Laser Welded Baffle Plate Groove Structure for Engine Oil Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

In laser welding of a groove member to a baffle plate in an engine cylinder head cover, weld flashes often enter the groove and clog supply holes, leading to insufficient lubrication due to the inner edges of weld portions facing the groove's interior.

Innovation Solution

A laser welding structure where a pair of wall portions on at least one of the members separates the groove's interior from the weld portions, with protrusions and contact surfaces on the second member that are melted and integrated during welding, preventing weld flashes from entering the groove and ensuring a sealed passage for lubricating oil supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If laser welding is performed by using laser light on the baffle plate and groove member, then the members are welded to each other at both ends of the opening, but weld flashes are created that can fall in the groove and clog the supply holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweld strengthVSAvoidweld flash clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The groove member is divided into a groove body portion and a flash prevention portion. The flash prevention portion is positioned to receive and contain weld flashes, preventing them from entering the groove interior and clogging supply holes. This segmentation isolates the harmful weld flashes from the functional groove area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flash prevention portion acts as an intermediary structure between the weld portions and the groove interior. It receives weld flashes generated during laser welding and contains them, preventing direct contact with the groove interior and supply holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the inner edges of weld portions face the interior of the groove, then welding can be performed at both ends of the opening, but the weld flashes created during welding can enter the groove and clog the supply holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding accessibilityVSAvoidlubrication supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The groove member is segmented into a groove body portion for lubrication flow and a flash prevention portion positioned at the opening ends. This segmentation allows weld portions to be located at the ends for ease of manufacture while the flash prevention portion blocks weld flashes from entering the groove interior, maintaining lubrication supply reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flash prevention portion converts the harmful effect of weld flashes into a contained feature. By positioning the flash prevention portion to receive weld flashes, the structure uses the natural direction of flash ejection to contain them outside the groove, transforming a harmful byproduct into a controlled element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Prevents weld flashes from entering the groove, maintaining the lubricating oil supply by creating a sealed passage that prevents clogging of supply holes, ensuring proper lubrication of engine components.

Implementation Method 1

the members are laser welded at weld portions at both sides of an opening of the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser welding: Laser Beam Welding

Implementation Method 2

protrusions are formed at predetermined intervals on a side of each flange portion, a weld portion is integrally formed between each projection and the first member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2058110B1Laser welded structure and laser welding method
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK
  • EP2058110B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2058110B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2058110B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A laser welding structure and a laser welding method are provided that prevent weld flash generated during welding from entering the interior of a groove from a weld portion. With a baffle plate 13 and a plate-shaped groove member 15 having a groove 15a overlapped, the baffle plate 13 and the groove member 15 are laser welded to each other at weld portions 17 outside of both sides of the opening of the groove 15a. Wall portions 18 are formed on at least one of the baffle plate 13 and the groove member 15 to separate the interior of the groove 15a from the weld portions 17.