US3591068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speed programmed friction welder
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-08
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1988-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A friction welding machine of the kind in which two workpieces are rotated in rubbing contact at a common interface to develop weld heat by friction and plastic working includes a variable speed drive for rotating one workpiece with respect to the other to produce the rubbing contact and a programmer for generating a desired speed signal and a controller for producing an actual speed in accordance with the desired speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G Farmer
- 👤 Calvin D Loyd
- 👤 Robert G Miller
- 👤 Theodore L Oberle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:49
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/12; B23K20/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A machine for welding workpieces by rotating the workpieces in rubbing contact at a common interface to develop weld heat by friction and plastic working, said machine comprising, loading means for pressing the workpieces together at the interface, variable speed drive means for rotating one workpiece with respect to the other to produce the rubbing contact and a plastic condition at the interface, and speed programming means for selecting and producing a predetermined variation of the rotational speed with time throughout the entire welding period, said speed programming means including a programmer for generating a desired speed signal and a controller for producing an actual speed in accordance with the desired speed signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A machine for welding workpieces by rotating the workpieces in rubbing contact at a common interface to develop weld heat by friction and plastic working, said machine comprising, loading means for pressing the workpieces together at the interface, variable speed drive means for rotating one workpiece with respect to the other to produce the rubbing contact and a plastic condition at the interface, and speed programming means for selecting and producing a predetermined variation of the rotational speed with time throughout the entire welding period, said speed programming means including a programmer for generating a desired speed signal and a controller for producing an actual speed in accordance with the desired speed signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means include a variable speed hydrostatic motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the speed programming means include a variable angle cam in the hydrostatic motor and a control for varying the angle of inclination of the cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means include a variable speed hydrostatic pump and motor combination and wherein the speed programming means include a variable angle cam in the hydrostatic pump and motor combination for varying the speed ratio across the pump and motor combination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine as defined in claim 4 including a control for varying the angle of the cam and wherein the control for varying the angle of inclination of the cam is movable to a position in which the hydrostatic motor acts as a brake to slow rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the speed programming means include feedback means for comparing the actual speed with the programmed speed and effective to eliminate differences between the actual and the programmed speeds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the speed programming means and the drive means are operatively associated so as to produce plastic working at low speeds while the bond zone is in a forgeable condition just as the weld period terminates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the speed programming means include a servomechanism associated with the drive means, and an electrical function generator and a time generator for supplying the desired speed signal to the servomechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 including a rotatable flywheel and means for selectively connecting the flywheel to the drive means to take stored energy from the rotating flywheel during a portion of the weld cycle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine as defined in claim 9 wherein the connecting means include a one-way clutch effective to connect the flywheel to the drive means in drive relationship when the rotational speed of the drive means decreases to a predetermined speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means include a power shift transmission for changing the speed or rotation while under power.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 including pressure programming means for selecting and producing a predetermined variation of the load applied by the loading means throughout the entire welding cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means include a hydraulic pump and motor and wherein the speed programming means include a modulating valve associated with the motor for controlling the speed of the motor. 14 A machine as defined in claim 13 including an accumulator between the pump and motor for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump for supply to the motor during periods when the weld cycle requires more work from the motor than can be supplied from the pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as defined in claim 13 including a dump valve associated with the hydraulic motor for bypassing the flow of pressurized fluid around the motor to discontinue the drive to the workpiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |