JOINING CONNECTION AND METHOD FOR WELDING TORCH COMPONENTS

Abstract

The present invention concerns a joined connection and a joining method for welding torch components with a first metallic tubular segment and a second metallic tubular segment, which are joined to each other by plastic deformation via an interlocking connection. The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to indicate a joined connection as well as a joining method in which two metallic welding torch components can be joined without the use of thermal joining methods, yet with comparable quality. The problem is solved in that the interlocking is formed in at least two directions of the joining surface bordering one another.

Claims

1. Joined connection (1) between a first and a second metallic tubular segment (2, 3) of a welding torch, especially a welding torch neck, wherein the first tubular segment (2) has a joining section (4) extending in the axial direction (8), which is received at least partly in a corresponding joining section (5) of the second tubular segment (3), wherein the two tubular segments (2, 3) overlap in a joining area (6) at least by their joining sections (4, 5), wherein at least the first tubular segment (2) has, in the nonjoined state at least on one joining surface (31) of its joining section (4), a surface structure (7) with indentations (24) incorporated into its surface, which in the joined state by virtue of a plastic deformation of the second tubular segment (3) are filled at least partly with material of the second tubular segment (3) such that the two components (2, 3) engage with each other at least by interlocking, characterized in that the interlocking is formed in at least two directions of the joining surface (31, 32) bordering one another.

2. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two tubular segments (2, 3) lie against one another by an additionally radially acting force closure.

3. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first tubular segment (2) is joined together with the second tubular segment (3) by interlocking in the joining area (6) both against a force acting in the axial direction (8) and against a force acting in the rotary direction.

4. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that both the first tubular segment (2) and the second tubular segment (3) in the nonjoined state is provided with a surface structure (7) at the joining surface (31, 32) in the respective joining section (4, 5).

5. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface structure (7) at the joining surface (31, 32) has at least one elevation (26) and/or indentation (24), preferably several elevations (26) and/or indentations (24), which are arranged in particular at uniform distances from each other over the joining surface (31, 32).

6. Joined connection (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the surface structure (7) is present as a knurling, cross knurling, thread or groove structure or as a combination of these.

7. Joined connection (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the surface structures (7) on the joining surfaces (31, 32) of the first and/or second tubular segment (2, 3) run at an angle to each other, preferably at an angle of 30° to 90°.

8. Joined connection (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the surface structure (7) at the joining surface (31, 32) of one of the two tubular segments (2, 3) extends parallel to the axial direction (8) or at an angle less than or equal to 45°, preferably less than 45°, and the surface structure (7) on the joining surface (31, 32) of the other tubular segment (2, 3) extends transversely to the axial direction (8) or at an angle larger than or equal to 45°.

9. Joined connection (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the surface structure (7) for the tubular segment (2, 3) designed for a larger maximum bending load extends parallel to the axial direction (8) or at an angle less than 45°.

10. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two tubular segments (2, 3) have different material strength.

11. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the second tubular segment (2, 3) are rotationally symmetrical at least in their joining section (4, 5).

12. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one support ring (11, 12) is provided at the joining area (6), which biases the associated tubular segment (2, 3) at least in the joining section (4, 5) into the joined position.

13. Joined connection (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that one support ring (11) is arranged on an inner wall (27) of the first tubular segment (2) and/or one support ring (12) is provided on the outer wall (28) of the second tubular segment (3).

14. Joined connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a closed surface structure (7), especially a closed toothed ring, is provided at one edge (29) of the joining area (6), which in the joined state forms a gas or water-tight boundary, while the closed surface structure (7) is provided in particular on the tubular segment (2, 3) which has a harder material than the other tubular segment (3, 2).

15. Joining method for the connecting of a first metallic tubular segment (2) and a second metallic tubular segment (3), preferably welding torch components especially according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at first a surface structure (7) with indentations (24) is produced in a joining section (4) of the first tubular segment (2) in order to produce a joining surface (31, 32) and then the first tubular segment (2) is brought into axial overlapping with the second tubular segment (3) at least in the area of the joining sections (4, 5) of the two tubular segments (2, 3), after which at least one of the two segments (2, 3) is plastically deformed in order to produce an interlocking connection in the area of the joining sections (4, 5) so that the indentations (24) in the joining section (4) are at least partly filled with material of the second tubular segment (3), so that the resulting interlocking is formed in at least two directions of the joining surfaces bordering each other.

Description

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Further goals, benefits, features and application possibilities of the present invention will emerge from the following description of a sample embodiment with the help of the drawing. All described and/or graphically depicted features in themselves or in any meaningful combination constitute the subject matter of the present invention, even independently of their inclusion in the claims or their referral to the claims.

[0045] There are shown, in part schematically:

[0046] FIG. 1, a schematic, partly sectioned side view of the tubular segments prior to the joining process,

[0047] FIG. 2, a schematic representation of the joined connection,

[0048] FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment with two different tubular segments,

[0049] FIG. 4, a joined connection according to the embodiment of FIG. 3,

[0050] FIG. 5, an alternative joined connection with an interior support ring,

[0051] FIG. 6, another alternative joined connection with interior and exterior support ring and

[0052] FIG. 7, a representation of the joining method.

