JP4316470B2 - Container manufacturing method by laser welding - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container by laser welding, and particularly relates to a method for manufacturing a container by laser welding suitable for manufacturing an outer cylinder of an exhaust silencer.

  Various methods are known as a method of manufacturing a container by joining metal members by laser welding, and there are various types of containers to be manufactured. For example, in the manufacture of exhaust silencers mounted on vehicles, compared to conventional tightening (curling-type seaming), the joining speed is improved, the air tightness of the exhaust silencer is secured, and the material cost is reduced by eliminating the curling part. For example, laser welding is used. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an exhaust gas in which a joining surface of a porous plate is superposed on a joining surface of an outer cylinder member and an end plate or an outer cylinder member and a partition plate, and this superposed portion is integrally bonded by laser welding. A silencer has been proposed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, when the combustion cylinder and the combustion ring of the gas turbine combustor are joined by laser welding, the joining surface is kept in close contact with a uniform gap, and the laser is easily and reliably secured. There has been proposed a welding apparatus for the purpose of enabling welding. That is, Patent Document 2 discloses a plurality of cross-section arc-shaped contact plates that support a cooling ring inserted into the inner surface of the combustion cylinder from the inside, a support that supports each of the contact plates in the radial direction of the combustion cylinder, and the support columns. Is supported by a wedge and is placed on the axis of the combustion cylinder. By driving this wedge, the cooling ring and the combustion cylinder are brought into close contact with each other, and a laser beam is irradiated to the contact portion from the outside. To be welded.

  On the other hand, the manufacturing object is considerably smaller than the exhaust silencer and the like, but there is a battery container as described in Patent Document 3 below, for example, when attention is focused on a container by laser welding. Patent Document 3 proposes a battery in which the inner diameter of the container is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the metal lid for the purpose of enabling accurate welding of the joint between the battery container and the metal sealing lid. Then, since the metal lid is press-fitted into the opening of the battery container, the adhesion of both the joints is improved, and when the laser beam is irradiated from above the joints because the joint surfaces are slightly inclined, the laser It is described that light is prevented from entering the battery container.

  Similarly, regarding the method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery, Patent Document 4 below discloses that a battery can is passed through a die in a pressed state with a press, and the outer diameter of the large diameter portion is outside the other part of the battery can. It is described that the L-shaped metal ring is firmly fixed with the clamping force in the inner direction by the large diameter part of the battery can and the molding punch. . Furthermore, it is described that the L-shaped metal ring is welded by a laser welding method at the front end where the opening of the battery can contacts.

  Further, Patent Document 5 below relates to a method for manufacturing a hermetic compressor, and describes the width of one opening part of a part element and another element constituting a shell, and automation of insertion of the other opening part. It is described that the gap between the overlapping portions is narrowed by narrowing one of the openings from the outer peripheral side after the insertion of the other opening.

Japanese Patent No. 3145314 JP 59-130694 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-192261 JP-A-3-84850 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-257229

  By the way, laser welding is advantageous in that it can increase the welding speed compared to other welding methods such as MIG welding and TIG welding and is less susceptible to welding spatter. While welding is possible even if the gap between the objects (between a plurality of welded members) is about 1.2 mm, in laser welding, if the gap between the objects to be welded exceeds 0.3 mm, welding failure occurs. Since it is easy, it is required that the objects to be welded be in close contact with each other.

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 3, it is described that a metal lid is press-fitted into the opening of the battery container, and it is considered that the adhesion between the objects to be welded is considered. However, if the cross-sectional diameter dimensions of the container and lid in the single product state are not uniform, or if both have different shapes, press fitting cannot be performed, or the lid and the container are press-fitted in an inclined state, and the entire cross-section is in close contact. There may be cases where it is not done. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of the cross-sectional diameter and cross-sectional shape of the container and the lid in a single product state, and a separate process is required to improve the dimensional accuracy such as handling for the container and the lid.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 4 described above, the battery can is passed through the die in a pressurized state, and is molded so that the outer diameter of the large diameter portion is equal to the outer diameter of the other portion of the battery can. Therefore, improvement in adhesion is expected. However, in the method described in Patent Document 4, the diameter of the battery can (cylinder) is slightly expanded by the spring back action after passing through the die, and the gap between the battery can and the metal ring is brought into a close contact state of 0.3 mm or less. It is difficult to maintain. Similarly, also in the method described in Patent Document 5, after narrowing the gap of the overlapped portion, the overlapped portion is expanded by a springback action, so that it is difficult to maintain the overlapped portion of the overlapped portion at 0.3 mm or less. It is.

  On the other hand, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the abutting plate that supports the cooling ring inserted into the inner surface of the combustion cylinder from the inside, the struts that respectively support the abutting plates in the radial direction of the combustion cylinder, and the struts are supported via wedges. A mandrel to be placed must be placed. Therefore, when pipes, partition walls, etc. are provided in advance in the cylinder as in the exhaust silencer described above, it is not possible to place a contact plate, support column, mandrel, etc. inside the cylinder, and a plurality of cylinders The body cannot be brought into uniform contact over the entire circumference. Even if the method of Patent Document 2 is applied, the pressing members corresponding to the plate and the support are arranged outside the cylinder, and the overlapping portions of the plurality of cylinders are pressed and adhered from the outside of the cylinder, The welded portion of the cylindrical body is covered with the contact plate, and welding cannot be performed from the outside of the cylindrical body. On the other hand, in order to weld from the inside of the cylinder, it is necessary to arrange a welding machine in the cylinder, so as described above, an exhaust silencer having pipes, partition walls, etc. provided in the cylinder It cannot be applied.

