Abstract: The present invention consists in the apparatus for use in welding a first component and a second component together by friction welding, comprising drive means operative to generate reciprocatory movement, a component holder operative to hold said first component, linking means operative to transmit reciprocatory movement from the drive means to the component holder so that in operation said first component performs reciprocatory heat-generating movement, pressure means operative to exert pressure on the component holder so that in operation said first component also performs welding movement, the linking means being such as to accommodate that welding movement during friction welding and the pressure means being such as to accommodate that heat-generating movement during friction welding.

Abstract: A friction welding reciprocator comprises first chamber means defining a first chamber containing a substantially fixed volume of hydraulic fluid, second chamber means defining a second chamber containing a substantially fixed volume of hydraulic fluids, reciprocable driving means comprising a plurality of individual reciprocable elements, reciprocable driven means, a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said reciprocable elements, and adjustment means; wherein reciprocation of said reciprocable elements by said reciprocating mechanism causes a local variation in the shape and volume of said first chamber and complementary local variation in the shape and volume of said second chamber, and wherein said reciprocating mechanism is couplable to said reciprocable elements so as to cause reciprocation of said elements at the same frequency with unvarying amplitudes, and said adjustable means is adjustable to vary the relative phases of reciprocation of said reciprocable elements to a condition where th

Abstract: In a known method of friction welding two workpieces together, one workpiece is reciprocated relative to the other while the workpieces are pressed together. When sufficient frictional heat has been generated, relative movement is caused to cease and the workpieces become welded. Apparatus for carrying out that method comprises power-driven reciprocatory means which carries the reciprocating workpiece. To balance the reciprocatory means there are counterweights which move in the opposite direction to the reciprocatory means. Each counterweight is constrained by guide means to move along a rectilinear path. Each counterweight is coupled to the reciprocatory means by reversing means, which comprises a pivoted rocker, first linking means and second linking means. Each linking means may be constituted by a flexible blade which is anchored in a non-pivotal manner to the reciprocatory means, the rocker or the counterweight, as the case may be.

Abstract: In one method of friction welding two workpieces together, one workpiece is reciprocated while the other is pressed against it. When sufficient frictional heat has been generated, relative movement is caused to cease and the workpieces became welded. The invention provides apparatus comprising mechanism for effecting reciprocation of a ram (11) and for reducing its stroke rapidly to zero. The mechanism comprises rotatable eccentrics (3, 3') with followers (4, 4') connected by flexible blades (7, 7') to reciprocable elements (5, 5'). Those elements are in turn coupled by flexible blades (10, 10') to opposite ends (8, 8') of a rockable linking body ( 9, 101). A central part of the body is connected by a flexible blade (12) to the ram. The eccentrics rotate at the same speed. When in phase they reciprocate the linking body and ram, but when out of phase the linking body rocks and the ram remains stationary. Adjustment means (41) enables the phase of the eccentrics to be rapidly altered while they rotate.