Friction welding
First Claim
1. Friction welding apparatus for welding a pair of workpieces, the apparatus comprising a drive assembly for causing relative motion between said workpieces while urging said workpieces together, said drive assembly having a rotatable portion;
- and a load control assembly responsive, at least towards the end of a weld cycle, to the rate of motion of our workpiece relative to the other to cause said workpieces to be urged together under a force which increases in response to a decrease in said rate of relative motion, said load control assembly comprising resilient means for providing at least part of said force urging said workpieces together, and a centrifugal mechanism mounted for rotation with said rotatable portion of said drive assembly and arranged to move radially outwardly in response to an increase in the speed of rotation of said portion to which it is coupled and to apply a force on said resilient means in a direction opposite to said urging direction, said force being related to said rate of rotation of the mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for friction welding a pair of workpieces (45,46) is described. The apparatus comprises a drive assembly (30) for causing relative motion between the workpieces while urging the workpieces together. A load control assembly (20) is provided which is responsive, at least towards the end of a weld cycle, to the rate of motion of one workpiece relative to the other to cause the workpieces to be urged together under a force which increases as the rate of relative motion decreases.
48 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. Friction welding apparatus for welding a pair of workpieces, the apparatus comprising a drive assembly for causing relative motion between said workpieces while urging said workpieces together, said drive assembly having a rotatable portion;
- and a load control assembly responsive, at least towards the end of a weld cycle, to the rate of motion of our workpiece relative to the other to cause said workpieces to be urged together under a force which increases in response to a decrease in said rate of relative motion, said load control assembly comprising resilient means for providing at least part of said force urging said workpieces together, and a centrifugal mechanism mounted for rotation with said rotatable portion of said drive assembly and arranged to move radially outwardly in response to an increase in the speed of rotation of said portion to which it is coupled and to apply a force on said resilient means in a direction opposite to said urging direction, said force being related to said rate of rotation of the mechanism.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
6. Workpiece load apparatus for use in friction welding apparatus, said workpiece load apparatus comprising a drive shaft being adapted to cause relative rotation between a pair of workpieces;
- and a load control assembly mounted to said drive shaft and responsive, at least towards the end of a weld cycle, to rotation of said drive shaft to impart a load on the interface between said workpieces related to said rate of rotation of said drive shaft, said load control assembly causing said load to increase in response to a decrease in said rate of rotation of said drive shaft, said load control assembly comprising resilient means for providing at least part of said force urging said workpieces together, and a centrifugal mechanism mounted for rotation with said drive shaft of said drive assembly and arranged to move radially outwardly in response to an increase in the speed of rotation of said shaft to which it is coupled and to apply a force on said resilient means in a direction opposite to said urging direction, said force being related to the rate of rotation of said mechanism.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
Specification