DE102019009226B3 - Nozzle device and hot gas welding system - Google Patents

Abstract

Nozzle device (12), in particular for hot-gas welding, with at least one gas supply line (28) for supplying a gas flow (44) to a workpiece (14) to be welded and with a porous structure (30) for equalizing a gas passing through the gas supply line (28) and /or the gas flow (44) emerging from the gas supply line (28), the gas supply line (28) being designed to supply a gas flow (44) to a circumferential outer peripheral surface (52) of a workpiece (14) to be welded, the gas supply line (28) has an outlet (29) running all around along an inner circumference (54), the outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28) being directed radially inwards at least in sections and the porous structure (30) being produced together with the gas supply line (28). and/or wall sections (32) delimiting the gas supply line (28) and/or nozzle components (34, 36) are produced together with the porous structure (30).

Description

The invention relates to a nozzle device, in particular for hot gas welding. The invention also relates to a hot gas welding system, in particular for hot gas welding of plastic workpieces.

Hot gas is used to weld workpieces, especially plastic workpieces. For this purpose, the workpieces to be welded are heated using hot gas and then joined or brought together. It is known to use nozzle devices comprising a plurality of small tubes for supplying hot gas to the weld areas of a workpiece. The arrangement or extent of the tubes can be adapted or selected with regard to the geometry of the workpieces to be welded.

However, the use of the above-mentioned tubes for the supply of hot gas can lead to only punctiform or non-uniform heating of the welding areas. In addition, such small tubes can only be adapted to complex geometries of the workpieces to be welded with difficulty or only with great effort. This makes it even more difficult to supply hot gas precisely and evenly to the welding areas of the workpieces to be welded. Overall, the welding results to be achieved in each case can be impaired as a result.

From the prior art in the DE 10 2015 114 380 A1 a heating unit is known, comprising at least two heating devices for at least partially heating with hot air end regions of packaging casings to be sealed, the heating unit having an air supply device for supplying air to be heated to the heating devices, the heating devices each having a heating element for generating hot air and a nozzle unit for blowing the end region of the packing jacket with the hot air generated in the heating device.

The state of the art from the publication U.S. 3,488,244 A relates to a device for heat sealing, in particular for heat sealing bags or bags. The device according to U.S. 3,488,244 A has a nozzle device with two oppositely arranged gas outlets for supplying a gas flow onto a material to be welded. A porous metal insert is inserted into each gas exit channel, which metal insert may be a porous bronze material.

The state of the art from the publication DE 37 40 426 A1 relates to a device for heating the edge area of a plastic lid, with an air heater being connected via a supply pipe to a distributor which has a chamber, on the side of which facing away from the supply pipe are connected several pipelines which open into an annular channel which is provided with an annular nozzle gap is.

Finally, the pamphlet concerns DE 34 01 959 A1 a device for hot gas welding, in particular for sealing or closing hollow bodies, with a nozzle for activating a sealing or seam area inside an opening of the hollow body, with a slot arrangement in the nozzle for directing the gas out of the opening and for activating the sealing or seam area when the nozzle is in the working position, and with a gas guide element which serves as a heat shield for a product content in the hollow body.

Against the background set out above, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a nozzle device that enables hot gas to be supplied precisely or evenly to welding regions of workpieces to be welded. The task was also to specify a nozzle device that can be adapted to complex workpiece geometries with greater accuracy. Furthermore, the task consisted in specifying a hot-gas welding system that can be operated flexibly and that enables weld seams to be produced with increased accuracy.

With regard to the nozzle device, this object has been solved by the subject-matters of claims 1 and 2, respectively. A hot gas welding system according to the invention is specified in claim 13. Advantageous configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims and are explained below.

A nozzle device according to the invention is suitable in particular for hot gas welding, particularly preferably for hot gas welding of plastic workpieces. A nozzle device according to the invention has at least one gas supply line for supplying a gas flow to a workpiece to be welded and a porous structure for equalizing a gas flow passing through the gas supply line and/or exiting the gas supply line.

By providing a porous structure, the welding areas of the workpieces to be welded can be particularly be heated evenly. In particular, only local heating can be avoided in this way. Welding results of improved quality can thus be achieved.

