The present invention relates generally to welding systems and, more particularly, to a welding stud for stud welding applications.
Stud welding is a welding process that utilizes a localized burst of current between a metallic fastener and a metallic workpiece. A stud welding system has a power source, a stud gun, a pair of cables that connect the stud gun to the power source, and a stud that is welded to a workpiece. In most instances, although not required, the fastener and the workpiece have the same material properties. The fasteners are held and welded in place through the use of an electro-mechanical device in the stud gun.
Stud welding has applications in many industries. These industries include boiler manufacturing, ship building, auto manufacturing, and construction to name but a few. Welding a stud to a workpiece is an easy and efficient means of securing a fastener device to the workpiece. Studs are also provided in a variety of shapes and materials such that welding studs to a workpiece can be used to differentiate between further systems to be attached to the workpiece depending on the type of stud welded thereto.
The quality of the weld which attaches the stud to the workpiece partially determines the amount of load the stud can support. A poor quality weld can result in failure of the weld between the stud and the workpiece. Weld failure associated with poor weld quality is difficult to predict and is often designed around by over welding the stud rather than improving the welding efficiency of the weld stud. A low efficiency in the stud welding process is partially due to low, effective contact resistance between the stud and a workpiece.
The efficiency of the weld between the stud and the workpiece is partially determined by the physical construction of the welding stud used and the condition of the interface between the welding stud and the workpiece. A poor interface between the welding stud and the workpiece detrimentally affects arc performance and can result in weld failure. The physical construction of the weld end of the welding stud also affects the quality of a weld between a welding stud and a workpiece. If the weld end of the welding stud is poorly constructed, an incomplete weld can be formed between the welding stud and the workpiece after the termination of the welding process.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design a welding stud for stud welding applications that maximizes arc characteristics between the welding stud and the workpiece, thereby maximizing weld quality and welding efficiency.
The present invention is directed to a welding stud that solves the aforementioned drawbacks. A welding stud and method of manufacturing a welding stud are disclosed that include at least one ridge, but preferably, a plurality of ridges formed in the weld end of the welding stud. The plurality of ridges localize a current passed through the weld end of the welding stud during a welding operation. By localizing the current through the weld end of the stud, the stud can be welded to a workpiece faster and with lower energy than welding studs without the current localizing construction of the invention.
Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a welding stud is disclosed which has a body extending between a first and a second end. The first end is constructed to engage a stud welding gun. At least one recess is formed in the second end that increases the effective surface area of the second end and is designed to decrease an effective arc area of the second end. Such a construction allows the welding stud to be quickly and efficiently welded to a workpiece.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a welding stud having a body is disclosed. The body extends from a connector end constructed to engage a stud welding gun. A weld end of the welding stud, opposite the connector end, has at least one protrusion and is constructed to be welded to a workpiece. The protrusion extends outwardly to space a majority of the weld end having a non-planar surface from a workpiece. Such a construction reduces the cross-sectional area of the weld end and localizes current passing therethrough during a welding operation.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a welding stud is disclosed. The method includes providing a welding stud having a first end and a second end, forming the first end to engage a stud welder, and forming the second end with increased resistance to current flow as compared to a welding stud having a nipple and a generally planar surface thereabout.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a welding stud is disclosed. The welding stud has a first end constructed to engage a stud welding gun. A body extends from the first end to a face of a weld end. The welding stud includes means for localizing current density in the face of the weld end of the welding stud.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.
The drawings illustrate and include one preferred embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
Prior to a welding operation, as shown in
One exemplary welding stud 21 is shown in greater detail in
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
As shown in
An alternate welding stud 60 is shown in
Tapered perimeter 70 of weld stud 60 reduces the effective cross-sectional area of weld end 62 during a welding process. Tapered perimeter 70 and grooves 66 each contribute to concentrate a current passed through weld end 62 of welding stud 60 at ridges 64. As such, after a welding process is initiated and nipple 68 is liquefied, the welding current is localized, or concentrated, at ridges 64.
Rather than the circular pattern of the grooves and ridges of welding studs 21 and 60,
Welding stud 100, shown in
Comparing welding studs 80 and 100, as shown in
Another welding stud 120 is shown in
In the case of a stud using a flux capsule, a decrease in the amount of energy needed to weld a stud of a given diameter can be achieved when compared to the amount of energy required to weld a stud having a nipple and a generally planar face. The energy decreases result from a higher current density through the weld stud of the workpiece. In this case, the path of least resistance extends through the metal portion of the stud around the flux capsule. The flux capsule, by having a relatively high electrical resistance, allows relatively low levels of current to flow through it. This results in increased current density in the metal portion of the stud around the flux capsule. This construction requires lower energy levels for welding.
Alternatively, it is understood that the flux capsule could be replaced with powdered metals. Similar to the flux capsule, the powdered metals results in a decrease in the amount of energy required to weld a given stud diameter when compared to a stud with a nipple and planar face. The powered metal capsule has a relatively high electrical resistance compared to the solid metal portion of the stud extending therearound. The energy decreases result from the relatively high current density through the solid metal portion of the stud and thereby around the powdered metal capsule. Such a construction results in increased local current densities which provides for efficient welding with lower energy.