  Therefore, the present invention can appropriately perform laser welding while maintaining the superposed portion in a close contact state in a method for producing a container by polymerizing a plurality of members constituting a metal container and laser welding the superposed portion. It aims at providing the manufacturing method of the container by laser welding.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, a plurality of members constituting a metal container including at least one member having an opening are polymerized to surround the opening. In a method of manufacturing a container by laser welding in which an annular overlapping portion is formed and a laser welding is performed on the overlapping portion to form a container, the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion has a substantially flat portion and a curved portion alternately in the circumferential direction. and, wherein the pressing member provided with a plurality of segments constituting an inner space of the target cross-sectional shape substantially similar cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion, toward the center of the opening from the outside of the overlapping portion, wherein A plurality of segments directly press only the substantially flat portion in the center direction, and while maintaining the overlapped portion in a pressed contact state, the overlapped portion is laser welded at a position close to the pressing portion by the pressing member, and after welding Is the superposition part In which it was decided to integrally joining said plurality of members by detached et the pressing member. In addition, the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion is arbitrary, such as a circle, an ellipse, an oval, a triangular or a quadrilateral polygon, and the pressing member has a substantially entire circumference with respect to the overlapping portion of any cross-sectional shape. It is possible to keep the overlapped portion in a close contact state by pressing in the center direction.

In the manufacturing method according to claim 1 , as described in claim 2 , a small cross section of a member constituting the outermost side of the overlapping portion of the plurality of members from the main body portion toward the opening portion. Forming an annular step from a portion to a large cross-sectional portion, and setting the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the pressing member to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the small cross-sectional portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of the large cross-sectional portion, Is relatively translated from the small cross section toward the large cross section, and at least the large cross section is pressed in the center direction.

In the manufacturing method according to claim 1 , as described in claim 3 , each of the plurality of segments may be driven toward the center of the overlapping portion to press the overlapping portion.

Furthermore, in the above manufacturing method, as described in claim 4 , the overlapping portion is laser welded in a state where both sides in the axial direction are pressed around the laser welding portion of the overlapping portion by the pair of pressing members. It is good to do. In addition, as described in claim 5 , the plurality of members may be formed of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies, and the respective overlapping portions may be overlapped and the overlapped portion may be laser-welded. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of members includes a bottomed cylindrical body and an end plate that closes the opening of the bottomed cylindrical body, and the end of the bottomed cylindrical body includes the end. It is good also as superposing | polymerizing a board and carrying out laser welding of the superposition | polymerization part.

The present invention, as set forth in claim 7, winding a metal plate on the outer circumference of at least a pair of end plates and arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance, abutting the side end face after the winding of the metal plate Alternatively, after forming a cylindrical body having a target cross-sectional shape having a substantially planar portion and a curved surface portion alternately in the circumferential direction by superposition, laser welding the metal plate abutting portion or overlapping portion of the cylindrical body, by the pressing member having a plurality of segments constituting an inner space of the target cross-sectional shape substantially similar cross-sectional shape, toward the center of the cylindrical body from the outside of the cylindrical body, said plurality of segments the substantially While pressing only the flat portion directly in the center direction and maintaining the cylindrical body and the end plate in a pressed contact state, the overlapping portion of the cylindrical body and the end plate is positioned close to the pressing portion by the pressing member. Laser welding, and after welding, the pressing member is detached from the overlapped portion The body and the end plate may be integrally joined.

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects. That is, according to the manufacturing method of the container by laser welding of Claim 1, laser welding can be performed appropriately, maintaining the superposition | polymerization part of a some member in the contact | adherence state. Moreover, since the pressing member includes a plurality of segments, good workability can be ensured, and the overlapped portion can be maintained in a close contact state easily and reliably. Moreover, only the substantially flat surface portion is directly pressed in the central direction by the plurality of segments against the overlap portion having the target cross-sectional shape having the substantially flat surface portion and the curved surface portion alternately in the circumferential direction. Can be kept in close contact. In particular, even when a built-in object is accommodated in one member before the plurality of members are superposed, the contact state can be reliably maintained. Moreover, even when the precision of each member is not uniform, it can be reliably maintained in a close contact state, and stable laser welding can be performed.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a stable laser can be obtained in a state where the overlapping portion is maintained in a close contact state easily and reliably by relatively moving the pressing member relative to the plurality of members. Welding can be performed.

Furthermore, if constituted as in claim 4 , laser welding can be performed in a more stable state. Moreover, if comprised as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 , the plurality of members consist of a pair of bottomed cylinders, or consist of a bottomed cylinder and an end plate that closes its opening. In contrast, since laser welding can be appropriately performed while maintaining the overlapped portion in a close contact state, it can be easily applied to an exhaust silencer or the like.

Further, according to the method for manufacturing a container by laser welding according to claim 7 , even when the outer cylinder of the silencer is long or large in diameter, the cylinder and the end plate are appropriately maintained while being in close contact with each other. Laser welding can be performed. Moreover, since the pressing member includes a plurality of segments, good workability can be ensured, and the cylinder and the end plate can be maintained in a close contact state easily and reliably. In addition, for a cylinder with a target cross-sectional shape having a substantially flat surface portion and a curved surface portion alternately in the circumferential direction, only a substantially flat surface portion is directly pressed in the center direction by a plurality of segments, so that a tubular body with a polygonal cross section is also ensured. Can be kept in close contact. This is particularly effective when the exhaust silencer has a polygonal cross section or an arc cross section composed of a plurality of curvatures such as an ellipse.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 relate to an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a container by laser welding according to the present invention, and show the manufacturing status of a metal container comprising a pair of bottomed cylinders (hereinafter simply referred to as cylinders) 10 and 20. Thus, the cylinders 10 and 20 of the present embodiment have a circular cross section. As shown in FIG. 1, the cylinders 10 and 20 are configured such that the respective openings 11 and 21 are superposed, and the cylinder 10 corresponds to a member constituting the outermost part of the superposed part, and the main body part An annular step 12 from the small cross section 10a to the large cross section 10b is formed from (10a) toward the opening 11. On the other hand, the cylinder 20 of the present embodiment is formed in a cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the small cross-sectional portion 10a of the cylinder 10, and no step is formed. Thus, the cylinder 20 is easily accommodated without the opening 21 interfering with the opening 11 of the cylinder 10. In addition, it is good also as forming a level | step difference 12 by previously forming a pair of cylinders of the same shape, and enlarging only the opening part of one cylinder, and, thereby, commonization of parts to be processed is possible. It becomes possible.

  These cylinders 10 and 20 are formed in one layer with a plate thickness of 1 mm, for example, with a stainless material such as SUS432T, SUS409, or two layers with a plate thickness of 0.5 mm. As a forming method of the cylinders 10 and 20, for example, a deep drawing by a well-known press working or spinning process using a metal flat plate using a punch and a die can be adopted, and the step 12 of the tubular body 10 is also pressed. It can be easily formed by processing or the like. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the cylinders 10 and 20 is not limited to a circle, but may be any shape such as an ellipse, an oval, a triangle (an example is shown in FIG. 19) or a quadrangle (an example is shown in FIG. 22). . Moreover, a diameter and a depth are also arbitrary.

  On the other hand, with respect to the processing tool, the pressure constituting the inner space of the cross-sectional shape similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapped portion of the cylinders 10 and 20 (the cross-sectional outer peripheral shape of the overlapped portion at the time of final contact, for example, a circular cross-section) A member 30 is prepared. The pressing member 30 of the present embodiment is a die formed in an annular shape as shown in a cross section in FIG. 1, and the cross-sectional area of the inner space is larger than the cross-sectional area of the small cross-sectional portion 10 a of the cylinder 10, It is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the part 10b.

  Thus, the cylinders 10 and 20 are arranged so that the openings 11 and 21 overlap as shown in FIG. 1, and the pressing member 30 is moved from the small cross-sectional part 10a of the cylindrical body 10 toward the large cross-sectional part 10b. If it is translated in parallel with the axis of the cylinder 10 (or if the cylinders 10 and 20 are translated toward the pressing member 30), the large cross section 10b is pressed in the center direction. As a result, the large cross-sectional portion 10b of the cylindrical body 10 is pressed in the central direction over the entire circumference, deformed with a reduced diameter (plastic deformation or elastic deformation), and the overlapped portions of the cylindrical bodies 10 and 20 are in close contact with each other. Become. In this case, not only the large cross section 10b but also the cylindrical body 20 may be deformed with a reduced diameter. In addition, arrange | positioning so that the opening parts 11 and 21 may superimpose means making it lap | wrap regardless of a contact or non-contact, Therefore It is good also as press-fitting one of the opening parts 11 and 21 to the other. Further, the close contact state in this case refers to a state in which the gap between the cylinder 10 and the cylinder 20 is 0.3 mm or less at any position on the entire circumference of the overlapping portion.

  Then, the laser welding machine 40 is driven while maintaining the overlapping portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 in the above-mentioned close contact state, and as close as possible to the pressing portion by the pressing member 30, for example, about 1 mm away from the pressing member 30. The irradiated position is irradiated with the laser beam LB, and the overlapped portion is welded over the entire circumference. In this way, the pressing member 30 can be welded only 1 mm laterally, because this is a laser welding in which both the welding beam diameter and the weld diameter are thin and stable. In MIG welding, it is impossible to weld so close. In other words, the combination of the above pressing and laser welding makes it possible to weld at a position close to the pressing portion, which can also be referred to as a substantially pressing portion, and therefore the welding accuracy and welding reliability are remarkably improved. The laser welder 40 is preferably a CO2 laser, a YAG laser, or the like, but a TIG-YAG hybrid laser that combines TIG and YAG laser, which are arc welding, may be used.