[0053] The same or equivalent acting parts are provided with reference numbers in the following represented figures of the drawing by means of one embodiment for better legibility.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a first tubular segment 2 as well as a second tubular segment 3, each of which has a joining section 4, 5. The joining section 4 of the first tubular segment 2 is formed as a “male part”, so as to be introduced as shown in FIG. 2 into the “female” joining section 5 of the second tubular segment 3 and be received therein. The joining sections 4, 5 of the two tubular segments 2, 3 overlap each other in the joining area 6, in which the joined connection 1 is constructed.

[0055] Inside the joining section 4, a surface structure 7 in the form of longitudinal grooves 18 is produced on the outer surface, that is, the first joining surface 31, which extend along a first axial direction 8 on the joining surface 31. These indentations 24 may be produced for example as a knurling in the joining surface 31.

[0056] In FIG. 1, there is shown likewise a row of indentations 24 for the second tubular segment 3 on a joining surface 32 in the joining section 5, which extend as transverse grooves 19 transversely to the longitudinal axis 10 of the tubular segments 2, 3. In the present example, the indentations 24 thus extend at an angle 20 of around 90° to the axial direction 8, i.e., in a second sloping direction 9 with respect to the joining surface 32.

[0057] The first tubular segment 2 is provided as the component which undergoes greater bending loads during the use of the welding torch. Thanks to the longitudinal grooves 18 oriented in the axial direction 8, a notch effect from the surface structure 7 on the joining surface 31 is prevented.

[0058] The inner diameter 17 in the joining section 4 of the tubular segment 2 is smaller than the inner diameter 13 outside the joining area. Likewise, the outer diameter 14 of the tubular segment 2 outside the joining section 4 is larger than the outer diameter 16 in the joining section 4. In the case of the second tubular segment 3 the proportions are reversed, so that a step 21 is formed along a longitudinal axis 10.

[0059] In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer diameter 16 of the tubular segment 2 is roughly identical to the outer diameter 14 outside the joining area 4. The same holds for the respective inner diameters 13 and 17. The second tubular segment 3 per FIG. 3 has in the joining section 5 a larger outer diameter 16 as well as a larger inner diameter 17, so that the joining section 4 can be received therein. Thus, a continually roughly constant inner diameter 13 can be provided at the joined connection 1 and as compared to the sections of the tubular segments 2, 3 not belonging to the joined connection 1.

[0060] In the sample embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the surface structure 7 is formed in the same way as in the first sample embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The transverse grooves 19 may be understood here as being radially encircling and closed grooves. But the transverse grooves may also be formed as threads or as a knurling.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment in which the elastic biasing of the first tubular segment 2 in the joining area 6 is maintained by means of a support ring 11 arranged on the inner wall 27 of the tubular segment 2. The support ring 11 consists of a material which has greater elasticity than the material of the first tubular segment 2 and thus maintains an elastic biasing in the direction of the second tubular segment 3.

[0062] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, in addition to an inner support ring 11 there is also provided an outer support ring 12 on the outer wall 28 of the second tubular segment 3, which also biases the material of the second tubular segment 3 in the radial direction 30 or against the radial direction 30.

[0063] FIGS. 3 to 7 furthermore show an encircling surface structure 7 at the edge 29 of a shoulder 22, which ensures a fluid tightness of the joined connection 1. This surface structure 7 at the edge 29 acts as a kind of cutting ring, the material of the second tubular segment 3 being harder than the material of the first tubular segment 2, so that the surface structure 9 formed at the edge 29 cuts into the first tubular segment 2 during the joining process and thus produces a sealing surface 33.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows schematically the joining process, in which a deforming force 15 acting here on the outside in the joining area 6 in the radial direction 30 plastically deforms the second tubular segment 3 in the joining section 5, so that the surface structures 7 of the two tubular segments 2, 3 flow into each other. The deforming force 15 may likewise act outwardly from the inside. It is furthermore possible for deforming forces to act outwardly from the inside and inwardly from the outside at the same time.

[0065] The interlocking joined connection formed in this way is especially resistant to forces in a rotation direction 25 and at the same time in the axial direction 8. The surface structures with the indentations 24 and elevations 26 provided on the joining surfaces 31, 32 are plastically deformed by the forces exerted during the joining method, so that the elevations 26 and indentations 24 flowing into each other form multiple shear surfaces making possible a uniform force transmission over the entire joining area 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0066] 1 Joined connection [0067] 2 First tubular segment [0068] 3 Second tubular segment [0069] 4 Joining section [0070] 5 Joining section [0071] 6 Joining area [0072] 7 Surface structure [0073] 8 Axial direction [0074] 9 Second direction [0075] 10 Longitudinal axis [0076] 11 Inner support ring [0077] 12 Outer support ring [0078] 13 Inner diameter segment [0079] 14 Outer diameter segment [0080] 15 Deforming force [0081] 16 Outer diameter joining section [0082] 17 Inner diameter joining section [0083] 18 Longitudinal grooves [0084] 19 Transverse grooves [0085] 20 Angle [0086] 21 Step [0087] 22 Shoulder [0088] 23 - - - [0089] 24 Indentation [0090] 25 Rotation direction [0091] 26 Elevation [0092] 27 Inner wall [0093] 28 Outer wall [0094] 29 Edge area [0095] 30 Radial direction [0096] 31 First joining surface [0097] 32 Second joining surface [0098] 33 Sealing surface