The term "porous" is intended to refer generally to structures that have a large number of cavities or cavity structures. Such cavities or cavity structures can be formed, for example, as pores or cavities. As an alternative or in addition, such cavities or cavity structures can be formed as irregularly arranged and/or irregularly formed through-channels. For the purposes of the present invention, such cavities, pores or cavities or passage channels can be very small openings, cavities and/or gas-permeable channel structures.

The porosity can be understood as meaning the ratio of the cavity volume relative to the entire solid body volume or relative to the volume of the respective solid body section. Porosity can thus be a measure of the void volume within a solid or structure. For the purposes of the present invention, a porous structure can also be understood to mean a porous solid structure. Such a solid structure can be rigid or flexibly deformable.

A porous structure can provide a relatively high level of gas permeability while providing proper gas distribution due to deceleration and/or turbulence. Finally, the arrangement of a porous structure makes it possible to set or influence the permeability and/or equalization of the gas flow in a targeted manner.

Overall, by using a porous structure, particularly homogeneous weld seams can be produced that meet high mechanical stability requirements and also high optical requirements. In addition, the use of a porous structure according to the invention makes it possible to achieve finer or more precise weld seams, in particular with regard to the width of the weld seam. Finally, a porous structure allows for shorter welding times due to more even heating of the welding areas.

According to a preferred configuration of the nozzle device, the porous structure can be arranged and/or formed at least in sections in and/or on the gas supply line. By arranging or designing the porous structure in the gas supply line, the gas flow can be evened out even within the gas supply line, as a result of which the risk of non-uniform gas exiting from the gas supply line can be reduced. Arranging or forming the porous structure on the gas supply line can reduce the design effort or increase the flexibility in the gas supply to the workpieces to be welded.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the gas supply line can be produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing. In particular, wall sections and/or nozzle components delimiting the gas supply line can be produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing. A high degree of shaping flexibility can be achieved in this way. The gas supply line or the wall sections and/or nozzle components that delimit the gas supply line can be adapted particularly precisely to the workpieces to be welded by means of additive manufacturing. As a result, hot gas streams can be guided very precisely to the respective welding areas, which means that further improved welding results can be achieved.

In a further preferred manner, the porous structure can be produced by means of additive manufacturing and/or by means of sintering. Additive manufacturing can be used to create particularly complex shapes with little effort. Sintering allows a porous structure to be manufactured at low cost. Some additive manufacturing processes can include sintering as a process step.

The porous structure can also be foam-shaped. The porous structure can in particular be metal foam and/or ceramic foam. Such foam structures can be made relatively large in volume with little effort and thus achieve particularly good equalization. Likewise, the porous structure can be formed by fine-meshed network structures, steel wool, felt and/or textile materials. For example, several layers of net, layers of textile or layers of felt can form a porous structure for smoothing out a gas flow. A porous structure designed in this way can be provided inexpensively and at the same time ensures sufficient functionality for the equalization of a gas flow.

According to the invention, the porous structure is produced together with the gas supply line and/or wall sections and/or nozzle components delimiting the gas supply line are common of the porous structure, preferably by means of additive manufacturing. In this way, particularly complex geometries can be generated. In addition, subsequent joining or assembly of the porous structure with the adjoining nozzle components or wall sections can be avoided in this way.

According to a further embodiment, the porous structure can be produced separately from the gas supply line and/or the wall sections and/or nozzle components delimiting the gas supply line. The porous structure can be subsequently inserted into the gas supply line. Such a separate production means there is greater flexibility with regard to the manufacturing processes to be used and the materials to be used. In particular, the wall sections delimiting the gas supply line and/or nozzle components can be made of a different material than the porous structure.

More preferably, the gas supply line can be designed in the form of a slit. Such a slit-shaped configuration of the gas supply line enables hot gas to be supplied particularly uniformly to the welding areas of the respective workpieces. In particular, a porous structure in and/or on a slit-shaped gas supply line allows a particularly high degree of equalization of the respective gas flow.

The gas supply line particularly preferably has a slit-shaped outlet and/or a slit-shaped peripheral outlet. A slit-shaped peripheral outlet can be designed to be completely or partially peripheral. A slit-shaped outlet can thus be formed in the circumferential direction, that is to say transversely to a gas outflow direction, with or without ends. A particularly uniform gas flow can be directed to the welding areas of a workpiece to be welded through a slit-shaped outlet. By forming a slit-shaped outlet all the way around, the respective welding areas can be heated without interruption.

