Laser Cladding Powder Supply Pipe Pressure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powder supply methods in laser cladding face challenges in maintaining uniform powder supply to the nozzle, leading to unevenness in the clad layer and instability in the quality of the product, due to variations in outlet pressure and connection pipe lengths.

Innovation Solution

The method involves setting the outlet pressure of the powder supply pipe within a predetermined range and adjusting the length of connection pipes to stabilize the powder supply, ensuring consistent powder distribution to the nozzle, thereby reducing variations and enhancing the quality of the clad layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the feeding distances of supply paths are set to the same for respective filling regions, then simultaneous powder discharge from respective filling regions is achieved, but uniform supply amount of powder to respective filling regions cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous powder discharge timingVSAvoiduniformity of powder supply amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by setting different feeding distances for different supply paths based on their specific characteristics. Each supply path has its feeding distance optimized locally to compensate for variations in flow resistance, ensuring uniform powder supply amount to each filling region while maintaining simultaneous discharge timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the outlet pressure of supply pipe is not controlled, then powder supply flexibility is maintained, but variation in powder supply amount increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder supply flexibilityVSAvoidconsistency of powder supply amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the outlet pressure of the supply pipe within a specific range. This pressure control parameter is used to regulate the powder supply amount, reducing variations while maintaining supply flexibility. The outlet pressure serves as a key parameter that balances adaptability and precision in powder delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach effectively reduces powder supply variations, stabilizes the clad layer quality, and ensures consistent product quality by maintaining the outlet pressure and connection pipe lengths within specific ranges, thereby improving the uniformity and reliability of the cladding process.

Implementation Method 1

powder is force-fed and supplied from a powder source to a powder cladding nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2946871B1Powder supply method in laser cladding

Publication Date: 2017.05.24 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

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AI summary

In a powder supply method in cladding, an outlet pressure of a coaxial-nozzle-(7) side of a supply pipe (11) connecting a feeder (10) to a coaxial nozzle (7) is set within a predetermined range, and powder is supplied from the feeder (10) to the coaxial nozzle (7).