JPH044085B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: (a) positioning a stack of overlapping amorphous metal sheets with respect to a work surface;
heating to a temperature in the range of 450° C. to soften or plasticize said region without crystallizing; (c) while said predetermined region is within said temperature range and still in a softened or plastic state; through the area toward the work surface, thereby cutting the stack to have a smooth and clean cut;
A method for cutting stacks of amorphous metal sheets.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the press-fit structure is a blade with a sharp cutting edge.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the amorphous metal sheet is raised to the above temperature range by passing an electric current through the amorphous metal sheet.

4. During the cutting operation, the above press-fit structure is heated to 80℃~450℃
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is heated to a temperature in the range of .

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein during the cutting operation the working surface is heated to a temperature in the range of 80°C to 450°C.

6. During the cutting operation, keep the above press-fit structure and the above working surface
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising heating to a temperature in the range of 80<0>C to 450<0>C.

7 Heat the press-fit structure to 80°C or higher by supplying hot fluid to the press-fit structure before and during the cutting operation.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising heating to a temperature in the range of 450<0>C.

8. The press-fit structure and the working surface are heated to a temperature in the range of 80°C to 450°C by supplying hot fluid to the press-fit structure and the working surface before and during the cutting operation. the method of.

9 The working surface is the surface of a fixed blade;
the press-fit structure is a movable blade aligned with the blade, such that as the movable blade moves toward the fixed blade, the cut made by both blades advances laterally of the stack; 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a movable blade is moved towards the fixed blade.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the area to be cut is heated to a temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C by heating the stack.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the area to be cut is heated to a temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C by heating the layered body.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the area to be cut is heated to a temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C by heating the stack.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein the area to be cut is heated to a temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C by heating the stack.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the area to be cut is heated to a temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C by heating the stack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for cutting stacks of overlapping amorphous metal sheets, such as overlapping layers of an amorphous metal core for an electrical transformer.

Amorphous metals, compared to crystalline steel type metals,
It has an amorphous structure that gives it excellent electrical properties, which makes it desirable for use in electrical transformers. Superior electrical properties manifest as reduced electrical losses in the amorphous metal core. Amorphous metal sheets have a critical temperature on the order of 450°C, and upon reaching or exceeding this critical temperature, the amorphous metal transitions from an amorphous state to a crystalline state.

Amorphous amorphous metals have a brittle glassy structure, and therefore, when a striking force or pressing force is applied, the amorphous metals shatter like glass. Amorphous metals are often available as rolls of relatively thin continuous sheets of material. Typical thickness of material is 0.038mm
(1.5 mil).

In the manufacturing process of electrical transformers, amorphous metal sheets are often arranged to form the overlapping layers of the core for the electrical transformer. When placing amorphous metal in superimposed layers, the amorphous metal sheet must be cut. It is desirable that the cutting produce smooth, clean cuts in the amorphous metal sheet. Furthermore, it is desirable to maintain the structure of the amorphous metal sheet in an amorphous state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for cutting an amorphous metal sheet that produces smooth and clean cuts without shattering or cracking the amorphous metal sheet.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cutting force required;
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for cutting an amorphous metal sheet in which the wear of the cutting device is also reduced.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting operation that maintains the structure of the amorphous metal sheet in an amorphous state.

These objects of the invention will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to providing a method for cutting amorphous metal sheets, such as those used in the production of amorphous metal cores for electrical transformers.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for cutting a stack of overlapping amorphous metal sheets using a press-fit structure. This method consists of the following steps: (a)
Position the stack of amorphous metal sheets with respect to the work surface, and (b) heat a predetermined area of the stack of sheets to 80℃~
(c) heating the sheet in the region to a temperature in the range of about 450° C. to cause the sheet in the region to become plastic without crystallization; and (c) the sheet in the region to become plastic within the temperature range. while applying a force to the press-fit structure to drive the press-fit structure against the work surface to penetrate at least some of the sheets in the predetermined area, thereby smoothing the stack. It includes a step of cutting to have a clean cut.

The invention will be better understood when the following description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the features of a method for cutting overlapping amorphous metal layers arranged to form a wound type amorphous metal core.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating features of a method for cutting overlapping amorphous metal layers arranged to form a stacked amorphous metal core.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the features of one embodiment of the present invention for cutting overlapping amorphous metal layers arranged to form a wound amorphous metal core.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing features of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the cutting operation of the paper cutter type of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the features of yet another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention for cutting a stack of overlapping amorphous metal sheets forming overlapping layers of a wound amorphous metal core for an electrical transformer. FIG.

