Rotating Shielding Gas Device for Continuous Corner Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shielding devices for laser welding are limited in their ability to apply shielding gas continuously during vertical welds, particularly when dealing with three-dimensional corners, requiring frequent removal and repositioning, which interrupts the welding process and leads to contamination defects.
Innovation Solution
A rotating shielding device that straddles the weld joint, with an axle for receiving shielding gas and directing it along the seam as it rotates, allowing continuous application of shielding gas during vertical welds, including those with three-dimensional corners, without the need for device removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional shielding devices are used for vertical welds, then shielding gas can be applied to the weld pool, but the welding process must be interrupted frequently for device removal and repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic rotating device that can continuously follow the weld pool along complex three-dimensional paths. The rotation mechanism allows the device to adapt to corner geometries without interruption, maintaining shielding gas flow continuity while enabling uninterrupted welding through dynamic repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating shielding device maintains continuous shielding gas application throughout the welding process, eliminating interruptions that occur with conventional devices. The device rotates continuously to follow the weld pool trajectory, ensuring uninterrupted protection of the weld pool from atmospheric contamination while maintaining continuous welding operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional shielding devices are used for three-dimensional corners, then shielding can be provided, but frequent device removal and repositioning is required
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating shielding device dynamically adapts to three-dimensional corner geometries by rotating to follow the weld pool path. This continuous rotation eliminates the need for device removal and repositioning, maintaining uninterrupted shielding gas flow and preventing contamination while progressing through complex weld paths without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism acts as an intermediary that enables the shielding device to navigate complex three-dimensional corner geometries. By introducing rotational motion as an intermediate degree of freedom, the device can smoothly transition around corners while maintaining continuous shielding gas application, avoiding interruptions that would otherwise occur.
3Productivity
If laser welding is performed in ambient air, then the process is simple and fast, but contamination defects occur in the weld pool
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating shielding device delivers shielding gas to create a localized inert atmosphere around the weld pool, protecting it from atmospheric contamination while maintaining the simplicity and speed of laser welding in ambient air. The device rotates to follow the weld pool, ensuring continuous inert gas coverage without requiring the entire welding environment to be controlled.
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
Enables uninterrupted, high-quality welding by maintaining a continuous shielding gas flow along complex weld paths, reducing contamination and improving weld integrity by preventing ambient air from contacting the weld pool.
Implementation Method 1
The beam provides a concentrated heat source, allowing for narrow, deep welds and high welding rates. The laser beam is focused toward a seam or area which causes the materials to form change from solid to liquid (the molten, liquid area being referred to as a 'weld pool')
Implementation Method 2
introducing an inert or semi-inert gas (referred to as a 'shielding gas') to prevent ambient air from contacting the weld pool until it is cool enough. For example, ambient air may be displaced by a shielding gas in order to prevent atmospheric contamination of the molten material
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of forming a weld joint using rotating shielding devices are disclosed. To form the weld joint, the rotating shielding device may be moved continuously along a seam formed between two structures being welded, so as to avoid having to remove the rotating shielding device during, for example, welding around corners. In this manner, disclosed methods of welding may improve efficiency of techniques such as vertical welding. During welding, rotating shielding devices may be coupled to a shielding gas supply, such that the shielding gas exits through an outlet formed in an axle of the rotating shielding device as the device is rotated and moved along the seam. The rotating shielding device may contain a plurality of partitions defining one or more chambers, the partitions and chambers being positioned between spaced-apart rotating portions, with the rotating shielding device configured to direct the shielding gas towards the weld pool during welding.