Apparatus for induction friction solid state welding

1. An apparatus for induction friction solid state welding, comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end and a work piece receiving bore that extends between the first end and the second end;

first securing means for temporarily securing a first tubular workpiece in the work piece receiving bore;

second securing means for temporarily securing a second tubular workpiece in the work piece receiving bore;

induction heating means;

an actuator to move the induction heating means between an operative position within the work piece receiving bore and a stored position withdrawn from the work piece receiving bore;

an expandable polyhedron frame that moves the induction heating means between the operative position and the stored position;

means for effecting relative movement of the first securing means and the second securing means to bring the first securing means and the second securing means toward and away from each other; and

means for effecting relative rotation of the first securing means and the second securing means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of the first securing means and the second securing means is a stationary chuck and another of the first securing means and the second securing means is a moving chuck.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a fluid actuated actuator acting upon the moving chuck is used as the means to bring the first securing means and the second securing means toward and away from each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the moving chuck has an external spline and is encircled by a torque transmission collar, the torque transmission collar having internal spline which engage the external spline of the moving chuck, whereby the torque transmission collar serves as means for effecting relative rotation of the first securing means and the second securing means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expandable polyhedron is an expandable octahedron.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expandable polyhedron is divaricated.

7. An apparatus for induction friction solid state welding, comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end and a work piece receiving bore that extends between the first end and the second end;

a stationary chuck for temporarily securing a first tubular workpiece in the work piece receiving bore;

a moving chuck for temporarily securing a second tubular workpiece in the work piece receiving bore, the moving chuck having external spline;

an induction heating coil movable by an expandable polyhedron frame between an operative position within the work piece receiving bore and a stored position withdrawn from the work piece receiving bore;

a torque transmission collar encircling the moving chuck, the torque transmission collar having internal spline that interact with the external spline on the moving chuck;

a fluid actuated expandable actuator applying an axial force to the moving chuck to move the moving chuck toward and away the stationary chuck; and

a rotary drive applying a rotary force to the torque transmission collar and thereby effecting rotation of the moving chuck relative to the stationary chuck.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the rotary drive comprises:

external rotor paddles on the torque transmission collar; and

internal stator paddles on the body, and a relationship between the rotor paddles and the stator paddles defining fluid cavities between the torque transmission collar and the body, such that rotation of the torque transmission collar is effected by pumping a working fluid into selected fluid cavities.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the expandable polyhedron is an expandable octahedron.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the expandable polyhedron is divaricated.