Each of the embodiments of the present invention realize the benefits achieved by a welding stud having a generally non-planar weld end. The non-planar face of the weld end results in decreased contact area between the welding stud and a workpiece during a welding process, an increase in the total surface area of the weld end, and provides localized current density during a welding process. As such, a welding stud constructed according to the invention requires less energy to weld the stud to a workpiece compared to a welding stud having a generally planar face.
Therefore, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a welding stud has a body extending between a first and a second end. The first end is constructed to engage a stud welding gun and the second end has at least one recess formed therein.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a welding stud has a body extending from a connector end constructed to engage a stud welding gun. The welding stud has a weld end having at least one protrusion and is constructed to be welded to a workpiece. The protrusion extends outwardly to space a majority of the weld end having a non-planar surface from a workpiece.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a welding stud includes providing a welding stud having a first end and a second end, forming the first end to engage a stud welder, and forming the second end with increased resistance to current flow as compared to a welding stud having a nipple and a generally planar surface thereabout.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a welding stud has a first end constructed to engage a stud welding gun. A body extends from the first end to a face of a weld end. The welding stud includes means for localizing current density in the face of the weld end of the welding stud.
The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2054187 | Almdale | Sep 1936 | A |
2096623 | Almdale | Oct 1937 | A |
2623974 | Prucha | Dec 1952 | A |
2707507 | Tripp et al. | May 1955 | A |
2708129 | Keleman et al. | May 1955 | A |
2775685 | Webster | Dec 1956 | A |
2784758 | Rohe | Mar 1957 | A |
2788233 | Enright | Apr 1957 | A |
2823297 | Aversten | Feb 1958 | A |
2883215 | Jenkins | Apr 1959 | A |
2893762 | Haynes | Jul 1959 | A |
3199566 | Dyka | Aug 1965 | A |
3226140 | Voegeli | Dec 1965 | A |
3253115 | Logan | May 1966 | A |
3279517 | Logan | Oct 1966 | A |
3363084 | Busing | Jan 1968 | A |
3541294 | Jerdonek | Nov 1970 | A |
3557339 | Rondeau | Jan 1971 | A |
3671710 | Coombs | Jun 1972 | A |
3760143 | Rondeau et al. | Sep 1973 | A |
3891332 | Molyneux et al. | Jun 1975 | A |
3905173 | Gerken | Sep 1975 | A |
3975611 | Gordon | Aug 1976 | A |
3997754 | Moliner et al. | Dec 1976 | A |
4119827 | Lenox | Oct 1978 | A |
4130751 | Gordon | Dec 1978 | A |
4160148 | Jenkins | Jul 1979 | A |
4214144 | Spiegelberg | Jul 1980 | A |
4263831 | Smith | Apr 1981 | A |
4429209 | Hinden | Jan 1984 | A |
4482795 | Hinden | Nov 1984 | A |
4672164 | Devletian | Jun 1987 | A |
4684304 | Franks | Aug 1987 | A |
4766283 | McCorvey et al. | Aug 1988 | A |
4850772 | Jenkins | Jul 1989 | A |
4855561 | Hinden | Aug 1989 | A |
4855562 | Hinden | Aug 1989 | A |
5130510 | Zeigler et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
5135154 | Yoshida et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
5345054 | Li | Sep 1994 | A |
5493833 | Irimies | Feb 1996 | A |
5533850 | Ishihara et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5618491 | Kurup et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5685680 | Duffy et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5834727 | Volnhals | Nov 1998 | A |
6238121 | Roser | May 2001 | B1 |
6497543 | Lyons | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6596959 | Sichtermann et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6755601 | Ohta | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6818851 | Ramasamy et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6860687 | Schmitt et al. | Mar 2005 | B1 |
20030175092 | Ohta | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030201254 | Sichtermann et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040109740 | Nilsen et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20050062285 | Hobson et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
75 22 984 | May 1977 | DE |
196 11 711 | Oct 1997 | DE |
196 22 958 | Nov 1997 | DE |
199 22 679 | Nov 2000 | DE |
1 060 822 | Dec 2000 | EP |
1 072 352 | Jan 2001 | EP |
1 264 656 | Dec 2002 | EP |
755 226 | Aug 1956 | GB |
1 395 632 | May 1975 | GB |
05 028857 | Feb 1993 | JP |
06 091377 | Apr 1994 | JP |
07 256457 | Oct 1995 | JP |
08 243762 | Sep 1996 | JP |
09 182967 | Jul 1997 | JP |
10 128543 | May 1998 | JP |
11 090637 | Apr 1999 | JP |
2001 105142 | Apr 2001 | JP |
2002 361427 | Dec 2002 | JP |
WO 03022504 | Mar 2003 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20050111932 A1 | May 2005 | US |