Tooling for holding thin metal parts making up a hollow structure in order to enable them to be friction-welded together

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10384303-B2
Application number	US-201514807696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Apr 27, 2009
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure is provide. The tooling includes a framework for receiving the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure. The framework includes shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts. At least one anvil is disposed inside the framework. A reversible clamp is installed inside the framework and movable into a clamping position in which the clamp inflates to apply opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to the inside surface of the preformed parts disposed. The set of preformed parts is held in a welding position with the clamp and framework while a welding operation is performed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure being made up of the set of preformed parts, the tooling comprising:
a framework to receive the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure, the framework being subdivided into two frames to be joined together in an assembled position on both outer surfaces of the preformed parts and extending in the general plane in which the hollow structure extends, the framework including shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts;
at least one anvil disposed inside the framework; and
a reversible clamp installed inside the framework and movable into a clamping position in which at least one bladder inflates to apply opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to an inside surface of at least one preformed part disposed inside the framework,
where the reversible clamp is arranged as deformable members that are movable between the clamping position and an assembly position in which deformable members are suitable for being inserted inside the set of preformed parts installed inside the framework.

2. The tooling of claim 1 , wherein the framework has two generally rectangular frames formed of a pair of length members extending in an extension direction, the two frames movable with respect to each other to be joined together in an assembled position on both outer surfaces of the preformed parts and extending in the general plane in which the hollow structure extends the framework including shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact an outer surface of the preformed parts; and
a welding path defined between the length members of the framework, wherein a welding pin is adapted to be passed through the welding path to weld the preformed parts together.

3. The tooling according to claim 2 , wherein the welding path extends in the extension direction.

4. The tooling according to claim 1 , wherein the reversible clamp is deflated while installed in the framework inside the hollow structure, and the reversible clamp inflates to apply the clamping force.

5. The tooling according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one anvil includes two anvils.

6. The tooling according to claim 1 , wherein the shape-holder members include backing thrust members that are individually mounted on the framework with position-adjustment means to oppose thrust applied by the reversible clamp.

7. The tooling according to claim 6 , wherein the backing thrust members are distributed mounted on length members extending in an extension direction of the framework.

8. A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure being made up of the set of preformed parts, the tooling comprising:
a framework for receiving the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure, the framework being subdivided into two frames to be joined together in an assembled position on both outer surfaces of the preformed parts and extending in the general plane in which the hollow structure extends, the framework including shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts;
at least one anvil disposed inside the framework and positioned adjacent an inside surface of the preformed parts opposite the outer surfaces; and
a reversible clamp having at least one inflatable bladder installed inside the framework and positioned adjacent the inside surface of the preformed parts opposite the outer surfaces, wherein the reversible clamp is movable into a clamping position in which the reversible clamp applies opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to the inside surface of at least one preformed part disposed inside the framework.

9. The tooling according to claim 8 , wherein the shape-holder members includes backing thrust members that are individually mounted on one of the other of the frames via position-adjustment means.

10. The tooling according to claim 9 , wherein the backing thrust members are distributed at least along a pair of length members forming part of each of the frames, the length members of the pair leaving between them a path for passing a welding tool towards the preformed parts.

11. The tooling according to claim 8 , wherein the reversible clamp is deflated for being inserted inside the set of preformed parts installed inside the framework and inflates to apply the opposing thrust.

12. A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure being made up of the set of preformed parts, the tooling comprising:
a framework to receive the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure, the framework being subdivided into two frames to be joined together in an assembled position on both outer surfaces of the preformed parts and extending in the general plane in which the hollow structure extends, the framework including shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts;
at least one anvil disposed inside the framework; and
a reversible clamp having at least one inflatable bladder installed inside the framework and movable into a clamping position in which the clamp inflates to apply opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to an inside surface of at least one preformed part disposed inside the framework.

13. The tooling according to claim 12 , wherein the reversible clamp includes a body that is suitable for bearing against the inside surface of the preformed part and that houses the bladder suitable for bearing against the anvil.

14. The tooling of claim 12 wherein the framework has two generally rectangular frames formed of a pair of length members extending in an extension direction; and
a welding path defined between the length members of the framework, wherein a welding pin is adapted to be passed through the welding path to weld the preformed parts together.

15. The tooling according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is placed laterally on either side of an internal stiffener section of the hollow structure.

16. The tooling according to claim 12 , wherein the backing thrust members are distributed at least along a pair of length members forming part of each of the frames, the length members of the pair leaving between them a path for passing a welding tool towards the preformed parts.

17. The tooling according to claim 12 , further comprising a second reversible clamp having a second inflatable bladder.

18. The tooling according to claim 17 , wherein each reversible clamp applies a clamping thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction and each reversible clamp applies thrust in a second direction along an inside surface of each of the pair of preformed parts to oppose force applied to the outer surface of the set of preformed parts by the shape-holder members.

19. The tooling of claim 12 wherein the at least one anvil comprises two anvils installed i

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters

Inventors

• Allehaux Delphine
• Gatti Jean-Loup
• Marchione Laurent
• Durand Philippe

Classifications

• Y10T29/50

  Convertible metal working machine · CPC title

• B23K37/0443

  Jigs · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B23K20/126 Primary

  Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping · CPC title

• Y10T29/49998

  Work holding · CPC title