Welding assembly and method
First Claim
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1. A method for welding stranded metals and metal alloys using a current generator, said method comprising:
- assembling a workpiece comprising a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands;
positioning said workpiece between a first electrode and a second electrode, said second electrode being aligned with said first electrode along a longitudinal axis, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are 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 having a width, said width determining fixture comprising a first side stop laterally opposed from a second side stop, wherein said first side stop is positioned on a first side of said workpiece and said second side stop is positioned on a second side of said workpiece; and
applying a current through said workpiece to heat said workpiece, wherein said first side stop and said second side stop contain hot or molten metal within said width while said current is applied such that a width of said workpiece does not increase beyond said width of said welding volume, and wherein said hot or molten metal is contained within said width of said welding volume without inhibiting relative movement of said first electrode and said second electrode along said longitudinal axis.
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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.
71 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for welding stranded metals and metal alloys using a current generator, said method comprising:
- assembling a workpiece comprising a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands;
positioning said workpiece between a first electrode and a second electrode, said second electrode being aligned with said first electrode along a longitudinal axis, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are 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 having a width, said width determining fixture comprising a first side stop laterally opposed from a second side stop, wherein said first side stop is positioned on a first side of said workpiece and said second side stop is positioned on a second side of said workpiece; and
applying a current through said workpiece to heat said workpiece, wherein said first side stop and said second side stop contain hot or molten metal within said width while said current is applied such that a width of said workpiece does not increase beyond said width of said welding volume, and wherein said hot or molten metal is contained within said width of said welding volume without inhibiting relative movement of said first electrode and said second electrode along said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- assembling a workpiece comprising a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands;
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9. A method for welding stranded metals and metal alloys comprising:
- providing a current generator;
assembling a workpiece comprising a first member and an auxiliary member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands, wherein said auxiliary member extends partially, but not completely, around said plurality of strands of said first member, 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, wherein said second electrode is aligned with said first electrode along a longitudinal axis;
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 having a width, said width determining fixture comprising a first side stop laterally opposed from a second side stop, wherein said first side stop is positioned on a first side of said workpiece and said second side stop is positioned on a second side of said workpiece;and applying a current through said workpiece to heat said workpiece, wherein said first side stop and said second side stop contain hot or molten metal within said width while said current is applied such that a width of said workpiece does not increase beyond said width of said welding volume, and wherein said hot or molten metal is contained within said width of said welding volume without inhibiting relative movement of said first electrode and said second electrode along said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- providing a current generator;
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15. 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, wherein said second electrode is aligned with said first electrode along a longitudinal axis;
positioning a width-determining fixture between said first electrode and said second electrode around said workpiece to define a welding volume having a width, said width determining fixture comprising a first side stop laterally opposed from a second side stop, wherein said first side stop is positioned on a first side of said workpiece and said second side stop is positioned on a second side of said workpiece, wherein said first side stop and said second side stop contain hot or molten metal within said width while said current is applied such that a width of said workpiece does not increase beyond said width of said welding volume, and wherein said hot or molten metal is contained within said width of said welding volume without inhibiting relative movement of said first electrode and said second electrode along said longitudinal axis;
applying a current through said workpiece to heat said workpiece; and
applying a clamping force to said workpiece during said step of applying said current, wherein said clamping force causes said first electrode to move relative to said width-determining fixture and approximate said second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- providing a current generator;
Specification