Spatter scattering prevention apparatus and flash butt welder including the same

Provided is a spatter scattering prevention apparatus that eliminates the necessity to, for example, remove scattered spatters and thus makes it possible to facilitate maintenance work, and also provided is a flash butt welder including the spatter scattering prevention apparatus.The spatter scattering prevention apparatus 1 according to the present invention is characterized by being configured to form a water screen in midair in the vicinity of a welding spot, at which welding is performed, wherein the water screen is for preventing spatters, generated during the welding, from scattering.The spatter scattering prevention apparatus is also characterized by being configured to form the water screen on one side in a lateral direction of the welding spot and form the water screen on the other side, laterally opposite to the one side, of the welding spot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a spatter scattering prevention apparatus for preventing spatters generated during flash butt welding from scattering, and a flash butt welder including the spatter scattering prevention apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In flash butt welding, two workpieces are clamped by respective electrodes, end surfaces of the workpieces are pressed against each other, and a large current is applied between the electrodes to melt the workpieces at the end surfaces by generated heat, whereby the entire end surfaces are welded.

During such flash butt welding, spatters are radially ejected from a welding spot, at which the end surfaces of the workpieces abut each other. Prevention of scattering of the spatters is needed for various reasons, such as that the spatters worsen the work environment and that they adhere to peripheral devices, necessitating routine cleaning.

As an apparatus for preventing spatters from scattering, there has been a “spatter collection apparatus used in flash welding,” which is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

The spatter collection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is as follows: “In an apparatus for collecting spatters ejected from a welding spot while flash welding is performed in a state where two workpieces are clamped by respective electrodes and end surfaces of the workpieces abut each other, a protective cover is provided that covers the welding spot with an inner wall surface extending in an axial direction and a radial direction, where the direction, in which the workpieces abut each other, is the axial direction; In the protective cover, the inner wall surface extending in the axial direction is formed as a cylindrical inner surface radially separated from the workpieces by a predetermined distance, with the axis being the center; and the protective cover has a water injection port facing in a tangential direction toward the cylindrical inner surface and a discharge port (see claim 1 of Patent Document 1).”

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is such that spatters are prevented from scattering by the protective cover, on the inner surface of which a water layer is formed, and the spatters caught on the inner surface of the protective cover are washed away by the water layer.

However, it is impossible to completely wash the spatters away by the water layer. For this reason, it is required to remove residues of the spatters adhering to the protective cover, so that maintenance work such as cleaning is required, which is troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem and an object of the present invention is to provide a spatter scattering prevention apparatus that makes it possible to eliminate the necessity to, for example, remove the scattered spatters and thus facilitates maintenance work, and to also provide a flash butt welder including the spatter scattering prevention apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problem

(1) A spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by being configured to form a water screen in midair in the vicinity of a welding spot, at which welding is performed, wherein the water screen is for preventing spatters, generated during the welding, from scattering.

(2) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the above item (1), the spatter scattering prevention apparatus is characterized by being configured to form the water screen on one side in a lateral direction of the welding spot and form the water screen on the other side, laterally opposite to the one side, of the welding spot.

(3) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the above item (2), the spatter scattering prevention apparatus is characterized by being configured to form the water screens so as to laterally surround the welding spot on four sides.

(4) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the above item (2) or (3), the spatter scattering prevention apparatus is characterized by including a nozzle pair, in which each nozzle has an outflow port with an elongated shape, wherein

the nozzle pair includes a first nozzle for forming the water screen on the one side and a second nozzle for forming the water screen on the other side.

(5) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the above item (4), the first nozzle is disposed on the other side so as to form the water screen at least over the welding spot and on the one side in the lateral direction of the welding spot.

(6) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to the above item (4) or (5), the spatter scattering prevention apparatus is characterized in that

number of the nozzle pairs is two,

a first nozzle pair that is one of the two nozzle pairs includes the first nozzle and the second nozzle, and

a second nozzle pair that is the other of the two nozzle pairs includes a third nozzle for forming the water screen for covering one of two gaps between the water screen formed by the first nozzle and the water screen formed by the second nozzle, and a fourth nozzle for forming the water screen for covering the other of the two gaps.

(7) In the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to any one of the above items (4) to (6),

at least one of the nozzles included in the nozzle pair includes:

a water reservoir portion; and

a rectifying nozzle portion having therein a water flow channel for guiding water from one end of the rectifying nozzle portion to the other end thereof, the one end being directly connected to the water reservoir portion, the other end having the outflow port, wherein

the water flow channel is such that the length thereof is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a cross-sectional shape thereof is the same throughout its length.

(8) A flash butt welder according to the present invention is for welding a pair of workpieces by energizing and pressing against each other the pair of workpieces in a state where the pair of workpieces are in contact with each other, the flash butt welder being characterized by including

the spatter scattering prevention apparatus according to any one of the above items (1) to (7).

(9) In the flash butt welder according to the above item (8), the flash butt welder is characterized by further including a carriage that has a pair of electrodes, respectively connected to the pair of workpieces, for performing the energizing and moves in conjunction with movement of the pair of workpieces being conveyed along a pass line, wherein

the spatter scattering prevention apparatus is installed on the carriage.

Effects of the Invention

The spatter scattering prevention apparatus of the present invention is configured to form a water screen in midair in the vicinity of the welding spot, wherein the water screen is for preventing spatters, generated during the welding, from scattering. Accordingly, the necessity to clean the spatters adhering to a protective cover or the like for preventing spatters from scattering as in the case of a conventional apparatus is reduced because the spatters are caused to fall with the water screens and collected in a drain or the like. Thus, maintenance work is facilitated.

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG.1, a spatter scattering prevention apparatus1according to an embodiment is installed in a flash butt welder5(seeFIG.2) for welding a pair of workpieces3by energizing and pressing against each other the pair of workpieces3in a state where the pair of workpieces3are in contact with each other, the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1being configured to form a water screen in midair in the vicinity of a spot (hereinafter also referred to as the welding spot), at which welding is performed, wherein the water screen is for preventing spatters from scattering that are generated while the welding is performed.

In the present invention, the vicinity of the welding spot needs to be within a range of scatter of spatters from the welding spot. When peripheral devices, such as mechanical devices, are disposed around the welding spot, it is preferable that the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1be configured to form the water screen between the welding spot and the peripheral devices to suppress adherence of the spatters to the peripheral devices.

It is preferable that the water screen have a thickness enough to completely block the spatters. However, even when the water screen does not have such a sufficient thickness and the spatters therefore cannot be completely blocked, forming the water screen in midair in the vicinity of the welding spot brings about an effect of preventing the spatters from scattering to a certain extent.

As shown inFIG.2, the flash butt welder5of this embodiment, in which the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1is installed, includes: a carriage13installed so as to be able to move in conjunction with movement of the pair of workpieces3being conveyed along a pass line in the direction of the arrow; a movable head7for clamping one of the pair of workpieces3; and a fixed head9for clamping the other of the pair of workpieces3. The movable head7and the fixed head9are respectively provided with a pair of electrodes11and a pair of electrodes12to be connected to the pair of workpieces3for energization. The fixed head9is fixed to the carriage13and the movable head7is provided so as to be able to move relative to the fixed head9via a hydraulic cylinder10.

During energization for welding, the carriage13of the flash butt welder5moves in conjunction with movement of the workpieces3at the same speed. Thus, the workpieces3are welded by the flash butt welder5while being continuously conveyed in a conveying direction and the welded workpiece3is then conveyed to the downstream process.

When the welding is finished, the carriage13is moved in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the workpieces3and waits at a standby position until the next welding. In other words, the carriage13is installed so as to be able to travel back and forth within a certain range. As this flash butt welder, one that is described in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 4288552, for example, can be suitably used.

The spatter scattering prevention apparatus1of the present invention is installed on the carriage13, so that the contact spot (welding spot) of the pair of workpieces3is surrounded on four sides and from above by the water screens formed by the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1during energization for welding.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the spatters generated during welding from scattering while the workpieces3are continuously conveyed and welded, so that it is possible to suppress adherence of the spatters to the peripheral devices, such as the movable head7and the fixed head9of the flash butt welder5. Furthermore, the spatters caught by the water screens fall with the water of the water screens and are collected from a drain (not shown), which also reduces the burden of cleaning.

Next, the specific configuration of the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1will be described.

As shown inFIGS.1,3, and4, the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1includes: a first nozzle pair17for forming water screens parallel to the axis of the workpiece3; and a second nozzle pair19for forming water screens perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece3(billet).

The first nozzle pair17and the second nozzle pair19will be described in detail below.

The first nozzle pair17has a first nozzle21for forming the water screen on one side (right side inFIG.4) of the welding spot of the billets, and a second nozzle23for forming the water screen on the other side (left side inFIG.4) opposite to the one side.

When the water screen is formed in a wall shape on at least one side of the welding position, the effect of preventing the spatters from scattering is brought about on the one side. However, when the water screens are formed on one side and the other side, that is, on opposite sides of the welding spot so as to interpose the welding spot between the water screens, it is possible to prevent the spatters from scattering on these opposite sides. This is effective when there is an anisotropy in the number of spatters ejected, such as when flash butt welding is performed, and the water screens are formed in the directions, in which the number of spatters ejected is large.