  The step (S) of disposing the pressing member 30 with respect to the cylinders 10 and 20 and the laser beam LB from the direction perpendicular to the overlapped part while maintaining the overlapped part of the cylinders 10 and 20 in a close contact state. The process (W) of irradiating and welding is shown in FIG. Further, fillet welding may be performed on the right side of FIG. 3, as shown in the step (W) of irradiating and welding the laser beam LB from the oblique direction to the overlapped portion of the cylinders 10 and 20. In addition, when the cylinders 10 and 20 and the container after welding are long, the movement amount at the time of arrangement | positioning of the cylinders 10 and 20 or taking out the container after welding becomes large, and workability | operativity is impaired. In this case, although illustration is omitted, if the pressing member 30 is divided into two on the plane including the axis of the cylinders 10 and 20, and the pressing member 30 is divided and placed and taken out, Good workability can be ensured.

  4 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. The cylinders 10 and 20 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pressing member composed of a plurality of segments (each segment is represented by 50) is used. These segments 50 are obtained by dividing an annular body having an outer peripheral surface of a tapered surface and a cylindrical hollow portion into a plurality (eight in the present embodiment) on a plane including its axis. In other words, these segments 50 are annularly arranged as shown in FIG. 5, and the cross-sectional area of the inner space after the diameter reduction described later is larger than the cross-sectional area of the small cross-sectional portion 10 a of the cylindrical body 10. The cross-sectional area is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cross-sectional portion 10b, and finally, a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portions of the cylindrical bodies 10 and 20 (the overlapping portion at the time of final adhesion) It is substantially the same as the outer peripheral shape of the cross section, for example, an inner space having a circular cross section is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a spring (typically indicated by 51) is disposed between the segments 50, and each segment 50 is biased in the diameter expansion direction. In addition, you may comprise so that mold | die side surfaces may closely_contact | adhere, without providing the spring 51. FIG. Further, the number of segments 50 is not limited to eight and may be three or more.

  On the other hand, an annular guide body 60 having a tapered surface that is in sliding contact with the tapered surface of the segment 50 is disposed outside the segment 50. Thus, as shown in the arrangement step (S) of FIG. 6, when the guide body 60 is relatively moved in the axial direction of the cylinder 10 (the direction of the left arrow in FIG. 6) by the actuator AC such as a cylinder, the taper. The segment 50 moves in the center direction of the cylinders 10 and 20 along the surface, and the large cross section 10b is pressed in the center direction. As a result, the large cross section 10b of the cylinder 10 extends in the center direction over the entire circumference. It is pressed and deformed (plastic deformation or elastic deformation) with a reduced diameter, and the overlapping portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 are brought into a close contact state. That is, each of the plurality of segments 50 is driven toward the center of the overlapping portion to press the overlapping portion. In this case, not only the large cross section 10b but also the cylindrical body 20 may be deformed with a reduced diameter.

  Then, while maintaining the overlapped portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 in the above-mentioned close contact state, for example, the laser beam LB is irradiated to a position separated from the guide body 60 by about 1 mm, and the overlapped portions are welded over the entire circumference. In addition, the process (S) which arrange | positions the segment 50 and the guide body 60 with respect to said cylinders 10 and 20, and a perpendicular | vertical direction with respect to a superposition | polymerization part, maintaining the superposition | polymerization part of the cylinders 10 and 20 in a contact | adherence state FIG. 6 shows a step (W) of welding by irradiating the laser beam LB from the laser beam LB, and a step (W) of performing fillet welding by irradiating the laser beam LB from an oblique direction to the overlapping portion of the cylindrical bodies 10 and 20. Is shown in FIG. Thus, also in this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, the overlapped portion is always in close contact, and the gap between the cylinder 10 and the cylinder 20 is maintained at 0.3 mm or less and laser welding is performed. Therefore, stable laser welding without welding failure can be performed. In addition, when the cylinders 10 and 20 and the container after welding are long, the illustration is omitted, but the guide body 60 is divided into two by a plane including the axial centers of the cylinders 10 and 20, Accordingly, if the segments 50 are divided into two groups and the guide body 60 and the segments 50 are divided and placed and taken out, good workability can be ensured.

  8 to 10 show still another embodiment of the present invention. The cylinders 10 and 20 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pressing member composed of a plurality of segments (four in this embodiment, each segment is represented by 70) is used. These segments 70 are annularly arranged as shown in FIG. 9, and the cross-sectional area of the inner space after the diameter reduction is larger than the cross-sectional area of the small cross-sectional portion 10a of the cylindrical body 10, and the cross-sectional area of the large cross-sectional portion 10b. Finally, the cross-sectional shape is substantially similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion of the cylinders 10 and 20 (substantially the cross-sectional outer peripheral shape of the overlapping portion at the time of final contact) The inner space of, for example, a circular cross section. The number of segments 70 is not limited to four, and may be three or more.

