Patent ID: 9649717
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B23K,H01R

Claim:
1. A method for welding stranded metals and metal alloys using a current generator, said method comprising: assembling a workpiece comprising a first member, said first member comprising a plurality of strands; positioning said workpiece between a first electrode and a second electrode, said second electrode being aligned with said first electrode along a longitudinal axis, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are electrically coupled to said current generator; applying a clamping force to said workpiece; positioning a width-determining fixture between said first electrode and said second electrode around said workpiece to define a welding volume having a width, said width determining fixture comprising a first side stop laterally opposed from a second side stop, wherein said first side stop is positioned on a first side of said workpiece and said second side stop is positioned on a second side of said workpiece; and applying a current through said workpiece to heat said workpiece, wherein said first side stop and said second side stop contain hot or molten metal within said width while said current is applied such that a width of said workpiece does not increase beyond said width of said welding volume, and wherein said hot or molten metal is contained within said width of said welding volume without inhibiting relative movement of said first electrode and said second electrode along said longitudinal axis.