Especially in the case of flash butt welding, there is a tendency that the number of spatters is large in directions parallel to a contact surface between the workpieces and therefore, it is possible to efficiently prevent spatters from scattering by forming the water screens on both sides in such directions.

The first nozzle21is disposed above the second nozzle23on the other side. As shown inFIG.4, an outflow port21bof the first nozzle21faces obliquely downward. Thus, the first nozzle21is configured so as to be able to form the water screen both over the welding spot and on the one side in the lateral direction of the welding spot. Accordingly, the water screen formed by the first nozzle21is formed over the welding spot so as to extend from the other side to the one side as indicated by a chain double-dashed line inFIG.4. In other words, the first nozzle21forms the water screen having both a ceiling portion covering over the welding spot and a side wall portion laterally covering the one side of the welding spot. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent spatters from scattering not only in the lateral direction from the welding spot but also in the upward direction from the welding spot.

The first nozzle21has: a water reservoir portion21aconnected to a water supply pipe15for supplying water for forming the water screen; and a rectifying nozzle portion21chaving therein a water flow channel for guiding water from one end of the rectifying nozzle portion21cto the other end thereof, the one end being directly connected to the water reservoir portion21a, the other end having the outflow port21b.

The water reservoir portion21ahas a function of temporarily reserving the water supplied through the water supply pipe15.

The water flow channel in the rectifying nozzle portion21cis such that the length thereof is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the cross-sectional shape thereof is the same throughout its length. The predetermined value of the length of the water flow channel is set in accordance with the thickness (the dimension of the cross section of the water flow channel in the thickness direction of the water screen) of the water screen to be formed, and, when it is required to increase the thickness of the water screen, the length of the water flow channel is increased. Specifically, it is preferable that the length of the water flow channel be equal to or greater than 40 times of the dimension of the cross section of the water flow channel in the thickness direction of the water screen. When the nozzle thus formed is used, it is possible to suppress the turbulence of the water screen caused by contraction, so that it is possible to more reliably form the water screen with a desired width in the vicinity of the welding spot. Although there is no upper limit to the length of the water flow channel, the size of the facility becomes too large when the length is too long.

It is preferable that the thickness of the water screen be set equal to or greater than 15 mm and it is more preferable that it be set equal to or greater than 20 mm. The water screen with a thickness of 15 mm or more can bring about the effect of catching spatters sufficiently. The thicker the water screen is, the better the effect of catching spatters becomes. However, the amount of water also increases correspondingly. For this reason, from the viewpoint of economy, it is preferable that the thickness of the water screen be set equal to or less than 40 mm at the maximum, and it is more preferable that it be set equal to or less than 30 mm.

In order to stably form the water screen with a desired thickness and width, it is required to control the flow rate of the water screen within a certain range in accordance with the thickness, width, etc. of the water screen. When the flow rate is too low, the width of the water screen tapers due to contraction and, on the other hand, when the flow rate is too high, the water screen is diffused, which makes the effect of catching spatters insufficient. For example, when the thickness of the water screen is set to about 20 mm and the width thereof is set to about 60 mm, it is preferable that the flow rate of the water screen be set between 2.0 m/s and 3.0 m/s. Note that the width of the water screen can be set at will by changing the shape (dimensions) of the water flow channel and may be set to a desired value. For example, when the spatter scattering prevention apparatus of the present invention is used for a flash butt welder for joining end surfaces of billets, it suffices that the width of the water screen be set to about 50 to 100 mm.

The outflow port21bof the rectifying nozzle portion21chas an elongated shape. The elongated shape means a shape such that the dimension in the direction, in which the water screen is formed, that is, the direction, in which the water screen spreads (width direction of the water screen), is long relative to the dimension in the thickness direction of the water screen. In this embodiment, this shape means a flat, rectangular section. However, the section is not limited to the rectangular section as in the case of this embodiment.

As in the case of the first nozzle21, the second nozzle23has: a water reservoir portion23a; and a rectifying nozzle portion23chaving an outflow port23b. The shape of the water reservoir portion23aand that of the rectifying nozzle portion23care similar to those of the first nozzle21.

However, as shown inFIG.4, since the second nozzle23forms the water screen downward in the vertical direction, the second nozzle23differs from the first nozzle21in that a lower portion of the rectifying nozzle portion23cis bent so as to be directed in the downward vertical direction.

The second nozzle pair19is for forming the water screens perpendicular to the axis of the workpieces3. As shown inFIGS.1and3, the second nozzle pair19consists of a third nozzle25and a fourth nozzle27disposed so as to be separated by a certain interval in the axial direction of the workpieces3.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIGS.1and4, the third nozzle25and the fourth nozzle27are disposed so that the first nozzle pair17is positioned between the third nozzle25and the fourth nozzle27. The third nozzle25and the fourth nozzle27are separated from each other by a distance substantially equal to the width of the rectifying nozzle portions21cand23cof the first nozzle pair17.

