RU212069U1 - MECHANISM FOR FEEDING CONSUMABLE METAL MATERIALS OF THE "ROD" OR "ROD" TYPE TO THE ZONE OF ENERGY IMPACT - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to mechanisms for supplying consumable metal materials of the "rod" or "bar" type to the energy impact zone and can be used for electron beam technologies in the processes of additive manufacturing or welding of products from metal materials. Mechanism for supplying consumable metal materials of measured length contains a consumable metal materials accumulator, a guide unit for moving consumable metal materials from the accumulator to the electron beam supply device and a drive. The drive consists of front and rear supports interconnected by cylindrical guides and designed to install and fix the drive on the drive housing, while the guides are equipped with front and rear clips to accommodate consumable metal material between them with the possibility of moving it between the clips under the action of gravity . The drive is made in the form of a hollow box-type housing, in the rear part of which a stepper motor and a screw gear are installed, the front end of the lead screw of which is connected to the motor shaft through a coupling, the rear end of the screw is installed in a bearing support in the front part of the housing, and the screw gear nut is combined with a slider having a stop, while the body is closed from above by two strips, which are installed with a gap to move the stop in it until it touches the consumable metal material when it enters the gap under the action of gravity from the accumulator and moves it to the entrance to the guide assembly, moreover the drive contains a spring, one end of which is fixed on the slider, and the other end is connected to the stop, and a limit position sensor is installed in the lower part of the drive housing, which determines the starting point for moving the slider. The guide assembly consists of a mounting plate, on which two side walls are placed, closed with a lid to form a channel for moving the consumable metal material, and at one end of the mounting plate there is a flange for attaching the guide assembly to the drive housing, and at the other end there is a guide prism designed to for finally guiding the consumable metal material to the electron beam delivery device. Provides continuous and automated supply of bar material of measured length. 2 w.p. f-ly, 6 ill.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The utility model relates to mechanisms for supplying consumable metal materials of the "rod" or "bar" type to the energy impact zone, by analogy with welding wire feeders, and can be used for electron beam technologies in additive manufacturing processes or welding products from metal materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device for feeding a welding rod is disclosed in the patent of the Republic of Korea [KR 102261201 (B1) - 2021-06-07]. The invention relates to a device for supplying a welding rod required for laser welding. The welding rod is in the form of a wire and is configured to be continuously fed from a circular feeder. The welding rod is a straight line with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

The disadvantages of this device include the complexity of the design, due to the presence of not only a drive for feeding bar material to the nozzle, but also a drive for rotating the drum with bars, as well as the complexity of the technical implementation of feeding the bar from the drum to the nozzle, which is due to the presence of bars in a closed drum with narrow extended channels. In addition, the drum rotation drive is located close to the electron beam, which reduces its reliability due to the temperature effect of the electron beam.

A device for supplying electrode rods is known [GB 635411 (A) - 1950-04-12] The device contains guides that perform reciprocating motion for supplying electrode rods from a funnel into vertical slots. These guides are parallel to the electrodes and mounted on levers attached to the shafts. The shoulders on the shafts are connected by an adjustable link, and the shoulder on one of them is connected by a link to a lever that carries a roller, the bearing of which rotates by an eccentric. At the bottom of the slot, the rear end of the electrode rests on a roller, and the front end is clamped between conical rotating rollers, 14, which feed it into the nozzle. The rollers are mounted in eccentric bushings so that the distance between them can be adjusted.

The disadvantages of this device include the complexity of the design, due to the presence of not only the drive for feeding the bar material to the nozzle, but also the drive responsible for moving the bar to the feed rollers, as well as large weight and size indicators associated with the presence of a complex drive system. Large weight and size indicators make it difficult to install the device at a distance necessary to feed the bar material in the process of additive electron beam production.

