Method and apparatus for fusing terminal or commutator wire connections using a trigger current

• US 5,418,347 A
• Filed: 05/19/1993
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc. (Odawara Engineering Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc. (Odawara Engineering Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kirker, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Clifford C.
• Application Number:
  US08/064,760
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 219/86.41, 219/91.21, 219/110
• US Class Current: 219/110
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/115 by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/24 Electric supply or control circuits therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for fusing a workpiece including at least two electrically conductive elements comprising:

an electrode;

means for moving the electrode into contact with said workpiece causing said electrode to contact and apply a force to said workpiece;

means for generating a trigger current upon contacting said workpiece with said electrode;

means for detecting said trigger current and initiating a welding current which fuses said elements;

and means for generating said welding current.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fusing a workpiece including at least two electrically conductive elements comprising:

an electrode;

means for moving the electrode into contact with said workpiece causing said electrode to contact and apply a force to said workpiece;

means for generating a trigger current upon contacting said workpiece with said electrode;

means for detecting said trigger current and initiating a welding current which fuses said elements;

and means for generating said welding current.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for generating said welding current includes a secondary circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for generating said welding current further includes means for monitoring said welding current and means for controlling said welding current in response to said means for monitoring said current.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said trigger current is generated in said secondary circuit and said means for detecting said trigger current is a toroid around said secondary circuit.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for generating said welding current also generates said trigger current and said means for monitoring said welding current also detects said trigger current.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said trigger current is generated in a trigger circuit distinct from said secondary circuit and said apparatus includes means to isolate said trigger circuit from said secondary circuit when a welding current is present.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus further includes a proportional regulator located at either end of said cylinder such that the force applied to said workpiece by said electrode can be controlled by actuating said regulator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said electrode is a pneumatic cylinder.

9. A method for fusing a workpiece including at least two electrically conductive elements comprising the steps of:

moving an electrode into contact with said workpiece under a predetermined force;

generating a trigger current upon contacting said workpiece with said electrode;

detecting said trigger current; and

initiating a cycle which includes generating a welding current to fuse said workpiece.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein after detecting said trigger current, said method includes the step of reducing the force on said electrode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein after detecting said trigger current there is a delay before initiating said welding current.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said welding current is initiated through an upslope.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said workpiece is a wire and a tang.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein during said upslope insulation is removed from said wire.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said method includes the step of cold forming said tang around said wire.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said trigger current is generated in a secondary circuit including said workpiece and said trigger current is detected in a toroid around said secondary circuit.

17. In an apparatus including means for generating, means for monitoring and means for controlling welding current, the improvement which comprises means for generating a trigger current upon contacting a workpiece with an electrode, said trigger current being detectable by said means for monitoring said welding current such that upon detecting said trigger current, a welding cycle can be initiated.