Method for performing a welding process, welding device and wire coil for such a welding device

A method and a welding device for performing a welding process on a workpiece by a welding torch, uses a melting welding wire, which is arranged on a wire coil and may be supplied to the welding torch via a hose package, wherein different welding wires and different welding parameters are used depending on the geometry of the workpiece. A welding wire formed by the different interconnected welding wires in lengths depending on the geometry of the workpiece is arranged on the wire coil, so the welding process may be performed without interruptions using the different welding wires and the different welding parameters by supplying to the welding torch the welding wire formed by the different interconnected welding wires from the wire coil.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Austrian Application No. A 50576/2013 filed Sep. 12, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for performing a welding process on a workpiece by a welding torch, using a melting welding wire, which is supplied to the welding torch from a wire coil, wherein different welding wires and different welding parameters are used depending on the geometry of the workpiece.

The invention further relates to a welding device for performing a welding process on a workpiece by a welding torch, using a melting welding wire, which is arranged on a wire coil and may be supplied to the welding torch via a hose package, wherein different welding wires and different welding parameters are used depending on the geometry of the workpiece.

Finally, the invention also relates to a wire coil with a welding wire for performing a welding process using a welding device as mentioned above.

2. Description of the Related Art

Methods for connecting welding wires are known from the prior art, all of which include connecting a single welding wire in order to allow an uninterrupted welding of a workpiece using a single welding wire. Methods for connecting a welding wire are shown in CA 1022627 A1, GB 233199 A and JP H03294097 A, for example.

During the welding of some workpieces, the welding process needs to be performed with different welding wires and different welding parameters depending on the geometry of the workpiece in order to obtain certain properties. Regarding rails, for example, the region of the rail base is welded with different welding materials and different welding parameters than the region of the rail head. According to the prior art, the welding process is started with one welding wire, then it is interrupted, the welding wire is changed, and the welding process is continued on the workpiece with the new welding wire. Due to the interruption of the welding process, the welding quality is compromised. In order to keep the break between the welding processes short, multiple welding devices with the different welding wires may be used, but this makes the welding process more complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to create a welding process, welding device and wire coil as mentioned above, which make it possible to perform a welding process on a workpiece using different welding wires and different welding parameters depending on the geometry of the workpiece. The welding quality should be as high as possible, and the performing of the welding process should require as little work and as low costs as possible.

Regarding the method, the object according to the invention is achieved by performing the welding process without interruptions using the different welding wires and the different welding parameters by supplying to the welding torch a welding wire formed by the different interconnected welding wires in lengths depending on the geometry of the workpiece from the wire coil. This means that the invention includes considering experienced data for welding workpieces using different materials and parameters, and pre-assembling and interconnecting the different welding wires in corresponding lengths based on these experienced data in order to form a common welding wire, which is supplied to the welding torch from the wire coil. According to this, wire coils with certain compositions of welding wires are pre-manufactured for welding certain workpieces, so the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire and the corresponding welding parameters may be used automatically during the welding process. In this way, an uninterrupted welding process having an ideal effect on the welding quality and the duration of the welding is possible even when welding workpieces with different materials. For example, the wire coil with a welding wire consisting of two different interconnected welding wires allows welding a rail in one welding process, wherein the rail base is welded with a different welding wire and different welding parameters than the rail head in order to obtain the required properties of the workpiece. The only prerequisite for performing the welding method is the correct direction of the welding process. Since in a plurality of workpieces that require welding with different welding materials the transition from one region to another does not need to be exact, a certain tolerance for the transition from one welding wire to another welding wire connected thereto is acceptable as well. In an automatic robot-controlled welding method, however, the transition from one welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto may be set very accurately as well.

Advantageously, a change of the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire is detected during supply of the welding wire. In this way, the change of the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire may be communicated to the welder and/or the welding device, and possible required measures such as initiating the switching of welding parameters may be taken. The detection may be of various types.

