FRICTION WELDING VIBRATION DAMPING

• US 20160288247A1
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: SWEETING, Tony Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/12 the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/26 Auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/04 for holding or positioning work

Abstract

A friction welding tool having a main body and a first clamp for gripping a first weld component and a second clamp for gripping a second weld component, at least one of the clamps being movable with respect to the other to effect friction welding of the respective weld components. The friction welding tool includes a vibration damper arrangeable to absorb vibrations of the first weld component during the friction welding. The friction welding tool includes an anchor element arranged to couple the damper to the main body of the friction welding tool to transfer absorbed vibrations to the main body.

Claims

1. A friction welding tool having a main body and:

a first clamp for gripping a first weld component and a second clamp for gripping a second weld component, at least one of the clamps being movable with respect to the other to effect friction welding of the respective weld components;

a vibration damper arranged to absorb vibrations of the first weld component during the friction welding; and

an anchor element arranged to couple the damper to the main body of the friction welding tool to transfer absorbed vibrations to the main body.

2. A friction welding tool according to claim 1, wherein the damper is arranged such that the first respective weld component is mountable thereon.

3. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 wherein the first weld component includes a hollow body, wherein the first clamp is arranged to grip the first weld component by at least a portion of an outer surface of the body, and wherein the damper is dimensioned to be arranged within the hollow in tight fitting engagement with at least a portion of an inner surface of the body.

4. A friction welding tool according to claim 3 wherein the dimensions of the damper are variable to allow modification of the tight fitting engagement of the damper with the at least a portion of the inner surface.

5. A friction welding tool according to claim 3 wherein the damper includes a damper body and an outer sheath for engagement with the at least a portion of the inner surface of the first weld component.

6. A friction welding tool according to claim 5, wherein the damper body is formed of a plastic, and/or the sheath is formed of rubber.

7. A friction welding tool according to claim 3, wherein the first clamp and the vibration damper are configured to cooperate to grip radially therebetween the first weld component.

8. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 wherein the anchor element is arranged to be under tension between the damper and the main body.

9. A friction welding tool according to claim 8 the anchor element is attached to the main body and to the damper by respective attachment means, wherein at least one of the attachment means is adjustable to vary the tension in the anchor element.

10. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 wherein the anchor element is detachably attached to the damper.

11. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 wherein the anchor element is formed of metal.

12. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 wherein the second clamp is rotatable relative to the first clamp.

13. A friction welding tool according to claim 1 having a further damper arranged to absorb vibrations of the second weld component during the friction welding;

and a further anchor element is arranged to couple the further damper to the main body of the friction welding tool to transfer the absorbed vibrations to the main body.

14. A friction welding tool according to claim 13 wherein the main body includes a rotatable spindle for rotating the second clamp, and the further anchor couples the further damper to the spindle.

15. An inertia welding tool according to claim 1.

16. A method of friction welding using a friction welding tool having a main body, including the steps of:

arranging a first clamp to grip a first weld component and arranging a second clamp to grip a second weld component;

arranging a vibration damper to absorb vibrations of the first weld component during subsequent friction welding;

arranging an anchor element to couple the damper to the main body of the friction welding tool to transfer vibrations absorbed by the damper to the main body; and

performing the friction welding by moving at least one of the clamps with respect to the other to effect friction welding of the respective weld components.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of performing the friction welding includes the step of rotating the second clamp relative to the first clamp.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the method further includes the steps of:

arranging a further damper to absorb vibrations of the second weld component during subsequent friction welding; and

arranging a further anchor element to couple the further damper to the main body of the friction welding tool to transfer the absorbed vibrations to the main body.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the main body includes a rotatable spindle for rotating the second clamp, and the further anchor couples the damper to the spindle.

20. A method of inertia welding according to claim 16 using an inertia welding tool having a main body.