Torque controlled linear friction welder system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A linear friction welding system, comprising:
- a ram configured to oscillate along a welding axis;
a first power shaft operably connectable to the ram through a vibrating assembly;
a second power shaft operably connectable to the ram through the vibrating assembly;
a first motor configured to drive a first power timing gear, the first power timing gear fixedly connected to the first power shaft;
a second motor configured to drive a second power timing gear, the second power timing gear fixedly connected to the second power shaft; and
a first slave timing gear operably connected to the first power shaft and the second power shaft, the slave timing gear in fixed rotational relationship to the second power shaft, and in variable rotational relationship with the first power shaft, the first slave timing gear configured to be driven by the first power shaft in a first configuration, and configured to be driven by the second power shaft in a second configuration, wherein in one of the first and second configuration, the first and second power shafts are operably connected to the ram through the vibrating assembly, and in the other of the first and second configuration, the first and second power shafts are not operably connected to the ram through the vibrating assembly.
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Abstract
A linear friction welding system in one embodiment includes a ram configured to oscillate along a welding axis, and a first and second power shaft operably connectable to the ram through a vibrating assembly. Respective motors are configured to drive respective power timing gears fixedly connected to the first and second power shafts. A slave timing gear is operably connected to the first power shaft in variable rotational relationship and to the second power shaft in fixed rotational relationship. The first slave timing gear is configured to be driven by one power shaft to force oscillation of the ram and by the other power shaft to stop oscillation of the ram.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A linear friction welding system, comprising:
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a ram configured to oscillate along a welding axis; a first power shaft operably connectable to the ram through a vibrating assembly; a second power shaft operably connectable to the ram through the vibrating assembly; a first motor configured to drive a first power timing gear, the first power timing gear fixedly connected to the first power shaft; a second motor configured to drive a second power timing gear, the second power timing gear fixedly connected to the second power shaft; and a first slave timing gear operably connected to the first power shaft and the second power shaft, the slave timing gear in fixed rotational relationship to the second power shaft, and in variable rotational relationship with the first power shaft, the first slave timing gear configured to be driven by the first power shaft in a first configuration, and configured to be driven by the second power shaft in a second configuration, wherein in one of the first and second configuration, the first and second power shafts are operably connected to the ram through the vibrating assembly, and in the other of the first and second configuration, the first and second power shafts are not operably connected to the ram through the vibrating assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a linear friction welding system including (i) a ram configured to oscillate along a welding axis, (ii) a first power shaft operably connectable to the ram through a vibrating assembly, (iii) a second power shaft operably connectable to the ram through the vibrating assembly, (iv) a first motor configured to drive a first power timing gear, the first power timing gear fixedly connected to the first power shaft, (v) a second motor configured to drive a second power timing gear, the second power timing gear fixedly connected to the second power shaft, and (vi) a first slave timing gear operably connected to the first and second power shaft, the slave timing gear in fixed rotational relationship to the second power shaft, and in variable rotational relationship with the first power shaft, the method including:
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controlling the second motor to drive the first slave timing gear thereby rotating the first power shaft and the second power shaft without oscillating the ram; bringing two components to be welded into contact after controlling the second motor to drive the first slave timing gear; controlling the first motor to drive the first slave timing gear thereby operably connecting the first power shaft and the second power shaft to the ram through the vibrating assembly causing the ram to oscillate along the welding axis after the two components to be welded are brought into contact; switching control from the first motor to the second motor to stop oscillation of the ram; and establishing a forge pressure between the two components after switching control from the first motor to the second motor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification