Patent ID: 9644769
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B23K,F16L

Claim:
1. A system for joining metal workpieces together, the system comprising: an intermediate clamp, for securely engaging an intermediate tubular workpiece positioned between two workpieces to define respective gaps between tubular open ends thereof, and for at least partially rotating the intermediate tubular workpiece about an axis thereof, each of the two tubular workpieces having at least one contact surface at the open end thereof facing respective intermediate contact surfaces of the intermediate tubular workpiece; a pair of induction coils positionable in the respective gaps, for heating the open ends of the two workpieces in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to provide hot portions therein extending to a predetermined distance from said at least one contact surface, and for heating the intermediate tubular workpiece in the non-oxidizing atmosphere to provide hot intermediate portions therein extending to preselected distances from the respective intermediate contact surfaces; each said induction coil being removable from the gap in which it is located once the hot portions and the hot intermediate portions are heated to at least a hot working temperature at which the metal is subject to plastic deformation; and a pair of workpiece clamps for moving each of the two workpieces to the intermediate tubular workpiece, upon removal of the induction coils from the gaps, and pressing said at least one contact surface on each of the two workpieces against the intermediate contact surfaces of the intermediate tubular workpiece respectively while the intermediate tubular workpiece is rotated about the axis, to cause plastic deformation in at least part of the hot portions and the hot intermediate portions, for bonding the two workpieces respectively with the intermediate tubular workpiece therebetween.