Patent ID: 6070781
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
In a system for welding a first sheet metal component to a second sheet metal component, an edge butting sub-system for butting a joint edge of said first sheet metal component against a joint edge of said second sheet metal component, comprising:a) a clamping assembly;b) said clamping assembly including a first clamping sub-assembly for clamping said first sheet metal component and a second clamping sub-assembly for clamping said second sheet metal component, both of said clamping sub-assemblies being mounted on a base;c) said second clamping sub-assembly being mounted on said base for travel toward and away from said first clamping sub-assembly whereby the joint edges of the sheet metal components can be brought into butting relationship with each other;d) a motor connected to said second clamping sub-assembly and being operable to move said second clamping sub-assembly toward said first clamping sub-assembly;e) said motor including a driven element connected to said second clamping sub-assembly through a connection which permits relative movement between said driven element and said one clamping sub-assembly;f) said connection including an expandable fluid chamber, the introduction of fluid under pressure to said chamber at a predetermined pressure being effective to move said second clamping assembly toward said first clamping assembly.