FORCED FREEZE WELDING OF ADVANCED HIGH STRENGTH STEELS
First Claim
1. A welding method comprising:
- in a flash welding stage (300),moving at least one of a first and a second work pieces (130, 140) towards the other while applying an electrical potential to cause flashing to heat soften a faying interface (190) of the first and second work pieces (130, 140);
in an offset stage (210),abruptly forcing the work pieces (130, 140) into full contact,after full contact of the work pieces (130, 140), advancing the work pieces (130, 140) together at a slower rate (216) while allowing a higher current to further heat soften the faying interface (190); and
upsetting the work pieces (130, 140) in an upset stage (330) which follows the offsetting stage.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a force freeze welding method and system for joining metal work pieces, a controlled and programmable electrical potential is applied to a circuit including a first work piece (130) and a second work piece (140). The first work piece (130) is linearly translated towards the second static work piece (140) to engage along a faying interface (190). The first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) move together at a controlled rate and voltage is applied to the circuit which produces heat to soften or plasticize the faying interface (190) during a flashing stage (310). A position offset (210) or abrupt compression force is applied to at least one of the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) prior to applying an upset (330) to force the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) together to weld the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) along the faying interface (190).
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A welding method comprising:
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in a flash welding stage (300), moving at least one of a first and a second work pieces (130, 140) towards the other while applying an electrical potential to cause flashing to heat soften a faying interface (190) of the first and second work pieces (130, 140); in an offset stage (210), abruptly forcing the work pieces (130, 140) into full contact, after full contact of the work pieces (130, 140), advancing the work pieces (130, 140) together at a slower rate (216) while allowing a higher current to further heat soften the faying interface (190); and upsetting the work pieces (130, 140) in an upset stage (330) which follows the offsetting stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21)
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13. A welding method for joining metal work pieces, the method comprising:
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controlling translation of a positioning assembly (100) having a first work piece (130) aligned to a second work piece (140) along a faying interface (190), the positioning assembly (100) including at least a first platen (110) for securing the first work piece (130), a second static platen (120) for securing the second work piece (140), the positioning assembly (100) biasing the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) together along a position path (310); controlling an electrical potential to a circuit including the first work piece (130), the second work piece (140) and the faying interface (190); controlling relative movement of the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) along the position path (310); controlling the relative movement to interrupt the position path (310) with an offset (210) compressive force when the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) abut each other at the faying interface (190) before causing a compressive force to cause an upset (330) along the position path (310); and extruding material (230, 240) adjacent the faying interface (190). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A flash welding method for joining metal work pieces, the method comprising:
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heating a first work piece (130) and a second work piece (140) disposed proximate to the first work piece (130) along a faying interface (190) with an electrical current; moving the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) closer into contact; squeezing (210) the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) into full contact; and mechanically upsetting (330) the first and second work pieces.
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20. A flash welding system comprising:
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a positioning assembly (100) including a translation device operable to linearly translate a first platen (110) securing a first work piece (130) toward a second static platen (120) securing a second work piece (140) along a common plane (150); an electrical circuit including at least the first work piece (130), the second work piece (140) and an associated power source; and a controller (182) programmed to control; the positioning assembly to position the first platen (110) securing a first work piece (130) adjacent the second work piece (140) along a faying interface (190); biasing the first work piece (130) towards the second work piece (140); the electric circuit to apply an electrical potential between the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) to cause flashing along the faying interface; the positioning assembly to abuttingly force the first and second work pieces into full contact and the electrical circuit to increase an electrical current flowing between the first and second work pieces; the positioning assembly to continue to force the first and second work pieces together; and the positioning assembly to compressively force the work pieces together extruding material (230, 240) along the faying interface (190); and the electrical circuit to terminate the current flow between the first and second work pieces.
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Specification