The superimposed layers of the amorphous metal core are 22 in Figure 1.
A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F,
It is constructed of a set of overlapping amorphous metal sheets designated 22H,...22N, with the core designated generally by the reference numeral 22. The amorphous metal core 22 is formed into a wound configuration by conventional wrapping techniques prior to cutting thereof, as shown in FIG. 1 and described below. The step of wrapping the amorphous metal core into a former configuration prior to cutting is not considered part of the present invention and will not be further described. Similarly, after cutting, the amorphous metal core of FIG. 1 is further processed to constitute an amorphous metal core for an electrical transformer in its final form; The subsequent processing steps are not considered part of the invention and will not be described further.

The amorphous metal core 22 shown in FIG. 1 is positioned between an upper structure 24 having an intrusive blade arrangement and a lower structure 16 having a generally rectangular shape. Amorphous metal core 22 is shown positioned relative to lower structure 16, which serves as a working surface during the cutting operation. Upper structure 24 and lower structure 16 are connected to fluid motor 18 and heating means 12, respectively.

The heating means 12 is manufactured by Air Reduction Co., Ltd. located in New York, New York, USA.
A hot liquid or hot gas type heater available from Company; AIRCO) may be used. The heating means 12 communicate with the blade 24 and the working surface 16 by means of a heat transfer duct 15 .

Controlled heat is generated in heating means 12 and directed via duct 15 as indicated by arrow 14 . This controlled heat 14 is directed through a duct 15 to a blade 24, indicated by an arrow 14A, and through a duct 15 to a rectangular block 16.
The heat shown by the arrow 14B is divided into two. The heated blade 24 and the heated work surface 16 are positioned opposite each other under the control of a suitable fluid motor 18.

Fluid motor 18 may be any suitable conventional form of motor capable of imparting the desired downward force and velocity to the output member. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, fluid motor 18 has its associated blades 24 at arrow 2.
Provide a downward force as shown in the zero direction.
The amount of downward force and the order in which the force is applied to blade 24 is discussed below in conjunction with the parameters for cutting amorphous metal core 22.

The amorphous metal core 22 is positioned between the blade 24 and the work surface 16 at a desired location for cutting the amorphous metal core 22. Resistive heating means 34, shown in FIG. 3 (described below), supply heat to the sheet to create the desired heating and cutting area 25. The heating and cutting area 25 typically has a heated area of 4.10 cm ³ (0.25 in ³ ) and a typically 0.16 cm ³ (0.010 in ³ ), respectively, as measured around the midpoint of the blade 24. ) including the cutting area. The temperature in area 25 is higher than 80℃ and about
Raise the temperature to below 450°C and hold at that value. The preferred temperature range is 100°C to 300°C. Upper limit 450℃
is of critical importance. The reason is that when this limit is reached or exceeded, the amorphous metal layer 22A to 22
This is because N transitions from an amorphous state to a crystalline state, and as a result, the excellent electrical properties of the amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N, which are desirable for forming the amorphous metal core 22, are impaired. The lower limit of the preferred temperature range in region 25 is when the amorphous metal begins to soften or become plastic and the amorphous metals 22A to 22N become suitable for cutting, and the unheated amorphous metal is cut. This is the temperature at which the fractures and cracks that normally occur do not occur.

The desired temperature of region 25 depends on the amount of heat provided by heating means 34, the dimensions of blade 24, and the working surface 1.
6 and the number of layers 22A to 22N to be cut.

When the present invention was implemented, each thickness was 0.038
mm (1.5 mil) and width 25.4 mm (1.0 inch)
Fifteen amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N were successfully cut. Area 25 was maintained at 100°C to 300°C.
The blade 24 and working surface 16 were also raised to and maintained at a temperature of 100°C to 300°C. Blade 24 had a volume capacity of approximately 9.0 ^{in 3 .} Similarly, the volume capacity of the work surface 16 is approximately 294.97 cm ³
(18.0in ³ ).

