Method for welding an axle housing

• US 20020108467A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Davis, Robert H., Melekian, Joseph, Clark, Nathan Allen, Donegan, David M., Levinson, James Edward, Polesnak, William T., Kolodziej, Bogdan, Thatcher, Georger Richard, Yu, Kenneth Kinfun, Foster, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,744,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/607
• 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 an axle 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 are 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 axle housing surface is curved.

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

11. A product made by a process comprising the steps:

providing an axle 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 both surfaces together.

12. The product of claim 11 wherein the heat is generated by electric discharge between the surfaces.

13. The product of claim 12 wherein the electric discharge results by creating an electric potential between the surfaces and moving the surfaces in proximity to each other to effect the electric discharge.

14. The product of claim 13 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.

15. The product of claim 14 repeated until the surfaces are sufficiently welded together.

16. The product of claim 11 wherein the heat is generated by friction between the surfaces.

17. The product of claim 16 wherein the friction is created by moving one surface translationally relative to the other surface.

18. The product of claim 16 wherein the friction is created by moving one surface rotationally relative to the other surface.

19. The product of claim 16 wherein the axle housing surface is curved.

20. The product of claim 16 wherein the blank surface is a snorkel.