Welding Electrode Coolant Drawback to Prevent Removal Spillage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid cooling systems for welding electrodes in resistance welding machines suffer from significant coolant loss when electrodes are removed, leading to spillage, which is hazardous and inefficient, especially in high electrical current environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that includes a drawback mechanism to actively retract coolant from the fluid paths when electrodes are partially or fully detached, utilizing a piston and chamber configuration to prevent spillage and ensure safe maintenance or repair procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If welding electrodes are removed from the welding machine, then maintenance or repair can be performed, but substantial liquid coolant spillage occurs which is harmful to equipment and hazardous to personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by drawing back coolant from the electrode cooling channels before the electrode is fully removed. The drawback mechanism activates in anticipation of electrode removal, retracting coolant into a reservoir to prevent spillage when the electrode is detached from the welding machine.
Solution Approach 2:
A drawback mechanism serves as an intermediary between the coolant supply system and the electrode cooling channels. This mechanism includes a piston, chamber, and fluid path that mediate the coolant flow, controlling it to retract into a reservoir rather than spill when electrodes are removed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coolant flow is simply shut off at the source when electrode is lost or removed, then some spillage is reduced, but spillage still occurs from liquid already circulating in the cooling system
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts coolant from the circulating cooling system and transfers it to a reservoir using the drawback mechanism. When an electrode is removed or lost, the piston-driven mechanism actively pulls coolant out of the electrode cooling channels and stores it, preventing both spillage and permanent loss of the coolant fluid.
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
The system effectively reduces or eliminates coolant loss, ensuring safety and efficiency by proactively drawing back coolant into a chamber when electrodes are removed, thereby preventing spillage and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The first drawback element may include at least a piston and a chamber, the piston configured to drawback the liquid coolant away from the gap and into the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A first electrode coolant path is configured to cool a first welding electrode by liquid coolant flowing from a supply path through the first electrode coolant path to a return path. A second electrode coolant path is configured to cool a second welding electrode by liquid coolant flowing from the supply path through the second electrode coolant path to the return path. Three or more valves are configured to stop or reduce liquid coolant flow through the first or second electrode coolant path and configured to stop or reduce liquid coolant backflow from the return path when the first or second welding electrode is at least partially detached. At least one valve is coupled in the first or second electrode coolant path. A drawback apparatus generates a suction force to draw liquid coolant away from a gap formed when the first or second welding electrode is at least partially detached.