When indicating the change of the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire, a corresponding feedback may be provided to the welder. The display may be visual and/or audible as well as mechanical, for example by vibration of the welding torch.

The change of the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire may be detected by an indicator arranged in a region of the transition from one welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto. This indicator, which may be formed by a ring made of a material different from the interconnected welding wires, for example, is fastened in the region of the transition from one welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto during assembly of the welding wire, and detected by an appropriate detector. Indicators made of an optically detectable material or a magnetically detectable material may be contemplated, for example.

Alternatively, the change of the interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire may also be detected indirectly via the welding parameters. Due to the fact that the parameters of the electric arc, mainly the arc voltage and the arc current, change within a certain range when changing the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire, the change of the interconnected welding wires may also be detectable via the parameters of the arc. The advantage here is that the interconnected welding wires need not be marked or provided with indicators in the region of the transition.

Preferably, the welding parameters are changed automatically when a change of the interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire is detected. This guarantees an uninterrupted welding process and thus a high welding quality.

According to a further feature of the invention, information about each welding wire on the wire coil may be communicated from an information carrier arranged on the wire coil to a control device of the welding device. In this way, the change from one welding wire to the other welding wire of the wire coil may be determined from the information received without indicators present on the welding wire, and a preferably automatic change of the welding parameters may be performed when changing the welding wire.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by a welding device as mentioned above, wherein a welding wire formed by the different interconnected welding wires in lengths depending on the geometry of the workpiece is arranged on the wire coil, so the welding process may be performed without interruptions using the different welding wires and different welding parameters, since the welding wire formed by the different interconnected welding wires may be supplied to the welding torch from the wire coil. Such a welding device requires no or hardly any changes with respect to conventional welding devices, so widespread use can be guaranteed. Regarding the advantages obtainable thereby, reference is made to the above description of the method.

If an indicator is arranged in the region of the transition of the interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire, the transition from one welding wire to another welding wire connected thereto may be reliably detected by a detector and communicated to other components of the welding device.

Advantageously, a detector for detecting the change of the interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire is provided. By means of an appropriate detector, which may be arranged at a suitable location of the welding device such as the region of the feed device or the welding torch, the corresponding indicator in the region of the transition from one welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto is detected, and appropriate steps may be communicated to the welder, for example the display of a change of the interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire.

This detector may be formed by an optical detector. For example, the indicator may be formed by a ring made of a reflecting material and the optical detector may be formed by a reflection light barrier which detects the indicator in an appropriate manner.

Alternatively, the detector may also be formed by a magnetic detector. In this case, the indicator may be formed by a ring made of a magnetic material, which may be detected by this magnetic detector. Other indicators, however, such as notches in the region of the transition from one welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto, which may be detected by corresponding detectors, are possible as well.

However, the detector may also be formed by a device for detecting the parameters of the electric arc, so the change of the interconnected welding wires is detected indirectly. When using this type of detection, which may be implemented by software in the control device of the welding device, for example, no measures on the wire coil and/or the welding wire are required.

A reader for reading an information carrier arranged on the wire coil, containing information about each welding wire on the wire coil, may be provided in the welding device. Preferably, the reader is connected to the control device of the welding device, so it may initiate changes, for example on the welding parameters, according to the information received.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by a wire coil as mentioned above, wherein the welding wire is formed by different interconnected welding wires the lengths of which depend on the geometry of the workpiece to be welded. Regarding the advantages obtainable thereby, reference is made to the above description of the welding method and the welding device.

Preferably, the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire are welded together on the wire coil. This ensures a fast and secure interconnection of the different welding wires forming the welding wire.

In the region of the transition from one welding wire forming the welding wire to the other welding wire connected thereto, an appropriate indicator to be detected by a corresponding detector may be arranged.

The indicator may be formed by a ring around one of the welding wires forming the welding wire, made of a different material than the welding wires.

The indicator may also be formed by a mark on one of the welding wires forming the welding wire, which may be put into practice by means of a coloured ring or a notch.