In an example of cutting 15 amorphous metal sheets, heating blade 24 and work surface 16 requires
A gas type heat source was supplied by the heating means 12 to perform flame type heating. In another embodiment, blade 24 and block 16 were provided with resistive heat. Whether it is flame type heating or resistance type heating, 15 pieces of amorphous metal 22
I was able to successfully cut A to 22N. Although amorphous metal layers have been successfully cut using heat supplied to the tool from flame-type and resistance-type heaters, hot air guns, induction heaters, and other types of heat sources may also be used in the practice of the present invention. It should be appreciated that it can also be used as heating means 12.

FIG. 1 shows the relative positions of amorphous metal layers 22A-22F after each has been cut by blade 24, and the position of amorphous metal layer 22G, which blade 24 contacts at point 26. The blade 24 is
The downward drive provided by fluid motor 18 applies a force on contact point 26, typically 2000 pounds. Heated amorphous metal sheet 22G
This 2000 pounds of force applied to the heated press fit blade 24 in contact with the blade 24 causes the blade 24 to penetrate and cut the heated amorphous metal sheet 22G. By continuously applying 2000 pounds of force to the blade 24, the amorphous metal core 22
The remaining heated amorphous metal layer constituting the layer is subsequently cut.

This desired 2000 pounds of force is a significant reduction compared to the typical force of 10000 pounds required to cut an unheated amorphous metal layer.
Furthermore, the reduction in force to 2000 pounds also reduces wear on the cutting device, such as the press-fit structure 24, thereby increasing the life of the cutting device (blade 24).

When the amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N are cut according to the present invention, the cut portions have smooth and clean edges. For example, in the case of cutting the 15 amorphous metal layers mentioned above, the edges of the cut portions were relatively smooth, without cracks, and had almost no burrs.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown at 30 in the block diagram of FIG. The apparatus of FIG. 2 is similar to the apparatus of FIG. 1, and reference numerals similar to those of FIG. 1 have been used wherever possible to indicate the same elements as described in FIG. The major difference between the device in FIG. 1 and the device in FIG. 2 is that the working surface in FIG. 1 is replaced by the second blade 28 in FIG.
Instead, the rolled amorphous metal core 22 of FIG. 1 has been replaced with a stacked amorphous metal core 32 of FIG.

The second blade 28 has similar dimensions as described above for the first blade 24. The second blade 28 is appropriately positioned relative to the first blade 24 so that when the fluid motor 18 applies the aforementioned downward force to the blade 24, the projections of the blade 24 and the blade 28 contact each other.

The desired heat is supplied to the blade 28 in the direction of arrow 14B via a duct 15 connected to the heating means 12. Heat from resistive heating means 34 shown in FIG. 3 is applied to the sheet to create a heating and cutting zone 27 similar to heating and cutting zone 25 of FIG. 1 previously described. Area 27 as shown in FIG.
The center point of is approximately the contact point 26 shown in FIG.
Located in The temperature in region 27 was varied from 80°C to 450°C in a similar manner as previously described for region 25.
Raise the temperature to within the range of and maintain it at that value. The preferred temperature range for region 27 is 100°C to 300°C.

The stacked amorphous metal core 32 is shown in FIG.
It is shown as a flat array of stacks of overlapping amorphous metal layers 32A-32N. The amorphous metal layers 32A to 32N in FIG. 2 are cut by the press-fitting blade 24 in the same manner as described above for cutting the amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N by the blade 24 in FIG. As with the amorphous metal layers 22A-22N in the previous example, the desired smooth and clean edge cuts are obtained for the cut amorphous metal layers 32A-32N.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown at 50 in the block diagram of FIG. The apparatus of FIG. 3 for cutting an amorphous metal core 22 as described above with respect to FIG.
Works in a punch and die configuration, with the die acting as a die.

The operation of the apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 3 and the apparatus 10 shown and described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.
and 30 are the amorphous metal cores 22 and 32 and the blades 24 and 28.
(Figs. 1 and 2) and working surface 16 (Fig. 1)
In contrast, in FIG. 3, only the amorphous metal core 22 is heated. The amorphous metal core 22 of FIG. 3, particularly the region 29 of the amorphous metal core 22, is heated to a temperature within the range of 80° C. to 450° C. by controlled heat generated by a resistive heater 34; kept at that temperature. The preferred range is 100℃~
The temperature is 300℃.

The resistance heater 34 is manufactured by Taylor Winfield, Warren, Ohio, USA.
An AC transformer type heater with electronic control unit available from Winfield Corp. may be used. Resistance heating device 34 supplies current in the direction indicated by arrow 36;
Current flows through channel 40 and amorphous metal core 22 in the direction indicated by arrow 38 . A resistive heating means 34 is coupled to the amorphous metal core 22 via its output transformer 35.

