Pipe Butt Welding Control With Joint Data Traceability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of welding machines can create faulty or substandard butt welds in high-quality piping systems due to improper operation or use of incorrect pipe segments, especially in complex environments like semiconductor manufacturing and food/pharmaceutical production.
Innovation Solution
A method and welding machine that utilize a control device with a data model of the piping system, storing object data sets for butt weld joints, determining welding parameters, and providing traceable documentation to ensure high-quality welds by eliminating operator errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate machines (edge banding machine, drilling machine, recessing machine, grooving machine) are used for post-processing, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and production time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate post-processing machines (edge banding machine, drilling machine, recessing machine, grooving machine) into a single integrated machine. The machine features a common base with multiple working units that can be selectively activated, allowing all post-processing operations to be performed in one setup rather than requiring multiple separate machines and operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated machine is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple post-processing operations including edge banding, drilling, recessing, and grooving. The machine includes adjustable components and interchangeable tools that enable it to adapt to different processing requirements, making a single machine capable of replacing multiple specialized machines.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate machines are used for post-processing, then operational flexibility is improved, but productivity is worsened due to multiple setup operations
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple post-processing operations into one integrated machine, the patent eliminates the need for multiple setup operations between different machines. The workpiece remains on the same base throughout all operations, allowing sequential processing without removal and repositioning, thereby improving productivity while maintaining operational flexibility through selective activation of different working units.
3Reliability
If adhesive application is done separately from welding, then process control is improved, but manufacturing precision and efficiency are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the adhesive application unit with the welding unit in a single integrated system. The adhesive applicator is positioned to apply adhesive to the workpiece edge, and the welding electrode is subsequently positioned to perform welding in the same location. This integration ensures precise alignment between adhesive application and welding operations, improving manufacturing precision while maintaining process control through coordinated operation of both functions.
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
Ensures the production of high-quality butt welds by automating the welding process, reducing human error, and providing traceable documentation through a digital data model.
Implementation Method 1
a welding electrode (42) arranged to apply heat to the welding line (L)
Implementation Method 2
an anvil (43) arranged to cool the welding line (L)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a butt-welded joint between pipe segments of a pipe made of a weldable plastics material by means of a welding machine, and to a welding machine (10), wherein: two pipe segments are each received by a respective clamping device (11) of a welding apparatus (21) of the welding machine; weld contact surfaces of pipe end cross sections of the pipe segments are melted by means of a heating device (22) of the welding apparatus and the weld contact surfaces are subsequently pressed against one another to form a butt-welded seam, which interconnects the pipe segments in a joining plane, by a joining pressure from a handling device (18) of the welding apparatus; the welding apparatus is controlled by a controller of the welding apparatus; a data model of a pipeline system having at least one pipe and a plurality of butt-welded joints is stored in the controller of the welding apparatus; the data model comprises at least one object dataset, having relevant attributes, which represents the relevant butt-welded joint; and the controller for the relevant butt-welded joint determines at least one weld parameter of the welding apparatus as an additional attribute, and adds this attribute to the object dataset.