Radiation assisted friction welding
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for friction welding at least one structural member, comprising:
- a shank; and
a probe connected to said shank and configured to be actuated by said shank for friction welding the at least one structural member, wherein said probe defines an absorption surface and a cavity extending to said absorption surface, wherein said absorption surface is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and thereby heat said probe.
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Abstract
There are provided an apparatus and method for friction welding structural members. The apparatus includes a connected shank and probe. The probe defines an absorption surface and a cavity extending thereto. The absorption surface is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source such as a light source or RF generator. The radiation heats the probe, supplementing the heat generated by friction between the probe and the structural members, and thereby increasing the speed at which the probe can be used to frictionally weld the structural materials.
58 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for friction welding at least one structural member, comprising:
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a shank; and
a probe connected to said shank and configured to be actuated by said shank for friction welding the at least one structural member, wherein said probe defines an absorption surface and a cavity extending to said absorption surface, wherein said absorption surface is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and thereby heat said probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A friction welding tool for friction welding at least one structural member, the friction welding tool comprising:
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a shank;
a probe connected to said shank, wherein said probe defines an internal absorption surface, and said probe and said shank cooperate to define a cavity extending to said absorption surface;
an actuator configured to actuate said shank and said probe and thereby weld the at least one structural member; and
an electromagnetic radiation source configured to irradiate said absorption surface and thereby heat said probe, wherein said cavity extends in a longitudinal direction through a portion of said probe and said electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in the longitudinal direction of said probe. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of friction welding at least one structural member, the method comprising:
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urging a friction welding probe into the at least one structural member;
actuating the friction welding probe to frictionally weld the at least one structural member; and
irradiating an absorption surface of the probe with electromagnetic radiation, thereby heating the probe. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification