US 5,858,142 AGranted

Angular orientation control system for friction welding

AssigneeInertia Friction Welding, Inc.

InventorsLowell R. Tully, Stephen A. Johnson, Dave Konieczny, Stephen R. Estes

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Abstract

A method of friction welding first and second parts together at an angular orientation relative to each other includes the steps of mounting the first part in a spindle for axial rotation and the second part in a non-rotatable holder. The spindle is then rotated and the angular orientation of the first part relative to the second part is determined at any specific time. The holder is moved toward the spindle to bring the second part into frictional contact with the first part at a selected one of the specific times that the angular orientation is determined. Accordingly, due to frictional contact, the respective contacting surface of the parts are melted. The speed of the rotation of the spindle is then decreased and the holder is moved toward the spindle to forcibly urge the first and second parts together at the contacting surface. Rotation of the spindle is stopped at a specific determined angular orientation of the first part relative to the second part while continuing to forcibly urge the parts together to allow cooling and fused solidification of the contacting surfaces.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of friction welding first and second parts together having a specific axial orientation relative to each other in which said first part is mounted to a spindle for axial rotation said second part is mounted to a non-rotatable holder moveable toward said spindle along the axis of rotation of said first part, comprising the steps:

a. causing said spindle and mounted first part to be rotated at a desirable speed while determining the angular axial orientation of said first part relative to said second part at any specific time,
b. moving said holder toward said spindle to bring said second part into frictional contact with said first part at a selected one said specific time to cause heating of said first and second parts and the melting of the respective contacting surfaces thereof,
c. then decreasing the speed of rotation of said spindle and mounted first part and simultaneously moving said holder towards said spindle to forcibly urge said first and second parts together at said contacting surfaces, and
d. stopping rotation of said spindle and mounted first part at a specific determined angular axial orientation of said first part relative to said second part while still forcibly urging said first and second parts together to allow cooling and fused solidification of said contacting surfaces.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.