Tooling for holding thin metal parts making up a hollow structure in order to enable them to be friction-welded together

Abstract

A tooling for holding parts in position to enable them to be friction-welded together in order to construct a hollow structure, the tooling includes: a framework made up of two frames for receiving the parts for welding together in their positions for forming the hollow structure, the parts including preformed parts and an intermediate section; shape-holder members for holding the hollow structure, associating backing thrust members and lateral grip members for gripping the outsides of the preformed parts; anvils suitable for being placed inside the set of preformed parts beside the section; and clamping elements operable to take up a clamping position in which they cause opposing thrust to be applied against the anvil and the inside face of a preformed part, its part itself bears against the shape-holder members.

1 . Holder tooling for holding parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) in order to enable them to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure ( 1 ), said hollow structure ( 1 ) being made up of a set of preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) brought successively into abutment against at least one internal stiffener section ( 4 ) that is provided at the ends of its section with flanges ( 8 ,  9 ) for receiving in overlap edges of the preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ), the tooling including at least one anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) suitable for receiving the adjacent edges of the parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) for welding together pressed thereagainst, and reversible clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) suitable for causing said edges to be subjected to an opposing thrust between the anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) and shape-holder members ( 25 ,  26 ) of the hollow structure ( 1 ), wherein the tooling comprises:
 a framework ( 31 ) for receiving the parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) for welding together in their positions for forming the hollow structure ( 1 ), the framework ( 31 ) being subdivided into two frames ( 12 ,  13 ) provided with reversible junction means ( 17 ,  18 ) for joining them together in an assembled position on either side of the hollow structure ( 1 ) that is to be obtained, on either side of the general plane in which it extends;   said shape-holder members ( 25 ,  26 ,  27 ) for holding the preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) installed inside the framework ( 31 ), which members are carried by the framework ( 31 );   at least one anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) suitable for being placed inside the set of preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) installed inside the framework ( 31 ), being placed laterally relative to the section ( 4 ), between its flanges ( 8 ,  9 ); and   said clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) suitable for being placed inside the set of preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) installed inside the framework ( 31 ), which clamping means are movable into a clamping position in which they cause opposing thrust to be applied between the anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) and the inside face of at least one preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ) associated with the clamping means.   
     
     
         2 . Holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape-holder members comprise at least one lateral grip member ( 27 ) for gripping an outer preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ) of the hollow structure ( 1 ) with which it is associated. 
     
     
         3 . Holder tooling according to  claim 2 , wherein the lateral grip member ( 27 ) is mounted on the framework ( 31 ) via movement means ( 28 ) enabling it to move between a disengaged position in which its grip on the preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) associated therewith is capable of being interrupted, and a clamping position in which it is suitable for exerting grip on the outer side of said preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ). 
     
     
         4 . Holder tooling according to  claim 2 , wherein the lateral grip member ( 27 ) includes a jaw ( 29 ) of shape that is complementary to the portion of the preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ) with which it is associated and against which it is suitable for coming into engagement. 
     
     
         5 . Holder tooling according to  claim 2 , wherein the lateral grip member ( 27 ) is subdivided into a plurality of individual lateral grip members that are distributed along the framework ( 31 ) along its side extending in the extension direction of the hollow structure ( 1 ) that is to be obtained. 
     
     
         6 . Holder tooling according to  claim 5 , wherein the individual lateral grip members ( 27 ) are individually mounted to move on the framework ( 31 ). 
     
     
         7 . Holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape-holder members comprise backing thrust members ( 25 ,  26 ) that are individually mounted on one and/or the other of the frames ( 12 ,  13 ) via position-adjustment means. 
     
     
         8 . Holder tooling according to  claim 7 , wherein the backing thrust members ( 25 ,  26 ) are distributed at least along a pair of length members ( 14 ,  15 ) forming part of each of the frames ( 12 ,  13 ), the length members ( 14 ,  15 ) of the pair leaving between them a path ( 16 ) for passing a welding tool towards the preformed parts placed in overlap on the flanges of the section. 
     
     
         9 . Holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) are arranged as deformable members that are movable between said clamping position and an assembly position in which they are suitable for being inserted inside the set of preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) installed inside the framework ( 31 ). 
     
     
         10 . Holder tooling according to  claim 9 , wherein the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) are arranged as at least one inflatable bladder ( 24 ). 
     
     
         11 . Holder tooling according to  claim 10 , wherein the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) comprise a body ( 23 ) that is suitable for bearing against said inside face of the preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ) and that houses the bladder ( 24 ) suitable for bearing against said anvil ( 19 ,  20 ). 
     
     
         12 . Holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the framework ( 31 ) includes handle members ( 30 ) suitable for engaging overturning means forming parts of a stand of a friction-welding machine. 
     
     
         13 . Holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the anvils ( 19 ,  20 ) are at least two in number, being associated with a single section ( 4 ) and being suitable for being placed laterally on either side thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method of implementing holder tooling according to  claim 1 , wherein the method includes performing the following operations:
 placing the section ( 4 ) in position on one of the frames ( 12 ,  13 );   placing the anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) in position on said frame ( 12 ,  13 ) beside the section ( 4 ) on the side allocated thereto;   placing the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) associated with said anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) on said frame ( 12 ,  13 ) on its corresponding lateral side;   docking the parts for welding ( 2 ,  3 ) in succession against the section ( 4 ) by sliding their corresponding walls at least under the anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) and possibly also under the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) and over at least one of the shape-holder members ( 25 ,  26 );   putting the other frame ( 12 ,  13 ) in place and joining the frame together; and   operating the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ).   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the shape-holder members comprise at least one lateral grip member ( 27 ) for gripping an outer preformed part ( 2 ,  3 ) of the hollow structure ( 1 ) with which it is associated, and wherein the method includes operating said lateral grip means ( 27 ) prior to operating the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the anvils ( 19 ,  20 ) are at least two in number, being associated with a single section ( 4 ) and being suitable for being placed laterally on either side thereof, and wherein the method includes after the parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) have been welded together in one of the large faces of the hollow structure ( 1 ) that is to be obtained, turning the framework ( 31 ) over in order to weld the parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) together in the other large face of the hollow structure ( 1 ) that is to be obtained. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein implementing the clamping means ( 21 ,  22 ) consists in applying lateral thrust against the anvil ( 19 ,  20 ) to cause the flanges ( 8 ,  9 ) of the section ( 4 ) to bear against the corresponding edges of the preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ), the shape-holder members ( 25 ,  26 ) constituting members providing opposing thrust against which said preformed parts ( 2 ,  3 ) are respectively pressed.