FR2477050A1 - MACHINE FOR LOADING MECHANICAL PARTS BY THE "PLASMA" PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A machine for the recharging of mechanical components using the "plasma" method, of the type comprising a torch (4) and a powder distributor (2), with a rotary disc (22) having a vertical axis (23) and a scraper (27) for the supply of the torch (4), the powder being removed towards the periphery of the disc (22) and flowing from there via a conduit (5, 6) to the torch (4), characterised in that the powder distributor comprises at least one gas injector (31) comprising a receiver in the form of a funnel (33) disposed below the periphery of the rotary disc (22) and rising above a diffusor (32) with a lateral gas inlet (37) and gas intake apertures (38), the shape of the diffusor (32) and the arrangement of the intake apertures (38) being such that a gas eddy is created, into which the powder is sprayed, an outlet (40) disposed at the base of the injector (31) under the diffusor (32) being connected, via the conduit (5, 6), to the torch (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for reloading

  mechanical parts by "plasma" process,

therefore using an arc formed by an ionized gas column.

We already know machines of this kind, which include

  In any case, there is a torch and a powder distributor supplying said torch. However, current reloading machines have, in operation, limited performances, which the present invention proposes to improve, in particular in the following aspects:

  powder saving, dilution rate control, increased

deposit rate (in welded reloading), position

  torch mobility and mobility, ease of control and maneuverability, both for the powder dispenser and

  for the torch, so as to make a ration machine

nal and effective. The invention also aims to provide a

  universal machine, allowing recharging by projection

  tion, as well as the welded reload, and programmable in

pre- and post-welding.

  To this end, the machine according to the invention for reloading mechanical parts by the "plasma" process, of the type comprising a torch and a powder distributor, with a rotating disc of vertical axis and scraper, feeding said torch, is essentially characterized by the made

  that the powder distributor has at least one injection

gas tor, disposed below the periphery of the rotary disc, and having its outlet connected, by a direct conduit,

torch.

This injector allows the powder to be aspirated and conveyed under pressure, by a "carrier" gas, to the torch, avoiding any clogging of the conduits by the very dense powder. Preferably, two gas injectors are arranged, diametrically opposite, below the periphery of the same rotating disc, associated with two scrapers and receiving the powder by two symmetrical funnel-shaped holes, each of the two injectors having its outlet

connected, by a corresponding conduit, to the torch.

  a drawer, horizontally movable, is provided.

  lying so that, in one position, one of the two funnel-shaped holes can be closed when you want

  use a single feed torch.

According to another characteristic, to obtain a correct distribution of the powder on the rotary disc, without scattering, a guide sleeve, rubbing on the upper face of the disc, is freely mounted in the cylindrical lower part of each hole in

funnel shape.

  As regards the structure of the injector or injectors, each of them comprises in particular a receiver, in the form of a funnel, surmounting a diffuser, as well as a lateral gas inlet, the conformation of the diffuser

  being such that a gas vortex is created, in the-

  which powder is being sprayed. Preferably, for a purpose

pressure balancing, each injector is open

  be connected by a channel to the chamber containing the rotating disc. The supply of powder is ensured, according to another characteristic, by means of two jars arranged above a body forming a collector, which overcomes the

  part containing the rotating disc, a movable drawer

  horizontally cabled in said body allowing

  be in use one or the other of the two jars of powder.

  These provisions allow use and filling.

wise of the two jars, which can be facilitated

tee by providing, at the base of each jar, a means of

  level control (magnetic detector) * The dis-

  positive can even be further perfected, in assefvis-

sant the operation of the drawer at the level detection signal, and / or providing for the automatic stop of the machine if the control means detect an absence

  powder simultaneously in the two jars.

  The various characteristics previously defined

allow high-speed operation with for example-

  full, in welded reloading, a deposit rate of around del5

  kg / h (against 3 to 5 kg / h for current machines).

  According to another aspect of the invention, the torch,

supplied from the powder distributor by means of

flexible tubes, is supported by a mobile assembly,

  including a clockwise travel command

  zontal and a vertical drive. This

  mechanical assembly, preferably remotely controlled,

do an exact torch position in longitudinal position

  height and height, without the need for adjustments on the

  china itself. Advantageously, the command to translate

tion horizontal itself comprises, in addition to the means for positioning the torch longitdinalmt, other means which allow to control, in an adjustable manner, a

torch oscillation.

  In a particular embodiment, self-

  risking displacements of great amplitude for an encom-

  slightly minimal, and offering great rigidity as well as

  perfect guides, the mobile assembly in question includes

take:

-a first sub-assembly, with horizontal guide bars

zontales sliding in a fixed support on which the powder dispenser is mounted, a first control screw driven by a motor ensuring movement relative to said fixed support, and with other guide bars, parallel to the first, on which slides horizontally a carriage, movable by means of a second control screw driven by a motor, - a second subassembly with vertical guide bars sliding in the carriage, this subassembly carrying the torch and being vertically movable by means of a third control screw driven by

a motor.

  The motors used will be, in particular, electric stepper motors, allowing centralized digital control of the torch movements. The control screws may be, in whole or in part,

ballscrew.

  In any case, the invention will be better understood at

using the following description, with reference to the drawing

  schematic appended showing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this machine for reloading mechanical parts by the plasma process "& Figure-1 is an overview showing, from

face, the powder distributor, the torch and the device

  movement of said torch; Figure 2 is a side view of this assembly; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, and on a larger scale, of the powder dispenser;

  Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view

  dirty through the same powder dispenser; Figure 5 shows, still on a larger scale, a detail of this powder dispenser; Figure 6 is a section along 6-6 of Figure 5, showing a detail of the injector;

Figure 7 is a plan view from above of the arrangement

displacement torch displacement; Figure 8 is a side view of this device; Figure 9 is a sectional view along 9-9 of Figure 8, showing more particularly the longitudinal positioning means of the torch; Figure 10 is a sectional view along 10-10 of Figure 8, showing more particularly the oscillation control means of the torch; Figure 11 is a sectional view, along 11-11 of Figure 8, showing more particularly the means of

vertical positioning of the torch.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine generally comprises a fixed support 1, above which is mounted a fixed powder distributor 2, the support 1 also serving as a guide for a mobile assembly 3 supporting the torch 4, this being fed from

  the distributor 2, by two flexible conduits 5 and 6.

The powder distributor 2, fixed above the support 1 by means of a vertical plate 7,

  is shown in detail in Figures 3 to 6.

This dispenser comprises a body, formed of a

  upper element 8 and a lower element 9, between the

which is slidably mounted, in a horizontal direction, a first drawer 10. The upper element 8 having two symmetrical recesses 11, serves as a support for two jars 12 made of transparent material, each jar 12 surmounting one

  recesses 11 and being closed at its top by a neck

  removable ring 13. The lower element 9 has a central opening 14 in the form of a funnel. The drawer 10, guided in sliding and stopped by a finger 15 engaged in

  a groove, has a hole 16 making it possible to communicate

  one or the other of the two recesses II with the opening

re 14 located below.

  Below the body formed of elements 8 and 9,

is arranged a sub-assembly consisting of a platinum

  17 and a lower plate 18, between which

  is interposed a ferrule 19 in transparent material.

  In the upper plate 17, below the

  green 14, two symmetrical holes 20 are dug in

funnel shape. A second drawer 21, removable horizontally-

talement, allows to close one of these holes 20.

  The two plates 17 and 18, and the ferrule 19, deli-

  put a room inside which a disc 22

is mounted to rotate around a vertical axis 23. A moto-

reducer 24, mounted on a support 25 fixed itself above

under the lower plate 18, is connected to the disc 22

  by means of a coupling 26.

Two scrapers 27, positioned under the plate

  upper 17 by means of axes 28 (see Figure 4), applicable

  quent on the upper face of the rotating disc 22. In addition, in the cylindrical lower part of each hole 20

  of the plate 17, is mounted a free socket 29, friction

  as it is also on the upper face of the rotating disc 22. The lower plate 18 has two housings

  diametrically opposite, located below the periphery

  disc 22, which receive two respective injectors

  31, the detail of which is clearly visible in FIGS. 5 and 6.

  Each injector 31, of vertical axis, comprises a diffuser 32 surmounted by a receiver 33, these two parts being mounted in the corresponding housing 30, with the interposition of respective O-rings 34 and 35, and

  being retained in said housing 30 by a cir-

clips 36. An end piece 37, fixed on the side of the plate 18, constitutes a lateral inlet gas carrier, which is distributed by means of the diffuser 32 whose particular conformation, with openings 38 offset ra. ial, appears in Figure 6. A bent channel 39, dug in

  the plate 18, furthermore communicates the chamber

  closing the rotary disc 22 with the annular space which,

  through the aforementioned openings 38, communicates with the interior

laughing at the injector. Finally, at the base of each injector 31, under the diffuser 32, is mounted an outlet nozzle, to which one of the flexible conduits 5 and

6 leading to the torch 4.

