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US5406045A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of controlling welding current in direct-current resistance welding machine

Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1993-12-22
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Granted: 1995-04-11
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Expires: 2013-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract A workpiece is welded successively at a plurality of welding points by a direct-current resistance welding machine with a constant current in a welding current supply period at each of the welding points, and the constant current is varied depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece when it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced. The workpiece is welded with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than the expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than the expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than the expulsion-producing limit current value, and also with a second stepped welding current having a variation of the second current value based on whether expulsions are produced or not on the workpiece when it is welded with the first stepped welding current.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daisuke Kiriishi
  • 👤 Hisaya Watanabe
  • 👤 Kensaku Kaneyasu
  • 👤 Tomohiko Ito
  • 👤 Yukihiro Yaguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:16
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/24; B23K11/25; B23K11/252; B23K11/257

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having at least a first current value and a second current value greater than said first current value; applying both said first and second current values to each of the welding points in a predetermined welding current waveform, wherein said second current value is initiated at a predetermined start time in said welding current waveform; if expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied with respect to each of the welding points, so that said start time occurs earlier in said welding current waveform; and if no expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied with respect to each of said welding points, so that said start time occurs later in said welding current waveform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having at least a first current value and a second current value greater than said first current value; applying both said first and second current values to each of the welding points in a predetermined welding current waveform, wherein said second current value is initiated at a predetermined start time in said welding current waveform; if expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied with respect to each of the welding points, so that said start time occurs earlier in said welding current waveform; and if no expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied with respect to each of said welding points, so that said start time occurs later in said welding current waveform.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having at least a first current value and a second current value greater than said first current value; applying both said first and second current values to each of said welding points in a predetermined welding current waveform, wherein said second current value is initiated at a predetermined start time in said welding current waveform; and successively shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied, with respect to each of said welding points, after a predetermined number of welding points have been welded.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having at least a first current value and a second current value greater than said first current value; applying both said first and second current values to each of said welding points in a predetermined welding current waveform, wherein said second current value is initiated at a predetermined start time in said welding current waveform; and successively shifting said predetermined start time when said second current value is applied, with respect to each of said welding points, after a predetermined number of welding points have been welded.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 178 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; and welding the workpiece with a second stepped welding current in which said second current value has been varied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said first stepped welding current.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 178 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; and welding the workpiece with a second stepped welding current in which said second current value has been varied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said first stepped welding current.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; welding the workpiece with a second stepped welding current in which said second current value has been varied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said first stepped welding current; and welding the workpiece with another stepped welding current in which the time when said second current value is attained has been shifted within the period in which said second stepped welding current is supplied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; welding the workpiece with a second stepped welding current in which said second current value has been varied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said first stepped welding current; and welding the workpiece with another stepped welding current in which the time when said second current value is attained has been shifted within the period in which said second stepped welding current is supplied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 63 words
The method according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising the steps of: increasing said constant current if expulsions are not produced successively a first number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said constant current; and reducing said constant current if expulsions are produced successively a second number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said constant current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 69 words
The method according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising the steps of: increasing said second current value if expulsions are not produced successively a third number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current; and reducing said second current value if expulsions are produced successively a fourth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 89 words
The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of: delaying the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are not produced successively a fifth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current; and advancing the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are produced successively a sixth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; delaying the time when said second current value is attained by a predetermined time from the start time of supplying said first stepped welding current at each of the welding points, to produce a second stepped welding current; and welding the workpiece with said second stepped welding current in which the time when said second current value is attained has been shifted within the period in which said second stepped welding current is supplied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece with a first stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; delaying the time when said second current value is attained by a predetermined time from the start time of supplying said first stepped welding current at each of the welding points, to produce a second stepped welding current; and welding the workpiece with said second stepped welding current in which the time when said second current value is attained has been shifted within the period in which said second stepped welding current is supplied based on whether or not expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: increasing said constant current if expulsions are not produced successively a first number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said constant current; and reducing said constant current if expulsions are produced successively a second number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said constant current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 67 words
The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: increasing said second current value if expulsions are not produced successively a third number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current; and reducing said second current value if expulsions are produced successively a fourth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said second stepped welding current.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 86 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising steps of: delaying the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are not produced successively a fifth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current; and advancing the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are produced successively a sixth number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 249 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece at each of the welding points successively for a given number of welding points with a welding current having said expulsion-producing limit current value; after the workpiece has been welded at the given number of welding points, welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; delaying the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are not produced successively a first number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current; and advancing the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are produced successively a second number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 249 words
A method of controlling a welding current for welding a workpiece successively at a plurality of welding points with a direct-current resistance welding machine, comprising the steps of: welding the workpiece at each of the welding points with a constant current for a welding current supply period; varying said constant current depending on whether expulsions are produced on the workpiece while it is welded, to determine an expulsion-producing limit current value as a maximum current beyond which expulsions will be produced; welding the workpiece at each of the welding points successively for a given number of welding points with a welding current having said expulsion-producing limit current value; after the workpiece has been welded at the given number of welding points, welding the workpiece with a stepped welding current having a first current value that is smaller than said expulsion-producing limit current value by a predetermined value and a second current value that is greater than said expulsion-producing limit current value, and an average current value higher than said expulsion-producing limit current value; delaying the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are not produced successively a first number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current; and advancing the time when said second current value is attained within the welding current supply period if expulsions are produced successively a second number of times while the workpiece is being welded with said stepped welding current.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS569080A Cited
JPS5843192A Cited
US4694135A Cited
US4973814A Cited
WO1991019588A1 Cited
US5083003A Cited
EP0502478A2 Cited
US5276308A Cited
GB2273675A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-04-10 1998-10-10 1999-04-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-04-10 2002-10-10 2003-04-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-04-10 2006-10-10 2007-04-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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