Welding Assembly and Method

• US 20150174691A1
• Filed: 12/24/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
• Inventors: Ananthanarayanan, Venkatasubramanian
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/004 Welding of a small piece to a great or broad piece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/11 Spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/185 of aluminium or aluminium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/3009 Pressure electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/32 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/34 Coated articles , e.g. plated or painted; Surface treated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/38 Conductors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0214 Resistance welding H01R43/0228 takes precedence

Abstract

A welding assembly may include a current generator, a first electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the first electrode including a first engagement surface, a second electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the second electrode including a second engagement surface and a width-determining fixture positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode to define a welding volume.

Claims

1. A welding assembly comprising:

a current generator;

a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generator, said first electrode comprising a first engagement surface;

a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generator, said second electrode comprising a second engagement surface; and

a width-determining fixture positioned between said first electrode and said second electrode to define a welding volume.

2. The welding assembly of claim 1 wherein a linear position of said width-determining fixture is adjustable.

3. The welding assembly of claim 1 wherein said first engagement surface is arcuate defining a recess.

4. The welding assembly of claim 3 further comprising a workpiece positioned between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said width-determining fixture is positioned at least partially around said workpiece.

5. The welding assembly of claim 4 wherein said workpiece comprises a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands, and wherein said first member is positioned between said first electrode, said second electrode and said width-determining fixture within said welding volume.

6. The welding assembly of claim 5 wherein said second engagement surface is arcuate defining a recess.

7. The welding assembly of claim 6 wherein said workpiece further comprises an auxiliary member, wherein said auxiliary member is positioned around said first member.

8. The welding assembly of claim 5 wherein said workpiece further comprises a second member, said second member being positioned between said first member and said second electrode, wherein said width-determining fixture engaging said second member.

9. The welding assembly of claim 8 wherein said first member and said second member comprise aluminum or aluminum alloy.

10. The welding assembly of claim 8 wherein said workpiece further comprises an auxiliary member, wherein said auxiliary member is positioned at least partially around said first member.

11. The welding assembly of claim 1 wherein said width-determining fixture comprises a pair of side stops positioned adjacent to said first electrode, wherein a linear position of each side stop of said pair of side stops is independently adjustable with respect to said first electrode.

12. The welding assembly of claim 9 wherein said width-determining fixture comprises a second pair of side stops positioned adjacent to said second electrode, wherein a linear position of each side stop of said second pair of side stops is independently adjustable with respect to said second electrode.

13. A method for welding stranded metals and metal alloys comprising:

providing a current generator;

assembling a workpiece comprising a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands;

positioning a first electrode proximate said workpiece, said first electrode being electrically coupled to said current generator;

positioning a second electrode proximate said workpiece, said second electrode being electrically coupled to said current generator;

applying a clamping force to said workpiece;

positioning a width-determining fixture between said first electrode and said second electrode around said workpiece to define a welding volume; and

applying a current through said workpiece to form a solid welded workpiece.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first electrode comprises a first engagement surface, said first engagement surface being curved to define a recess.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said second electrode comprises a second engagement surface, said second engagement surface being curved to define a recess.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said workpiece further comprises a second member, and wherein said first electrode is positioned proximate said first member and said second electrode is positioned proximate said second member.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first member and said second member comprise aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said workpiece further comprises an auxiliary member.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said auxiliary member is positioned at least partially around said plurality of strands of said first member.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein a linear position of said width-determining fixture with respect to said first electrode is adjustable in a direction parallel to said clamping force.