A device for supplying electrode rods is known [GB 589543 (A) - 1947-06-24]. The electrode rods are fed one by one from the hopper by means of two or more rotating tapered rollers, the hopper being formed by adjustable end walls and adjustable guides shaped to provide a narrow gap closed at the bottom by the rollers. Those parts of the rollers that are above the line are not round, so that the rollers push the rods and prevent them from jamming. An inclined support is provided for the rear ends of the rods, and a recess for one rod is formed in the front wall. The lower rod is captured by the rollers and fed to the transport rollers through the expanding guide. The second lower rod rests on and is held by the first rod until its front end reaches the end of the notch and its rear end becomes unsupported due to the inclination of the support. When one rod has moved so far that it no longer supports the second lower rod, the latter drops into the groove formed by the rollers, gets caught by them and moves forward in the same way as the rod. The distance between the rollers can be adjusted to suit rods of different diameters, and the roller axles can be vertical or tilted forward or backward.

The disadvantages of this device include the complexity of the design, due to the presence of not only a drive for feeding the bar material to the nozzle, but also a drive responsible for moving the bar to the feed rollers. Large weight and size indicators make it difficult to install the device at a distance necessary to feed the bar material in the process of additive electron beam production.

A device for controlled feeding of a filler rod in arc welding and a complex for arc welding, disclosed in RU 2719971 C2 (publ. 23.04.2020), is known. A device for controlled feeding of a filler rod during welding with a tungsten electrode in an inert gas environment comprises a main body for holding a filler rod, a feeder connected to the main body and configured to advance the filler rod during welding, and a control unit, including a processor a module that is configured to generate a signal (Sv) of the feed rate and a control signal (Sa) that is a function of the signal (Vs) of the welding voltage, and an executive module connected to the feeder and configured to control this device in accordance with the specified signal ( Sv) feed rate to control the feed rate of the filler rod, and also with the ability to control the regulating device associated with the electrode of the welding tool to ensure that the electrode moves forward / backward in accordance with the control signal (Sa). The complex for arc welding contains, among other things, the specified device for controlled feeding of the filler rod. The use of the invention improves the quality of welded joints.

The disadvantages of this device include the absence in the design of the device of both a drive that provides a continuous supply of bar material, and a storage device containing bar material in the required amount. In addition, the drum rotation drive is located close to the electron beam, which reduces its reliability due to the temperature effect of the electron beam.

The objective of the utility model is to develop a mechanism for supplying metal materials of measured length in wire electron-beam additive manufacturing of metal products.

EFFECT: continuous and automated supply of bar material of measured length (of the "rod" or "bar" type) in the additive production of products from metallic materials by the electron beam method.

Another technical result is an increase in the quality of products during their additive production by the electron beam method.

The task is achieved by the fact that the proposed mechanism simplifies the process of supplying consumable metal materials of the "rod" or "rod" type to the zone of energy impact, contains

storage of consumable metal materials,

a guide assembly for moving consumable metal materials from the accumulator to the zone of energy impact, and

drive unit,

moreover, the drive consists of two supports: front and rear, interconnected by cylindrical guides and designed to install and fix the drive on the drive housing, while two clips are installed on the guides: front and rear, between which a consumable metal material is installed with the possibility of moving it between clips under the action of gravity;

moreover, the drive is a housing made in the form of a hollow box-type structure, in the rear part of which a stepper motor and a screw gear are installed, the front end of the lead screw of which is connected to the motor shaft through a coupling, and the rear end of the screw is installed in a bearing support in the front part of the housing, the screw transmission nut is aligned with the slider having a stop, while the body is closed from above by two strips, which are installed in such a way as to provide a gap between them for moving the stop in it until it touches the consumable material of the “rod” or “rod” type entering the gap under the action of gravity from the drive and moving it to the entrance to the guide assembly of the mechanism;

moreover, the guide unit for further movement of consumable metal materials from the accumulator to the zone of energy impact consists of a bar on which two side walls are placed, closed by a lid, forming between them a channel through which the said consumable metal material is moved, while at one end of the fastening bar is made a flange for fastening the unit to the drive housing, and at the other end there is a guiding prism designed for the final direction of the consumable material into the zone of energy impact.

At the same time, to return the stop to its original position, the drive contains a spring, one end of which is fixed on the slider, and the other end is connected to the stop.

In addition, a limit position sensor is installed in the lower part of the drive housing, which determines the starting point for moving the slider.

Preferably, the clips are mounted on cylindrical guides with the possibility of moving them relative to each other.

Additionally, the design has a bracket for fastening as part of, for example, additive manufacturing equipment, which allows you to adjust the angle of inclination of the structure relative to this equipment.

Improving the quality of products is achieved due to the continuity of the supply of bar material provided by the design proposed in this utility model, the violation of which during additive formation will either lead to cooling of the already formed, underlying layer of material, and, as a result, a violation of the relationship with the upper, formed layer of material, or to overheating of the supplied material, which will lead to its spreading over the underlying layer and, as a result, the deviation of the formed product from the specified geometric shape.

THE INVENTION IS EXPLAINED BY GRAPHIC MATERIALS

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the mechanism proposed in the present invention for supplying consumable metal materials of the "rod" or "bar" type to the zone of energy impact.

In FIG. 2 shows a drawing of the drive, revealing its design solution.

In FIG. Figure 3 shows a general view of the constructive solution of the drive.

In FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the design of the guide assembly.

In FIG. 5 shows a view of the mechanism proposed in the present invention with the consumable material of the “rod” type installed in the holders.

In FIG. 6 shows a view of a part of the drive, showing a constructive solution for the return movement of the slider with a stop to its original position.

The inventive mechanism for supplying consumable metal materials of the "rod" or "bar" type includes a drive 1, a guide assembly 2 and a storage device 3, combined into a single structure (Fig. 1). For fastening as part of additive manufacturing equipment, the design has a bracket 4 that allows you to adjust its angle of inclination.

The drive of the proposed mechanism is a closed housing 5, which is a hollow box-type structure (Fig. 2). A stepper motor 6 is placed in the rear part of the housing. The rotation of the motor shaft is transmitted to the lead screw 7 of the screw transmission through the clutch 8, which is aligned with the front end of the screw. The rear end of the screw is mounted in the bearing support 9. On the screw there is a nut 10 of the screw transmission, which is aligned with the slider 11. When the screw is rotated, the nut moves in the axial direction, moving the slider with the stop 12. On the slider there is an axis 13, on which the stop is located, which engaged with the end of the spring 14. The second end of the spring is engaged with the slider. The spring is designed to return the stop to its original position when it is rotated around the axis. A limit position sensor 15 is installed in the lower part of the housing, which determines the starting point for moving the slider. From above, the body is closed with strips 16, 17, which are installed in such a way as to provide a gap for moving the slider. A drive is placed on the drive of the feed mechanism (Fig. 3). The drive consists of a front support 18 and a rear support 19, designed to install and fix it on the drive. The supports are interconnected by two cylindrical guides 20, 21. Front and rear clips are installed on the guides. The clips have the same design and consist of sidewalls 22, 23 and a cover 24. The clips are fastened through the lugs 25. The fastening is made in such a way as to move the clips relative to each other along cylindrical guides. The movement is achieved by loosening the fixing screws 26 of the front or rear cage, moving them to the required position, which is determined by the length of the used consumable metal material such as "rod" or "rod", and then fixing by tightening the fixing screws. The guide unit of the feed mechanism is designed to guide the consumable metal material of the "rod" or "bar" type into the zone of energy impact (Fig. 4). The assembly consists of a mounting plate 27, on which two side walls 28, 29 are placed, closed with a cover 30. These elements form a channel 31 between themselves, along which a consumable metal material of the “rod” or “rod” type moves. In front of the guide assembly at the end of the mounting plate there is a guide prism 32, designed for the final direction of the consumable when it is moved. At the end of the cover there is a bracket 33 for fastening the roller clamp 34. The clamp is designed to prevent displacement of the consumable when it moves along the guide prism, as well as spontaneous loss under the action of gravity at the exit from the guide assembly.

THE DEVICE WORKS AS FOLLOWS.

Before the start of the operation, the bar material feed mechanism is installed as part of the equipment for electron beam additive manufacturing, is adjusted by the angle of inclination and is fixed in the required position by means of bracket 4 (the feed mechanism is fixed near the electron beam (electron beam) feeder. Next, screws 26 are loosened, the front 35 and rear 36 clips are installed relative to each other at the required distance on the guides 20, 21, determined by the size of the consumable bar used, then they are fixed by tightening the screws 26.

The bar consumable material 37 is installed between the clips, according to the arrangement shown in FIG. 5. The amount of material is determined by the configuration of the product manufactured by additive technologies (by weight or volume). The lower bar under the action of gravity is located in such a way as to fall into the gap between the bars 16, 17.

The operation of the feed mechanism is cyclical, and each cycle is performed as follows. In the process of additive manufacturing, the rotation of the drive shaft 6 through the clutch 8 is fed to the lead screw 7. The rotation of the screw ensures the translational movement of the nut 10 of the screw transmission with the slide 11 installed on it. 17 until it touches the consumable bar. With further movement, the stop 12 pushes the bar of consumable material until it enters the guide assembly of the feed mechanism. Under the influence of the stop, the bar moves along channel 31 until it exits the guide assembly. At the exit from the assembly, the bar occupies the required position with the help of a guide prism 32 and a roller clamp 34. When the slider 11 moves to the extreme position, the next bar of consumable material under the action of gravity takes place in the gap between the bars 16, 17. This is the working stroke of the cycle. Then turns on the reverse of the engine 6, in which the slider 11 makes a return movement. During the return movement of the slider, the stop 12 rests against the lying bar of the consumable material, rotates clockwise about the axis 13 and tilts so that further movement is carried out under the bar (Fig. 6). In this case, the spring 14 is stretched. When the position determined by the end sensor 15 is reached, the spring returns to its original position. Under its influence, the stop 12 rotates relative to the axis 13 with its return to the working position. This is an idle cycle. Then the reverse of the engine 6 is turned on, in which the slider 11 performs translational movement and the cycle repeats.

Claims (3)

1. A mechanism for supplying consumable metal materials of a measured length in the additive manufacturing of products by an electron beam method, containing a storage of consumable metal materials, a guide assembly for moving consumable metal materials from the storage to the electron beam supply device and a drive, characterized in that the storage consists of a front and rear supports interconnected by cylindrical guides and intended for installation and fixation of the drive on the drive housing, while the front and rear clips are installed on the rails to accommodate consumable metal material between them with the possibility of moving it between the clips under the action of gravity; the drive is made in the form of a hollow box-type housing, in the rear part of which a stepper motor and a screw gear are installed, the front end of the lead screw of which is connected to the motor shaft through a coupling, the rear end of the screw is installed in a bearing support in the front part of the housing, and the screw gear nut is combined with a slider having a stop, while the body is closed from above by two strips, which are installed with a gap to move the stop in it until it touches the consumable metal material when it enters the gap under the action of gravity from the accumulator and moves it to the entrance to the guide assembly, moreover the drive contains a spring, one end of which is fixed on the slider, and the other end is connected to the stop, and in the lower part of the drive housing there is a limit position sensor that determines the starting point for moving the slider, while the guide assembly consists of a mounting plate on which two side walls are placed , closed with a lid to form a channel for consumable metal material, wherein at one end of the mounting plate there is a flange for attaching the guide assembly to the drive housing, and at the other end there is a guide prism designed for the final direction of the consumable metal material to the electron beam feeder. 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the clips are mounted on cylindrical guides with the possibility of moving them relative to each other. 3. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made with the possibility of fastening as part of the additive manufacturing equipment and adjusting the angle of inclination relative to it.

Images