Abstract:
A method and apparatus for forming and consolidating organic matrix composites. An organic matrix composite panel comprising laid-up prepregs is placed between sheets of a susceptor material that is susceptible to inductive heating to form a workpiece. The resulting workpiece is placed within upper and lower dies formed of a material that is not susceptible to inductive heating. An induction coil embedded within the dies is energized and inductively heats the susceptor sheets surrounding the panel. The sheets in turn conductively heat the organic matrix composite panel. A pressure zone between the workpiece and one of the dies is pressurized to form the workpiece to the contour of a forming surface on one of the dies. The pressure in the pressure zone is maintained on the workpiece until the organic matrix composite panel is fully consolidated and formed.
Abstract:
A welding apparatus and method for forming arc welds of thin sheet material. The apparatus forms a first pool of molten material and then discontinues the welding to permit a portion of that pool to solidify and then reestablishes a new arc at point along the periphery of the solidified previous pool and continuing this operation to form the finished weld bead. Thus, lower welding heats may be employed and greater tolerance in the welding method and apparatus is possible.
Abstract:
Method of laser welding sheet metal protected by using low-vaporizing-temperature materials, whereby, before being subjected to a laser welding beam along a weld area, two metal sheets are placed on top of each other in such a manner that at least one layer of the said protecting material is located between the sheets at the weld area and that the weld area communicates directly externally of the weld area between the sheets whereby gases generated by vaporization of said protective material may escape from the weld area.
Abstract:
A steel blank is placed in intimate contact along a joint interface with a blank of another metal, and the two blanks are welded along and throughout the interface by a superhigh-output electron beam thereby to obtain a metallurgical welded joint and to form an integral blank which is rolled or otherwise formed into a clad steel article.
Abstract:
Mash seam welding process and apparatus, wherein two plate-like workpieces having different thickness values are fed and guided by a guiding device such that a length W.sub.H of contact of the thick plate-like workpiece with one of two roller electrodes is smaller than a length W.sub.M of contact of the thin plate-like workpiece with the other roller electrode. In this arrangement, the amount of mashing of the thick plate-like workpiece by the roller electrode is made larger than that of the thin plate-like workpiece by the other roller electrode, so that an interface of the two plate-like workpieces is positioned intermediate between the pair of roller electrodes, whereby a weld nugget formed intermediate between the roller electrodes extends across the interface, permitting the weld to have a sufficient strength owing to a nugget ratio, which is a ratio of a width dimension W.sub.N of the weld nugget in the direction of the interface to a width dimension W.sub.G of the interface.
Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for positioning, clamping and welding together proximal edge portions of two sheet blanks. The apparatus incorporates a high energy laser and sheet clamping mechanism used to clamp each sheet blank in place between an associated electromagnet and ferromagnetic clamping shoes. The shoes are positioned above a corresponding electromagnet and are vertically movable there towards on the activation of the electromagnet. In use, the sheets are held in place with the respective sheet blanks sandwiched between the associated electromagnets and shoes with the proximal edge portions of the sheets abutting. The high energy laser is movably provided in the apparatus to move an emitted laser beam along a predetermined path over the abutting proximal edge portions to perform welding operations.
Abstract:
A system for gauging the relative positions of two opposing joint edges on sheet metal components prior to welding. The system comprises a gauging assembly including two pairs of gauging pins which are movable between a retracted position and a gauging position. Each pair of pins defines a separate edge contact line. When each joint edge has contacted both pins in a respective pair, electrical circuitry indicates as much and the components are clamped in this relationship.
Abstract:
A method for cutting steel in which an operator uses high pressure propane and oxygen. The operator heats the steel locally until it is molten, positions a cutting torch with a high angle of incidence relative to the molten steel, and then blasts high pressure oxygen at the molten metal. Such blast serves two purposes, heating the molten metal so it is less viscous and then blowing the molten metal away from the steel sheet creating a cutting trench. The cutting torch is positioned relative to the cutting trench to provide even heat. The cutting torch is then moved generally parallel to the cutting trench to lengthen the cut.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system for welding a joint edge of a first sheet metal component to a joint edge of a second sheet metal component to form a weld joint. The system includes a gauging sub-system which positions each joint edge at a desired distance from a weld line. A sub-system then clamps the sheet metal components in this relationship. A joint edge butting sub-system then moves the clamped components toward each other until the edges are in butting relationship. A laser welding sub-system then moves a welding head along the butted edges to form the weld joint. The laser beam, which forms the weld joint, passes through an air shield in the welding mechanism so that weld splatter from the welding zone is carried off by an air stream and does not reach the welding head optics. The invention also relates to a method of laser welding.