System for preventing the formation of martensite in metals joining applications

Abstract

A system for joining materials such as metal alloys that includes a first component, wherein the first component includes a first alloy having a known austenization temperature below which martensite forms when the component is heated and then cooled at a predetermined rate of cooling; a second component, wherein the second component includes a second alloy; and a welding apparatus operative to create a weld between the first and second components without crossing the austenization temperature of the first alloy.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 ) A system for joining materials, comprising:
 (a) a first component, wherein the first component includes a first alloy having a known austenization temperature below which martensite forms when the component is heated and then cooled at a predetermined rate of cooling;   (b) a second component, wherein the second component includes a second alloy; and   (c) a welding apparatus operative to create a weld between the first and second components without crossing the austenization temperature of the first alloy.   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component further includes heat-treated steel. 
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component is a length of train rail. 
     
     
         4 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second component further includes an appurtenance, wherein the appurtenance is operative to provide a surface to which a signal wire or other device may be attached. 
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 4 , wherein the appurtenance is a stud, bolt, or block. 
     
     
         6 ) The system  claim 1 , wherein the second component further includes at least one low-sulfur, low-lead alloy. 
     
     
         7 ) The system  claim 1 , wherein the second component further includes C464 Naval Brass, C172 Class 4 copper, C260 Brass, Muntz Metal. Ni-12P braze alloy, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the welding apparatus is operative to perform solid-state welding. 
     
     
         9 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the welding apparatus is an inertia friction welding machine. 
     
     
         10 ) The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second component is a hex stud that further includes C464 brass, and wherein the inertia friction welding machine operates at a speed of 4000-4500 rpms, an inertial mass of 1.21 WK 2 , and a thrust load of about 5200-lbs force to 6000-lbs force. 
     
     
         11 ) A system for joining materials, comprising:
 (a) a first component, wherein the first component includes a first alloy having a known austenization temperature below which martensite forms when the component is heated and then cooled at a predetermined rate of cooling;   (b) a second component, wherein the second component includes at least one low-sulfur, low-lead alloy; and   (c) a welding apparatus operative to create a weld between the first and second components without crossing the austenization temperature of the first alloy.   
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first component further includes heat-treated steel. 
     
     
         13 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first component is a length of train rail. 
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second component further includes an appurtenance, wherein the appurtenance is operative to provide a surface to which a signal wire or other device may be attached, and wherein the appurtenance is a stud, bolt, or block. 
     
     
         15 ) The system  claim 11 , wherein the second component further includes C464 Naval Brass, C172 Class 4 copper, C260 Brass, Muntz Metal. Ni-12P braze alloy, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein the welding apparatus is operative to perform solid-state welding, and wherein the welding apparatus is an inertia friction welding machine. 
     
     
         17 ) The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second component is a hex stud that further includes C464 brass, and wherein the inertia friction welding machine operates at a speed of 4000-4500 rpms, an inertial mass of 1.21 WK 2 , and a thrust load of about 5200-lbs force to 6000-lbs force. 
     
     
         18 ) A system for joining materials, comprising:
 (a) a first component, wherein the first component includes a first alloy having a known austenization temperature below which martensite forms when the component is heated and then cooled at a predetermined rate of cooling, wherein the first component further includes heat-treated steel, and wherein the first component is a length of train rail;   (b) a second component, wherein the second component includes at least one low-sulfur, low-lead alloy, wherein the second component further includes an appurtenance that is operative to provide a surface to which a signal wire or other device may be attached, and wherein the appurtenance is a stud, bolt, or block; and   (c) a welding apparatus operative to create a weld between the first and second components without crossing the austenization temperature of the first alloy, wherein the welding apparatus is operative to perform solid-state welding, and wherein the welding apparatus is an inertia friction welding machine.   
     
     
         19 ) The system  claim 18 , wherein the second component further includes C464 Naval Brass, C172 Class 4 copper, C260 Brass, Muntz Metal. Ni-12P braze alloy, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 ) The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second component is a hex stud that further includes C464 brass, and wherein the inertia friction welding machine operates at a speed of 4000-4500 rpms, an inertial mass of 1.21 WK 2 , and a thrust load of about 5200-lbs force to 6000-lbs force.