Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/08—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using ultrasonic vibrations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/128—Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/1282—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one overlap joint-segment
  • B29C66/12821—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one overlap joint-segment comprising at least two overlap joint-segments
  • B29C66/12822—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one overlap joint-segment comprising at least two overlap joint-segments comprising at least three overlap joint-segments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/128—Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/1284—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one butt joint-segment
  • B29C66/12841—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one butt joint-segment comprising at least two butt joint-segments
  • B29C66/12842—Stepped joint cross-sections comprising at least one butt joint-segment comprising at least two butt joint-segments comprising at least three butt joint-segments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/301—Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/302—Particular design of joint configurations the area to be joined comprising melt initiators
  • B29C66/3022—Particular design of joint configurations the area to be joined comprising melt initiators said melt initiators being integral with at least one of the parts to be joined
  • B29C66/30223—Particular design of joint configurations the area to be joined comprising melt initiators said melt initiators being integral with at least one of the parts to be joined said melt initiators being rib-like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/54—Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
  • B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
  • F04D29/02—Selection of particular materials
  • F04D29/023—Selection of particular materials especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
  • F04D29/02—Selection of particular materials
  • F04D29/026—Selection of particular materials especially adapted for liquid pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
  • F04D29/18—Rotors
  • F04D29/22—Rotors specially for centrifugal pumps
  • F04D29/2205—Conventional flow pattern
  • F04D29/2222—Construction and assembly
  • F04D29/2227—Construction and assembly for special materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/06—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using friction, e.g. spin welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/14—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation
  • B29C65/16—Laser beams
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/748—Machines or parts thereof not otherwise provided for
  • B29L2031/7496—Pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
  • F05D2230/00—Manufacture
  • F05D2230/20—Manufacture essentially without removing material
  • F05D2230/23—Manufacture essentially without removing material by permanently joining parts together
  • F05D2230/232—Manufacture essentially without removing material by permanently joining parts together by welding

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ultrasonic welding method and to a product obtained with the method.
• ultrasonic welding is a commonly used technique for assembling parts made of plastics.
• ultrasonic welding occurs by applying to the parts to be welded a variable normal load and by vibrating one part with respect to the other by virtue of adapted devices capable of generating a vibration with an ultrasonic frequency.
• This intense vibration transmitted by a so-called sonotrode, generates heat, which melts the material, thereby welding the two parts.
• Friction welding is a technique whereby the parts are welded by means of the friction that is generated as a consequence of a relative motion, for example a rotation, between the parts to be welded, combined with the application of pressure.
• friction welding is not very precise and causes welding flash that is incompatible with many applications.
• the laser beam welding technique is complex and generally can only be performed by means of robots which require high investment costs.
• the aim of the invention is to solve the problems described above, providing an ultrasonic welding method that allows to weld two or more components even when the connecting regions include curvilinear portions.
• a particular object of the invention is to provide a method that allows to weld at connecting regions that are substantially parallel to the direction of the ultrasonic beam transmitted by the sonotrode.
• Another particular object of the invention is to propose a method that allows to manufacture a diffuser of a fluid-operated pump or any other product made of two or more members that are welded at connecting regions that include curvilinear portions.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a method that ensures highly reliable and repetitive welds.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a method that allows to fully exploit the productive potential of ultrasonic welding machines.
• an ultrasonic welding method comprising the steps of:
• said connecting regions comprise mutually matching curvilinear portions
• said method comprising the step of forming matching welding surfaces on said members, making said curvilinear portions at least partially discrete.
• the present invention provides a product comprising at least two members that can be welded by means of an ultrasonic beam transmitted at respective connecting regions, said connecting regions having curvilinear portions; characterized in that said members comprise mutually matching welding surfaces that make said curvilinear portions at least partially discrete.
• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a generic product obtained by means of the method according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a top view of a diffuser of a fluid-operated pump obtained by means of the method according to the invention
• Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane Ill-Ill of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a component of the diffuser
• Figure 5 is a top view of the component of the preceding figure
• Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the plane VI-VI of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a top view of another component of the diffuser.
• Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7.
• the present invention relates to a method for ultrasonic welding members made of thermoplastic material to be mutually assembled. More particularly, the method is conceived to perform ultrasonic welding between at least one first member 1 and at least one second member 2, which have connecting regions that include curvilinear portions that mutually mate and are designated respectively by the reference numerals 3 and 4.
• the method comprises defining mutually matching welding surfaces on the first member 1 and on the second member 2 and making the curvilinear portions of the welding surfaces at least partially discrete.
• said welding surfaces are defined respectively at the first connection region 3 and at the second connecting region 4 before performing the welding operations.
• the welding surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam used to perform welding and are conceived so as to interrupt the continuity of the curvature of the curvilinear portions.
• the welding surfaces are defined respectively by a first plurality of steps 5 and by a second plurality of steps 6.
• the steps 5 are mutually adjacent, and so are the steps 6; however, according to a further embodiment, the steps may be spaced.
• each step 5 is composed of a welding surface 5a and of a connecting surface 5b, the welding surface 5a being substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam 50 used for welding.
• each step 6 is composed of a welding surface 6a, which is substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam 50 used for welding, and of a connecting surface 6b.
• connecting surfaces 5b and 6b are substantially parallel to the ultrasonic beam 50 used for welding, but different shapes may be used without departing from the inventive concept.
