Friction welding head with two-piece clamping collet
AssigneeTaylor-Winfield Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFrank L. Deley, JR., Phillip James Truitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear friction welding machine having a two-piece collet for holding a workpiece. The two-piece collet includes first and second halves that can be separated for loading the workpiece in a transverse direction, and brought together about the workpiece and locked in place to both secure the workpiece against axial movement as well as support the workpiece against transverse loads.
Claims20
A linear friction welding machine comprising a two-piece collet assembly, wherein the two-piece collet assembly includes first and second collet halves moveable between an open configuration for loading and unloading an associated workpiece in a transverse direction and a closed configuration securing the workpiece for linear friction welding operations.
A welding head comprising a two-piece collet assembly for securing an associated workpiece in the head during welding, wherein the two-piece collet assembly includes first and second collet halves moveable between an open configuration for loading and unloading the associated workpiece in a transverse direction and a closed configuration securing the associated workpiece against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to the welding head.
(canceled)
A method of welding first and second workpieces together with a welding machine having at least one welding head having a two-piece collet assembly for securing one of the workpieces in the welding head during welding, wherein the two-piece collet assembly includes first and second collet halves moveable between an open configuration for loading and unloading the associated workpiece in a transverse direction and a closed configuration securing the associated workpiece against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to the welding head, the method comprising:
- moving the two-piece collet assembly to the open configuration by separating the first and second collet halves from each other to form a gap;
- moving the first work piece transversely into the gap between the first and second collet halves;
- and
- moving the two-piece collet assembly to the closed configuration by bringing the first and second collet halves together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.