Friction welding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228979-A1
Application number	US-201614991349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A friction welding process includes: providing a first workpiece having a first weld surface, and a second workpiece having a second weld surface; aligning the workpieces with the weld surfaces facing each other, moving one workpiece relative to the other workpiece, and engaging the first and second weld surfaces such that the movement raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create a weld interface; and ceasing the movement and allowing the weld interface to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface. The first workpiece has a plurality of flash removal channels formed in and/or adjacent to the first weld surface. The channels provide pathways for ejection of material from the weld interface during welding.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A friction welding process including:
providing a first workpiece having a first weld surface, and a second workpiece having a second weld surface, aligning the workpieces with the weld surfaces facing each other, moving one workpiece relative to the other workpiece, and engaging the first and second weld surfaces such that the movement raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create a weld interface, and ceasing the movement and allowing the weld interface to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface; wherein the first workpiece has a plurality of flash removal channels formed in and/or adjacent to the first weld surface, the channels providing pathways for removal of flash from the weld interface during welding.

2 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 which is a rotary friction welding process, wherein:
the workpieces are aligned on a common axis with the weld surfaces facing each other, the one workpiece is rotated about the axis relative to the other workpiece, and the first and second weld surfaces are engaged such that the rotation raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create the weld interface; and
the rotation is ceased and the weld interface allowed to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface.

3 . A friction welding process according to claim 2 , wherein the workpieces are elongate workpieces, the weld surfaces being at ends of the respective workpieces.

4 . A friction welding process according to claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the channels extend radially to the outer radial edges of the first weld surface.

5 . A friction welding process according to claim 4 , wherein the radially-extending channels are shaped as chevrons pointing in the direction of relative rotation of the first workpiece.

6 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 which is a linear friction welding process, wherein:
the one workpiece is oscillated in a direction parallel to the weld surfaces relative to the other workpiece, and the first and second weld surfaces are engaged such that the oscillation raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create the weld interface; and
the oscillation is ceased and the weld interface allowed to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface.

7 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 which is an orbital welding process, wherein:
the workpieces are aligned with their respective axes parallel to but radially offset from each other and with the weld surfaces facing each other, the one workpiece is orbited about the axis of other workpiece, and the first and second weld surfaces are engaged such that the orbiting raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create the weld interface; and
the orbiting is ceased and the weld interface allowed to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface.

8 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the channels extend into the first workpiece substantially perpendicularly to the first weld surface.

9 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 , wherein groups of the channels are formed at different distances from the first weld surface.

10 . A friction welding process according to claim 1 , wherein the second workpiece has a plurality of second flash removal channels formed in and/or adjacent to the second weld surface, the second channels providing pathways for removal of flash from the weld interface during welding.

11 . A workpiece for use in a friction welding process, the workpiece having a weld surface for engagement, on welding, with a corresponding weld surface of a further workpiece, the weld surface having a plurality of flash removal channels formed in and/or adjacent to the first weld surface, the channels providing pathways for removal of flash from the weld interface during welding.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Bray Simon E
• Walpole Andrew R

Classifications

• B23K20/129

  specially adapted for particular articles or work · CPC title

• B23K20/122 Primary

  using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding · CPC title

• B23K33/00

  Specially-profiled edge portions of workpieces for making soldering or welding connections; Filling the seams formed thereby · CPC title

• B23K20/028 Primary

  Butt welding · CPC title

• B23K20/24

  Preliminary treatment · CPC title