Resistance Welding Electrode Sealing Structure for Airtight Guide Pin Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric resistance welding electrodes fail to maintain reliable airtightness due to inadequate consideration of the close-contact area size and misalignment of the guide pin, leading to shortened service life and potential air leakage.

Innovation Solution

The width dimension of the movable end surface is set to be less than half of the thickness dimension of the large-diameter portion, increasing surface pressure and embedding any minute metal pieces into the base material, while the medium-diameter portion is designed for two-point support to minimize tilt displacement and ensure airtightness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the close-contact area of the movable end surface is reduced to increase surface pressure, then airtightness is improved and metal pieces are pushed into the base material, but the sealing area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveairtightnessVSAvoidsealing area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the width dimension of the movable end surface to be less than half of the thickness dimension of the large-diameter portion. This dimensional parameter adjustment increases surface pressure to push metal pieces into the base material while maintaining sufficient sealing area, resolving the contradiction between airtightness and sealing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the guide pin is allowed to slide freely, then the sliding part can move smoothly, but misalignment and tilting of the guide pin occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding smoothnessVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the medium-diameter portion with sufficient thickness to receive and cushion external forces acting on the guide pin before they can cause significant misalignment or tilting. This pre-cushioning effect maintains both sliding smoothness and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Area of stationary object

If the width dimension of the movable end surface is increased to provide larger sealing area, then sealing coverage is improved, but surface pressure decreases and metal pieces cannot be pushed into the base material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing areaVSAvoidsurface pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing a specific parameter relationship where the width dimension of the movable end surface is less than half of the thickness dimension of the large-diameter portion. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient surface pressure to push metal pieces into the base material while maintaining adequate sealing area.

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 configuration ensures complete airtightness, prevents air leakage, and maintains a reliable sealing action, even under external forces, thereby improving the working environment and extending the electrode's service life.

Implementation Method 1

the area of the movable end surface is reduced to increase a pressurizing force of the movable end surface against a stationary inner end surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

an end surface of a sliding part made of a synthetic resin material is brought into close contact with or separated from an inner end surface formed on an electrode main body, thereby ventilating and blocking cooling air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3670065B1Electric resistance welding electrode and method of maintaining airtightness
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 AOYAMA SHOJI
  • EP3670065B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3670065B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3670065B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A guide hole 6 is constituted of a large-diameter hole 7, a medium-diameter hole 8, and a small-diameter hole 9. A sliding part 13 fitted in the guide hole 6 is formed of a synthetic resin material, a large-diameter portion 24 of the sliding part 13 is fitted in the large-diameter hole 7 in a slidable state, and a medium-diameter portion 25 is fitted in the medium-diameter hole 8 in a slidable state. A movable end surface 33 of the sliding part 13 is configured to be in close contact with a stationary inner end surface 32 of the guide hole 6. By configuring a width dimension W1 of the movable end surface to be less than half of a thickness dimension W3 of the large-diameter portion 24, a pressurizing force of the movable end surface 33 is increased and a minute metal piece 34 is pushed from the movable end surface 33 into a base material of the sliding part 13, and a thickness dimension of the medium-diameter portion 25 is set large.