The current of the resistance heater 34 is directed to the amorphous metal core 22 primarily through the flow path 40 shown in FIG. Current from resistive heater 34 flows through channel 40 to create heating region 29 corresponding to region 25 of FIG. 1 previously described.

Flow path 40 is established, in part, by confining the flow of current from resistive heater 34 to the desired conductive portions of conductive block 44. Channel 4
Zero confinement is accomplished by placing insulating material 46 in the shaded areas of conductive block 44 where it is desired to prevent current flow. Insulating material 46 can be resin treated paper, and has a typical thickness of 0.125 inches. Insulating material 46 is also placed on the cutting portion of punch 42.

Furthermore, by arranging an insulating material 49 similar to the insulating material 46 described above, which is represented by a circle,
The current flowing through the flow path 40 is prevented from flowing into the die-shaped block 48.

The conductive block 44, along with the conductive portion that provides the electrical medium for the flow path 40, connects the punch blade 42.
A connection means is also provided for further pneumatic means 52 for sequentially driving downwards as will be described below. Pneumatic means 52 is manufactured by Taylor Winfield, Warren, Ohio, USA.
It may be of the Dual Air Action Cylinder type available from Co., Ltd.

The blade 42 coupled to the pneumatic means 50 is
It acts as a punch and is pushed downward to hit and penetrate the amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N of the amorphous metal core 22. Each amorphous metal layer 22
Required to sequentially penetrate A to 22N,
The force to be applied to the blade 42 from the pneumatic means 52 is applied by increasing the temperature of the amorphous metal layer 22A-22N to cause it to soften and become plastic in the heating and cutting region 29. becomes significantly smaller. For example, to penetrate an unheated amorphous metal layer typically
Although an impact force of 10,000 pounds is desired, only 2,000 pounds of force is required according to the present invention to penetrate an amorphous metal layer heated to about 200°C.

Cutting is performed immediately after the heated region reaches the desired temperature range so that the amorphous metal in region 29 is in a softened or plastic state while cutting is performed.

The amorphous metal layers 22A to 22N are sequentially cut into a V-shape 54 as shown in FIG. Pneumatic means 5 so that the blade 42 contacts and strikes only the individual amorphous metal layers.
2 sequentially drives the blade 42 downward. The blade 42 has amorphous metal layers 22A to 2
Continue the downward motion until you have cut cleanly through all 2N and have a smooth cut.

FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of the invention. The device 60 of FIG. 4 is similar to the device 20 of FIG. 2 described above, but instead of the press-fit blades 24 and 28 of FIG. A paper cutting machine type device having a blade 64 is used. The heating and cutting region 27 shown in FIG. 4 is produced in a manner similar to that described with respect to FIG.

Knife-shaped blades 62 and 64 operate in a manner similar to well-known paper cutters. The embodiment of the paper cutter type shown in FIG. 4 is shown in side view in FIG. 5 to illustrate the cutting operation.

In FIG. 5, the working surface is shown as a stationary blade 64 and the press fit structure is shown as a movable knife-shaped blade coupled to the fluid motor 18. The movable knife-shaped blade 62 is initially placed in contact with one end 70 of the amorphous metal core 32, which is comprised of a stack of amorphous metal sheets 32A-32N. A movable knife-shaped blade 62 that applies a downward force of about 200 to 300 pounds by a fluid motor 18.
In addition, as the movable blade 62 moves toward the fixed blade 64, the cuts made by the movable blade 62 and the fixed blade 64 progress laterally through the amorphous metal stacks 32A-32N. It becomes like this. The fixture and blade 64 work similarly to the fixture of a paper cutter, while the knife-shaped blade 62 works similarly to the knife-type blade of a paper cutter, both cutting multiple amorphous metal sheets at the same time. . The movable blade 62 and the stationary blade 64 may be of the steel and carbide combination type available from National Carbide Die, Mackaysport, Pennsylvania, USA.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.
The apparatus diagram 80 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the apparatus 60 of FIG.
2 and fixed blade 64 are replaced by an upper shearing or scissoring blade 66 and a lower shearing or scissoring blade 68, respectively. The lower shear blade 68 provides a working surface for cutting operations, and the upper shear blade 66 provides a press-fit structure for cutting operations. The heating and cutting region 27 shown in FIG. 6 is produced as described above with respect to FIG.