公开(公告)号：US20170304926A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15496606

申请日：2017-04-25

Applicant: The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System

Inventor： Raymond C. Zowarka ,  Ben Rech ,  Joe Koo ,  Jon Hahne ,  David N. Prater ,  Charles E. Penney ,  Bryan Bunkowski ,  Siddharth Pratap

IPC: B23K11/24 ,  H02K5/16 ,  H02K5/14 ,  B23K11/02 ,  F16C19/18 ,  B23K11/00 ,  F16C27/04 ,  H02K31/02 ,  F16C33/32 ,  B23K101/28

CPC classification number: B23K11/241 ,  B23K11/002 ,  B23K11/02 ,  B23K31/02 ,  B23K31/027 ,  B23K2101/06 ,  B23K2101/28 ,  B23K2101/36 ,  B23K2103/04 ,  F16C19/184 ,  F16C19/543 ,  F16C27/04 ,  F16C33/32 ,  F16C33/62 ,  F16C2206/40 ,  F16C2380/26 ,  H02K5/14 ,  H02K5/165 ,  H02K31/02

Abstract: Described herein are methods and system for welding, for example, girders. The method may include activating a homopolar generator. The method may include applying a force to two metal girders at a desired coupling joint. The method may include generating an electrical pulse using the homopolar generator and conducting the electrical pulse to the desired coupling joint to increase a temperature of the girders. The method may include forming a weld at the desired coupling joint attaching the two metal girders at the desired coupling joint. In some embodiments, the homopolar generator may include a radial bearing rotor including a rotatable shaft and a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly may include nonmagnetic bearings. The homopolar generator may include a field coil. The homopolar generator may include a brush actuation mechanism which when activated engages a plurality of brush devices to the radial bearing rotor.