Methods and apparatus for detecting electrode separation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece by fusing together a plurality of electrically conductive materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a fusing electrode;
first means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece;
second means for passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece;
third means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece after said first and second means have performed their functions; and
fourth means operative during operation of said third means for detecting electrode separation by continuously monitoring and detecting the force required to separate said electrode from said workpiece.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrical attachment during fusing operations are provided. After a conventional fusing operation is complete, an electrical signal is applied to the fusing electrode while the fusing electrode is returned to its home position. The electrical signal is monitored to determine whether a circuit path exists from the fusing electrode through the fused conductors to the ground electrode. The presence of a path would indicate that the fusing electrode has become attached to the fused conductors. An alternate embodiment is also described in which the force required to withdraw the fusing electrode is monitored while the electrode is returned to its home position. If the measured force does not fall within predetermined limits, or if the measured force varies during electrode movement, fusing electrode attachment has occurred.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. Apparatus for forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece by fusing together a plurality of electrically conductive materials, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode; first means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece; second means for passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; third means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece after said first and second means have performed their functions; and fourth means operative during operation of said third means for detecting electrode separation by continuously monitoring and detecting the force required to separate said electrode from said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece by fusing together a plurality of electrically conductive materials, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode; first means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece; second means for passing an electric fusing current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical fusing current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; third means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece after said first and second means have performed their functions; fourth means operative during operation of said third means for detecting electrode separation by continuously monitoring and detecting an electrical current in series through said electrode and said workpiece; fifth means for passing said electrical current in series through said electrode and said workpiece during operation of said third means; and sixth means for detecting when, during operation of said third means, the electrical current from said fifth means ceases to flow through said electrode and said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrode attachment during fusing operations, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode, moveable between a home position and an extended position; a grounding electrode; means for moving said fusing electrode relative to a plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined movement parameters from said home position to said extended position in order to cause said fusing electrode to contact and apply force to said plurality of conductors thereby deforming said plurality of conductors; means for heating said fusing electrode in order to heat said plurality of electrical conductors; and means for detecting attachment of said fusing electrode to said plurality of conductors as a result of said application of force and heat by continuously monitoring an electrical signal through said fusing electrode and said grounding electrode, wherein said means for detecting comprises; means for applying said electrical signal between said fusing electrode and said grounding electrode; and means for determining whether said electrical signal is being conducted from said fusing electrode, through said plurality of conductors, to said grounding electrode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrode attachment during fusing operations, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode, moveable between a home position and an extended position; a grounding electrode; means for moving said fusing electrode relative to a plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined movement parameters from said home position to said extended position in order to cause said fusing electrode to contact and apply force to said plurality of conductors thereby deforming said plurality of conductors; means for heating said fusing electrode in order to heat said plurality of electrical conductors; and means for detecting attachment of said fusing electrode to said plurality of conductors as a result of said application of force and heat by continuously monitoring force required to withdraw said fusing electrode to said home position in order to detect attachment of said fusing electrode to said plurality of conductors. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. Apparatus for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrode attachment during fusing operations, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode, moveable between a home position and an extended position; a grounding electrode; means for moving said fusing electrode relative to a plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined movement parameters from said home position to said extended position in order to cause said fusing electrode to contact and apply force to said plurality of conductors thereby deforming said plurality of conductors; means for heating said fusing electrode in order to heat said plurality of electrical conductors; and means for detecting attachment of said fusing electrode to said plurality of conductors as a result of said application of force and heat by continuously monitoring a signal corresponding to current pressure required to withdraw said fusing electrode, wherein said means for detecting comprises; a pressure transducer for generating said signal corresponding to current pressure required to withdraw said fusing electrode, said pressure transducer having an output; and a control system for continuously monitoring said pressure transducer signal, said control system being coupled to said output of said pressure transducer, said control system determining that electrode attachment has occurred if; said pressure transducer signal varies while said fusing electrode is returned to said home position, thereby signifying temporary electrode attachment;
orsaid pressure transducer signal remains constant, but is not within predetermined limits, while said fusing electrode is returned to said home position, thereby identifying electrode attachment. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrode attachment during fusing operations, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving a fusing electrode relative to a plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined movement parameters from a home position to an extended position in order to cause said fusing electrode to contact and apply force to said plurality of conductors thereby deforming said plurality of conductors; regulating a flow of current through said plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined regulation parameters from said fusing electrode to a ground electrode to generate heat in said fusing electrode; and detecting attachment of said fusing electrode to said plurality of conductors as a result of said application of force and said flow of current by continuously monitoring an electrical signal between said fusing electrode and ground electrode, wherein said step of detecting comprises the steps of; applying said electrical signal between said fusing electrode and a ground electrode; and monitoring said applied electrical signal to determine whether said applied signal is being conducted from said fusing electrode through said plurality of conductors to said grounding electrode. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. The method of forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece comprising the steps of:
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moving a fusing electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece; passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; after said moving and said passing steps have been completed, withdrawing said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece; and continuously monitoring the force required to separate said electrode from said workpiece at the same time as said withdrawing step is being performed in order to detect electrode attachment to said workpiece in order to detect any changes in the force during the step of withdrawing said electrode relative to said workpiece.
