Fusing apparatus with temperature control
AssigneeAxis USA, Inc.
InventorAlessandro Rossi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for monitoring the temperature of a workpiece during fusing operations are provided. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor which monitors the temperature of a commutator bar being fused and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to that temperature. The electric current supplied to the fusing electrode can be interrupted or modified if the temperature of the commutator bar exceeds a predetermined temperature. In this manner, fusing operations can be interrupted if the temperature of the commutator bar approaches a temperature at which other components of the workpiece, such as the core material will be adversely affected. The temperature sensor preferably contacts the workpiece to conduct heat to a sensing element.
Claims33
Apparatus for fusing together two electrical conductors which collectively comprise a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
- a fusing member for performing heating and mechanical work on said workpiece;
- a grounding member;
- and
- a detecting means for detecting the temperature of a surface of said workpiece during fusing, said detecting means having conducting means which make contact with said surface for conducting heat from said surface of said workpiece and converting said heat into an electrical signal, said detecting means being distinct from said fusing member and said grounding member.
A method for monitoring during a fusing operation the temperature of the core materials underlying the commutator bars of an armature commutator, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting heat applied to the commutator bar on which the fusing operation is being performed by contacting a thermally conductive member, which distinct from said fusing operation, with said commutator bar;
- generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the heat detected on said commutator bar;
- and
- comparing said first electrical signal with a second electrical signal corresponding to a known temperature.
Apparatus for fusing together two electrical conductors which collectively comprise a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
- a fusing means for delivering electrical energy and applying pressure to one of the electrical conductors;
- a grounding means for draining said electrical energy from said workpiece;
- a detecting means for detecting the temperature of a surface of said workpiece during fusing, said detecting means having conducting means, distinct from said fusing means and said grounding means, which make contact with said surface for conducting heat from said surface of said workpiece;
- and
- a converting means for converting said conducted heat into an electrical signal corresponding to said detected temperature.
In an operation for fusing armature workpieces having a plurality of commutator bars disposed around an underlying core material, a method for monitoring the temperature of the core materials underlying a commutator bar being fused comprising the steps of:
- delivering electrical energy to one of said commutator bars;
- detecting the temperature of said one commutator bar receiving electrical energy by contacting a temperature sensor, distinct from said operation for fusing, with said one commutator bar;
- generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the temperature detected on said one commutator bar;
- and
- determining a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the core material based on the generated first electrical signal and the thermal properties of the commutator bar and core material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.