Friction welding brake system

Claim 2

Apparatus for frictionally welding two workpieces together comprising means for gripping said workpieces, power means capable of forcing said workpieces into intimate friction welding engagement, drive means for rotating one of said workpieces, braking means associated with said drive means for stopping rotation of said one workpiece, said braking means including a brake control system selectively operable in a normal first mode of operation in which said braking means are operable to brake said drive means to stop said rotation after a first elapsed time period and in an emergency second mode of operation to stop said rotation after a second shorter elapsed time period, said first and second modes being mutually exclusive.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1, said brake control system comprising a fluid operated brake assembly associated with said drive means, a first fluid control circuit including adjustable valve means for passing a regulated flow of fluid to said brake assembly during a normal welding cycle, and a second control circuit for bypassing said adjustable valve means and for passing a greater flow of fluid to said brake assembly under emergency braking conditions.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 2, said first control circuit comprising fluid reservoir means, a first solenoid operated valve connected between said reservoir means and said adjustable valve means, said second control circuit including a second solenoid operated valve connected between said reservoir means and said brake assembly in bypassing relationship with said adjustable valve means, and electrical circuit means for operating said first and second solenoid valves when necessary to effect either normal or emergency braking of said drive means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for frictionally welding together an axle housing center section and two wheel bearing end sections comprising means for mounting said end sections in axial alignment with said center section held against rotation and said end sections being connected to be rotated by positive drive mechanism and to be displaced while rotating into abutment with said center section, brake means in the drive mechanism for each end section and a brake control system connected to simultanEously and similarly operate both of said brake means, said system comprising means whereby predetermined braking force is applied to stop rotation of said end in a first predetermined time period established point in a normal level of operation and bypass means selectively operable to stop rotation of said end sections in a second shorter predetermined time period.

Claim 6

Apparatus for frictionally welding together an axle housing center section and two wheel bearing end sections comprising means for mounting said end sections in axial alignment with said center section held against rotation and said end sections being connected to be rotated by positive drive mechanism and to be displaced while rotating into abutment with said center section, brake means in the drive mechanism for each end section and a brake control system connected to simultanEously and similarly operate both of said brake means, said system comprising means whereby predetermined braking force is applied to stop rotation of said end in a first predetermined time period established point in a normal level of operation and bypass means selectively operable to stop rotation of said end sections in a second shorter predetermined time period.