JP2014205365A - Heat welding device for fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat welding device for a fuel tank which can efficiently and uniformly heat welding parts of a fuel tank and a joint member by effectively using an induction heater, can stably obtain a predetermined weld strength, and is excellent in energy conservation.SOLUTION: A control device operates a pressing device to press a joint member to a flange part at a predetermined pressure. In such a state, high frequency current is supplied from a transistor inverter to a heating coil to induction-heat an induction heater. Welding parts of the flange part and the joint member are heated by radiant heat from the induction heater to be heat-welded, and the induction heater is incorporated in the welding parts. The induction heater has holes, opening in a plate thickness direction, at predetermined intervals in its circumferential direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank thermal welding apparatus for welding a resin joint member for connecting a fuel hose to a resin fuel filler port of a fuel tank by heat.

  Conventionally, for example, when a fuel tank and a joint member are thermally welded, an apparatus shown in FIG. 7 is employed. That is, a flange portion 3a protruding outward is provided around the circular fuel filler port 3 of the fuel tank 1, and a resin ring-shaped joint member 2 of the same type as the fuel tank 1 is placed on the flange portion 3a. The flat electric heater 100 having the nichrome wire 100a built therein is placed on the joint member 2.

  Then, a predetermined voltage is supplied from the power source 101 to the nichrome wire 100a of the electric heater 100 to generate heat, and the electric heater 100 is heated by the pressurizer 102 while the flange portion 3a and the welded portion 4 of the joint member 2 are heated and melted. Is pressed against the joint member 2 so that the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2 are thermally welded. For example, Patent Document 1 is known as a patent document relating to thermal welding of resin members.

JP 2010-173168 A

  However, in such a heat welding apparatus, in order to heat the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 via the joint member 2 with the electric heater 100 in direct contact with the joint member 2, the joint member 2 and Fine heat management of the welded portion 4 of the flange portion 3a is difficult, it is difficult to obtain a good heating (welding) state, and it is difficult to stably obtain a predetermined welding strength on both the members 2 and 3a. Further, since the electric heater 100 is used as a heating means, the heating efficiency is inferior, and high power is required to obtain a predetermined heating temperature, which is not preferable in terms of energy saving.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently and uniformly heat the welded portion of the fuel tank and the joint member by the effective use of the induction heater. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank thermal welding apparatus that can stably obtain a welding strength and is excellent in terms of energy saving.

  In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a ring in plan view comprising a flange portion that is formed in a ring shape around a fuel filler opening of a fuel tank made of a resin member, and a resin member. A fuel tank heat welding device that welds a joint member formed in a shape and placed on the flange portion by heat, and is placed on the upper surface of the flange portion and in a ring shape in plan view An induction heater made of magnetic material formed, a pressing device that presses the joint member disposed on the induction heater, and a heating coil disposed on the outer peripheral side of the induction heater via a predetermined space And a transistor inverter capable of supplying a high-frequency current to the heating coil, and a control device for controlling these, and the control device operates the pressing device to A high frequency current is supplied from a transistor inverter to the heating coil with the flange member pressed against the flange with a predetermined pressure to inductively heat the induction heater, and the radiant heat causes the welded portion between the flange and the joint member to be heated. Heating and heat welding are performed, and the induction heater is built in the welding portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the induction heater has holes opened in the plate thickness direction at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the induction heater is formed of a ring-shaped thin plate, the width of which is smaller than the width of the ring-shaped flange portion and the joint member, and is incorporated in the welded portion. It is characterized by being.

  According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, an induction heater is disposed on one outer surface side of the welded portion, the induction heater is induction-heated by a heating coil, and the welded portion is heated by the radiant heat. Therefore, by utilizing the radiant heat of an induction heater that is instantaneously heated to a predetermined temperature, the welded portion of the filler opening and the joint member can be efficiently and uniformly heated, and a predetermined welding strength can be stably obtained. In addition, it is possible to obtain a heat welding apparatus which is excellent in energy saving by using induction heating.

