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  Pressure welding machine and pressure welding methodUSPTO Application #: 20070181639Title: Pressure welding machine and pressure welding method Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure welding method and a pressure welding machine (1) which is provided with a frame (10), two welding heads (13, 14), mobile along a feed axis (41), and two adjusting units (17, 18) comprising feed drives (23) for the welding heads (13, 14). The two adjusting units (17, 18) are mounted so as to be axially movable (41) on the frame (10) and are interlinked with an adjusting drive (25) by means of a common adjusting element (26) and supported in a closed system of forces while receiving the pressure welding forces, thereby relieving the frame (10). The adjusting element (26) is configured as a continuous spindle (27) having two self-locking threads (28, 29) that run in opposite directions. (end of abstract)
Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC - Scarborough, NY, US Inventors: Frank Rudolph, Thomas Hauck, Harald Meyer, Klaus Schneider, Manfred Menzinger, Otmar Fischer USPTO Applicaton #: 20070181639 - Class: 228101000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Metal Fusion Bonding, Process The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070181639. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a United States National Phase application of International Application PCT/EP2005/006766 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of German Patent Application DE 20 2004 101 386.9 filed Jul. 1, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention pertains to a pressure welding machine and a pressure welding method. GROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Such a pressure welding machine is known in the form of a double-head friction welding machine from EP 0 246 239 B1. It comprises a frame with a machine bed, at which two friction welding heads are mounted in such a way that they are movable in opposite directions along a common feed axis. They are moved by two adjusting units with feed drives along the feed axis. The adjusting units are mounted adjustably at the machine frame and are fixed individually in the desired position at the machine bed by hydraulically actuated friction brakes. A central workpiece is connected to additional workpieces on both sides by friction welding with the double-head friction welding machine. The spindle rotations of the two friction welding heads are synchronized by a common countershaft provided with a motor and a brake. Different workpiece lengths result in different path lengths for the friction feed and the upsetting feed, which are generated by different lengths of extension of the feed drives. To absorb the upsetting forces during friction welding, which amount to several tons, the pressure welding machine has a massive frame and machine bed. This means a great design effort, and undesired deformations nevertheless cannot be absorbed. On the other hand, the accessibility of the workplace is limited by the large frame construction. [0004] EP 0 059 544 A1 shows another friction welding machine with spindles that are likewise synchronized by means of a countershaft. The adjusting units are fixed here rigidly and unmovably to the machine bed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a better pressure welding machine along with a pressure welding method. [0006] According to the invention, a pressure welding machine is provided with a frame, two welding heads, which are movable along a feed axis, and with two adjusting units with feed drives for the welding heads. The two adjusting units are mounted axially movably at the same frame and are connected among one another to an adjusting drive by means of a common adjusting element and are supported. [0007] The pressure welding machine according to the invention has the advantage of requiring a substantially reduced design effort, and a larger working range and better accessibility of the workplace are also achieved at the same time. The forces occurring during upsetting are absorbed in a closed system of forces via the adjusting element, which relieves the load on the frame construction. At the same time, adjustment of the adjusting units in both directions with the feed drives along a preferably common and continuous guide plane can be achieved by means of the adjusting element. Moreover, this adjustment may be symmetrical. Special advantages are offered here by the adjusting element being designed as a continuous spindle with two threads directed in opposite directions, which is connected to the adjusting units via corresponding nut mounts. A self-locking motion thread, which can absorb and support the strong upsetting forces, is favorable here. [0008] A preferably likewise displaceable central clamping device, which is equipped with two workpiece holders, which are connected to the respective adjusting units associated with them via carriage adjusters, are present for the central workpiece. As a result, the central clamping device and the adjusting units can be positioned simultaneously and synchronously. A spring-loaded connection between the carriage adjusters and the workpiece holders makes possible an evading motion of the workpiece holders to absorb the upsetting deformation of the central workpiece during the upsetting stroke. [0009] The pressure welding machine according to the invention may have, moreover, a measuring means, which makes it possible to measure the true feeds and the pure shortenings of the workpiece during pressure welding without the elastic deformations of the central workpiece that occur during upsetting. It is possible as a result to also extrapolate the process parameters determined during a pressure welding process for certain workpieces and workpiece lengths to other workpieces of the same kind but with different lengths. This was hitherto impossible because the elastic deformation of the central workpiece, which likewise changed during a change of the workpiece lengths and thus affected the process parameters, was always contained in the path measured values. It is favorable for the measuring means being claimed to arrange a scale and a corresponding measuring head at the workpiece holder and at the associated welding head in such a way that they are movable in relation to one another, so that what is measured is precisely their motion. The elastic deformation of the central workpiece is eliminated via the elastically non-rigid mobility of the workpiece clamping device. [0010] The pressure welding machine being claimed can operate with any desired pressure welding method. This may be, e.g., friction welding or welding with an arc moved magnetically or in another manner. The workpieces welded together may be rotationally symmetrical, but this is not a compulsory prerequisite. [0011] The present invention is schematically shown in the drawings as an example. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] In the drawings: [0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pressure welding machine in the opened inoperative position; [0014] FIG. 2 is a view showing the pressure welding machine according to FIG. 1 in the working position; and [0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the middle area of the pressure welding machine according to FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Referring to the drawings in particular, FIGS. 1 through 3 show schematic side views and different operating positions of a pressure welding machine (1). The pressure welding machine (1) is used to weld two, three or more workpieces (2, 3, 4), wherein one or more outer workpieces (3, 4) are welded to a central workpiece (2) at both ends. The pressure welding technique may be of any desired type. For example, it may be friction welding with direct motor drive or flywheel drive or welding with an arc moved magnetically or in another way, etc. The workpieces (2, 3, 4) are arranged along a preferably common feed axis or upsetting axis (41) and are moved toward one another and connected to one another at the end of the pressure welding operation by an upsetting stroke. [0017] The pressure welding machine (1) is designed as a so-called double-head machine. It comprises a frame (10) with a central clamping device (5) for the central workpiece (2), two mobile welding heads (13, 14) adjoining same on both sides and two adjusting units (17, 18) that in turn adjoin the latter on both sides with feed drives (23) for the welding heads (13, 14). The pressure welding machine (1) has, furthermore, a computerized, programmable machine and process control (not shown). The central clamping device (5), the welding heads (13, 14) and the adjusting units (17, 18) are all mounted at the frame (10) movably along the preferably common feed axis or upsetting axis (41) by means of travel carriages (8, 9, 15, 16, 19, 20) and are mounted and guided axially movably at a preferably likewise common carriage guide (12). The mounting and guiding may be brought about, e.g., by means of nontilting roller bearings or the like. The two outer adjusting units (17, 18) are connected to one another and supported by means of a common adjusting element (26) with an adjusting drive (25). [0018] The adjusting element (26) is preferably designed as a continuous spindle (27) with two threads (28, 29), which are arranged at least at the end and are directed in opposite directions. These threads (28, 29) are designed each as motion threads, especially as left-handed and right-handed screw threads. They may be, e.g., trapezoid threads. The threads (28, 29) mesh with nuts (21, 22), which are connected to the adjusting units (17, 18) via extension arms. The spindle (27) is arranged under the welding heads (13, 14) and the adjusting units (17, 18) and is mounted rotatably in a machine bed (11). The spindle is located between the laterally spaced rails of the carriage guide (12) and may be arranged at the same level as these rails or just below them. The threads (28, 29) and/or the spindle (27) may be fixed in any desired and suitable manner in the inoperative position when needed, e.g., by means of brakes, a thread self-locking mechanism or the like. Continue reading... Full patent description for Pressure welding machine and pressure welding method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Pressure welding machine and pressure welding method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Pressure welding machine and pressure welding method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method of friction stir-spot welding and welding apparatus Next Patent Application: Wire bonding method and apparatus Industry Class: Metal fusion bonding ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Pressure welding machine and pressure welding method patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 3.25842 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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