When the third nozzle25and the fourth nozzle27are disposed as described above, of the two gaps, or openings, between the water screen formed by the first nozzle21and the water screen formed by the second nozzle23, which are the upstream-side gap and the downstream-side gap in the conveying direction of the workpieces3in this embodiment, the upstream-side gap is covered by the water screen formed by the third nozzle25and the downstream-side gap is covered by the water screen formed by the fourth nozzle27.

In other words, in this embodiment, the first nozzle pair17and the second nozzle pair19are configured to form the water screens so as to laterally surround the welding spot on the four sides. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the spatters from scattering.

As in the case of the first nozzle21, the third nozzle25has: a water reservoir portion25a; and a rectifying nozzle portion25chaving an outflow port25b. The shape of the water reservoir portion25ais similar to that of the first nozzle21.

As shown inFIG.4, the rectifying nozzle portion25chas a sector-like shape such that the width thereof increases from the connection side, on which the rectifying nozzle portion25cis connected to the water reservoir portion25a, toward the end thereof. The length of the rectifying nozzle portion25cis less than that of the first nozzle21. The section of the rectifying nozzle portion25chas a shape such that the width thereof increases from the water reservoir portion25atoward the end thereof. The outflow port25bat the end of the rectifying nozzle portion25chas a curved, elongated shape.

Since most of the spatters generated during flash butt welding are ejected in the directions perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpieces3and ejection of spatters in the directions along the conveying direction of the workpieces3is relatively little, the influence of reduction in thickness of the water screen is not significant. For this reason, the third nozzle25is formed in this shape so that it is possible to reduce the amount of water by reducing the thickness of the water screen and at the same time, it is possible to broaden the water screen as much as possible to sufficiently cover the gap between the water screen formed by the first nozzle21and the water screen formed by the second nozzle23.

The fourth nozzle27has a water reservoir portion27aand a rectifying nozzle portion27chaving an outflow port27b, which are the same in shape as those of the third nozzle25.

In the flash butt welder5of this embodiment configured as described above, the pair of workpieces3conveyed along the pass line are clamped by the electrodes11and12of the movable head7and the fixed head9and are welded by energizing and pressing against each other the pair of workpieces3while the movable head7is moved toward the fixed head9. During the welding, since the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1is installed on the carriage13that moves with the movable head7, the first nozzle pair17and the second nozzle pair19move in conjunction with movement of the carriage13, that is, in conjunction with the spot, at which welding is performed.

During energization for welding, water is supplied through the water supply pipe15, the water screens are formed on the lateral sides (one side and the other side) of the workpieces3by the first nozzle21and the second nozzle23, and the water screens spreading perpendicularly to the axis of the workpieces3are formed by the third nozzle25and the fourth nozzle27.

The spatters are ejected radially from the welding spot. The water screens are formed so as to laterally surround the welding spot on the four sides and also cover the welding spot from above. The spatters having impinged on the water screens fall with the water of the water screens and collected in a drain (not shown).

As described above, the spatters ejected radially from the welding spot are large in ejection amount especially in the directions perpendicular to the axis of the workpieces3and therefore, scattering of such spatters is prevented by the relatively thick water screens that are formed by the first nozzle pair17. Also as described above, in the first nozzle21and the second nozzle23included in the first nozzle pair17, the water flow channels of the rectifying nozzle portions21cand23care such that the length thereof is equal to or greater than the predetermined value and the cross-sectional shape thereof is the same throughout its length. Thus, the water screens are stably formed without interruption from top to bottom, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the spatters from scattering.

The spatters ejected along the axial direction of the workpieces3are caught by the water screens formed by the second nozzle pair19. However, since ejection of spatters along this direction is relatively little and the water screens formed by the second nozzle pair19intersect the workpieces3, it is preferable that the thickness of the water screens formed by the second nozzle pair19be set to a small value to reduce the amount of water required.

As described above, according to the spatter scattering prevention apparatus1of this embodiment, the necessity to, for example, clean the spatters adhering to a protective cover or the like for preventing spatters from scattering as in the case of a conventional apparatus is reduced because the spatters fall with the water of the water screens and collected in a drain or the like. Thus, maintenance work is facilitated.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is determined based on the attached claims and all the configurations obtained by omitting, changing, and/or improving the constituent elements within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

For example, the above embodiment shows an example, in which the spatters are surrounded on the four sides by the first nozzle pair17and the second nozzle pair19. However, since the number of spatters ejected from the welding spot in the directions perpendicular to the workpieces3is large as described above, even when only the first nozzle pair17for forming the water screens that laterally extend along the axis of the workpieces3is used, the effect of preventing the spatters from scattering is brought about to a certain extent.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS