Annular Shielding Jig for Wide-Range Titanium Arc Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas-shielded metal arc welding with active metals like titanium faces challenges in preventing oxidation and nitrogen inclusion due to insufficient gas shielding, especially in additive manufacturing, where current shielding jigs fail to maintain a stable gas shielding property over a wide range and are restricted by welding direction.
Innovation Solution
A shielding jig attached to the welding torch, featuring a first outer shell member, a gas supply member, and a dispersing member, which creates a radial annular space to uniformly disperse shielding gas, ensuring effective gas shielding over a wider area and improving the gas shielding property by controlling the flow velocity and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shielding jig is used for gas-shielded metal arc welding, then the welding process can be performed, but the gas shielding property is insufficient and unstable over a wide range
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding jig is divided into multiple independent gas supply members (first gas supply member, second gas supply member, third gas supply member) that can supply shielding gas to different regions separately. This segmentation allows each gas supply member to be optimized for specific welding directions and positions, improving overall shielding reliability while maintaining flexibility in welding direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point or single-direction shielding approach to a multi-dimensional shielding system. Gas supply members are arranged in different spatial positions and orientations (front, rear, side directions) to provide three-dimensional shielding coverage. This dimensional expansion ensures stable gas shielding properties regardless of welding direction, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Area of stationary object
If the shielded range is increased to cover adjacent weld beads, then gas shielding coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each gas supply member is designed to perform multiple functions: supplying shielding gas to the welding zone, extending coverage to adjacent weld beads, and adapting to different welding directions. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve wide shielded range without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same structural elements serve multiple protective purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding jig employs local quality by providing enhanced shielding coverage specifically where needed (adjacent weld beads and front/rear regions) rather than uniformly across all areas. Gas supply members are strategically positioned to concentrate shielding gas flow in critical zones, achieving extended effective shielded range while maintaining simple overall structure.
3Reliability
If shielding gas flow velocity is increased to prevent oxygen and nitrogen inclusion, then gas shielding effectiveness is improved, but gas consumption and energy use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The total gas supply is segmented and distributed across multiple gas supply members positioned at different locations. Each member supplies shielding gas at optimized local flow velocities to prevent oxygen and nitrogen inclusion in its specific zone. This segmentation reduces overall gas consumption compared to a single high-velocity supply system, as gas is delivered efficiently only where and when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles to control shielding gas flow through multiple channels. By distributing gas supply through multiple members with controlled flow rates, the system achieves effective prevention of oxygen and nitrogen inclusion while optimizing gas consumption. The pneumatic distribution network allows precise control of gas velocity and pressure in different regions, reducing energy waste.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides stable and wide-range gas shielding during gas-shielded metal arc welding, effectively reducing oxygen and nitrogen inclusion in the weld bead, enhancing the quality of additively manufactured objects by ensuring a reliable gas shielding effect regardless of welding direction.
Implementation Method 1
a dispersing member that is disposed below the first gas supply member in the first annular space, and is configured to disperse the shielding gas
Implementation Method 2
Gas-shielded metal arc welding in which a shielding gas (inert gas) is supplied to a weld to shield the weld from air to prevent oxidation
Data Source
AI summary
A shielding includes a first outer shell member that surrounds a welding torch, is disposed to form a radial gap from the welding torch, and is configured to define a first annular space having a first opening in a bottom portion thereof, a first gas supply member disposed to surround the welding torch inside the first outer shell member, and configured to supply a shielding gas to the first annular space, and a dispersing member disposed below the first gas supply member in the first annular space, and configured to disperse the shielding gas.