  In the present embodiment, each segment 70 is connected to a cylinder CY that enables the segment 70 to advance and retreat in the center direction of the cylinder 10, and each segment 70 is moved in the center direction of the cylinder 10 by driving each cylinder CY. As a result, the cylinders 10 and 20 move in the center direction, and the large cross section 10b is pressed in the center direction. As a result, the large cross section 10b of the cylinder 10 is pressed in the center direction over the entire circumference and contracted. It deform | transforms with a diameter (plastic deformation or elastic deformation), and the superposition | polymerization part of the cylinders 10 and 20 will be in an adhering state. That is, each of the plurality of segments 70 is driven toward the center of the overlapping portion to press the overlapping portion. In this case, not only the large cross section 10b but also the cylindrical body 20 may be deformed with a reduced diameter.

  Then, while maintaining the overlapped portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 in the above-mentioned contact state, for example, as shown in the welding step (W) of FIG. LB is irradiated and fillet welding of the overlapped portion is performed over the entire circumference. Thus, also in this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, the overlapped portion is always in close contact, and the gap between the cylinder 10 and the cylinder 20 is maintained at 0.3 mm or less and laser welding is performed. Therefore, stable laser welding without welding failure can be performed.

  FIG. 11 shows a case where the overlapped portion is laser welded in a state where the overlapped portion of the cylinders 10 and 20 is pressed in the central direction over the entire circumference using a pair of pressing members 31 and 32. According to this, since the adhesiveness of the overlapped portion is further enhanced as compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, more stable laser welding can be performed. Although illustration is omitted, the second segment (not shown) is used for the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 7 and the embodiment of FIGS. And 20 overlapping portions may be pressed in the central direction over the entire circumference.

  FIG. 12 shows a container manufactured by laser welding the openings 13 and 23 (overlapping part) so that the outer peripheral surface of the overlapping part of the cylinders 10 and 20 is substantially flush with the main body part of the cylinders 10 and 20. Is shown. In such a container, by setting the pressing force and pressing amount of the pressing member and the segment as appropriate, or by appropriately setting the diameter of the pressing member and the segment and pressing the overlapping portion, no step is generated. It can be adjusted to manufacture.

  FIG. 13 shows an example in which the manufacturing method of the container according to the above embodiment is applied to the manufacture of the outer cylinder of the exhaust silencer MF having a built-in object, and the outer cylinder is formed by the aforementioned cylinders 10 and 20. Has been. The manufacturing method of the exhaust silencer MF will be described. First, the inlet pipe IP and the outlet pipe OP are inserted into the partition wall SP to be integrated into a sub assembly by a known caulking joint. Next, this subassembly is inserted from the opening 11 of the cylinder 10, the tip of the inlet pipe IP is inserted into the bottom of the cylinder 10, and the partition wall SP and the cylinder 10 are fixed by spot welding. Then, the opening 21 of the cylinder 20 is inserted so as to face the opening 11 of the cylinder 10, and the tip of the outlet pipe OP is inserted into the bottom of the cylinder 20. Thereafter, the overlapping portion is brought into a close contact state using the pressing member or the segment as in the above-described embodiment, and the vicinity of the pressing portion is irradiated with laser light to be welded and integrally joined. Thereby, the exhaust silencer excellent in airtightness and productivity can be obtained. In addition, it is good also as welding by making the position of the overlap part of the opening parts 11 and 21 and the partition SP correspond. That is, it is good also as welding three members simultaneously.

  FIGS. 14 to 16 relate to another embodiment of the present invention. A cylindrical body 210 (accommodating and holding a catalyst carrier) of the exhaust purification unit EX is connected to one opening of the cylindrical body 100, and The present invention is applied to an exhaust purification device that connects and closes an end plate 220 to the other opening. As shown in FIG. 14, the connecting portion between the tubular body 100 and the tubular body 210 of the exhaust purification unit EX, and the overlapping portion pressing (adhering) and laser welding at the connecting portion between the tubular body 100 and the end plate 220 are segment 500. By providing two pressing portions 510 and 520 on the inner surface in the longitudinal direction and arranging the long guide body 600 on the outer surface thereof, the segments 50 and the guide body 60 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The state can be similar to the state. Thus, according to this segment 500, two overlapping portions can be brought into close contact simultaneously in one step.

  In particular, the joining state between the cylinder 100 and the end plate 220 shown in FIG. 14 and the laser welding situation between the opening 101 of the cylinder 100 and the flange 221 of the end plate 220 shown in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a container manufacturing method in which an end plate that closes the part is superposed on the part, and the superposed part is laser welded. An example of the exhaust emission control device manufactured in this way is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the end plate 220 is inserted and fitted into the opening of the cylindrical body 100. However, although not shown, the opening of the cylindrical body 100 is conversely connected to the flange of the end plate 220. Part) may be inserted.

  FIGS. 17 to 19 are examples of the cross-sectional shape of the main body (general part) of the cylindrical body 100 whose both ends are closed in FIGS. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, a metal plate is bent into a substantially circular cross section, and the butted portion is joined by welding or caulking (110), and the plate is joined by winding a plurality of plates as shown in FIG. (120), as shown in FIG. 19, a plate material (130) formed in a substantially triangular cross section can be used. Moreover, the shape of the superposition | polymerization part is also arbitrary and what is necessary is just to set the shape of a press member (die | dye) and a segment suitably according to the shape of a superposition | polymerization part.