In a further preferred embodiment, the gas supply line and/or the outlet of the gas supply line can have a geometry adapted to a workpiece to be welded. A configuration of the nozzle device or the outlet of the gas supply line that is particularly close to the contour can thus be implemented. In this way, the respective gas flow can be applied particularly precisely to the welding areas of the workpieces and, as a result, particularly uniform heating along the welding areas can also be achieved.

According to the invention, the gas supply line is designed for supplying a gas flow to a peripheral outer peripheral surface or, according to a further independent aspect of the present invention, for supplying a gas flow to a peripheral inner peripheral surface of a workpiece to be welded. Such a design of the nozzle device allows in particular the production of coaxial overlap welds or pipe-in-pipe welds. In this way, in particular, workpieces can be heated all around along their welding areas and then guided coaxially into one another. A suitable welded connection can thus be produced along an overlapping area. Such a coaxial lap weld joint is particularly suitable for welding tubular components.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the gas supply line has an outlet running all around along an outer circumference and that the outlet of the gas supply line is directed radially outward at least in sections. Such a structural configuration of the gas supply line or the outlet of the gas supply line can be used to heat an inner peripheral section of a workpiece to be welded that runs all the way round in a particularly advantageous manner. An inner peripheral portion heated in this way can be welded to an outer peripheral portion of a corresponding workpiece.

According to a further independent aspect of the present invention, it is provided that the gas supply line has an outlet running all around along an inner circumference and that the outlet of the gas supply line is directed radially inwards at least in sections. With such a structural design of the gas supply line or the outlet of the gas supply line, an outer peripheral section of a workpiece to be welded running all around can be heated in a particularly advantageous manner. An outer peripheral portion heated in this way can be welded to an inner peripheral portion of a corresponding workpiece.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the nozzle device, the gas supply line can be defined and/or delimited by at least two nozzle components. Such nozzle components can, for example, delimit a ring-shaped or channel-shaped gas supply line. A multi-part design of the components defining and/or delimiting the gas supply line allows them to be manufactured and then assembled with little effort. This allows the design of Gas supply lines with relatively complex geometries with little effort at the same time.

In a further advantageous manner, the porous structure can be arranged and/or surrounded at least in sections between two nozzle components. As a result, a porous structure produced separately from the nozzle components that define the gas supply line can be arranged in the gas supply line with only little effort. The overall assembly of the nozzle device can thereby be simplified and implemented at low cost.

It can also be advantageous if the porous structure forms and/or delimits an outlet of the gas supply line. The porous structure can more preferably extend to an outlet of the gas supply line and/or protrude from the outlet of the gas supply line. Due to the porous structure, the flow behavior of the hot gas stream during and/or after the exit from the outlet of the gas supply line can be influenced in a targeted manner. The heating of the welding areas of workpieces to be welded can thus be carried out in an even more targeted manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the nozzle device, a gas extraction line can be provided for extracting a gas flow from a workpiece to be welded. Accordingly, a stream of hot gas can be directed onto the workpiece to be welded through the gas supply line. After the hot gas flow has passed and heated up the respective welding area of the workpiece, it can be extracted again via the gas extraction line. Undesirable heating of workpiece sections adjoining the welding area can thus be avoided. This also makes it possible to avoid undesired heating of components of a workpiece to be welded, in particular electronic components (MID-Molded Interconnect Devices) which are arranged on and/or in a workpiece to be welded. Mechanical and/or optical and/or thermal impairments and/or damage to the workpieces to be welded or components of such workpieces outside the respective welding area can be prevented in this way.

More preferably, the gas suction line can run parallel to the gas supply line, at least in sections. A particularly uniform extraction of hot gas can hereby be guaranteed. Furthermore, an inlet of the gas extraction line can be designed in the form of a slit and/or be designed in a slit-like manner all the way around. The gas suction line can thus run correspondingly to the gas supply line. The slit-like configuration can also be implemented with only little effort, in particular by means of a defined arrangement of two corresponding nozzle components.

It can also be advantageous if the gas extraction line and/or the inlet of the gas extraction line has a geometry that is adapted to a workpiece to be welded. In this way, after a defined supply of hot gas to a welding area of a workpiece, an equally defined or precise suction of the hot gas stream can be ensured. The heat input into the respective workpiece can thus be further specified or locally limited, which means that the welding result can be further improved.

A further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a nozzle device, preferably according to the above description, with a gas supply line for supplying a gas flow onto a workpiece to be welded and with a gas suction line for sucking off a gas flow from a workpiece to be welded. A stream of hot gas can be directed through the gas supply line onto the workpiece to be welded and then, after the stream of hot gas has passed through and heated up the respective welding area of the workpiece, it can be sucked off again via the gas extraction line. Undesirable heating of workpiece sections adjoining the welding area can be avoided in this way.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a nozzle device, preferably according to the above description, with a gas supply line for supplying a gas flow to a workpiece to be welded, the gas supply line being produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing. In particular, wall sections and/or nozzle components delimiting the gas supply line can be produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing. This allows a high degree of shaping flexibility to be achieved. The gas supply line or the wall sections and/or nozzle components delimiting the gas supply line can be adapted particularly precisely to workpieces to be welded or manufactured accordingly by means of additive manufacturing. Hot gas streams can be guided very precisely to the respective welding areas, which means that further improved welding results can be achieved.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a nozzle device, preferably according to the above description, with a gas supply line for supplying a gas flow onto a peripheral outer peripheral surface or a peripheral inner peripheral surface of a workpiece to be welded. Such a nozzle device allows the production of coaxial overlap welds or pipe-in-pipe welds. In this way, in particular, workpieces can be heated all around along their welding areas and then guided coaxially into one another. In this way, a suitable welded joint can be produced along an overlapping area.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a hot-gas welding system, in particular for hot-gas welding of plastic workpieces, with a nozzle device described above and with a heat exchanger for heating a gas stream to be conducted into the nozzle device. With such a hot gas welding system, the welding areas of workpieces to be welded can be heated particularly evenly with little effort. Welding results of high quality can thus be achieved.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a hot-gas welding system, in particular for hot-gas welding of plastic workpieces, with a nozzle device, preferably according to the above description, and with a modularly expandable and/or modularly assembled heat exchanger for heating a gas stream to be guided into the nozzle device. With such a modular design, the hot gas welding system can be adapted to different operating conditions with little effort. Depending on the heat output required, a modular extension can be made and the hot gas welding system can be used for more power-intensive welding tasks. The complete replacement of the heat exchanger can thus be avoided.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a hot-gas welding system, in particular for hot-gas welding of plastic workpieces, with a nozzle device, preferably according to the above description, and with a heat exchanger for heating a gas stream to be conducted into the nozzle device, the heat exchanger having a plurality of - Has and/or switchable heat exchanger modules. With heat exchanger modules of this type, the hot gas welding system can be reconfigured with little effort in view of changed operating conditions.

The preferred configurations described above with regard to the nozzle device also apply in the same way to the other independent aspects of the nozzle device and also to the independent aspects of the hot gas welding system.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer hier nicht beanspruchten Heißgasschweißanlange gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung,
• 2 eine Detailansicht A der hier nicht beanspruchten Heißgasschweißanlage von 1 mit einer Düsenvorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung,
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf eine hier nicht beanspruchte Heißgasschweißanlage gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung,
• 4 eine Schnittdarstellung der hier nicht beanspruchten Heißgasschweißanlage von 3 entlang der Linie C-C,
• 5 eine Detailansicht B der hier nicht beanspruchten Heißgasschweißanlage von 4 in Schnittdarstellung,
• 6 eine Explosionsdarstellung einer hier nicht beanspruchten Düsenvorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Offenbarung,
• 7 eine Schnittdarstellung der hier nicht beanspruchten Düsenvorrichtung von 6,
• 8 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer hier nicht beanspruchten Düsenvorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung,
• 9 eine Explosionsdarstellung der hier nicht beanspruchten Düsenvorrichtung von 8,
• 10 eine Draufsicht auf die hier nicht beanspruchte Düsenvorrichtung von 8,
• 11 eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Linie A-A von 10,
• 12 eine Detailansicht C von 11,
• 13 eine Detailansicht D von 11,
• 14 eine Ansicht von zwei Werkstücken für einen Rohr-in-Rohr Verschweißung sowie zugehöriger Düsenvorrichtungen gemäß weiteren Ausführungsbeispielen der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• 15 eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Linie E-E von 14,
• 16 eine Detailansicht E von 15 mit einer Düsenvorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• 17 eine Detailansicht F von 15 mit einer Düsenvorrichtung gemäß einer noch weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• 18 eine Ansicht von zwei miteinander mittels Rohr-in-Rohr Verschweißung verbundenen Werkstücken,
• 19 eine Detailansicht G von 18,
• 20 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines modularen Wärmetauschers gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• 21 eine Schnittdarstellung des Wärmetauschers von 20.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. They show, each schematically:

