GB1317383A - Method of inertia friction welding - Google Patents

Abstract

1317383 Welding by pressure CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO 24 Aug 1971 [25 Aug 1970] 39682/71 Heading B3R [Also in Division B5] In inertia friction welding two relatively rotatable workpieces, the workpieces are axially engaged with sufficient force to permit their subsequent friction welding, one of the workpieces is then connected, for rotation relative to the other workpiece, to a rotating inertia mass and inertial energy is transferred from the mass to the one workpiece in sufficient quantity and at sufficient relative speed of rotation of the one workpiece relative to the other to friction weld the workpieces. A workpiece 13 is secured in a non-rotatable chuck 16 carried on a slidable tailstock 17 and a workpiece 12 is secured in a rotatable chuck 14 carried in a head-stock 11 on a shaft 21 connectable by a clutch 27 to a variable inertia mass 23 in turn connectable by a clutch 26 to a motor 22. The tailstock 17 is then moved towards the head-stock 11 by a cylinder device 18 to forcibly engage the workpieces. With the clutch 26 engaged and clutch 27 disengaged the motor 22 brings the inertia mass 23 up to a desired speed, either before or after engagement of the workpieces and then, with the workpieces forcibly engaged, the clutch 26 is disengaged and the clutch 27 is engaged to rotate the workpiece 12. The speed and mass of the inertia mass may be sufficient to provide the energy for welding or preferably may be greater than that necessary, in which case, the clutch 27 is disengaged after sufficient energy has been provided when the mass may be accelerated up to its preselected speed by engaging the clutch 26 for commencing a new weld cycle.