Electric Weld Cutting Jaw Drive for Lower Weight and Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weld cutting machines are heavy, complex, and environmentally unfriendly due to hydraulic systems, making them difficult for single-person handling and costly to maintain, with expensive and complex cutting jaws.

Innovation Solution

A weld cutting machine utilizing a mechanical drive system with a planetary gear and chain/wheel mechanism, powered by a high-speed electric motor, featuring lightweight design, adjustable guide members, and easily replaceable cutting jaws, reducing weight and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If hydraulic systems are used to drive the cutting jaws, then adequate cutting forces are delivered, but the machine becomes heavy and environmentally unfriendly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting forceVSAvoidmachine weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the hydraulic drive system with a direct mechanical drive system using a crank mechanism. The crank is rotated by an impactor (pneumatic or electric) to directly drive the cutting jaws, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid and pumps. This substitution maintains adequate cutting forces while significantly reducing machine weight and environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If hydraulic systems are used to drive the cutting jaws, then adequate cutting forces are delivered, but the machine becomes complex and expensive to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting forceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex hydraulic system with a simpler direct mechanical drive. The crank mechanism directly converts rotational motion from the impactor into the reciprocating motion needed for cutting, eliminating hydraulic hoses, seals, pumps, and fluid management systems. This reduces both structural complexity and maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic system entirely from the machine design. By eliminating the hydraulic subsystem, the overall system complexity is reduced, and maintenance burden is decreased while the core cutting function is preserved through the mechanical crank-driven approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If traditional cutting jaws are used, then adequate cutting performance is achieved, but they are expensive and complex to exchange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting performanceVSAvoidjaw replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cutting jaw into separate, modular segments that can be independently replaced. The jaw is designed as a composite structure with replaceable cutting edges or inserts, allowing only the worn cutting portion to be exchanged rather than the entire jaw assembly. This segmentation maintains cutting performance while significantly improving ease of repair and reducing replacement costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 machine is significantly lighter, enabling single-person handling, more cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly, with improved cutting efficiency and reduced maintenance costs, achieving maximum power of over 10 tonnes with a weight reduction of approximately half that of hydraulic machines.

Implementation Method 1

A weld cutting machine utilizing a mechanical drive system with a planetary gear and chain/wheel mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a mechanical drive system with a planetary gear and chain/wheel mechanism, powered by a high-speed electric motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 3

utilizing a mechanical drive system with a planetary gear and chain/wheel mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChain and wheel transmission: Chain

Implementation Method 4

powered by a high-speed electric motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric motor conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3817879B1Weld cutting machine and method for cutting welds
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 UTV CENT AB
  • EP3817879B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3817879B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3817879B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This invention relates to a weld cutting machine,comprising a first cutting jaw part (4) and a second cutting jaw part (5), a base frame (500) having fixedly attached thereto said second cutting jaw part (5), a power unit and a transmission mechanism (3), wherein said power unit is connected to said transmission mechanism (3) to arrange for movement of at least one of said cutting jaw parts (4, 5), and wherein connecting members are arranged to enable said at least one cutting jaw part (4, 5) to move in a guided manner relative said second cutting jaw part (5), wherein said power unit is an electric motor (2) and that said connecting members include at least two rods (6),each rod (6) being arranged with at least one set of threads (63, 64) arranged to transfer torque applied via said transmission mechanism (3) to said rods (6) to provide linear movement of said at least one cutting jaw part (4, 5), wherein said transmission mechanism (3) includes at least two parts (31, 32) a first reduction transmission (31) arranged to reduce the incoming rotational speed from the electric motor (2) and a second dividing transmission (32) arranged to transmit the outgoing torque from said first reduction transmission (31) synchronously to both of said at least two rods (6).