GB1053233A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,053,233. Welding by pressure. AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO. June 12, 1963 [July 2, 1962], No. 23386/63. Heading B3R. [Also in Division B5] A friction welding machine comprises gripping means for the workpieces, pressure means for urging the gripping means together, a flywheel, a power means, a first clutch coupling the power means to the flywheel and a second clutch coupling the flywheel to the gripping means. In an embodiment a motor 11, Fig. 1 (not shown), mounted on a frame 10 is connected through a belt 13 to a centrifugal clutch 15 which connects the motor to one side of a torque tube 21 carrying a flywheel 17. A second clutch 18 is arranged between the other side of the torque tube 21 and spindle 20 carrying a rotary chuck 22 and hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 19 are arranged to draw a non- rotatable chuck 23 towards the chuck 22. In operation the motor 11 is rotated store energy in the flywheel, the clutch 15 is disengaged, clutch 18 is engaged and the cylinders 19 are operated to draw the workpieces together and the flywheel stops as the weld is completed. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the flywheel is formed as a number of segments selectively fixable to the torque tube. In another modification, Fig. 4 (not shown), the flywheel is offset from the workpieces and a belt drive 59 is used to connect the torque tube and chuck shaft. The second clutch is arranged on the torque tube or on the chuck shaft. Metals and plastics may be welded.