System and method for flash-welding
OwnerCharles R. BATTISTIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An welding system is disclosed. The welding system may have a power supply, a forging arrangement configured to hold and move ends of two components to be welded together, and a plurality of contacts connecting the power supply to the two components. The welding system may also have a controller in communication with the power supply and the forging arrangement. The controller may be configured to regulate the power supply to selectively operate in a constant voltage mode and a constant current mode during different stages of a single weld cycle, and to actuate the forging arrangement to move the ends of the two components together during a final stage of the single weld cycle.
Claims20
A welding system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a forging arrangement configured to hold and move ends of two components to be welded together;
- a plurality of contacts connecting the power supply to the two components;
- and
- a controller in communication with the power supply and the forging arrangement, the controller being configured to:
- regulate the power supply to selectively operate in a constant voltage mode and a constant current mode during different stages of a single weld cycle;
- and
- actuate the forging arrangement to move the ends of the two components together during a final stage of the single weld cycle.
A welding system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a forging arrangement configured to hold and move ends of two components to be welded together;
- a plurality of contacts connecting the power supply to the two components;
- and
- a controller in communication with the power supply and the forging anangement, the controller being configured to:
- regulate the power supply to operate in a constant voltage mode during at least one stage of a single weld cycle;
- regulate the power supply to operation in a constant current mode during at least one other stage of the single weld cycle;
- and
- actuate the forging arrangement to move the ends of the two components together during a stage of the single weld cycle.
A method of flash welding a first component to a second component, comprising:
- regulating a power supply in a constant current mode of operation to provide power to ends of the first and second components during at least a first stage of a welding cycle;
- regulating the power supply in a constant voltage mode of operation to provide power to ends of the first and second components during at least a second stage of the welding cycle;
- and
- moving the first component into the second component during a third stage of the welding cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.