• 1 a perspective view of a hot gas welding system not claimed here according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
• 2 a detailed view A of the hot gas welding system not claimed here 1 with a nozzle device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
• 3 a plan view of a hot gas welding system not claimed here according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
• 4 a sectional view of the hot gas welding system not claimed here 3 along line CC,
• 5 a detailed view B of the hot gas welding system not claimed here 4 in sectional view,
• 6 an exploded view of a nozzle device not claimed here according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
• 7 a sectional view of the nozzle device not claimed here 6 ,
• 8th a perspective view of a nozzle device not claimed here according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure,
• 9 an exploded view of the nozzle device not claimed here 8th ,
• 10 a top view of the nozzle device not claimed here 8th ,
• 11 a sectional view along the line AA of 10 ,
• 12 a detail view C of 11 ,
• 13 a detailed view D of 11 ,
• 14 a view of two workpieces for a pipe-in-pipe weld and associated nozzle devices according to further embodiments of the present invention,
• 15 a sectional view along the line EE of 14 ,
• 16 a detailed view E of 15 with a nozzle device according to a further embodiment of the present invention,
• 17 a detailed view F of 15 with a nozzle device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention,
• 18 a view of two workpieces connected to each other by means of tube-in-tube welding,
• 19 a detailed view G of 18 ,
• 20 a perspective view of a modular heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention,
• 21 a sectional view of the heat exchanger from 20 .

the 1 shows a perspective view of a hot gas welding system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure not claimed here and 2 shows a detailed view A of the hot gas welding system 10 from FIG 1 . The hot gas welding system 10 is designed in particular for the hot gas welding of plastic workpieces. The hot gas welding system 10 has two nozzle devices 12 through which the hot gas can be directed onto the workpieces 14 to be welded, which will be described in detail below.

The hot-gas welding system 10 also has a heat exchanger 16 which is designed to heat up gas streams to be conducted into the nozzle devices 12 . The heat exchanger 16 can in particular be designed to be modularly expandable and/or composed of modules, which will also be discussed in detail below.

The nozzle devices 12 are arranged on a lifting device 18 . The nozzle devices 12 can be moved between the workpieces 14 to be welded by means of the lifting device 18 and can be moved away again after the respective welding regions of the workpieces 14 have been heated.

The hot gas welding system 10 also has two workpiece holders 20 through which the workpieces 14 to be welded can be accommodated. The workpiece holders 20 can also be referred to as receiving tools and can be adapted in particular to the external geometry of the workpieces 14 to be welded in order to enable the workpieces 14 to be positioned or handled securely. The workpiece holders 20 can each be arranged on a tool slide 22 . The workpiece holders 20 and thus also the workpieces 14 to be welded can be moved towards the nozzle devices 12 and away from them again by means of the two tool slides 22 . After the welding areas of the workpieces 14 have been heated, they can be moved towards one another by means of the tool slide in order to press the heated welding areas together. The welding process can be completed by pressing the heated welding areas of the workpieces 14 together.

the 3 12 shows a plan view of a hot gas welding system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure not claimed here. In 4 12 is a sectional view of the hot gas welder 10 of FIG 3 along line CC and in 5 a detailed view B of the hot gas welding system from 3 shown in section. It can be in the hot gas welding system 10 according to the 3 until 5 to the same embodiment as in the 1 and 2 Act.

As shown in the 3 until 5 the nozzle devices 12 are arranged between the workpieces 14 to be welded. The workpieces 14 are in turn arranged in the workpiece holders 20 . The nozzle devices 12 are attached to the lifting device 18 via the pressure chamber housing 24 . The pressure chamber housings 24 each delimit an air supply chamber 26 via which the hot gas is conducted to the nozzle devices 12 . The nozzle devices 12 can be moved between the workpieces 14 via the lifting device 18, as described above.

Details of the nozzle devices 12 can of 5 be taken, which the detail section B from 4 displays. Each nozzle device 12 has a gas supply line 28 for supplying a gas flow to a workpiece 14 to be welded. The hot gas flows out through the outlets 29 of the gas supply lines 28 onto the welding areas of the workpieces 14.

Furthermore, the nozzle devices 12 are each equipped with a porous structure 30 for smoothing out a gas flow passing through the gas supply line 28 and/or exiting from the gas supply line 28 . The porous structure 30 can be arranged and/or formed within the gas supply line 28, for example. The porous structure 30 can also be produced by means of additive manufacturing and/or by means of sintering. The porous structure can also be formed by a so-called sintered silencer be produced in accordance with such a sintered silencer. The porous structure 30 can also be in the form of a foam. The porous structure 30 can be metal foam and/or ceramic foam, for example. Likewise, the porous structure 30 can be formed by fine-meshed network structures, steel wool, felt and/or textile materials. For example, several mesh layers, textile layers or felt layers can form a porous structure 30 for smoothing out a gas flow.

More preferably, the porous structure 30 can be produced together with the gas supply line 28 . In particular, the wall sections 32 delimiting the gas supply line 28 can be produced together with the porous structure 30, particularly preferably by means of additive manufacturing. Particularly complex geometries can be created on these.

By providing a porous structure 30, a particularly uniform gas flow can be directed to the welding areas of the workpieces 14 to be welded, so that particularly uniform heating and consequently also a high welding quality can be achieved.

the 6 12 shows an exploded view of a nozzle device 12 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure that is not claimed here and FIG 7 shows a sectional view of the nozzle device 12 of FIG 6 . In the nozzle device 12 in the 6 and 7 it can be the same embodiment of nozzle device 12 as in FIGS 3 until 5 act shown.

The nozzle device 12 according to 6 and 7 has a nozzle component 34 on the pressure chamber side and a nozzle component 36 on the outlet side. The two nozzle components 34 and 36 define in the assembled position, as in 7 shown, the gas supply line 28 and the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28. In particular, nozzle components 34 and 36 have wall sections 32, through which the gas supply line 28 is delimited. The porous structure 30 is arranged between the nozzle components 34 and 36 or surrounded by the nozzle components 34 and 36 . As a result, the porous structure is arranged within the gas supply line 28 and can ensure that the hot gas flow is equalized within the gas supply line 28 and also after it has exited the outlet 29 . In order to fix the nozzle components 34 and 36, they can each have a bore 38 through which fixing means can be inserted or passed.

the 8th shows a perspective view of a nozzle device 12 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure not claimed here and in FIG 9 12 is an exploded view of the nozzle assembly 12 of FIG 8th shown. 10 shows a top view of the nozzle device 12 of FIG 8th and 11 a sectional view along the line AA of 10 . Finally shows 12 a detail view C of 11 and 13 a detailed view D of 11 .

The nozzle device 12 according to 8th until 13 differs from the nozzle device according to 6 and 7 in particular with regard to the shape or the geometry of the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28. The outlet 29 extends according to FIG 8th via different exit levels. The gas supply line 28 or the outlet 29 has, in particular, a free-form geometry that can be implemented particularly preferably through the use of additive manufacturing processes. The outlet 29 can thus be brought particularly close to the contour of the welding areas of the workpieces 14 to be welded. As a result, particularly uniform heating can be ensured.

The 8th and 10 can also be seen that the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28 runs all around, in particular runs all the way around. The welding areas of the workpiece 14 can thus be heated without interruption.