  In addition, since the induction heater is built in the welded part after heat welding, the heater itself can increase the rigidity of the welded part, and the mechanical strength of the welded part can be increased. It can be further enhanced.

The schematic block diagram which shows the basic concept of the heat welding apparatus concerning this invention Sectional view of the welded state Process diagram showing an example of the welding method Schematic configuration diagram showing the reference example The schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the heat welding apparatus concerning this invention. Sectional view of the welded state Schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional heat welding device

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show the basic concept of a heat welding apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a fuel tank 1 serving as one resin member is provided with a circular fueling port 3, and around the fueling port 3, a ring-shaped outer side (upward in the drawing) The protruding flange portion 3a is integrally formed.

  The joint member 2 connected to, for example, an oil supply pipe (not shown) as the other resin member welded to the oil supply port 3 is disc-shaped and has a hole 2a larger than the oil supply port 3, for example, at the center position thereof. It is formed in a ring shape in plan view. The fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2 are made of an appropriate material that can be welded to each other by heat. The illustrated shape of the joint member 2 is also an example, and is a hose connector that is jointed to the fuel filler port 3. The thing of appropriate shapes, such as a shape, is used.

  The heat welding apparatus 10 for heat welding the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2 which are both resin members is an induction heater 11 disposed above the joint member 2 with a predetermined gap h. A heating coil 12 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the induction heater 11 via a predetermined space t, a transistor inverter 13 connected to the heating coil 12, a control device 14 for controlling the transistor inverter 13, and the like It has. A temperature sensor 15 made of a contact thermistor or the like is fixed to the surface of the induction heater 11 on the side opposite to the joint member 2, and this temperature sensor 15 is connected to the control device 14.

  Further, the induction heater 11 is formed in a ring shape in plan view with a hole 11 a provided at the center position, and is supported by the gap adjusting device 16. When the gap adjusting device 16 is operated by a control signal from the control device 14, the induction heater 11 is moved up and down, and the gap h with the joint member 2 is adjusted to a predetermined value. The heating coil 12 is formed in a substantially circular shape (or horseshoe shape) in plan view by winding a copper round pipe a predetermined number of times, and its inner peripheral surface is predetermined with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the induction heater 11. It is set to have a space t.

  The transistor inverter 13 to which the heating coil 12 is connected by a cable has an inverter circuit in which semiconductor switching elements such as transistors, MOSFETs, IGBTs, and the like are connected in a full bridge, for example, and the input side thereof is connected to the control device 14, The output side is connected to the heating coil 12.

  The control device 14 includes a control unit (not shown) including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, an I / O, an input device, and the like. Based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 15, the output of the transistor inverter 13 is output. Is adjusted to supply a predetermined high-frequency current to the heating coil 12, or the gap adjusting device 16 is operated based on a numerical value or the like input by the input device. Although not shown in the figure, the fuel tank 1 is supported by a tank support member of an appropriate form so as to be movable up and down, for example, and the joint member 2 has a hole 2a of the fuel tank 1 by an appropriate setting mechanism. It is supported (set) in a state where it coincides with the fuel filler port 3 in the vertical direction.

  Next, an example of the heat welding method by the heat welding apparatus 10 will be described based on the process diagram of FIG. First, the fuel tank 1 (referred to as the resin member W1) is set (K01) on the tank support member, and the joint member 2 (referred to as the resin member W2) is placed on the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 and set (K02). ) The setting of these resin members W1 and W2 may be performed manually or automatically. When the pair of resin members W1 and W2 are set, the gap adjusting device 16 is actuated by the control signal of the control device 14 to lower the induction heater 11 in the retracted position and set it to a predetermined position, and the heating coil 12 is Set to a predetermined position (K03). Thereby, the gap h between the induction heater 11 and the joint member 2 is set to a predetermined value.

  When the induction heater 11 or the heating coil 12 is set at a predetermined position, the transistor inverter 13 is actuated (K04) by a control signal from the control device 14, and a predetermined high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 12. When a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 12, an eddy current is induced on the surface of the induction heater 11 disposed inside the heating coil 12, the induction heater 11 is induction-heated, and the surface temperature thereof is increased. It is detected by the temperature sensor 15.

  Then, the control device 14 determines whether the surface temperature of the induction heater 11 has reached a predetermined temperature set in advance according to the material of the resin to be welded or the like by induction heating (K05). In the case of “NO” in this determination K05, control (K07) such as maintaining or adjusting the output of the transistor inverter 13 is performed, and the process returns to Step K05. If “YES” in the determination K05, the operation of the transistor inverter 13 is stopped (K06), the induction heater 11 and the like are returned to the retracted position, and the thermally welded product W is unset (K08). .

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, a welded product W is obtained in which the joint member 2 is thermally welded to the fuel filler port 3 of the fuel tank 1. At this time, the upper surface (contact surface) of the flange portion 3 a of the fuel tank 1 is obtained. A part and a part of the lower surface (contact surface) of the joint member 2 are melted to form a welded portion 4 and thermally welded to each other. That is, the induction heating heater 11 is instantaneously induction-heated by the heating coil 12 while maintaining the predetermined gap h with respect to the joint member 2, thereby making contact (lamination) by the radiant heat of the induction heating heater 11. ) And the joint member 2 are heated and melted and are heat-welded at the welded portion 4.

  As described above, according to the thermal welding apparatus 10, the induction heater 11 is arranged on the upper surface side that is one outer surface 4 a of the welded portion 4 of the joint member 2, and the induction heater 11 is energized to the heating coil 12. In addition, the control device 14 controls the high-frequency current supplied to the heating coil 12 based on the surface temperature (detected temperature) of the induction heater 11 detected by the temperature sensor 15. By using the radiant heat of the induction heater 11 that is induction-heated to the welded portion 4, the welded portion 4 of the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2 can be heated efficiently and uniformly, and a predetermined weld strength can be stably applied to the welded portion 4. Can be obtained.

  In particular, since the induction heater 11 is disposed with a predetermined gap h with respect to the outer surface 4a of the welded portion 4 of the joint member 2, the radiant heat of the induction heater 11 is effectively applied to the welded portion 4 of both members. It is possible to easily obtain a stable welded state on the welded portion 4. Further, since the gap h between the induction heater 11 and the outer surface 4a of the joint member 2 can be adjusted by the gap adjusting device 16, the gap h can be adjusted according to the form of the welded portion 4 of both members, An optimum welding state can be stably obtained for the welded portion 4 between the flange portion 3 a of the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2.

  In addition, when the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2 are melted, the induction heater 11 is induction-heated by the heating coil 12 and the welded portion 4 is heated by the radiant heat, which is lower than the heating by the conventional electric heater 100. The heat welding apparatus 10 can be obtained which can be heated with electric power and is excellent in energy saving. Moreover, since the hole 11a is provided in the center position of the induction heater 11, and the whole shape is formed in the ring shape, it can respond to the shape of the circular oil filler 3 or the ring-shaped joint member 2 accurately. The circular flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 and the welded portion 4 of the ring-shaped joint member 2 can be efficiently heated and thermally welded.

  FIG. 4 shows a reference example of the basic concept. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the basic concept will be described with the same reference numerals. The heat welding apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 is characterized in that the lower surface (the surface on the joint member 2 side) of the induction heater 11 is brought into surface contact with the joint member 2 and the induction heater 11 can be pressed downward by the pressure device 17. It is in the point configured in The induction heater 11 is provided with an insulating layer 18 having a predetermined thickness made of an insulating material such as glass fiber on the lower surface thereof, and is set so that the induction heater 11 itself does not directly contact the surface of the joint member 2. Yes.

  The pressurizing device 17 lowers the induction heater 11 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 14, thereby pressing the joint member 2 against the flange portion 3 a with a predetermined pressure on the lower surface (insulating layer 18) of the heater 11. It is supposed to be. Also in this heat welding apparatus 10, the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 in contact with the joint member 2 can be heat welded by the radiant heat of the induction heater 11, and the same effect as the basic concept can be obtained. Can be obtained.

