Description:MECHANISED SYSTEM FOR ANALYSING DIFFUSIBLE HYDROGEN CONTENT IN FLUX CORED ARC WELDING PROCESS

FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present invention deals with development of mechanised Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) setup for preparing sample to analysis Diffusible Hydrogen content in weld metal.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION/PRIOR ART:
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[003] The steel molten weld metal will absorb enormous amount of hydrogen from the environment. After solidification and cooling, observed hydrogen cannot be retained inside the metal. Hence, part quantity of hydrogen will be released as diffusible hydrogen from this weld metal, which may cause cracking of weld during this process. This diffusible hydrogen has to measure for qualification of the welding consumables like electrode and wires. Diffusible hydrogen test is carried out as per AWS B 4.3, for welding electrode using manual metal arc welding. In case of FCAW wires, necessary mechanized welding apparatus setup with and welding fixture with quick transfer mechanism for welding and welded sample transfer to iced water within 20 seconds from the welding fixture are designed and developed for preparation of welded samples for Diffusible hydrogen analysis.

Prior state of art:
[004] - AU 200054732 B2 discloses Method and apparatus for determining diffusible hydrogen concentrations for measuring of diffusible hydrogen using fiber optics and sensors. In current invention scope is only preparation of sample for measurement, not the measurement of hydrogen.
[005] - 0 114 688 B2 is directed to Sampler and an apparatus for hydrogen determination in molten metal, which is using vacuum tubular body used for sampler. A totally different method from the current invention.

[006] - EP 1 114 992 B1 pertains to Device and method for hydrogen collection and detection. An online collector device for hydrogen collection and detection system is used. Method is totally different from current invention.

[007] - US 7,306,951 B1 relates to an Apparatus for determining diffusible hydrogen concentrations in a material sample, not for weld metals and more particularly, to a method and apparatus that converts measured changes in the physical properties, such as optical absorption, of a sensor element into an output signal that is closely correlated to the diffusible hydrogen content of the sample.

[008] The present invention proposes development of mechanised FCAW welding system with sample preparation module. The Sample preparation module comprises of welding fixture and a welded sample quick transfer mechanism to iced water tank within 20 seconds.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[009] Primary object of the invention is to provide mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process, which is simple and user friendly.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0012] One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus/composition and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.

[0013] In the instant invention, mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process involves the following:
a. Usage of chiller for maintaining water temperature within 25?C
b. U shaped copper foil
c. Slide from fixture to ice box

[0014] Measurement of diffusible hydrogen content in Flux Core Arc Welding wires should be found for avoiding delayed cracking in the weldment. Standards are providing different quantitative methods for measurement of diffusible hydrogen level in flux coated electrodes. In case of flux cored wires, clear guide lines are not given in the standards. In this current invention, a necessary mechanized welding apparatus to deposit the wire as weld metal on a sample which is fixed in a welding fixture. This welding fixture has a quick transfer mechanism to transfer weld metal sample from fixture to iced water within 20 seconds. This welded samples are utilized for Diffusible hydrogen analysis.

[0015] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

[0016] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
[0018] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:

Figure 1: Setup of the Diffusible Hydrogen Sample preparation system according to the present invention.
Figure 2: Welding fixture for holding sample of the invention.

[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0020] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0021] The present invention makes a disclosure regarding a technology pertaining to invention directing to mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process.

[0022] In welding of steels, during welding at higher temperature, enormous amount of hydrogen from the environment/consumable would enter in to weld metal and heat affected zone of base metal. On cooling of the weld, observed hydrogen cannot be retained inside the steel. Hence, part quantity of hydrogen will be released as diffusible hydrogen from this weld, which may cause cracking of weld during this process. This diffusible hydrogen has to be measured for qualification of the welding consumables like electrode and wires. Diffusible hydrogen test carried out as per AWS B 4.3, for welding electrode using manual metal arc welding. In case of FCAW wires, mechanized welding setup and welding fixture with quick transfer mechanism for welded sample transfer to iced water within 20 seconds from the welding fixture are designed and developed for preparation of welded samples for Diffusible hydrogen analysis.

[0023] In Figure 1 and figure 2, welding power source (1), a welding trolley (2) mounted with FCAW troch (3) was used for creating the weld bead on the sample (9). The sample is held on the welding fixture (4) made up of material including copper, which has in-built water cooled jacket. Water in (13) and water in (14) are connected to a chiller to maintain the cooling water temperature within 25?C. welding fixture is made of three copper blocks (10), which are inter connected by an long bolt (12) . The sample is firmly clamped in the fixture with the help of quick release clamping nuts (11). Earth cable of FCAW machine is attached to the welding fixture to provide continuity to make welding.
[0024] U shaped copper foil (7) and flat copper foil (8) are placed between the sample and welding fixture. This U shaped copper foil acts like a clamp to ease removal of sample from the welding fixture after welding without any delay. And also, it helps to avoid damage caused by higher heat input on welding fixture. A sliding plate (5) is attached at the end of the welding fixture to pull the sample to ice water tank (6) within 20 seconds after welding.

[0025] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

[0026] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

[0027] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particulars claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogues to “at least one of A, B and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

[0028] The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.

[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.

[0030] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.

[0031] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. Mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process comprising of welding power source (1), a welding trolley (2) mounted with FCAW troch (3) for providing weld bead on sample (9), the sample (9) is held on welding fixture (4) made up of multiple blocks (10), which has in-built water cooled jacket, wherein Water in (13) and water in (14) are connected to a chiller to maintain the cooling water temperature within 25?C.

2. The mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the welding fixture (4) is made of material including copper, and the blocks (10) are inter connected by fastener including bolt (12).

3. The mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sample (9) is clamped in the fixture (4) with the help of quick release clamping nuts (11), in which Earth cable of FCAW machine is attached to the welding fixture to provide continuity to make welding.

4. The mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process as claimed in claims 1-3 comprising of U shaped copper foil (7) and flat copper foil (8), that are placed between the sample (9) and welding fixture (4).

5. The mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the U shaped copper foil (7) acts like a clamp to ease removal of sample from the welding fixture after welding and helps to avoid damage caused by higher heat input on welding fixture (4).

6. The mechanised system for analysing diffusible hydrogen content in flux cored arc welding process as claimed in claims 1-5, wherein a sliding plate (5) is attached at the end of the welding fixture (4) to pull the sample to ice water tank (6) within 20 seconds after welding.