The powder dispenser 2, described above, operates as follows: The powder supply is ensured by means of a single jar 12, or by means of the two jars 12,

used alternately. In this case, a means of con-

  level 41 trZle, provided on element 8 at the base of each jar 12, emits a signal announcing that this jar is almost empty. The first drawer 10 is then moved so as to put the other jar 12- in sekvice, and to proceed to filling the jar which has just been emptied and

and so on.....

  Whatever the jar 12 in service, the powder

  reaches, by gravity and sliding, in the central opening

trale 14. From there, it falls either simultaneously in the two holes 20, or in only one of these holes 20, depending on the position of the second drawer 21. In fact, one of the holes 20 is closed by means of this drawer 21 only when you want to use a single feed torch 4

powder.

  Through the funnel-shaped holes 20 and the guide bushings which avoid scattering

  powder, it reaches the disc 22, entrained

born in rotation, preferably at adjustable speed, from the gear motor 24. The powder is thus entrainée

in rotation with the disc 22 and, meeting the ra-

  cleurs 27, it is moved outwards and falls

  of the disc 22 in the receivers 33, in the form of a funnel

black, injectors 31. The powder is thus pro-

thrown in the center of each injector, where it is sucked in by the gas stream, which forms a vortex taking into account the particular conformation of the diffuser 32

with its openings 38 (see Figure 6), the channel 39

putting to balance pressures.

  Finally, the powder is conveyed under pressure

  by gas, through conduits 5 and 6, up to the tor-

che 4, carried out according to a known principle and not

not the object of the present invention.

  This torch 4 is mounted, held by a support

  42, on the mobile assembly 3 already mentioned, which

generally takes a horizontal translation command

  zontale 43 and a vertical translation control 44,

allowing the torch 4 to be moved horizontally (arrow-

  che 45) and vertically (arrow 46) - see figures

1 and 2.

  The structure of the mobile assembly 3 and the means which control the movement of the torch 4

is illustrated, more precisely, by FIGS. 7 to 10.

  This device includes a first subset

  mobile, formed by two pairs of parallel guide bars

  leles and horizontal, respectively 47 and 48, the ends of which are fixed to two flanges 49 and 50, one of

  these flanges 49 carrying the translation control ho-

rice 43.

As shown more particularly in Figures 7 and 9, the first two guide bars 47

- 2477050

  of this mobile sub-assembly are slidably mounted, by means of ball bushings 51, on the fixed support I which they pass horizontally. Between the two

guide bars 47 is rotatably mounted in rollers

  elements 52 and 53 carried by the flanges 49 and 50, a control screw 54, driven in rotation by a motor 55, forming part of the horizontal translation control 43. This screw 54 cooperates with a complementary element 56 mounted on the fixed support 1i it can be an ordinary screw or a ball screw. The screw 54 is protected by two bellows 57 and 58, arranged between the flanges

  49 and 50, on either side of the fixed support 1.

  On the other two guide bars 48 of the

  mobile assembly considered, is slidably mounted, by the

  ball bushing 59 (see Figure 10), a

  carriage 60. Between the two guide bars 48 is

  rotating tee, in bearings 61 and 62 carried by the flanges 49 and 50, a control screw 63. The latter is rotated from a motor 64, forming part of the horizontal translation control 43, this

  via pinions 65 and 66 (see also fig.

  gure 8). The screw 63 cooperates with a complementary element 67 mounted on the carriage 60. Preferably, it is a ball screw, and this is protected by two bellows 68 and 69, disposed between the flanges 49 and 50, departure

and on the other side of the carriage 60.

This carriage 60 supports another sub-assembly

  mobile, formed of two parallel guide bars and ver-

tical 70, the ends of which are joined by a plate

upper plate 71 and a lower plate 72.1a plate

  upper part 71 carrying the drive control

vertical 44.

  As shown more particularly in the figure

  11, the two guide bars 70 of this second sub-frame

seem mobile are mounted sliding, via

  re ball bushings 73, on the carriage 60 they

  cross vertically. Between the two guide bars

  ge 70 is rotatably mounted, in bearings 74 and 75 carried by the plates 71 and 72, a control screw 76, driven in rotation by a motor 77, forming part of the vertical translation control 44. This screw 76 cooperates with a complementary element 78 mounted on the carriage 60; it may be an ordinary screw or a ball screw, protected by a bellows 79 disposed between the

  carriage 60 and upper plate 71.