Preferably, the different interconnected welding wires forming the welding wire on the wire coil include different materials and/or different diameters. In this way, various properties may be obtained depending on the geometry of the material, such as a softer composition in the region of the base of a rail and a harder composition in the head of a rail.

As has already been mentioned above, an information carrier containing information about each welding wire may be arranged on the wire coil, and may be formed by a label, a bar code, a QR code, an RFID tag or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a welding device1for many different processes and/or methods such as MIG/MAG, TIG, electrode, doublewire/tandem welding operations, plasma operations or brazing and soldering operations etc.

The welding device1comprises a power source2with a power unit3arranged therein, a control device4and further components and wires (not shown) such as a switching member, control valves etc. The control device4may be connected to a control valve that is arranged in a supply line for a shielding gas5between a gas storage6and a welding torch7.

In addition, the control unit4may be used to control a device8for conveying a welding wire9from a wire coil10to the region of the welding torch7, as it is common for MIG/MAG welding. Of course it is possible for the wire feed device8to be integrated into the welding device1, in particular into the housing11of the power source2, instead of being an additional device placed on a cart12, as illustrated inFIG. 1. It is also possible for the feed device8for the welding wire9to be placed directly on top of the welding device1, with the housing11of the power source2being formed on the top surface for receiving the feed device8, and the cart12can be omitted.

Furthermore, it is possible for a conveying device8to supply the welding wire9outside of the welding torch7to the process site, in which case a non-melting electrode is preferably arranged within the welding torch7, as is common in TIG welding.

The current for creating an electric arc13between the welding wire9and a workpiece14, which is formed from one or multiple parts, is supplied to the welding torch7by the power unit3of the power source2via a welding line (not shown). The workpiece14to be welded is connected to the power source2via a further welding line (not shown) for the further potential, in particular an earth cable, so that an electric circuit for a process can be created by means of the arc13.

For cooling the welding torch7, it may be connected to a liquid tank, in particular a water tank16with a level indicator17, via a cooling device15and possible intermediate components such as a flow controller. On start-up of the welding torch7, the cooling device15, in particular a liquid pump used for the liquid placed in the water tank16, is started, thus cooling the welding torch7. As is shown in the exemplary embodiment given, the cooling device15is placed on the cart12before placing the power source2thereon. The individual components of the welding device1, i.e. the power source2, the wire feeding device8and the cooling device15, are formed in such a way that they have corresponding protrusions and/or recesses so they can be stacked or placed on top of each other safely.

The welding device1, the power source2in particular, further comprises an input and/or output device18for setting and/or retrieving and displaying all the various welding parameters, operation modes or welding programs. The welding parameters, operation modes or welding programs that have been set by the input and/or output device18are communicated to the control device4, which then actuates the individual components of the welding device1and/or defines appropriate set points for regulating or controlling. It is also possible to perform setting procedures via the welding torch7when using an appropriate welding torch7, in which case the welding torch7is equipped with a welding torch input and/or output device19. In this case, the welding torch7is preferably connected to the welding device1, in particular the power source2or the feed device8, via a data bus, in particular a serial data bus. For starting the welding process, the welding torch7usually comprises a starting switch (not shown), so the arc13can be ignited by actuating the starting switch. In order to protect the user from the heat radiation of the arc13, the welding torch7may be equipped with a heat protection shield20.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the welding torch7is connected to the welding device1via a hose package21, said hose package21being fastened to the welding torch7by an anti-buckling means22. In the hose package21, the individual lines such as the supply line, lines for the welding wire9, for the shielding gas5, for the cooling circuit, for data transmission etc. are arranged from the welding device1to the welding torch7while the earth cable is preferably connected separately to the power source2. Preferably, the hose package21is connected to the power source2or the feed device8by means of a coupling device not shown, whereas the individual lines in the hose package21are attached to or in the welding torch7by an anti-buckling means. In order to guarantee an appropriate strain relief for the hose package21, the hose package21may be connected to the housing11of the power source2or the feed device8via a strain relief device (not shown).