• the welding surfaces 5a substantially mate with the corresponding welding surfaces 6a, while the connecting surfaces 5b substantially mate with the corresponding connecting surfaces 6b. It should be noted that the steps 5 and 6 are made taking care that the thicknesses of the first member 1 and of the second member 2 are sufficient to obtain reliable welded joints.
• the steps 5 and 6 are provided during the molding of the members 1 and 2. - . . . . . .
• steps 5 and 6 can be provided by removing material from the connecting regions 3 and 4.
• the steps 5 and 6 have been formed, it is possible to perform the actual welding operations, which begin by arranging the first member 1 and the second member 2 so that the steps 5 and 6 are mutually adjacent; in particular, the welding surfaces 5a are arranged adjacent to the corresponding welding surfaces 6a.
• an ultrasonic beam is transmitted to at least one of the two members 1 and 2 substantially at the steps 5 and 6.
• the other member is conveniently inserted in a fixed die, known as anvil.
• the ultrasonic beam and the applied pressure are substantially perpendicular to the welding surfaces 5a and 6a.
• the presence of the welding surfaces 5a and 6a therefore allows to effectively transmit the ultrasonic beam and the thrust, ensuring the good result of the welding operation.
• this arrangement prevents mutual slippages and/or deformations of the two members 1 and 2.
• the present invention also relates to a product obtained by means of the method described and illustrated above.
• This product includes two or more members that are welded by means of an ultrasonic beam transmitted at respective connecting regions.
• the members include respective mutually mating welding surfaces, which are conceived in such a manner as to make the curvilinear portions of the connecting regions at least partially discrete.
• Figures 2 to 8 illustrate a practical embodiment of a product constituted by a d iff user 100 of a fluid-operated pump.
• the diffuser 100 comprises a first member 101 and a second member 102, which are joined by means of the ultrasonic welding method according to the invention.
• the first member 101 comprises a first body 110 centrally provided with a through hole 111 and laterally delimited by a first wall 112 that substantially has the profile of a quadric surface portion.
• Vanes 113 extend from the first wall 112 and are angularly distributed around the axis of symmetry of the first body 110.
• the vanes 113 are curved so as to form, together with the second member 102, radially arranged ducts.
• the second member 102 comprises a substantially cylindrical second body 120, which is centrally provided with a concavity 121 that accommodates at least one portion of the first member 101.
• the concavity 121 has a shape that is substantially complementary to the envelope of the vanes 113.
• the two members 101 and 102 are intended to be mutually joined in a manner wherein the edges 114 of the vanes 113 mate with the surface of the concavity 121 so as to define the above cited ducts.
• the first member 101 and the second member 102 include respective welding surfaces, which mate with each other and make the curvilinear portions of the connecting regions of the two members 101 and 102 at least partially discrete.
• Such welding surfaces are defined respectively by a first plurality of adjacent steps 105 and by a second plurality of adjacent steps 106.
• the first steps 105 are formed substantially at the edges 114 of the vanes 113, while the second steps 106 are provided on the surface of the concavity 121 with a pattern that matches the pattern of the first steps 105.
• each step 105 is composed of a welding surface 105a, which is substantially parallel to a base of the first body 110, and a connecting surface 105b.
• each step 106 is composed of a welding surface 106a, which is substantially parallel to a base of the second body 120, and a connecting surface 106b.
• each step 105 there is a protrusion 115 which, during welding, has the task of concentrating the energy provided by the sonotrode.
• the protrusion might be formed at the welding surface 106a of each step 106.
• the diffuser 100 is made by separately manufacturing the two members 101 and 102 and by joining them at a later time, so that the welding surfaces 105a are welded to the corresponding welding surfaces 106a.
• the two members 101 and 102 are joined by matching the welding surfaces 105a on the corresponding welding surfaces 106a, and the connecting surface 105b on the corresponding connecting surface 106b, and by transmitting an ultrasonic beam to a base of the first member 101 , or of the second member 102; pressure is applied simultaneously.
• each step 105 is substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam used for welding.
• each step 106 is substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam used for welding.
• the problem of phasing the two members 101 and 102 during welding is solved.
• Such problem is solved by forming adapted protrusions 116 on one of the members and corresponding seats 122 on the other member.
• the protrusions 116 are adapted to interlock in as many corresponding seats 122 provided on the other member.
• the invention allows to make ultrasonic welds at connecting regions that include curvilinear portions.
• This method also allows to utilize the ultrasonic welding technique at connecting regions that are substantially parallel to the direction of the ultrasonic beam that is used.
• a practical application of the method for example, is the manufacturing of a diffuser of a fluid-operated pump by ultrasonic welding two components at connecting regions that include curvilinear portions.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2016
  • 2016-01-18 TW TW105101354A patent/TWI687273B/zh active
  • 2016-01-18 WO PCT/JP2016/051947 patent/WO2016117708A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2016-01-18 JP JP2017537516A patent/JP6714003B2/ja active Active
  • 2016-01-18 EP EP16740315.3A patent/EP3247527A4/en active Pending
  • 2016-01-18 BR BR112017015309-2A patent/BR112017015309B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2016-01-18 CN CN201680005811.8A patent/CN107206543B/zh active Active

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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