The exploded view in 9 as well as the sectional view in 11 the individual components of the nozzle device 12 according to this exemplary embodiment can be removed. The nozzle device in turn has a nozzle component 34 on the pressure chamber side and a nozzle component 36 on the outlet side. The nozzle components 34 and 36 delimit the gas supply line 28 in which the porous structure 30 is also arranged. The pressure-chamber-side nozzle component 34 is fixed to the pressure-chamber housing 24 .

In addition, ensures the nozzle device 12 according to 8th until 13 also a suction functionality for hot gas, which will be discussed in more detail below. Thus, the nozzle device 12 according to 8th until 13 an end nozzle component 40 on. Between the nozzle component 40 on the end and the nozzle component on the outlet side, a gas suction line 42 is formed, which in particular can be seen in the detailed views in FIGS 12 and 13 can be removed. Thus, a gas flow 44 is directed via the gas supply line 28 to a welding area of a workpiece 14 and then sucked off again via the gas suction line 42 . This way can undesired heating of material sections of the workpieces 14 adjoining the welding area can be avoided.

The 12 and 13 it can also be seen that the workpiece can have different material thicknesses X and Y along different areas. The dimension of the gas supply line 28 or the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28 can be adapted to these different material thicknesses X and Y, so that uniform heating is ensured.

14 shows a view of two workpieces 14 for a pipe-in-pipe weld and associated nozzle devices 12 according to further exemplary embodiments of the present invention. the 15 shows a sectional view along the line EE of FIG 14 . the 16 shows the detailed view E of 15 with a nozzle device 12 according to a further embodiment of the present invention and the 17 shows the detailed view F of 15 with a nozzle device 12 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The nozzle device 12 according to 16 also has a nozzle component 34 on the pressure chamber side and a nozzle component 36 on the outlet side. The gas supply line 28 in which the porous structure 30 is also arranged is delimited by the nozzle components 34 and 36 . The gas supply line 28 is in accordance with 16 designed to direct a gas flow onto a circumferential inner peripheral surface 46 of a workpiece 14 to be welded. For this purpose, the gas supply line 28 according to 16 have an outlet 29 running all around along an outer circumference 48 or the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28 can be directed radially outward at least in sections.

the 16 can also be seen that the porous structure 30 is ring-shaped, but the inside 50 of the porous structure 30 tapers. This conical or slanted design of the inner side 50 can ensure a further improved equalization of the gas flow 44 .

The nozzle device 12 according to 17 also has a nozzle component 34 on the pressure chamber side and a nozzle component 36 on the outlet side. The gas supply line 28 is delimited by the nozzle components 34 and 36, in which the porous structure 30 is also arranged. The gas supply line 28 is in accordance with 17 designed to direct a gas flow onto a circumferential outer peripheral surface 52 of a workpiece 14 to be welded. For this purpose, the gas supply line 28 according to 17 have an outlet 29 running all around along an inner circumference 54 or the outlet 29 of the gas supply line 28 can be directed radially inwards at least in sections.

the 17 can also be seen that the porous structure 30 is ring-shaped, but the inside 56 of the porous structure 30 tapers. This conical or slanted design of the inner side 56 can ensure a further improved equalization of the gas flow 44 .

By means of in the 16 and 17 Nozzle devices 12 shown can heat two corresponding workpieces 14 for pipe-in-pipe welding and then bring them together for joining. Such a welding of two workpieces 14 connected to one another by pipe-in-pipe welding is in 18 shown. 19 shows the detailed view G of 18 . The welding of the workpieces 14 according to 18 and 19 is done only along the inner and outer peripheral surfaces 46 and 52 of the workpieces 14. Welding of the workpieces 14 at the front can be avoided in this way.

the 20 shows a perspective view of a modular heat exchanger 16 according to an embodiment of the present invention and in 21 16 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger 16 of FIG 20 shown. The heat exchanger 16 has a plurality of heat exchanger modules 58 which can each be arranged on a module holder 60 . The heat exchanger 16 can be modularly expandable or composed of individual or multiple heat exchanger modules 58 . Depending on the operating conditions, the heat exchanger modules 58 can be flexibly switched on and off in order to change the heat output. The heat exchanger 16 can also be equipped with a supply connection 62 and a withdrawal connection 64 .

The sectional view in 21 Finally, it can be seen that each heat exchanger module 58 has a plurality of heat exchanger plates 66, through which a gas flow can be heated.