In general, not all components mentioned above have to be used and/or incorporated for the different welding operations and/or welding devices1. It may be possible for the welding torch7to be formed as an air-cooled welding torch7so the cooling device15can be omitted. The welding device1is formed by at least the power source2, the feed device8and the cooling device15, if required, which components may all be arranged within a common housing11. It is possible to arrange further parts and/or components such as a drag protection23on the wire feeding device8or a carrier24for optional equipment on a holder25for the gas storage6etc.

The embodiment of a welding device1illustrated inFIG. 1represents only one of many possibilities. Welding devices1may vary, in particular, regarding supply of the welding wire9, length of the hose package21, type, position and number of feed devices8for the welding wire9, presence of a wire buffer (not illustrated) and many more.

FIG. 2shows a schematic illustration of a welding device1for welding a workpiece14using a welding wire9′ that is formed by different interconnected welding wires9in corresponding lengths Lidepending on the geometry of the workpiece14and using different welding parameters Pi. As an example for a workpiece14, the cross-section of a rail is illustrated, which is to be welded with a different welding wire9and different rail parameters Piin the region of the rail base and in the region of the wire head. According to this, the welding process is started in the region of the rail base, and the welding wire9′, which consists of the different interconnected welding wires9, is supplied to the welding torch7from a wire coil10. In the region of the rail head, a different welding wire9is automatically supplied to the welding torch7, and the welding parameters Piare adjusted where applicable, so a different composition of the workpiece may be obtained in the region of the rail head. By means of a detector27, the change from one welding wire9forming the welding wire9′ to the other welding wire9connected thereto may be detected and communicated to the control device4of the welding device1and/or the power source2. When detecting the change of the welding wires9forming the welding wire9′, which may also be done indirectly by changing the welding parameters Pi, the change is indicated to the welder, for example audibly or visually, so he is informed about the change.

Information about each welding wire9arranged on the wire coil10may also be contained on an information carrier28, which is arranged on the wire coil10. This information carrier28may be formed by a label, a bar code, a QR code, an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag or the like and may contain information about the length Li, the material and the diameter of each welding wire9′ on the wire coil10. By means of an appropriate reader29, such as a camera or an RFID transponder, the corresponding information may be read and supplied to the control device4of the welding device1and/or the power source2.

FIG. 3shows a schematic illustration of a welding wire9′ formed by two different interconnected welding wires9. In this example, a welding wire9′ formed by two different welding wires9, which is arranged on the wire coil10or the like, is used for welding a workpiece14. The lengths L1and L2of the different interconnected welding wires9forming the welding wire9′ are adapted to the geometry of the workpiece14to be welded. When welding a rail, for example, length Liof the first welding wire9may correspond to the length required for welding the rail base. Length L2of the second welding wire9for welding the rail head corresponds to the length of the welding wire9required for welding the rail head according to experience. Of course multiple welding wires9with different materials and/or different diameters may be interconnected for forming the common welding wire9′ and arranged on the wire coil10. Moreover, specific welding parameters Pi, which are to be used for welding the particular geometry of the workpiece14, are stored for the particular welding wires9forming the welding wire9′.

FIG. 4shows an example of an indicator26in the region of the transition from one welding wire9forming the welding wire9′ to another welding wire9connected thereto. For example, the indicator26, which is detected by an appropriate detector27, may consist of a ring made of a reflecting material, a coloured ring or a ring made of a magnetic material. The detector27is formed in accordance with the design of the indicator26, for example by an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor or the like.

FIG. 5shows a mark28in the region of the transition from one welding wire9forming the welding wire9′ to another welding wire9connected thereto. In the example illustrated, this mark28is formed by a ring-shaped notch formed in the region of the transition from one welding wire9forming the welding wire9′ to the other welding wire9connected thereto, and may be detected by an appropriate detector27such as an optical detector.