Apparatus for fusing terminal or commutator wire connections on an armature or stator

• US 5,478,982 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1992
• 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:
  US08/232,483
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 219/86.8, 219/119, 219/120
• US Class Current: 219/86.8
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/315 with one electrode moving on a linear path
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/318 Supporting devices for electrode holders
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 13/04 Connections between commutator segments and windings

Abstract

An apparatus and method for fusing terminal or commutator wire connections on an armature or stator, including an electrode, a pneumatic locking cylinder for driving the electrode into contact with the workpiece and applying a force to the workpiece, a load cell for measuring the force applied by the electrode, an opposition cylinder for providing an opposition force to the electrode after a cold-forming force has been reached by the electrode, a linear potentiometer for measuring the distance traveled by the electrode after the opposition force has been applied; and a locking mechanism for stopping the locking cylinder after a predetermined distance has been traveled during the weld cycle.

Claims

1. A fuser head assembly including a quick change electrode holder, comprising:

an electrode holder;

means for retracting said holder;

a first interlocking piece carried on said retracting means; and

a second interlocking piece carried on said electrode holder;

said first and second pieces being rotatable with respect to each other;

said first and second pieces include interfitting portions which lock said electrode holder onto said retracting means when said interfitting portions are in a first orientation and release said electrode holder from said retracting means when said interfitting portions are rotated with respect to one another to a second orientation such that said electrode holder can be disconnected from said retracting means.

2. The fuser head assembly of claim 1 wherein said interfitting portions on said first interlocking piece include a middle portion, a truncated head portion, and a neck portion connecting said middle portion to said truncated head portion;

and

said interfitting portions on said second piece include a middle portion and two leg portions extending from said middle portion and spaced from one another so as to define a vertical channel therebetween, each of said legs having a horizontal channel formed therein transverse to said vertical channel such that said head portion of said first interlocking piece is received in said vertical channel and upon rotation of said first interlocking piece with respect to said second interlocking piece, said head portion is received in said horizontal channel to provide an interlocking fit between said head portion and said first interlocking piece and said leg portions of said second interlocking piece.

3. The fuser head of claim 2 wherein said second interlocking piece further includes a pin for proper orientation of said first interlocking piece.

4. The fuser head of claim 3 wherein said electrode holder further includes a central flow cooling system.