Blade Retention Jaw Structure for Precise Friction Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing friction welding tools for aircraft turbomachine blades lack robustness and compatibility with confined environments, leading to inconsistent weld quality and increased risk of deformation during the welding process.
Innovation Solution
A tooling system comprising a fixed jaw with parallel arms and a movable jaw, designed to minimize deformation and ensure precise alignment, featuring a central part fixed to a vibrating plate, with pressure means for controlled clamping and a configuration that allows the blade to be held by one portion, reducing contact-induced damage and enabling efficient force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gripping device is used to hold the blade during friction welding, then the blade can be securely held and positioned, but the device may deform under significant axial and transverse forces
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is divided into a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, allowing independent optimization of each component's structural strength and function. The fixed jaw provides stable positioning while the movable jaw applies controlled clamping force, distributing mechanical loads to prevent deformation of either component.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable jaw can slide along the parallel arms to adjust clamping position and force, enabling dynamic adaptation to different blade positions and forces during welding. This dynamic capability allows the device to maintain optimal holding stability while distributing forces to prevent structural deformation.
2Volume of moving object
If the gripping device size is reduced to fit confined spaces, then it can be used between previously fixed blades, but the robustness and precision are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel arms are arranged in a configuration that extends in multiple spatial dimensions, allowing the device to achieve sufficient structural rigidity and precision while maintaining a compact overall footprint. This dimensional arrangement enables the tool to fit in confined spaces without sacrificing the robustness needed for precise welding operations.
3Measurement precision
If the blade is held firmly by the gripping device, then correct positioning is ensured, but vibration-induced damage may occur to the blade
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surfaces on both the fixed jaw and movable jaw are specifically designed with appropriate friction characteristics and geometric features to provide localized high-grip zones. This concentrated local gripping ensures precise positioning and stable vibration transmission only at controlled contact points, while the rest of the blade structure remains free from excessive vibration-induced stress.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tooling system enhances the robustness and precision of blade holding, reduces weld defects, and improves the repeatability and quality of the welding process, while being compatible with congested spaces, allowing for automated control and increased efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Friction welding is a process for joining components together, in which heat is generated by friction between the components
Implementation Method 2
a fixed jaw comprising: a central part intended to be fixed to a vibrating plate of a friction welding machine
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Tooling (1) for holding a blade (10) during friction welding thereof to a rotor element (20) and comprising: • a fixed jaw (30) comprising: - a central part (31); - two arms (32) separated by a distance d for receiving at least one portion of said blade (10); - a fixed jaw body (40) comprising bearing surfaces (41) and a bore (42) for receiving at least one portion of said blade (10), the bearing surfaces (41) being intended to come into contact with said blade (10); • a movable jaw (50) comprising a movable bearing surface (51) for coming into contact with said blade (10); • pressure means (70) for moving said movable jaw (50) towards the fixed jaw body (40) for pressing said blade (10).