Method for welding a differential housing

• US 6,744,004 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Davis, Robert H., Yu, Kenneth Kinfun, Melekian, Joseph, Clark, Nathan Allen, Donegan, David M., Levinson, James Edward, Polesnak, William T., Kolodziej, Bogdan, Thatcher, George Richard, Foster, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoner, Kiley
• Assistant Examiner(s): McHenry, Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US09/779,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 219/97, 219/100, 219/101, 228/112.1, 228/114.5, 228/113, 228/2.1, 228/2.3
• US Class Current: 219/100
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 31/02 relating to soldering or welding dip or wave soldering in the manufacture of printed circuits H05K3/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/02 Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2188 Axle and torque tubes

Abstract

A method of welding an axle housing surface to a blank surface includes generated heat in one of the two components. Heat is generated from at least one of these surfaces at their interface sufficient to weld them together. The surfaces are then applied together.

Claims

1. A method of welding comprising the steps of:

providing a differential housing surface;

providing a blank surface;

generating heat from at least one of these surfaces at their interface sufficient to weld the surfaces together; and

applying the surfaces together.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat is generated by electric discharge between the surfaces.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electric discharge results from creating an electric potential between the surfaces and moving the surfaces in proximity to each other to effect the electric discharge.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of moving the surfaces apart, creating another electric potential between the surfaces, moving the surfaces in proximity to each other to effect the electric discharge between the surfaces, and applying the surfaces together.

5. The method of claim 4 repeated until the surfaces sine sufficiently welded together.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat is generated by friction between the surfaces.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the friction is created by moving one surface translationally relative to the other surface.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the friction is created by moving one surface rotationally relative to the other surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the differential housing surface is curved.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the blank surface is a snorkel.