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41. The method of forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece comprising the steps of:
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moving a fusing electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece; passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; after said moving and said passing steps have been completed, withdrawing said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece; and continuously detecting a signal current in series through said electrode and said workpiece at the same time as said withdrawing step is being performed in order to detect electrode attachment to said workpiece, wherein said step of continuously detecting comprises the steps of; passing said signal current in series through said electrode and said workpiece; and monitoring said signal current to determine when said signal current ceases to flow through said electrode and said workpiece.
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42. Apparatus for forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece by fusing together a plurality of electrically conductive materials, said apparatus comprising:
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a fusing electrode; first means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece thereby deforming said workpiece; second means for passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; third means for moving said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece after said first and second means have performed their functions; fourth means for passing an electrical current in series through said electrode and said workpiece during operation of said third means; and fifth means for detecting when, during operation of said third means, the current from said fourth means ceases to flow through said electrode and said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for identifying the occurrence of fusing electrode attachment during fusing operations, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving a fusing electrode relative to a plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined movement parameters from a home position to an extended position in order to cause said fusing electrode to contact and apply force to said plurality of conductors thereby deforming said plurality of conductors; regulating a flow of current through said plurality of conductors in accordance with predetermined regulation parameters from said fusing electrode to a ground electrode to generate heat in said fusing electrode; withdrawing said fusing electrode to said home position; applying an electrical signal in series through said fusing electrode and said workpiece during said step of withdrawing; and monitoring said applied electrical signal to determine when said applied signal stops being conducted, thereby indicating that said electrode is separated from said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. The method of forming a fixed electrical connection in an electrically conductive workpiece comprising the steps of:
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moving a fusing electrode relative to said workpiece in order to cause said electrode to contact and apply force to said workpiece; passing an electric current through said electrode and said workpiece while said electrode is in contact with said workpiece so that said electrical current heats said electrode and said electrode heats said workpiece; after said moving and said passing steps have been completed, withdrawing said electrode relative to said workpiece in order to separate said electrode from said workpiece; passing a signal current in series through said electrode and said workpiece during said step of withdrawing; and monitoring said signal current to determine when said signal current ceases to flow through said electrode and said workpiece, thereby indicating that said electrode is separated from said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. Apparatus for fusing a commutator bar to at least one lead wire to secure said lead wire to said commutator bar, said apparatus comprising:
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a deforming member for applying force to said commutator bar in order to deform said commutator bar around said at least one wire; heat application means for applying heat to said commutator bar and said at least one wire at predetermined phases in conjunction with said deforming member in order to fuse said commutator bar and said at least one wire; return drive means for moving said deforming member relative to said at least one wire in order to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire and said commutator bar after said commutator bar and said wire have been fused; and detection means operative during operation of said return drive means for detecting separation of said deforming member from said at least one wire and said commutator bar by continuously monitoring and detecting the force required to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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61. Apparatus for fusing a commutator bar to at least one lead wire to secure said lead wire to said commutator bar, said apparatus comprising:
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a deforming member for applying force to said commutator bar in order to deform said commutator bar around said at least one wire; heat application means for applying heat to said commutator bar and said at least one wire at predetermined phases in conjunction with said deforming member in order to fuse said commutator bar and said at least one wire; return drive means for moving said deforming member relative to said at least one wire and said commutator bar in order to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire and said commutator bar after said commutator bar and said wire have been fused; means for passing an electrical current in series through said deforming member and said at least one wire and said commutator bar workpiece during operation of said return drive means; and means for detecting when, during operation of said return drive means, the current from said means for passing an electrical current ceases to flow through said deforming member and said at least one wire and said commutator bar. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. Apparatus for fusing a terminal bar hook to at least one lead wire to secure said lead wire to said terminal bar hook, said apparatus comprising:
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a deforming member for applying force to said terminal bar hook in order to deform said terminal bar hook around said at least one wire; heat application means for applying heat to said terminal bar hook and said at least one wire at predetermined phases in conjunction with said deforming member in order to fuse said terminal bar hook and said at least one wire; return drive means for moving said deforming member relative to said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook in order to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook after said terminal bar hook and said at least one wire have been fused; and detection means operative during operation of said return drive means for detecting separation of said deforming member from said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook by continuously monitoring and detecting the force required to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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68. Apparatus for fusing a terminal bar hook to at least one lead wire to secure said lead wire to said terminal bar hook, said apparatus comprising:
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a deforming member for applying force to said terminal bar hook in order to deform said terminal bar hook around said at least one wire; heat application means for applying heat to said terminal bar hook and said at least one wire at predetermined phases in conjunction with said deforming member in order to fuse said terminal bar hook and said at least one wire; return drive means for moving said deforming member relative to said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook in order to separate said deforming member from said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook after said terminal bar hook and said wire have been fused; means for passing an electrical current in series through said deforming member and said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook workpiece during operation of said return drive means; and means for detecting when, during operation of said return drive means, the current from said means for passing an electrical current ceases to flow through said deforming member and said at least one wire and said terminal bar hook. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
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Specification