the inlet diameter, preferably three times greater. This maximizes the peripheral welding area when using laser sources with a reduced angular beam amplitude. It goes without saying that this ratio can vary depending on the constraints.

[0022] According to one aspect, each input is centered relative to the output along the longitudinal axis.

[0023] According to one aspect, each input is offset longitudinally relative to the output along the longitudinal axis.

[0024] In one particular aspect, each inlet has a front end, and the outlet has a front end defined along the longitudinal axis. The front end of the outlet is offset forward along the longitudinal axis relative to the front ends of the inlets, for example, by an initial offset greater than 5 mm. This allows for consideration of the space constraints of the components to be soldered.

[0025] In one aspect, each inlet has a rear end, and the outlet has a rear end defined along the longitudinal axis. The rear end of the outlet is offset forward along the longitudinal axis relative to the rear ends of the inlets, for example, by a second offset greater than 5 mm. This allows for a more compact weld manifold, making it easier to weld in hard-to-reach areas.

[0026] In one aspect, each laser source has a projection angle with a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis between 0 and 80°. This ensures that a portion of the laser radiation will be reflected by the guide walls, thereby increasing the size of the peripheral radiation area.

[0027] Depending on one aspect, the through-hole has an opening diameter between 26mm and 33mm. Thanks to this, a wide range of different diameter thermoplastic components can be inserted into the through-hole and assembled using the welding system.

[0028] In one aspect, the welding system includes a front and a rear holding element, preferably one dedicated to each thermoplastic component. These holding elements ensure the position of the thermoplastic components during welding, and thus guarantee the correct positioning of the peripheral weld zone within the through-hole. The overlap portion is positioned at a distance from the inner surface of the through-hole.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method of welding two thermoplastic components fitted together along a longitudinal axis to form a pipe by a welding system as described above, the two thermoplastic components having an overlap portion, laser sources being mounted in the inlets, the method comprising steps of: Positioning the overlap portion in the through passage opening of the collector and Activating the laser sources so as to weld the peripheral welding area. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given by way of example, and referring to the following figures, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects.

[0031] This is a schematic representation of a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a pipeline comprising a tube and a T-connector.

[0032] This is a schematic representation of laser welding according to the prior art.

[0033] This is a schematic perspective representation of a welding system.

[0034] This is a schematic longitudinal sectional representation of two thermoplastic components inserted into the welding system.

[0035] This is a schematic representation of a rear view of a manifold of a welding system in the closed position.

[0036] This is a schematic representation of a rear view of a manifold of a welding system in the open position.

[0037] This is a schematic representation of a rear cross-sectional view of a welding system.

[0038] This is a schematic representation of a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a welding system.

[0039] This is a schematic representation of a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a welding system during laser welding.

[0040] This is a schematic representation of a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a welding system.

[0041] This is a schematic representation of an insertion step and a fitting step of two thermoplastic components of a process using a welding system.

[0042] This is a schematic representation of a step in the activation of laser sources in a process for using a welding system.

[0043] This is a schematic representation of a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a welding system with a welding manifold whose inlets are centered on the outlet.

[0044] It should be noted that the figures explain the invention in detail for implementing the invention, said figures being of course able to serve to better define the invention where appropriate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The invention relates to a welding system S for assembling, by laser welding, a pipe intended for installation in an aircraft fluid circuit, particularly for water transport. The welding system S can be integrated into an automated or manual assembly line.

[0046] With reference to the diagram, a welding system S is shown, enabling laser welding to join two thermoplastic components A and B to create a pipe AB. The pipe AB consists of two thermoplastic components A and B nested one inside the other and joined by laser welding at the junction between the two thermoplastic components A and B.

[0047] In this example, with reference to the diagram, the welding system S extends along a longitudinal axis X oriented from back to front. The welding system S comprises, from back to front, a movable support structure S1 on which a rear retaining member 5 is mounted, and a fixed support structure S2 on which a welding manifold 1 and a front retaining member 4 are mounted, also from back to front. The thermoplastic components A and B are mounted along the longitudinal axis X within the welding system S, specifically within the welding manifold 1, to be joined by laser welding. For this purpose, several laser sources 2 are mounted on the welding manifold 1, as will be described later.

