Magnetic pulse welding using spaced proximity conductor

Claim 2

Apparatus for forge welding together adjacent, co-extensive portions of a pair of electrically conductive members comprising means for establishing a current path in at least one of said portions, elongated proximity conductor means disposed in closely spaced relationship to said portions, means establishing electrically conductive contact between one end of the proximity conductor means and one end of said current path in said one portion, a source of pulsed current, means for selectively connecting said source of pulse current between the other end of the current path in said one portion and the other end of the proximity conductor means, a source of alternating heating current for heating at least said one portion to an elevated forge welding temperature, and means for selectively connecting said source of heating current between the other end of the current path in said one portion and the other end of the proximity conDuctor means.

Claim 3

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 and further including an anvil in contact with the other of said portions.

Claim 4

The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said anvil is electrically conductive and forms at least a part of the means for establishing conductive contact between said one end of the proximity conductor means and said one end of the current path in said one portion.

Claim 5

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 and further including means for establishing a current branch through the other of said portions, means for establishing electrically conductive contact between said one end of the proximity conductor means and one end of the current branch in said other portion, and means for establishing conductive electrical connection between the other end of current path in said one portion and the other end of the current branch in said other portion.

Claim 6

The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein said portions are in overlapping relationship.

Claim 7

The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein said portions are in butting relationship.

Claim 8

The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein said proximity conductor means comprises first and second proximity conductors disposed in spaced relationship, said portions of said pair of members being positioned between said proximity conductors.

Claim 9

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said portions is the end surface of one of said members and the other of said portions is an intermediate portion of a surface of the other of said members and further comprising means for holding said end surface against said intermediate portion with said one member on the opposite side of said other member from said proximity conductor means and with said end surface aligned with said proximity conductor means.

Claim 10

The apparatus claimed in claim 8 wherein said members are metal members and the frequency of the alternating heating current provides a reference depth in the metal of said other member at least equal to the thickness thereof intermediate said end surface and said proximity conductor means.

Claim 11

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said portions is the end surface of one of said members and the other of said portions is a surface portion of said other member adjacent an end thereof and further comprising a third conductive member having an end surface and means for holding said end surface of said one member against said surface portion of said other member, said end surface of said third member against a surface portion of said other member opposite and corresponding to said first-mentioned surface portion and the surface of said other member at said end thereof adjacent and aligned with said proximity conductor means.

Claim 12

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 further comprising relatively rigid means on opposite sides of and spaced from said proximity conductor means, said rigid means having surfaces aligned with said proximity conductor means, a further pair of electrically conductive members having adjacent co-extensive portions, means for holding said portions of said first-mentioned pair of members between said proximity conductor and one of said rigid means and for holding said portion of said second pair of members between said proximity conductor means and the other of said rigid means, means for establishing a further current path in at least one of the portions of said further pair of members, means for establishing electrically conductive contact between said one end of said proximity conductor means and the end of said further current path which is nearest said one end of said first-mentioned current path, means for connecting said source of pulse current between said other end of said proximity conductor means and the other end of said further current path and means for connecting said source of heating current between said other end of said proximity conductor means and said other end of said further current path.

Claim 13

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein eacH of said means for establishing electrically conductive contact between one end of the proximity conductor means and one end of said current path and said means for connecting said source of pulse current between the other end of the current path and the other end of the proximity conductor means comprises a plurality of contacts, one plurality of contacts being at one end of said path and the other plurality of contacts being at the other end of said path.

Claim 14

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of contacts have tapered ends which taper away from each other in the direction of said path with respect to said contacts.