Energy storage apparatus for magnetic pulse welding and forming

Abstract

An energy storage system for use in a magnetic pulse welding and forming apparatus includes a bank of capacitors and a very-low inductance conductive bus system interconnecting the capacitors. The bus system provides the ability to generate a very high frequency, short duration impulse which is needed for welding. The bus system includes first, second and third flat bus panels disposed in closely spaced overlying relation. The second, or middle, bus panel is the “hot” bus and is electrically insulated from the first (lower) and third (upper) bus panels by sheets of electrically insulating material. The first and third bus panels are connected together cooperatively form a ground bus. The bus system overlies the upper ends of the capacitors wherein the second bus panel is electrically interconnected to the respective hot contacts of the capacitors, and further wherein the ground bus is electrically interconnected with the respective ground contacts of the plurality of capacitors. The energy storage system further includes an energy source connected to the capacitors, a discharge device, a charging control device, and a discharge control device for selectively initiating discharge of energy stored in the capacitors. The bus system further includes removable connector elements that are selectively removable for controlling the total number capacitors utilized in the energy storage bank.