Patent DE-102011115079-A1 (DE)
Title: Device, useful for welding a first component with a second component, comprises mask comprising through hole, clamping element that is arranged and provided to press second component against first component, and unit for forming weld seam
Inventor: LINDENAU DIRK
IPC: B23K37/04
Filed: 2011-09-27
Abstract: The device comprises: a mask (3) that is arranged and provided for a plant to a first component (1) and comprises a through hole; a clamping element (4), which is arranged and provided to press a second component (2) against the first component so that the two components are clamped between the mask and the clamping element; and a unit for forming a weld seam, connected to the two components, by the through hole. The mask forms a bottom of a protective gas space (5), in which the unit for forming the weld seam is arranged. The device comprises: a mask (3) that is arranged and provided for a plant to a first component (1) and comprises a through hole; a clamping element (4), which is arranged and provided to press a second component (2) against the first component so that the two components are clamped between the mask and the clamping element; and a unit for forming a weld seam, connected to the two components, by the through hole. The mask forms a bottom of a protective gas space (5), in which the unit for forming the weld seam is arranged, where the protective gas space is arranged and provided for receiving a protective gas. The weld seam as a laser system is formed with a beam deflection optic such as a tiltable mirror system, where the beam deflection optic is arranged and provided to guide a laser beam by the through hole over an area of the first component to form the weld seam. The mask and the clamping element are arranged and provided to grip the first component in the form of a first stainless steel component of a metallic bipolar plate of a fuel cell and/or the second component in the form of a second stainless steel component of the metallic bipolar plate. The protective gas space comprises a protective gas supply device in a bottom portion, and an exhaust air exit device in an upper portion. The protective gas supply device is arranged and provided to introduce the protective gas into the protective gas space. The exhaust air exit device is arranged and provided to enable an escape of air displaced by the initiated protective gas. A protective gas receiving device is provided and formed to receive the protective gas escaping from the protective gas space. A protective gas suction apparatus is provided to suck the protective gas taken up in the protective gas receiving device. The clamping element is: movable from a first position, in which the first and second components are insertable into the clamping element; horizontally movable into a second position, which is formed along the verticals under the mask; movable from a second position vertical to a third position, in which the two components are gripped between the mask and the clamping element; and movable from the second position horizontal to a fourth position, in which the first and second components are more separable from the clamping element.