Method of welding aluminum drive shaft components
OwnerHarold W. Seedsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive shaft assembly includes an aluminum torque tube and aluminum yokes that are arc welded to the ends of the torque tube. The torque tube has a hollow cylindrical end portion at each end that is pressed onto an annular end portion of the respective yoke to form a narrow annular slit. The two parts are then arc welded together by forming an electric arc between the parts at the narrow annular slit and a consumable aluminum based electrode. The electric arc is sustained with a pulsed high amperage direct current to fill the narrow annular slit with aluminum based material from the consumable electrode in a single pass.
Claims15
A method of welding aluminum drive shaft components comprising the steps of:
- providing a torque tube having a hollow cylindrical end portion,
- providing a yoke having an annular end portion,
- pressing the hollow cylindrical end portion of the torque tube onto the annular end portion of the yoke to provide an assembly having a narrow annular slit,
- positioning a consumable aluminum based electrode adjacent the narrow annular slit,
- forming an electric arc between the consumable aluminum based electrode and the assembly at the narrow annular slit,
- sustaining the electric arc with a pulsed high amperage direct current, and
- filling the narrow annular slit with aluminum based material from the consumable electrode in a single pass around the narrow annular slit to form a circumferential weld bead.
A method of welding aluminum drive shaft components comprising the steps of:
- providing a torque tube having a hollow cylindrical end portion of uniform wall thickness that terminates in an annular end wall,
- providing a yoke having an annular collar and an annular end portion that protrudes from the annular collar,
- pressing the hollow cylindrical end portion of the torque tube onto the annular end portion of the yoke to provide an assembly having a narrow annular slit between the annular collar and the end wall of the torque tube,
- positioning a consumable aluminum based electrode adjacent the narrow annular slit,
- forming an electric arc between the consumable aluminum based electrode and the assembly at the narrow annular slit,
- sustaining the electric arc with a pulsed high amperage direct current, and
- filling the narrow annular slit with aluminum based material from the consumable electrode in a single pass around the narrow annular slit to form a circumferential weld bead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.