| 摘要 |
Inflatable rings for supporting friction welding workpieces, and associated systems and methods. A support assembly (874) for joining multiple workpieces in a representative embodiment includes two drive rings (875), each carried by a corresponding drive ring carriage (876). Each drive ring (875) can include a generally cylindrical body (890) carrying one or more inflatable members (880) that extend around some or all of the circumference of the region enclosed by the drive ring (875). Each of the inflatable members (880) can be inflated with a suitable fluid (e.g., a gas or liquid) so as to expand radially inwardly (as indicated by arrows I) to engage the outer circumference, periphery or other outwardly-facing surface of a workpiece. |
