Patent GB-950945-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for soldering component parts, for example radiator parts, together
Inventor: CHAUSSON ANDRE
IPC: B23K1/00
Filed: 1960-07-21
Abstract: 950,945. Making heat exchangers; soldering. S. A. DES USINES CHAUSSON. July 21, 1960, No. 25480/60. Headings B3A and B3R. [Also in Division B8] A soldering machine comprises an intermittently operated movably mounted support, devices for holding and turning the parts and symmetrically disposed on the support, work stations facing the devices, movable arm means projecting from the device and moving forms to secure the parts and engaging fixed cam means to actuate the arm means during displacements of the support and a coated member carried by the support to control operation of the jaws, arm means and work stations. In an embodiment the machine comprises a frame 6, Fig. 3, providing a circular table 10 through which projects a column 11 supporting a rotatable support 20 carrying six equally spaced radiator holding and turning devices 25 provided with cam followers 84, for controlling the turning of the devices, engaging a stationary cam 24 on the column 11. A distributer 22 is also carried by the support 20. Six work stations 25a 1  and 25a 2 , 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, Fig. 2, are provided on the frame about the support 20. The support 20 is rotated step-bystep to bring each device 25 in turn against one of the work stations, by a Maltese cross 28 having rollers 27 on its three arms to engage in turn members 26 on spokes 19 provided on the support 20. The cross is rotated by a rack 35 on the piston of a double-acting jack engaging a freewheel 34 and an electromagnetic brake is provided. Each device 25 holds a radiator and comprises a U-shaped tubular arm 39, Fig. 4, whose ends carry double acting rams 40, 41 supplied with fluid from the distributer 22, carrying jaws 51, 52 for clamping the tube carrying water boxes 4 on to the bodies 2 formed of gill connected tubes. The arm 39 is secured to a hollow spindle 58 rotatably mounted in a housing 64 secured to the support 20, the spindle having a long pitch tapping 66 in which is engaged a screw 67 carrying a piston 69 in a pneumatic cylinder 71 and at its end a roller 84 engaging the cam 24. The piston is supplied with fluid via the distributer to urge the roller against the cam and longitudinal movement of the screw effects rotation of the arm 39. At the work station 25a, the water boxes 4 are flux dipped and fitted on the bodies 1 and the assembly is conveyed to a horizontal arm 39 for clamping. The support 20 is rotated until the radiator assembly reaches station 25b where a pump 119, actuated by a driving member controlled by the distributer 22, delivers flux through tubes 120 on to the assembly. The support rotates to bring the radiator assembly to station 25c where piping on the boxes 4 is soldered by liquid solder. As the support turns to bring the assembly to station 25d the arm 39 is rotated through 90 degrees by the cam 24, the top water box then being soldered by applying solid solder to the joints and melting the solder. As the support turns to bring the assembly to station 25c the arm 39 is rotated by the cam 24 through 180 degrees to bring the other box 4 to soldering position and soldering is effected. The arm 39 is turned through 90 degrees on reaching station 25e where no operation takes place. As the support turns to bring the soldered assembly to station 25a 2  the arm 39 is rotated back through 360 degrees to return the radiator to its original position. The stations 25c, 25d, 25e and possibly 25f are fitted with devices 89 controlled by the distributer 22, each comprising means for conveying at least one solder wire through tubes 124, gas burners and cold air blowers. At station 25c solder wire is fed to a melting pot 130 where burners cut and melt the wire so that molten solder may flow from the pot. Solder wire is fed into a gutter between the parts to be soldered, namely the boxes 4 and tube rests 2 at stations 25d, 25e. The stations 25a, 25a 2  are each provided with pivoting and sliding devices 90, each carrying a tray 91 for transporting radiators to the arms 39. With the tray of the station 25a 2  beneath the line of movement of the radiators and tray 91 of station 25a 1  above a flux bath 92, a body 2 and fluxed boxes 4 are assembled on the latter tray. An arm 39 stops above the former tray, the tray rises, the jaws release the radiator and the tray descends with the radiator and pivots in direction F 2 , Fig. 2, for discharge on to a conveyer. The tray 91 of station 25a 1  pivots in direction F 1 , beneath the arm 39, rises and the arm clamps the radiator assembly. The tray descends and returns. The trays are each carried by a piston having rollers in its cylinder to engage helical slots in a surrounding piston also having rollers for engaging vertical slots in the cylinder. The operation of these pistons and of the jaws of the arms 39 is controlled by the distributer 22. The stations may be in line past which the radiators are moved, e.g. by chains and the solder may be in the form of stick, shot, liquid, powder or sprayed liquid.