[0048] The mobile support structure S1 accommodates and holds the second thermoplastic component B, while the mobile support structure S2 accommodates and holds the first thermoplastic component A. In particular, the mobile support structure S1 allows the second thermoplastic component B to be centered and aligned with the first thermoplastic component A so that they can be fitted together, as will be described later.

[0049] The two thermoplastic components A and B are inserted into the welding system S along the longitudinal axis X. In this example, the first thermoplastic component A is a T-connecting fitting and the second thermoplastic component B is a tube, but it is understood that it could be any type of thermoplastic component. The invention is particularly advantageous for forming a pipeline. In this example, the second thermoplastic component B is inserted into the first thermoplastic component A from the front along the longitudinal axis X.

[0050] With reference to the diagram, the thermoplastic components A and B are nested one inside the other on an overlap portion PR, preferably between 1 mm and 20 mm, and more preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm. In particular, the overlap portion PR is the portion along the longitudinal axis X in which the first thermoplastic component A covers the second thermoplastic component B.

[0051] In this particular example, with reference to the, the welding system S includes a thrust member 6, in this example a cylinder, allowing the fitting of the second thermoplastic component B into the first thermoplastic component A held by the front retaining member 4.

[0052] In this example, the first thermoplastic component A is held in place by the front retaining member 4, positioned at the front of the weld manifold 1. The second thermoplastic component B is held in place by the rear retaining member 5, positioned at the rear of the weld manifold 1. In this example, the retaining members 4 and 5 are vertical clamping members. Specifically, the retaining members 4 and 5 have multiple sizes to accommodate a wide range of thermoplastic components A and B. The retaining members 4 and 5 ensure that the thermoplastic components A and B are held securely and improve welding accuracy.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the S welding system includes a protective cage encompassing the elements mentioned above, allowing the operator to be protected during laser welding.

[0054] The invention is particularly advantageous when axial space constraints are high, for example, for a T-fitting.

[0055] With reference to the, the welding collector 1 accommodates the thermoplastic components A, B and performs laser welding on a peripheral welding zone ZS on their overlap portion PR so as to join them.

[0056] For this purpose, with reference to Figures 3 to 5, the welding manifold 1 has a circular cylindrical shape, preferably a right annular cylinder, and thus includes a through-hole 10 along the longitudinal axis X, allowing the thermoplastic components A and B, in particular their cover portion PR, to be enclosed. For clarity, only the second thermoplastic component B is shown. The welding manifold 1 could also have another shape. The retaining elements 4 and 5 hold the cover portion within the through-hole 10 without contacting the welding manifold 1.

[0057] With reference to the, the welding collector 1 is hollow and has an internal channel 11, which will be described in more detail later, allowing the laser beams from the laser sources 2 to be routed to the peripheral welding zone ZS.

[0058] In this example, the welding manifold 1 extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X, laterally along an axis Y, and vertically along an axis Z, forming an orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z). Specifically, in this example, the welding manifold 1 has a flattened shape in the (Y, Z) plane. Its dimension along the X axis is smaller than its dimensions along the Y or Z axes.

[0059] Preferably, with reference to the weld manifold 1, the weld manifold 1 extends along the longitudinal axis X over a length L1 of, preferably, between 3 mm and 40 mm. Preferably, the weld manifold 1 has a diameter D1 in the plane orthogonal (Y, Z) to the longitudinal axis X of between 100 mm and 600 mm. These dimensions optimize the overall size of the weld manifold 1 while allowing the insertion and welding of several diameters of thermoplastic components A, B.

[0060] The through-through opening 10 connects a front face 1SA and a rear face 1SB, and allows the insertion of thermoplastic components A, B so as to perform a peripheral weld over the entire peripheral weld zone ZS.

[0061] The through-through opening 10 thus accommodates the thermoplastic components A, B. The through-through opening 10 is preferably centered in the welding collector 1, so as to minimize the footprint and allow homogeneous laser welding.

[0062] With reference to the, the through-hole 10 includes an opening diameter D10 preferably between 26mm and 33mm. This is particularly suitable for soldering components with diameters of 12.7mm, 19.07mm and 25.4mm.

[0063] According to another aspect, the through-through opening 10 includes an opening diameter D10 preferably between 51mm and 58mm. This is particularly suitable for soldering components with diameters of 50.8mm.

[0064] Preferably, the aperture diameter D10 is determined to create a radial clearance with the component to be soldered, which is between 0.1 mm and 15 mm. This provides clearance for the introduction of the component into the through-hole 10 while ensuring homogeneous coverage of the laser beams.

[0065] The through-hole 10 defines an inner face 10i defined relative to the X-axis. Preferably, the opening diameter D10 allows the thermoplastic components A and B to be inserted without contacting the inner face 10i. This prevents damage to the components during insertion and welding. The through-hole 10 accommodates a wide range of diameters for thermoplastic components A and B, and allows for the welding of pipes of different diameters consecutively without special adjustments. This simplifies laser welding while increasing its throughput.

[0066] In this example, with reference to A and B, the welding collector 1 comprises two articulated bodies 1C. Preferably, these articulated bodies 1C are mechanically connected by a connecting element 14, such as a hinge. It is understood that the connecting element 14 could take another form, for example, an articulated arm allowing one of the bodies 1C to be offset. Preferably, as illustrated in B, each body 1C forms approximately half of a welding collector 1.

[0067] Thanks to these 1C bodies, the weld manifold 1 can open and close around the thermoplastic components A and B, facilitating their positioning in a waffle-like fashion. It is understood that the weld manifold 1 could have a single 1C body. It is also understood that the weld manifold 1 could have a different number of 1C bodies, for example, three, to facilitate the insertion of specific parts. This also allows the shape of the weld manifold 1 to be adapted to the environment in order to optimize its footprint.

[0068] Referring to the diagram, the weld collector 1 gathers the laser beams from the laser sources 2 and directs them to its through-hole 10 via its internal channel 11 in order to weld the desired peripheral weld zone ZS. In this example, each laser source 2 is in the form of an optical fiber powered by a laser generator. The laser sources 2 are located at the periphery of the weld collector 1 to facilitate the delivery of the laser beams to the peripheral weld zone ZS.

[0069] Preferably, the welding collector 1 is made of a material that is not transparent to laser radiation. In one aspect, the welding collector 1 has internal reflective walls to guide the laser beams and thus provide uniform heating at the output 13. The inclination of the walls, their diameter, and the position of the laser sources 2 also contribute to uniform heating.

[0070] Preferably, with reference to the welding manifold 1, the welding manifold includes a gas vent 7 for evacuating the fumes generated during welding. The gas vent 7 may be in the form of a ventilation system such as a blower, but it is understood that it could be in another form. Preferably, the gas vent 7 is located in the through opening 10, so as to evacuate the gases quickly and efficiently as soon as they are generated.

[0071] In order to route the lasers from the laser sources 2 to the peripheral welding zone ZS, the welding collector 1 includes an internal channel 11 having several inlets 12 and an output of peripheral shape 13, for example, circular or hexagonal.

[0072] With reference to the diagram, the inlets 12 are positioned at the periphery of the welding collector 1 and accommodate the laser sources 2. Preferably, each inlet 12 has a diameter D12, shown in the diagram, between 5 and 10 mm. Each inlet 12 extends between a front end P12A and a rear end P12B along the X-axis.

[0073] Preferably, each input 12 accommodates a laser source 2. Preferably, the laser sources 2 are diode laser sources, preferably with a power of 30 Watts. Preferably, the laser sources 2 are controllable so as to adjust the power of the laser radiation.

[0074] In this example, the weld manifold 1 comprises six inlets to allow homogeneous coverage of the peripheral weld zone ZS, as shown in Figure 1. The weld manifold 1 could comprise a different number of inlets 12, preferably three or more. Preferably, the inlets 12 are distributed uniformly around the longitudinal axis X.

[0075] According to a preferred embodiment, as in this example, each inlet 12 is oriented towards the through-passage opening 10 in which the outlet 13 is formed.

[0076] Preferably, each input 12 includes a locking adapter (not shown) into which the laser source 2 is inserted and locked. This ensures the stability and orientation of the laser sources 2, in order to optimally cover the peripheral welding area ZS.

[0077] With reference to the and to the, the welding collector 1 includes a circumferential outlet 13 formed in the inner face 10i of the through passage opening 10. The outlet 13 is preferably in the form of an annular slot.

