Replaceable welding tip for vibratory welding apparatus

Claim 2

In a vibratory welding apparatus the combination of: an elongated resonator dimensioned to be resonant along its longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency of vibration having two ends; means coupled to said resonator at one end thereof for imparting vibrations of said predetermined frequency to said resonator and causing said resonator when resonant to exhibit at least two antinodal regions and one nodal region of longitudinal vibration; a replaceable welding tip in the form of a sleeve having two radially disposed end faces, said sleeve having a mass not exceeding one twenty-fifth of that of said resonator; screw means detachably clamping one of said faces of said sleeve in abutting engagement with a complementary radial surface disposed substantially at the other end of said resonator, and a ridge forming a unitary part of said sleeve radially extending from said sleeve and provided with a peripheral workpiece engaging surface adapted to impart vibratory energy to a workpiece in forced contact with said peripheral surface, the axis of vibration of said workpiece engaging surface relative to the workpiece responsive to said resonator being resonant being substantially parallel to the thread axis of said screw means.

Claim 3

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, a plurality of ridges extending from said sleeve, each ridge having a respective peripheral workpiece engaging surface.

Claim 4

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said plurality of ridges being equidistantly spaced about the center of said sleeve and being of substantially identical configuration for exhibiting a dynamically balanced condition to said resonator.

Claim 5

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said screw means comprising an internally threaded nut mating with a threaded stud extending from the other end of said resonator.

Claim 6

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, the other end of that resonator being disposed substantially at an antinodal region of longitudinal vibration.

Claim 7

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, the other end of said resonator being located substantially at an antinodal region of said resonator and including a shoulder and a threaded stud extending from the other end, said sleeve having a centrally disposed aperture dimensioned to snugly slide over said shoulder.

Claim 8

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said radially disposed faces being disposed in parallel planes, and said screw means engaging the other one of said faces.

Claim 9

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said resonator being dimensioned for being resonant at a frequency in the range between 5 and 100 KHz.

Claim 10

In a vibratory welding apparatus the combination of: an elongated resonator dimensioned to be resonant along its longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency of vibration having two ends; electro-acoustic transducer means coupled to said resonator at one end thereof for imparting vibrations of said predetermined frequency to said resonator and causing said resonator when resonant to exhibit at least two antinodal regions and one nodal region of longitudinal vibration; support means coupled to said resonator for supporting said resonator and transducer means in stationary position; a replaceable welding tip in the form of a sleeve having two radially disposed end faces said sleeve having a mass not exceeding one twenty-fifth of the mass of resonator; screw means detachably clamping one of said faces of said sleeve in abutting contact with a complementary radial surface disposed substantially at the other end of said resonator; a plurality of discrete ridges forming a unitary part of said sleeve radially extending from said sleeve, each ridge provided with a respective peripherally disposed workpiece engaging surface adapted to impart vibratory energy to a workpiece in forced contact therewith, the direction of vibration of said workpiece engaging surface responsive to said resonator being resonant being substantially parallel to the thread axis of said screw means, and said screw means mounting and clamping sAid sleeve in such a manner that responsive to indexing said sleeve relative to said other end a selected one of said peripherally disposed surfaces is mounted for engaging a workpiece.

Claim 11

In a vibratory welding apparatus the combination of: an elongated resonator dimensioned to be resonant along its longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency of vibration having two ends; electro-acoustic transducer means coupled to said resonator at one end thereof for imparting vibrations of said predetermined frequency to said resonator and causing said resonator when resonant to exhibit at least two antinodal regions and one nodal region of longitudinal vibration; support means coupled to said resonator for supporting said resonator and transducer means in stationary position; a replaceable welding tip in the form of a sleeve having two radially disposed end faces said sleeve having a mass not exceeding one twenty-fifth of the mass of resonator; screw means detachably clamping one of said faces of said sleeve in abutting contact with a complementary radial surface disposed substantially at the other end of said resonator; a plurality of discrete ridges forming a unitary part of said sleeve radially extending from said sleeve, each ridge provided with a respective peripherally disposed workpiece engaging surface adapted to impart vibratory energy to a workpiece in forced contact therewith, the direction of vibration of said workpiece engaging surface responsive to said resonator being resonant being substantially parallel to the thread axis of said screw means, and said screw means mounting and clamping sAid sleeve in such a manner that responsive to indexing said sleeve relative to said other end a selected one of said peripherally disposed surfaces is mounted for engaging a workpiece.

Claim 12

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 9, the other end of said resonator being disposed substantially at an antinodal region of longitudinal vibration.

Claim 13

In a vibratory welding apparatus as set forth in claim 10, the other end of said resonator including a shoulder and a threaded stud extending therefrom, said sleeve having a central aperture dimensioned for slidably fitting over said shoulder, and said screw means including a threaded nut adapted to mate with said stud and upon being tightened clamping said sleeve with its face in said abutting contact.