Portable friction welder

Abstract

A portable friction welder that applies direct axial load to the workpieces via a rotating variable pressure hydraulic cylinder placed between the workpieces and a rotational device. The portable friction welder includes an interchangeable adapter configured to receive a fitting for a first workpiece, a variable pressure hydraulic cylinder with a front end and a rear end, and a rotational device positioned behind the rear end of the pressurizing device. The friction welder is configured to be driven by the rotational device, to be interconnected to a clamp assembly holding a second workpiece, and to effect a friction weld to first and second workpieces. The portable friction welder also includes a bearing housing, thrusts bearings, and a thrust collar. Spring washers may be installed in the front end of the hydraulic cylinder to maintain axial load across the bearing housing. An interchangeable adapter is removably connected with the thrust collar.

1 . A portable friction welder method comprising: 
 providing a portable friction welder with a rotating variable pressure hydraulic cylinder; and    applying direct axial load to workpieces via the rotating variable pressure hydraulic cylinder.    
   
   
       2 . The portable friction welder method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 installing a clamp assembly including a thrust collar and a shroud to a first workpiece;    attaching an adapter to a piston;    inserting a fitting into the adapter;    attaching a second workpiece to the fitting;    inserting a bearing housing into the clamp assembly and locking the bearing housing into position;    pressurizing a pressuring device to a predetermined hydraulic pressure;    interconnecting a front end of the pressurizing device to a rear end of the hydraulic cylinder;    attaching a drive socket to a rear end of the pressurizing device;    inserting a rotational device into the drive socket;    running the rotational device for a predetermined amount of time;    removing the rotational device from the drive socket and effecting a friction weld between the first and second workpieces;    maintaining hydraulic pressure on the fitting for a predetermined amount of time;    unlocking the bearing housing from the clamp assembly; and    removing the clamp assembly from the welded first and second workpieces.    
   
   
       3 . A portable friction welder configured to apply direct axial load to workpieces via a rotating variable pressure hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a variable pressure hydraulic cylinder with a front end and a rear end; and    a rotational device positioned behind the rear end of the pressurizing device.    
   
   
       5 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , wherein said friction welder is configured to have a total length of about ten inches when interconnected to the clamp assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further comprising a bearing housing, thrusts bearings, and a thrust collar.  
   
   
       7 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 6 , further comprising spring washers installed in the front end of the hydraulic cylinder to maintain axial load across the bearing housing.  
   
   
       8 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 7 , further wherein said spring washers are Belleville washers.  
   
   
       9 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further comprising an interchangeable adapter configured to receive a fitting for a first workpiece, 
 wherein the friction welder is configured to be driven by the rotational device, to be interconnected to a clamp assembly holding a second workpiece, and to effect a friction weld to first and second workpieces.    
   
   
       10 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , wherein said hydraulic cylinder is configured to provide an axial load from zero tons to about one hundred tons.  
   
   
       11 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further wherein said hydraulic cylinder is configured to be pressurized hydraulically with a pump, through the use of an accumulator, and/or manually by turning or squeezing a nut.  
   
   
       12 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further comprising a pressurizing device configured to pressurize the hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       13 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 12 , wherein said pressurizing device is an accumulator.  
   
   
       14 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 13 , wherein said accumulator is selected from the group consisting of selected from the group consisting of a diaphragm, bladder-type, piston-type, and bellow-type accumulator.  
   
   
       15 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further comprising an interchangeable drive socket configured to receive the rotational device.  
   
   
       16 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 15 , wherein said rotational device is an air motor.  
   
   
       17 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 15 , wherein said rotational device is an electric motor.  
   
   
       18 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 4 , further comprising a clamp assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 18 , wherein said clamp assembly includes a clamp and a shroud.  
   
   
       20 . The portable friction welder according to  claim 19 , wherein said shroud includes a purge stem.