Method and apparatus for producing a finished joint between ends of wires, rods and the like

Claim 2

Apparatus for restoring the original cross-sectional configuration and parent metal properties to the heat fused junction of elongated metal workpieces, the formation of which junction inherently produces an axially extending zone of heataffected metal adjacent said junction comprising: a pair of coacting dies having coaxial elongated workpiece recepTive openings conforming to the external configuration of the parent workpieces; means for mounting said dies closely about said workpieces to straighten and non-grippingly confine substantial axial segments thereof, located on opposite sides of said junction, within said openings; adjusting means operable for selectively spacing said dies along said workpieces so that the opposing die ends are in predetermined spaced relation defined by the axial extent of the zone of heat affected metal; gripper means operable to radially grip said workpieces axially beyond each of said dies; means for simultaneously and coactingly moving said gripper means and dies to thrust said workpieces uninterruptedly toward one another with sufficient force to radially upset all the heat affected metal of said zone and junction between said opposing die ends while sustaining said workpieces in joined relationship; and means for trimming and removing the radially upset metal in response to axial movement of said dies thereby to form a finished junction of original external workpiece configuration and to interface parent metal thereat.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said trimming and removing means are provided about the peripheral edges of said openings at the said opposed ends of said dies for shearing said upset metal and removing the same upon contact of said opposed ends.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said dies is composed of plural parts, at least one of said parts of each die being movable relative to another to allow placement of a workpiece in said opening therein and upon closing of the die to provide complete encompassment and straightening of a said substantial axial segment thereof.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, wherein said plural parts of each die are guided for relative linear movements toward and from one another by means extending between said parts thereof.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said dies, when advanced toward one another, is axially guided by means which extend between the dies thereby to assure production of the original cross-section shape of the workpiece.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1, wherein stop means are provided on said opposing die ends for limiting the movements of the dies toward one another thereby to prevent damage to said dies after said upsetting and removal therebetween.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for moving said gripper means and dies coaxially comprises a pair of workpiece gripping clamps which are spaced axially outward of the dies and which clamps coactingly operate with the dies to effect upset and removal of said heat affected metal, and further wherein each of said clamps and its corresponding die are slidingly connected but independently operable for engaging and disengaging the workpiece.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 7, and wherein each workpiece gripping clamp of said pair comprises a pair of workpiece gripping elements which have substantially parallel, opposing workpiece gripping surfaces and oppositely disposed outer surfaces which taper outwardly in one direction relative to the gripping surfaces, said gripping elements being mounted for linear sliding movements into and from a longitudinally disposed, V-shaped slot in a guide block and which slot is defined by surfaces which extend longitudinally in acute angular relationship relative to a central plane therebetween whereby each of said slot surfaces engages the outer surface of its respective gripping elements to move the same toward the opposing gripping element as said gripping elements are moved along the slot.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1, wherein the initial die spacing selected by said means for selectively spacing the opposing ends thereof is determined by the metallurgical character of the heat fused workpiece junction and said zone resulting from the temperature, pressure, and time involved in effecting said junction.

Claim 11

In apparatus for upsetting and removing the heat-affected metal from a heat fused juncture of two coaxially aligned elongated workpieces of like metal, cross-sectional size and shape held in a pair of axially spaced upsetting dies, an axial thrust producing workpiece and die actuating gripping mechanism, comprising: gripping elements mounted in oppposed relationship to one another for linear movement parallel to and toward and from a median plane therebetween axially outwardly of each of the upsetting dies, said gripping elements having elongated gripping surfaces substantially equally spaced from said median plane and substantially parallel thereto, to effect gripping a substantially axial segment of the workpiece therebetween; a block movable linearly in a direction parallel to said median plane, said block having therein a recess which has slide surfaces converging in equi-angular relationship with respect to opposite sides of said median-plane; said gripping elements also having outer slide surfaces equi-angularly related to their respective gripping surfaces and engaging said slide surfaces of the block recess to effect said linear movement of the gripping elements towards one another when the block is moved along said median plane in one direction; means for effecting separation of the gripping elements when the block is moved along the median plane in the opposite direction; means for effecting movements of said block along the median plane in opposite directions, said last named means further effecting axial thrust and movement to said workpiece, gripping elements and an adjacent one of the dies when said block is moved along said median plane in said one direction a distance greater than that distance necessary to close said gripping elements on said workpiece; and means for maintaining the gripping elements in lateral alignment relative to one another during movements of the block and gripping elements.

Claim 12

In apparatus for upsetting and removing the heat-affected metal from a heat fused juncture of two coaxially aligned elongated workpieces of like metal, cross-sectional size and shape held in a pair of axially spaced upsetting dies, an axial thrust producing workpiece and die actuating gripping mechanism, comprising: gripping elements mounted in oppposed relationship to one another for linear movement parallel to and toward and from a median plane therebetween axially outwardly of each of the upsetting dies, said gripping elements having elongated gripping surfaces substantially equally spaced from said median plane and substantially parallel thereto, to effect gripping a substantially axial segment of the workpiece therebetween; a block movable linearly in a direction parallel to said median plane, said block having therein a recess which has slide surfaces converging in equi-angular relationship with respect to opposite sides of said median-plane; said gripping elements also having outer slide surfaces equi-angularly related to their respective gripping surfaces and engaging said slide surfaces of the block recess to effect said linear movement of the gripping elements towards one another when the block is moved along said median plane in one direction; means for effecting separation of the gripping elements when the block is moved along the median plane in the opposite direction; means for effecting movements of said block along the median plane in opposite directions, said last named means further effecting axial thrust and movement to said workpiece, gripping elements and an adjacent one of the dies when said block is moved along said median plane in said one direction a distance greater than that distance necessary to close said gripping elements on said workpiece; and means for maintaining the gripping elements in lateral alignment relative to one another during movements of the block and gripping elements.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10, wherein said gripping surfaces of said gripping elements are of sufficient axial length that an appropriate axial thrust on said workpiece can be effected without resulting in any significant surface damage or change in internal strength characteristics of said workpiece.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10, wherein the gripping surface of each of said gripping elements comprises a readily removable and replaceable workpiece gripping plate.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10, wherein the workpiece gripping mechanism is power actuated by controlled hydraulic means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 10, wherein said means for maintaining the gripping elements in lateral alignment relative to one another during movements of the block and gripping elements comprises aligned grooves in corresponding side surfaces of the gripping elements and extending in directions normal to said median plane, and means providing a stationary cross-rail fitting into said aligned grooves and relative to which the gripping elements are slidable.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15, wherein the said relative movement of the dies toward one another is a distance as least as long as the axial length of said zone of heat-affected metal.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15, wherein the enclosed axial workpiece segments are of a sufficient length to assure maintenance of the normal size, shape and coaxial alignment of the workpieces.

Claim 21

The method of claim 15, wherein the gripped axial workpiece portions are of a sufficient length to allow the application of axial force through said gripped portions without causing any significant surface damage thereto or impairing the strength characteristics of said finished workpiece.

Claim 22

The method of claim 15, wherein said trimming of the workpiece metal to its normal sectional size and shape is performed by adjacent end edges and surfaces of said dies as said dies move toward engagement with one another.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19, further characterized by the step of stopping movement of the dies toward one another by engagement of surfaces thereon other than said adjacent end edges when said trimming has resulted in said linearly smooth finished joint whereby to protect said adjacent end edges of said dies from damage and wear.

Claim 24

The method of claim 15, wherein the gripping of the workpieces is effected by radial forces independent of those utilized for effecting enclosure of said substantial axial segments in said die openings.