Friction welding
AssigneeThomson Welding & Inspection Ltd.
InventorsAllan R. Thomson, Thomas V. Heath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of friction welding comprising causing relative rotation between a pair of workpieces by actuating first and second drive means, the first drive means being coupled to a primary source of energy, and the second drive means being adapted to store auxiliary energy; bringing the workpieces into contact with one another under pressure, whereby the first and second drive means are adapted together to supply sufficient rotational energy to overcome the effects of resistive torque between the workpieces on initial contact between the workpieces; and thereafter continuing actuation of the first drive means to maintain relative rotation between the workpieces.
Claims13
A method of friction welding, the method comprising causing relative rotation between a pair of workpieces (70,71) by actuating first and second drive means (20,29), the first drive means (20) being coupled to a primary source of energy, and the second drive means being adapted to store auxiliary energy;
- bringing the workpieces (70,71) into contact with one another under pressure, whereby the first and second drive means are adapted together to supply sufficient rotational energy to overcome the effects of restrictive torque between the workpieces on initial contact between the workpieces;
- and thereafter continuing actuation of the first drive means (20) to maintain relative rotation between the workpieces (70,71).
Friction welding apparatus comprising first drive means (20) adapted to be coupled to a primary source of energy;
- second drive means (29) adapted to store auxiliary energy, the first and second drive means being adapted to cause relative rotation between a pair of workpieces (70,71);
- and means (7) for urging the workpieces into contact with one another, the first and second drive means (20,29) being adapted together to supply sufficient rotational energy to overcome the effects of resistive torque between the workpieces on initial contact between the workpieces, and the first drive means (20) being adapted thereafter to maintain relative rotation between the workpieces (70,71).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.