GB1350972A - Apparatus for pressure welding metallic structures - Google Patents

Abstract

1350972 Welding by pressure L A COOK and L W BUELL 18 May 1971 15442/71 Heading B3R An apparatus for pressure welding two metal sections comprises a pair of spaced stationary C frames 10, 10, parallel to one another, a movable C frame 16 between the stationary frames 10, 10, a pair of die holders E, F carried on the stationary frames 10, 10 for relative vertical movement and a pair of die holders G, H carried on the movable frame C for relative vertical movement, heating means being provided for heating the sections. The two frames 10, 10 are secured together by bolts 12 and are held apart by spacers and the movable frame 16 is slidable on supports 20 on the frames 10, 10 with bronze anti-friction surfaces 18 between the frames. The lower die holder F is fixed to the frames 10, 10 and the upper holder E is carried on the piston of a cylinder K on the frames 10, 10. The lower die holder H is fixed on the frame 16 and holder G is carried on the piston of cylinder L on the frame. Dies 22 are secured in the die holders. A cylinder M is provided to move the sliding frame 16. Dies as shown in Fig. 5 may produce a weld as shown in Fig. 7. In operation metal sections are clamped in the dies, heated by resistance heaters in the dies and forced together by cylinder M. Non-heat heatable high strength aluminium or magnesium alloys may be welded to form aircraft panels, chemical tanks, building panels or armour plate. Sandwich panels may be welded and high strength panels may be welded to strips of arc weldable aluminium alloy. Plates of titanium, zirconium or beryllium alloys or alloy steels may be welded. A number of pairs of C frames 10, 10 may be bolted together.