Solid cartridge for a pulse weld forming electrode and method of joining tubular members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9266190-B2
Application number	US-201414321942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A cartridge assembly is disclosed for a pulse welding a first tube supported on a mandrel to a second tube. An outer tool is assembled over the second tube and a stored charge is discharged in the cartridge assembly. The cartridge comprises an annular conductor and a solid casing enveloping the conductor. The stored charge is electrically connected to the conductor and discharged through the conductor to compress the second tube and pulse weld the second tube to the first tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pulse welding forming tool comprising:
a mandrel;
an inner tubular member assembled onto the mandrel;
a clamping ring that includes a plurality of sections movable between an open position and a closed position defining an annular cavity;
a cartridge including a non-conductive casing and a conductor disposed within the casing and assembled into the cavity;
an outer tubular member engaged by the clamping ring and the cartridge in the closed position; and
a source of stored energy electrically connected to the conductor that is discharged to vaporize the conductor and form a pulse weld joining the outer tubular and the inner tubular member.

2. The pulse welding forming tool of claim 1 wherein the mandrel has a distal end over which the inner tubular member is placed, wherein the mandrel has a frusto-conical outer surface that is engaged by a frusto-conical inner surface of the inner tubular member.

3. The pulse welding forming tool of claim 2 wherein the outer tubular member is formed into a frusto-conical shape against an outer surface of the inner tubular member at a location where the pulse weld joins outer tubular member to the inner tubular member.

4. The pulse weld forming tool of claim 1 wherein the conductor is a metal coil that generates an electro-magnetic pulse against the outer tube that drives the outer tube into the inner tube.

5. The pulse weld forming tool of claim 4 wherein the electro-magnetic pulse drives the outer tube kinetically toward the inner tube to form an impact weld joining the outer tube to the inner tube.

6. The pulse weld forming tool of claim 1 wherein the conductor is a metal foil that generates an electro-magnetic pulse against the outer tube that drives the outer tube into the inner tube.

7. The pulse weld forming tool of claim 1 wherein the cartridge electro-hydraulically transmits the energy discharged into the conductor to the outer tube.

8. The pulse weld forming tool of claim 7 wherein the cartridge is a polyurethane based composition.

9. A pulse welding tool comprising:
an inner tube assembled over a mandrel;
a clamping ring including plural sections movable between open and closed positions;
a cartridge including a non-conductive casing and a conductor assembled into the clamping ring;
an outer tube encircled by the cartridge in the closed position; and
a source of stored energy is discharged to vaporize the conductor and pulse weld the outer tube to the inner tube.

10. The pulse welding tool of claim 9 wherein the mandrel has a distal end over which the inner tube is placed, wherein the mandrel has a partially conical outer surface that is engaged by a partially conical inner surface of the inner tube.

11. The pulse welding tool of claim 10 wherein the outer tube is formed into a partially conical shape against an outer surface of the inner tube member at a location where the pulse weld joins outer tube member to the inner tube.

12. The pulse welding tool of claim 9 wherein the conductor is a metal coil that generates an electro-magnetic pulse against the outer tube that drives the outer tube into the inner tube.

13. The pulse welding tool of claim 12 wherein the electro-magnetic pulse kinetically drives the outer tube toward the inner tube to form an impact weld joining the outer tube to the inner tube.

14. The pulse welding tool of claim 9 wherein the conductor is a metal foil that generates an electro-magnetic pulse against the outer tube that drives the outer tube into the inner tube.

15. The pulse welding tool of claim 9 wherein the casing transmits the stored energy discharged into the conductor to the outer tube.

16. The pulse welding tool of claim 15 wherein the casing is a polyurethane based composition.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bonnen John Joseph Francis
• Golovashchenko Sergey Fedorovich
• Mamutov Alexander
• Maison Lloyd Douglas
• Dawson Scott Alwyn
• Devries James

Classifications

• B23K31/02

  relating to soldering or welding · CPC title

• B23K20/06 Primary

  by means of high energy impulses, e.g. magnetic energy · CPC title

• B23K20/02 Primary

  by means of a press {; Diffusion bonding} · CPC title

• B23K20/002

  specially adapted for particular articles or work (B23K20/129 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K2101/06

  Tubes · CPC title