Phase Change Assembly For A Linear Friction Welding System

Abstract

A phase change assembly for a linear friction welding system includes a single input shaft and a single output shaft with respective first and second gears, and a carriage rotatably supporting a third gear operably connected to the first and second gear and one of a roller and a fourth gear operably connected to the first and second gear. A linear actuator is operably connected to the carriage. A first stop is configured to stop movement of the carriage by the linear actuator in a first direction to provide a first predetermined phase relationship between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a second stop is configured to stop movement of the carriage by the linear actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction to provide a second predetermined phase relationship between the input shaft and the output shaft.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A phase change assembly for a linear friction welding system, comprising:
 a sole input shaft defining a first fixed axis;   a first gear mounted to the sole input shaft;   a sole output shaft defining a second fixed axis;   a second gear mounted to the sole output shaft;   a carriage rotatably supporting a third gear operably connected to the first and second gear, and rotatably supporting one of a roller and a fourth gear, the one of the roller and the fourth gear operably connected to the first and second gear;   a linear actuator operably connected to the carriage;   a first stop configured to stop movement of the carriage by the linear actuator in a first direction to provide a first predetermined phase relationship between the sole input shaft and the sole output shaft; and   a second stop configured to stop movement of the carriage by the linear actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction to provide a second predetermined phase relationship between the sole input shaft and the sole output shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The phase change assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is operably connected to the carriage by a transfer plate extending from the carriage and coupled to a piston of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The phase change assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first stop comprises a bolt threadedly engaged with the transfer plate. 
     
     
         4 . The phase change assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second stop comprises a bolt threadedly connected to a fixed support structure of the phase change assembly and aligned with the transfer plate. 
     
     
         5 . The phase change assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the linear actuator is a hydraulic fluid linear actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The phase change assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the carriage is located between the first gear and the second gear.   
     
     
         7 . The phase change assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a timing component operably connected to the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, and the one of the roller and the fourth gear.   
     
     
         8 . The phase change assembly of  claim 7  wherein the one of the roller and the fourth gear is the fourth gear. 
     
     
         9 . The phase change assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the timing component is a timing belt.