  20 and FIG. 21 are described above using a welding positioning device (positioner) 90 that supports the workpieces (cylinders 10 and 20) in a three-dimensionally movable and rotatable manner with respect to the laser welding machine 40. 1 illustrates an embodiment of manufacturing a container by a method. First, the cylinder 10 having a flange portion formed in the opening is disposed between the clamp member 91 (also used as a segment) and the receiving member 92. Next, the opening of the cylinder 20 is inserted into the opening of the cylinder 10, the cylinder CY is driven, and both cylinders are sandwiched between the pressing member 80 and the positioner 90 in the axial direction of the cylinder. Next, when the actuator (cylinder) AC is driven to move the guide body 60, the clamp member 91 moves in the center direction of the cylinder body 10, and the overlapping portion is pressed in the center direction of the cylinder body 10 over the entire circumference. Then, the deformed portion is deformed with a reduced diameter, and the overlapped portion is in close contact with the entire circumference. At this time, the axial general outer surface of one (left side in the figure) of the cylindrical body is clamped from the outside by the clamp member 91 and is firmly held in the radial direction. Next, the clamp member 91, the receiving member 92, the actuator AC, and the guide body 60 are integrally rotated with the axis of the cylinder body 10 as a rotation axis, and the entire cylinder bodies 10 and 20 are rotated. And the laser beam is irradiated to the vicinity of the press part of a superposition | polymerization part from the laser welding machine 40, and the cylinders 10 and 20 are joined.

  As shown in the lower part of FIG. 21, if it is possible to rotate about a rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the positioner 90, it is more efficient in combination with the driving of the laser welding machine 40 by the robot apparatus. Welding work can be performed. Although not shown, the clamp member 91 and the segment may be separated and the guide body 60 may be provided on each of the segments and moved. Further, the cylinders 10 and 20 and the positioner 90 may be fixed so as not to rotate, and the laser welding machine 40 may be rotated around the cylinders 10 and 20 to be welded. What is necessary is just to rotate relatively with the laser welding machine 40. FIG. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, it is good also as ensuring the contact | adherence state of the superposition | polymerization part by the tension system (method to wind a band around the superposition | polymerization part outer periphery, and to stick).

  FIG. 22 relates to still another embodiment of the present invention, and the container when the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion of the cylinders 10 and 20 is a substantially square cross-section having a substantially planar portion and a curved surface portion alternately in the circumferential direction. The manufacturing method of is shown. Thus, the cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 is polygonal, and substantially flat portions 10p and 20p (four general surfaces in the case of a square cross section) and curved surface portions 10c and 20c (in the case of a square cross section). When four corners are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, the substantially flat surface portions 10p and 20p (general surface) are less likely to be maintained in the target cross-sectional shape than the curved surface portions 10c and 20c (corner). This is because, for example, when a metal flat plate is processed by a well-known drawing process using a punch and a die, the substantially flat portions 10p and 20p open outward due to the influence of a spring back or the like, and the cylinder 10 and the cylinder This is because a gap may be formed between the body 20 and the body 20. The substantially flat surface portions 10p and 20p and the curved surface portions 10c and 20c can be distinguished by the magnitude of the radius of curvature of the cross section, and the former of the cross section with the large curvature radius has lower surface rigidity than the latter with the small radius of curvature. It is difficult to maintain the shape. Therefore, in such a case, the openings (overlapping portions) of the cylinders 10 and 20 may be held in close contact with each other by the following method.

  First, as shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of segments (three in this embodiment, 310, 321 and 322) are fixed to one pressing member 300, and the other pressing member 400 opposite to this is also fixed. A plurality of segments (three in this embodiment, 410, 421 and 422) are fixed, and the inner space of the cross-sectional shape similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion of the cylinders 10 and 20 by these segments 310 and the like. (However, the corner is open). For example, when the pressing members 300 and 400 are driven by the cylinder CY, only the substantially flat portions 10p and 20p of the cylindrical bodies 10 and 20 are directly pressed in the center direction by the segments 310 and the like. . As a pressing method of the pressing members 300 and 400, any of the methods shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 9 described above may be used. Further, the number of segments of each pressing member is not limited to three and may be four or more.

  As a result, the upper and lower substantially flat portions 10p and 20p in FIG. 22 are pressed toward the center by the segments 310 and 410 arranged in the vertical direction in FIG. 22, and the segments 321 and 322 and the segments arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. The left and right substantially flat portions 10p and 20p in FIG. 22 are pressed in the central direction by 421 and 422. In this way, the four substantially flat portions of the cylinders 10 and 20 are directly pressed to cause deformation (plastic deformation or elastic deformation) with a reduced diameter, so that the cylinders 10 and 20 (overlapping portions thereof) are all around. It will be in a close contact state. And laser welding is performed by the method similar to the above, maintaining the superposition | polymerization part of the cylinders 10 and 20 in a contact | adherence state.

  FIGS. 23 to 25 show another embodiment of a method of manufacturing an exhaust silencer having a built-in object. First, a pair of end plates 221 and 222 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance, and a partition wall therebetween. SP is arranged. Then, an inlet pipe IP and an outlet pipe OP are inserted into these, and are integrated by a known caulking joint to form a subassembly. Next, the metal plate MS is fixed to the end plates 221 and 222 and the partition wall SP by, for example, laser spot welding (the welded portion is indicated by SW in FIG. 23). From this state, the metal plate MS is wound around the outer peripheries of the end plates 221 and 222 and the partition SP, and the side end surfaces are abutted over the entire length in the axial direction (abutting portion CN), as shown in FIG. Or as shown in FIG. 25, the side end part 111 is superposed | polymerized and the cylinder 110 is formed. Then, the abutting portion CN or the overlapping portion 111 is laser welded over the entire length in the axial direction, or spot welding is performed at predetermined intervals in the axial direction. As a result, a cylindrical body 110 is formed as shown in FIG. 24 or FIG. 25, and in this state, the overlapping portion between the metal plate MS (cylinder body 110) and the end plates 221 and 222 is maintained in a close contact state by the aforementioned pressing member. While being done, laser beam is irradiated from the perpendicular or oblique direction to the overlapped portion, and laser welding is performed. The metal plate MS, the end plates 221 and 222, and the partition wall SP may be welded simultaneously.

  According to this embodiment, even when the outer cylinder of the silencer has a long or large diameter and is difficult to manufacture, for example, as in the exhaust silencer MF shown in FIG. 13, it can be easily manufactured. . Further, at the stage where the metal plate MS is wound with the end plates 221 and 222 as the core metal, the gap between the overlapping portions between the metal plate MS (the cylinder 110, that is, the outer cylinder of the exhaust silencer) and the end plates 221 and 222 is reduced. Since it is packed to some extent, the adhesion at the overlapped portion is further improved. This is particularly effective when the exhaust silencer has a polygonal cross section as shown in FIGS. 19 and 22 or an arc cross section composed of a plurality of curvatures such as an ellipse. That is, according to the present embodiment, not only can the formation of the voids in the above-described overlapping portion be suppressed, but also the positioning of the curved surface portion (corner) between the pair of end plates is facilitated. In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of plate members wound together (120), a plate member formed in a substantially triangular cross section as shown in FIG. 19 (130), or the like can be used. Further, the shape of the overlapping portion of the metal plate MS, the end plates 221 and 222, and the partition walls SP is also arbitrary, and the shape of the pressing member and the segment may be appropriately set according to the shape of the overlapping portion.

  Thus, in any of the embodiments, even if the single-piece accuracy of the cylindrical body is not uniform, the gap of the overlapped portion is maintained in a state of 0.3 mm or less and laser welding is performed, so that it is difficult to cause poor welding and stable. Laser welding can be performed. Therefore, an exhaust silencer excellent in airtightness can be manufactured with good productivity. Further, the present invention is not limited to an exhaust silencer outer cylinder, an exhaust purification apparatus outer cylinder incorporating a catalyst carrier or a diesel particulate filter, or an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) cooler mounted in an automobile exhaust system. The present invention can be applied to the manufacture of cylinders, outer cylinders such as heat exchangers, accumulators, etc., and can also be applied to containers of various auxiliary devices such as an exhaust system of a fuel cell (FC). Of course, it is applicable not only to automobile parts but also to the manufacture of containers for a wide range of uses.