[0078] In general, output 13 belongs to the plane in which inputs 12 extend. In other words, as illustrated in the figure, inputs 12 are centered with respect to output 13.

[0079] In order to take into account space constraints and / or nesting constraints, the outlet 13 is offset forward relative to the plane in which the inlets 12 extend in figures 8 to 12.

[0080] With reference to the [reference], the output 13 extends along the longitudinal axis X over an output length L13 preferably between 1 mm and 20 mm, and more preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm, between a front end P13A and a rear end P13B along the X axis. Preferably, the output length L13 is greater than the inlet diameter D12 in order to obtain a long weld zone ZS. This allows for divergence of the laser beams to homogenize the weld zone ZS.

[0081] The output 13 extends over the entire circumference of the through opening 10, and thus makes it possible to illuminate the entire periphery of the thermoplastic components A, B. Thanks to this, the welding system S can advantageously weld simultaneously the entire peripheral welding area ZS.

[0082] With further reference to the, the output 13 is separated from the front face 1SA by a separation length L8, preferably greater than 1mm. Such a separation length L8 allows laser welding to be carried out in congested areas, such as for example near a T-junction of a connection fitting as shown in.

[0083] As mentioned previously, the laser radiation from the laser sources 2 is routed and guided from the inputs 12 to the output 13 by an internal channel 11.

[0084] With reference to figures 9 to 10, the internal channel 11 extends into the thickness of the welding collector 1. The internal channel 11 has a front guide wall 31 and a rear guide wall 32 inside the welding collector 1 defined along the X axis on which the laser radiation from the laser source 2 will be reflected so as to cover the entire output 13.

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment, the internal channel 11 is in the form of a single circumferential channel connecting the inputs 12 and the output 13 together.

[0086] In this example, and preferably with reference to the [reference to the previous example], each laser source 2 is oriented along an axis Q2, in the (X, Z) plane, which forms a projection angle α with the longitudinal axis X. Preferably, the projection angle α is between 0 and 80°. This optimizes the position of the coverage of the peripheral welding zone ZS while allowing it to be positioned closer to a T-junction of a connection fitting.

[0087] Preferably, the guide walls 31, 32 are polished to optimize the reflection of laser radiation while retaining its energy, thereby optimizing the energy consumption of the welding process. Preferably, the guide walls 31, 32 are made of a metallic material, for example, copper.

[0088] According to a preferred design, the front guide walls 31 and rear guide walls 32 flare outwards from the inlets 12 towards the outlet 13, thereby increasing the size of the welding zone ZS relative to the emission aperture of the laser sources 2. To this end, preferably, the front guide wall 31 has a first angle of inclination β1 with the plane (Y, Z) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X, preferably between 0 and 30°. This first angle of inclination β1 optimizes the reduction of the separation length L8 while maintaining sufficient mass around the periphery of the welding collector 1 to ensure its structural integrity and resistance to stress.

[0089] Similarly, the rear guide wall 32 has a second angle of inclination β2 with the plane (Y, Z) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X, preferably between 0 and 30°. The second angle of inclination β2 makes it easy to increase the longitudinal length of the outlet 13, in order to increase the size of the welding zone ZS.

[0090] Preferably, as shown in the figure, the front guide walls 31 and rear guide walls 32 begin to flare out from a straight distance L9 from the periphery of the welding collector 1, more precisely from the base of the laser source 2. This allows compliance with the geometric constraints related to the reflective walls.

[0091] To accommodate space constraints and / or fit requirements, the output 13 is offset forward relative to the plane in which the inputs 12 extend. To achieve this, the front end P13A of the output 13 is offset forward along the longitudinal axis X relative to the front end P12A of each input 12 by an initial offset Δ1, which is a function of the space constraints. This initial offset Δ1 allows the output 13 to be moved forward, thus facilitating soldering in areas that are more difficult to access, particularly on the T-connectors. It also ensures sufficient mass around the periphery of the connector 1 to guarantee its structural integrity and resistance to stress, as well as the proper functioning of the laser sources 2.

[0092] Similarly, the rear end P13B of the output 13 is offset forward along the longitudinal axis X relative to the rear end P12B of each input 12 by a second offset Δ2 which is a function of the space constraints.