  In the case of this example, since the joint member 2 is pressed against the flange portion 3a by the pressurizing device 17 through the insulating layer 18 of the induction heater 11, the joint member 2 and the flange portion 3a at the time of welding are pressed. Therefore, it is possible to further stabilize the welding state and further increase the welding strength. Of course, the insulating layer 18 of this example can be provided not only on the lower surface of the induction heater 11 but also on the entire outer peripheral surface.

  FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the thermal welding apparatus 10 according to the present invention. In the heat welding apparatus 10 of the present invention, an induction heater 11 is interposed between the flange portion 3 a of the fuel tank 1 and the joint member 2, and the induction heater 11 is built in the weld portion 4. In other words, the induction heater 11 in this case is formed of a thin steel plate or the like formed in a ring shape in plan view, and this induction heater 11 is placed on the flange portion 3a of the fuel tank 1 and further this induction. The joint member 2 is placed on the heater 11 and set. In this state, a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 12 to induction-heat the induction heater 11 to a predetermined temperature, and the surface temperature of the induction heater 1 is detected by a non-contact type radiation thermometer 19 (temperature sensor). However, the flange part 3a and the joint member 2 which are in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the heater 11 are thermally welded by the radiant heat of the induction heater 11.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, both members 3a and 2 are heat-welded in a state where the induction heater 11 is built in the welded portion 4 of the flange portion 3a and the joint member 2. Also in this example, the flange part 3a and the joint member 2 can be thermally welded using the radiant heat by the induction heating of the induction heater 11, and the same effect as the said embodiment can be acquired.

  Further, according to the heat welding apparatus 10, since the induction heater 11 is built in the welded portion 4 after the heat welding, the rigidity of the welded portion 4 can be increased by the heater 11 itself. The welding strength can be further increased, for example, the mechanical strength of 4 is increased. In the case of this example, if holes (not shown) that open in the plate thickness direction at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the induction heater 11 are provided, the molten resin enters the hole, and welding is performed. The welding strength of the part 4 is further increased.

  In addition, the shape of the induction heater 11 in the basic concept, the embodiment, or the like is an example, depending on the overall shape and thickness, the presence or absence of the hole 11a, the shape of the resin member to be thermally welded, and the like. A suitably shaped induction heater can be used.

  The present invention is not limited to heat welding of a fuel tank and a joint member, but can be used for all resin members to be heat-welded to a resin fuel tank.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel tank, 2 ... Joint member, 2a ... Hole, 3 ... Filling port, 3a ... Flange part, 4 ... Welding part, 4a ... Outer surface, 10 ... Heat welding device, 11 ... induction heater, 12 ... heating coil, 13 ... transistor inverter, 14 ... control device, 15 ... temperature sensor, 16 ... gap adjusting device, 17 ...... Pressure device, 18 ... insulating layer, 19 ... radiation thermometer, W1, W2 ... resin member, W ... welded product, h ... gap, t ... space.

Claims (3)

A flange portion formed in a ring shape around a fuel filler port of a fuel tank made of a resin member, and a joint member made of a resin member and formed in a ring shape in plan view and placed on the flange portion are heated. A fuel tank thermal welding device for welding by
An induction heater made of a magnetic material placed on the upper surface of the flange portion and formed in a ring shape in plan view; a pressing device that presses the joint member disposed on the induction heater; and the induction A heating coil disposed on the outer peripheral side of the heater via a predetermined space, a transistor inverter capable of supplying a high-frequency current to the heating coil, and a control device for controlling these,
The control device operates the pressing device to press the joint member against the flange portion with a predetermined pressure, and supplies the heating coil with a high-frequency current from a transistor inverter to induction-heat the induction heater. A heat welding apparatus for a fuel tank, wherein the flange portion and the welded portion of the joint member are heated and thermally welded by the radiant heat, and the induction heater is built in the welded portion.   2. The fuel tank thermal welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the induction heater has holes opened in a thickness direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction thereof. 3.   The induction heater is formed of a ring-shaped thin plate, and has a width smaller than that of the ring-shaped flange portion and the joint member, and is built in the welded portion. 3. A thermal welding apparatus for a fuel tank according to 2.

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