It is sectional drawing which shows the manufacture condition of the metal container which consists of a pair of bottomed cylinders with the manufacturing method of the container in one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which irradiates and welds a laser beam from the orthogonal | vertical direction with respect to the superposition part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies with the manufacturing method of the container in one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which irradiates a laser beam from the diagonal direction with respect to the superposition part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies, and performs fillet welding by the manufacturing method of the container in one Embodiment of this invention. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the press condition with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylinders. In other embodiment of this invention, it is a front sectional view which shows the contact | adherence condition with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical body. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which irradiates and welds a laser beam from a perpendicular direction with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical body with the manufacturing method of the container in other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which irradiates a laser beam from the diagonal direction with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies and performs fillet welding by the manufacturing method of the container in other embodiment of this invention. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the press condition with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical body. In other embodiment of this invention, it is a front sectional view which shows the contact | adherence condition with respect to the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylinder. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which irradiates a laser beam from the diagonal direction with respect to the superposition part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies, and performs fillet welding by the manufacturing method of the container in other embodiment of this invention. Section which shows embodiment which laser welds a superposition | polymerization part in the state which pressed the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical bodies to the center direction over a perimeter using a pair of press member by the manufacturing method of the container of this invention. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the container manufactured by the laser welding so that the outer peripheral surface of the superposition part of a pair of bottomed cylinders may become substantially flush with a main-body part with the manufacturing method of the container of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the exhaust silencer which shows the example which applied the manufacturing method of the container of this invention to manufacture of the outer cylinder of the exhaust silencer which has a built-in thing. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manufacturing state of an exhaust purification device that is closed by connecting a cylinder to one opening of a cylinder and connecting an end plate to the other opening according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the laser welding condition of the opening part of the cylinder in another embodiment of this invention, and the flange part of an end plate. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the exhaust gas purification apparatus manufactured by the manufacturing method of another embodiment of this invention. It is a front sectional view which shows an example of the cross-sectional shape of the main-body part of the cylinder with which both ends provided for another embodiment of this invention are obstruct | occluded. It is a front sectional view showing another example of the cross-sectional shape of the main body portion of the cylindrical body that is closed at both ends provided for another embodiment of the present invention. It is a front sectional view showing still another example of the cross-sectional shape of the main body portion of the cylindrical body that is closed at both ends provided for another embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial cross section figure which shows embodiment which manufactures a container using the welding positioning apparatus which supports a to-be-welded object with a laser welding machine so that a three-dimensional movement and rotation are possible. It is a perspective view which shows the apparatus which concerns on embodiment which manufactures a container using the welding positioning apparatus which supports a to-be-welded object to a laser welding machine so that a three-dimensional movement and rotation are possible. In another embodiment of this invention, it is a front sectional view which shows the contact | adherence state when the target cross-sectional shape of the superposition | polymerization part of a pair of bottomed cylindrical body is a substantially square cross section. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment state of the other example which applied the manufacturing method of the container of this invention to manufacture of the outer cylinder of the exhaust silencer which has a built-in thing. It is a side view which shows the state by which the metal plate was wound around the outer periphery of an end plate and a partition by the method shown in FIG. 23, and the side end surface was abutted over the full length of the axial direction, and the cylinder was formed. It is a side view which shows the state by which the metal plate was wound around the outer periphery of an end plate and a partition by the method shown in FIG. 23, and the side end part was superposed | polymerized over the full length of an axial direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cylindrical body 20 Cylindrical body 11 Opening part 21 Opening part 30 Pressing member 40 Laser welding machine 50 Segment 60 Guide body 70 Segment 80 Holding member 90 Welding positioning device (positioner)
100,110 cylinder 210 cylinder 220,221,222 end plate 300,400 pressing member 310,321,322 segment 410,421,422 segment LB laser beam MS metal plate

Claims (7)

A laser that includes a plurality of members constituting a metal container including at least one member having an opening, forms an annular overlapping portion around the opening, and laser welds the overlapping portion to form a container In the method of manufacturing a container by welding, the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion has a substantially planar portion and a curved surface portion alternately in the circumferential direction, and an inner space having a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the overlapping portion. The plurality of segments directly press only the substantially flat portion toward the center from the outside of the overlapping portion toward the center of the opening by the pressing member including the plurality of segments constituting the overlapping portion, While maintaining the pressed contact state, laser welding is performed on the overlapping portion at a position close to the pressing portion by the pressing member, and after welding, the pressing member is detached from the overlapping portion and the plurality of members are integrally joined. Do Method of manufacturing a container by laser welding, characterized and. Of the plurality of members, an annular step of a member constituting the outermost part of the overlapping portion from the main body portion toward the opening portion is formed from the small cross-sectional portion to the large cross-sectional portion, and the inner space of the pressing member is The cross-sectional area is set larger than the cross-sectional area of the small cross-sectional portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of the large cross-sectional portion, and the pressing member is relatively translated from the small cross-sectional portion toward the large cross-sectional portion. , at least the method of manufacturing a container by laser welding according to claim 1, wherein pressing the large cross section in the center direction. Wherein each of the plurality of segments, the polymerization unit manufacturing method of the container by laser welding according to claim 1, wherein the headed driven mainly characterized by pressing the overlapping portion of the. By the pair of the pressing member, wherein the laser welding portion of bonded portion while pressing the both sides in the axial direction around the, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that laser welding the overlapping portion A method of manufacturing a container by laser welding. It said plurality of members comprises a pair of bottomed tubular body, the production of the container by laser welding according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that laser welding the overlapped portion by polymerizing the opening of the respective Method. The plurality of members include a bottomed cylindrical body and an end plate that closes the opening of the bottomed cylindrical body. The end plate is superposed on the opening of the bottomed cylindrical body, and the overlapped portion is laser welded. A method for manufacturing a container by laser welding according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A metal plate is wound around the outer periphery of at least a pair of end plates arranged side by side at a predetermined distance, and the side end surfaces after winding of the metal plate are abutted or superposed to alternate substantially plane portions and curved surface portions in the circumferential direction. An inner space having a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the target cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical body after forming the cylindrical body having a target cross-sectional shape and laser welding the metal plate abutting portion or overlapping portion of the cylindrical body The plurality of segments directly press only the substantially flat portion in the center direction from the outside of the cylindrical body toward the center of the cylindrical body by a pressing member including a plurality of segments constituting the cylindrical body, While maintaining the end plate in a pressed contact state, laser welding is performed on the overlapping portion of the cylindrical body and the end plate at a position close to the pressing portion by the pressing member, and after welding, the pressing member is removed from the overlapping portion. The cylindrical body and the end plate are integrally joined by being detached. Method of manufacturing a container by laser welding to.

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