Portable inertia friction welding system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021107088-A1
Application number	US-202017066634-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2020
Priority date	Oct 10, 2019
Publication date	Apr 15, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for joining materials, comprising placing a first metal item within a spindle; rotating the spindle to a predetermined speed; contacting the first metal item with a second metal item to create friction between the first metal item and second metal item, wherein the second metal item has a known austenization temperature that is not crossed by the created friction; applying a predetermined amount of force through the spindle, wherein application of the force stops the rotation of the spindle and joins the first metal item with the second metal item; and retracting the spindle from the first metal item.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for joining materials, comprising:
(a) placing a first metal item within a spindle; (b) rotating the spindle to a predetermined speed; (c) contacting the first metal item with a second metal item to create friction between the first metal item and second metal item, wherein the second metal item has a known austenization temperature that is not crossed by the created friction; (d) applying a predetermined amount of force through the spindle, wherein application of the force stops the rotation of the spindle and joins the first metal item with the second metal item; and (e) retracting the spindle from the first metal item.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metal item is non-ferrous.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metal item is brass.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metal item is a hexagonal stud, a bolt, or a block.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metal item is an appurtenance to which a signal wire or other device may be attached.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined rotational speed of the spindle is within the range of 4000-7000 RPM.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spindle has an internal mass between 0.01 and 2.0 WK 2 .

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second metal item is steel.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second metal item is a length of train rail.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of force is in the range of 1500 and 4000 lbf.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein rotary power is decoupled from the spindle within ±1 second after the first metal item contacts the second metal item.

12 . A method for joining materials, comprising:
(a) placing a first metal item within a spindle, wherein the first metal item is non-ferrous, and wherein the first metal item is an appurtenance to which a signal wire or other device may be attached; (b) rotating the spindle to a predetermined speed, wherein the predetermined rotational speed of the spindle is within the range of 4000-7000 RPM; (c) contacting the first metal item with a second metal item to create friction between the first metal item and second metal item, wherein the second metal item has a known austenization temperature that is not crossed by the created friction; (d) applying a predetermined amount of force through the spindle, wherein the predetermined amount of force is in the range of 1500 and 4000 lbf, and wherein application of the force stops the rotation of the spindle and joins the first metal item with the second metal item; and (e) retracting the spindle from the first metal item.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first metal item is brass.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first metal item is a hexagonal stud, a bolt, or a block.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second metal item is steel.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second metal item is a length of train rail.

17 . A method for joining materials, comprising:
(a) placing a first metal item within a spindle, wherein the spindle has an internal mass between 0.01 and 2.0 WK 2 , wherein the first metal item is non-ferrous, and wherein the first metal item is an appurtenance to which a signal wire or other device may be attached; (b) rotating the spindle to a predetermined speed, wherein the predetermined rotational speed of the spindle is within the range of 4000-7000 RPM; (c) contacting the first metal item with a second metal item to create friction between the first metal item and second metal item, wherein the second metal item has a known austenization temperature that is not crossed by the created friction; (d) applying a predetermined amount of force through the spindle, wherein the predetermined amount of force is in the range of 1500 and 4000 lbf, wherein application of the force stops the rotation of the spindle and joins the first metal item with the second metal item, and wherein rotary power is decoupled from the spindle within ±1 second after the first metal item contacts the second metal item; and (e) retracting the spindle from the first metal item.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first metal item is a brass hexagonal stud, bolt, or block.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second metal item is steel.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second metal item is a length of train rail.

Assignees

• Edison Welding Inst Inc

Inventors

• Shira Seth

Classifications

• B23K2101/26

  Railway- or like rails · CPC title

• B23K20/12 Primary

  the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding · CPC title

• B23K2103/12

  Copper or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23K2103/18

  Dissimilar materials · CPC title

• B23K2103/04

  Steel {or steel} alloys · CPC title