[0093] A method for using the S welding system will now be described, in order to weld two thermoplastic components A, B so as to make a pipe AB.

[0094] As mentioned previously, in this example, an operator handles and implements the process of using the S welding system. The S welding system could also be implemented in an automated manner in order to eliminate the need for operator intervention.

[0095] With reference to the previous step, E1, the operator inserts the second thermoplastic component B into the rear retaining member 5 and closes the rear retaining member 5 to hold it securely. The operator then inserts the first thermoplastic component A into the welding manifold 1 and the front retaining member 4, and closes the front retaining member 4 to hold it securely.

[0096] With further reference to step E2, the operator aligns the two thermoplastic components A and B and inserts the second thermoplastic component B into the first thermoplastic component A along the longitudinal axis X, creating an overlap portion PR. Preferably, the movable support structure S1 moves automatically towards the fixed support structure S2 to ensure optimal interlocking and precise positioning. Preferably, the weld collector 1 is closed around the overlap portion PR without contacting it. The outlet 13 then extends circumferentially around the overlap portion PR.

[0097] In a third step, E3, the operator activates the two laser sources to perform laser welding on the peripheral welding zone ZS. The wavelength of the two laser sources is determined to ensure optimal welding. Preferably, the wavelength is close to infrared.

[0098] The laser beams from the laser sources 2 travel through the internal channel 11 until they reach the circumferential outlet 13. Preferably, the laser radiation emitted by the laser sources 2 heats the thermoplastic components A, B for a period of 5 to 15 seconds. Preferably, the laser radiation emitted by the laser sources 2 heats the thermoplastic components A, B with a power between 10 and 30 W. The thermoplastic components A, B fuse locally at the weld zone ZS and form a channel AB. The heating is advantageously uniform.

[0099] The welding process allows for the welding of thermoplastic components A and B of varying diameters with diverse space constraints (T-junction, protruding section, etc.) while minimizing the risk of defects. The AB pipe can then be extracted from the welding system S.

Claims

Laser welding system (S) configured to weld together two thermoplastic components (A, B) fitted together along a longitudinal axis (X) extending from back to front, the two thermoplastic components (A, B) having an overlap portion (PR), the laser welding system (S) being configured to perform a weld of the overlap portion (PR) according to a peripheral welding zone (ZS) defined in a welding plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (X), the welding system (S) comprising: a welding collector (1) including: a through-through opening (10) extending along the longitudinal axis (X) configured to allow the positioning of the overlap portion (PR) of the thermoplastic components (A, B), the through-through opening (10) defining an inner face (10i), at least one internal channel (11) for guiding a laser beam,the internal channel (11) comprising a plurality of inlets (12) distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis (X), configured to receive laser sources (2), and a single circumferential outlet (13) formed in the inner face (10i) of the through-through opening (10) so as to weld the peripheral welding zone (ZS) of the laser sources (2) mounted in the inlets (12), wherein the internal channel (11) has front (31) and rear (32) guide walls forming a flare from the inlets (12) towards the outlet (13). Laser welding system (S) according to claim 1, the welding collector (1) comprising an outer periphery, the plurality of inlets (12) is positioned at the outer periphery. Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the welding manifold (1) comprises at least two bodies (1C), preferably articulated, each body (1C) comprising at least one inlet (12). Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the through-through opening (10) is centered in the welding collector (1). Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, each inlet (12) having an inlet diameter (D12), the outlet (13) extending along the longitudinal axis (X) over an outlet length (L13), the outlet length (L13) is greater than the inlet diameter (D12), preferably three times greater. Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, each input (12) is centered with respect to the output (13) along the longitudinal axis (X). Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, each input (12) is longitudinally offset relative to the output (13) along the longitudinal axis (X). Laser welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the through-through opening (10) has an opening diameter (D10) between 26mm and 33mm. A welding method for two thermoplastic components (A, B) fitted together along a longitudinal axis (X) to form a channel (AB) by means of a welding system (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the two thermoplastic components (A, B) having an overlap portion (PR), laser sources (2) being mounted in the inlets (12), the method comprising steps of: Positioning the overlap portion (PR) in the through passage opening (10) of the collector (1) and Activating the laser sources (2) so as to weld the peripheral welding zone (ZS).

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