  To the lower plate 72 of the mobile assembly considered is fixed, as shown in Figures 1,2,7 and 8, the support 42 in the form of a collar, which receives the

torch 4.

  This vertically movable assembly is also associated with a pneumatic weight balancer, including an accumulator 80 carried by the carriage 60 (see figures

7 and 8).

The previously described mechanism thus comprises

three motors 55, 64 and 77, providing two homo movements

  parallel horizontals and a vertical movement, for posi--

  torch 4. It can be, in particular, mo-

step by step, remotely controlled and allowing digital control, & from a central console, for

  obtain an exact positioning of the torch, horizontal-

vertically. More precisely: -The motor 55 makes it possible to horizontally move the entire mobile assembly 3 to fix the horizontal position of the

cart 60.

  -The motor 77 allows, once the horizontal position of the

  carriage 60 fixed, to vertically move the torch 4.

-The motor 64 allows, in addition to the horizontal positioning, to control an oscillation of the carriage 60, therefore of the torch 4, on either side of a medium position. We can provide an adjustment of the stroke and the speed of

  this oscillation movement, as well as a time adjustment

  of stops at the ends of the race (

  (independent adjustment for each end).

  This machine for reloading parts by

  "plasma" process allows, as far as its applications

  cations, both reloading pa1 projection and

  welded reload, and it is programmable in advance

and post-welding (variation of the speed of rotation of the disc 22). As' it goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the only embodiment of this machine which has been described above, by way of example; she embraces it,

  on the contrary, all the variants comprising arrangements

equivalent equations.

Claims (10)

- CLAIMS -   1.- Machine for reloading mechanical parts   ques by "plasma" process, of the kind comprising a tor- che and a powder distributor, with a rotating disc of vertical axis and scraper, feeding said torch, characterized in that the powder distributor (2) comprises at least one gas injector (31), disposed below the periphery of the rotating disc (22), and having its outlet (40) connected, by a direct conduit (5; 6), to the torch (4). 2. Machine according to claim l, characterized   that two gas injectors (31) are arranged, diametra- opposite, below the periphery of the same dis-   that rotary (22), associated with two scrapers (27) and receiving   the powder through two symmetrical funnel-shaped holes (20), each of the two injectors (31) having its outlet (40) connected, by a corresponding conduit (5; 6), & the torch (4).   3.- Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that a drawer (21), movable horizontally, is provided so that it can, in one position, close off one of the two aforementioned holes (20) in the form of a funnel. 4.- Machine according to claim 2 or 3, character-   sée in that a guide sleeve (29), rubbing on the upper face of the disc (22), is freely mounted in the cylindrical lower part of each hole (20) funnel-shaped. 5.- Machine according to any one of the claims.   tions I to 4, characterized in that each injector (31) comprises a receiver (33), in the form of a funnel, both a diffuser (32) and a lateral gas inlet (37), the conformation of the diffuser (32) being such that a gas vortex is created, in which the powder is projected.   6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that each injector (31) is further connected, by a   pressure equalization channel (39) to the pressure chamber closing the rotating disc (22).   7.- Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, characterized in that two jars (12) for supplying   s tion powder are arranged above a body (8,9) forming a collector, which surmounts the part (18, 19,20) containing the rotary disc (22), a drawer (10) movable horizontally in said body allowing of   put into service one or the other of the two jars of dre (12).   8. Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that there is provided, at the base of each jar (12), a   level control means (41), such as a magnetic detector - tick.   9.- Machine according to any one of the claims.   1 to 8, characterized in that the torch (4) supplies ted from the powder distributor (2) by flexible conduits (5,6), is supported by a mobile assembly (3), comprising a horizontal translation control (43) and a vertical translation control (44) 10.- Machine according to claim 9, characterized   in that the horizontal translation command specifies tee (43) is made up, on the one hand, of means (54,55,56) making it possible to position the torch (4) longitudinally, and on the other hand, of means (63,64,67) making it possible to   control, in an adjustable way, an oscillation of the tor- che (4). 11.- Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the aforementioned mobile assembly (3) comprises: - a first sub-assembly, with horizontal guide bars (47) sliding in a fixed support (1) on which is mounted the powder distributor (2), a pre-   first control screw (54) entered by a motor (55) ensuring movement relative to said fixed support (1), and with other guide bars (48) parallel to the first, on which a carriage (60) slides horizontally ), movable by means of a second screw   control (63) driven by a motor (64), - -a second sub-assembly with green guide bars   tical (70) sliding in the carriage (60), this sub- seems to carry the torch (4) and being vertically movable also by means of a third control screw (76) driven by a motor (77e).