Claims (15)

Nozzle device (12), in particular for hot-gas welding, having at least one gas supply line (28) for supplying a gas flow (44) to a workpiece (14) to be welded and having a porous structure (30) to even out a gas passing through the gas supply line (28) and /O the gas flow (44) exiting from the gas supply line (28), the gas supply line (28) being designed to supply a gas flow (44) to a peripheral outer peripheral surface (52) of a workpiece (14) to be welded, the gas supply line (28) having a has an outlet (29) running all around along an inner circumference (54), wherein the outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28) is directed radially inwards at least in sections and wherein the porous structure (30) is produced together with the gas supply line (28) and /or wall sections (32) delimiting the gas supply line (28) and/or nozzle components (34, 36) are produced together with the porous structure (30). Nozzle device (12), in particular for hot-gas welding, having at least one gas supply line (28) for supplying a gas flow (44) to a workpiece (14) to be welded and having a porous structure (30) to even out a gas passing through the gas supply line (28) and /or the gas flow (44) emerging from the gas supply line (28), the gas supply line (28) being designed to supply a gas flow (44) to a circumferential inner peripheral surface (46) of a workpiece (14) to be welded, the gas supply line (28) has an outlet (29) running all around along an outer circumference (48), the outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28) being directed radially outwards at least in sections, and the porous structure (30) being produced together with the gas supply line (28). and/or wall sections (32) and/or nozzle components (34, 36) delimiting the gas supply line (28) are produced together with the porous structure (30). Nozzle device (12) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the porous structure (30) is arranged and/or formed at least in sections in and/or on the gas supply line (28). Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas supply line (28) is produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing and/or that wall sections (32) and/or nozzle components (34 , 36) are produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing. Nozzle device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the porous structure (30) is produced by means of additive manufacturing and / or by means of sintering and / or that the porous structure (30) is foam-shaped and / or that the porous structure (30) is formed by fine-meshed network structures, steel wool, felt and/or textile material and/or metal foam. Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the porous structure (30) is produced together with the gas supply line (28) by means of additive manufacturing and/or that the gas supply line (28) is delimited by wall sections (32) and/or nozzle components (34, 36) are produced together with the porous structure (30) by means of additive manufacturing. Nozzle device (12) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the porous structure (30) is produced separately from the gas supply line (28) and/or the wall sections (32) and/or nozzle components (34, 36) delimiting the gas supply line (28) and/or that the porous structure (30) is subsequently inserted into the gas supply line (28). Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas supply line (28) is slot-shaped and/or has a slot-shaped and/or a slot-shaped peripheral outlet (29) and/or that the gas supply line (28) and/or the outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28) has a geometry adapted to a workpiece (14) to be welded. Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas supply line (28) is defined and/or delimited by at least two nozzle components (34, 36) and/or that the porous structure (30) is at least partially between two nozzle components ( 34, 36) is arranged and/or bordered. Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the porous structure (30) forms and/or limits an outlet (29) of the gas supply line and/or that the porous structure (30) extends to an outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28) and/or protrudes from the outlet (29) of the gas supply line (28). Nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gas extraction line (42) is provided for extracting a gas flow (44) from a workpiece (14) to be welded. Nozzle device (12) after claim 11 , characterized in that the gas suction line (42) runs at least in sections parallel to the gas supply line (28) and/or that an inlet of the gas extraction line (42) is embodied in the form of a slit and/or is embodied in a slit-like manner running all the way around and/or that the gas extraction line (42) and/or the inlet of the gas extraction line (42) has a geometry adapted to a workpiece (14) to be welded and/or or that the gas suction line (42) is produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing and/or that the gas suction line (42) is produced at least in sections and/or partially by means of additive manufacturing are. Hot-gas welding system (10), in particular for hot-gas welding of plastic workpieces, with a nozzle device (12) according to one of the preceding claims and with a heat exchanger (16) for heating a gas stream (44) to be conducted into the nozzle device (12). Hot gas welding system (10) according to Claim 13 , characterized in that the heat exchanger (16) is modularly expandable and/or composed of modules. Hot gas welding system (10) according to Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the heat exchanger (16) has a plurality of heat exchanger modules (58) that can be switched on and/or off.

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