US 11,077,517 B2Granted

Portable friction stir welding repair tool

AssigneeConcurrent Technologies Corporation

InventorsMark. T. Smitherman, Timothy G. Freidhoff, Paul I. Sleppy, Daniel B. George, II, James C. McHenry, Alan W. Baum

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Abstract

Embodiments can include a self-reacting friction stir weld (“FSW”) tool. The device can be configured to be portable and produce full penetration welds in situ. The FSW tool can include a system that cuts out a portion of the structure surrounding a defective portion of the structure. A work-piece can be inserted within the removed portion and friction stir welded to the structure via the FSW tool. A superior repair as compared to merely welding the defect can be achieved by replacing a portion of the structure surrounding the defect as opposed to merely welding the defect (e.g., the crack). A controlled geometric shaped weld beam can be generated for the interface between the work-piece and the structure, which may led to a stronger, more reliable weld.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A tool, comprising:

a mounting gear securable to a portion of a planar member, the mounting gear having a rotate pin aperture;
a spindle arm rotatingly securable to the mounting gear, the spindle arm further comprising a tool tip aperture and a pin aperture;
a drive gear rotatingly securable to the spindle arm and configured to engage the mounting gear;
at least one of a tool tip and an end mill bit, each configured to be received by the tool tip aperture;
and,
a rotating pin configured to be inserted through both the rotate pin aperture of the mounting gear and the pin aperture of the spindle arm so as to allow the spindle arm to be rotated relative to the mounting gear;
wherein the tool tip aperture is configured to rotatingly engage with each of the tool tip and the end mill bit independently;
and,
wherein when the drive gear is actuated, the spindle arm is manipulated to cause the tool tip aperture to traverse a path defined by a geometric shape of the mounting gear.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/832,943Filed 6 Dec 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Dec 2016
Published: US 2018/0161915 A114 Jun 2018
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B23K 20/125
Characterised by the apparatus: rotary tool drive mechanism
B23K 20/123
Using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding: controlling or monitoring the welding process
B23K 20/1255
Characterised by the apparatus: tools therefor, e.g. characterised by the shape of the probe
B23K 20/127
Using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding: friction stir welding involving a mechanical connection

Family

Application62/430,416Us provisional application · filed 6 Dec 2016
US 2018/0161915 A1Pre-grant publication · published 14 Jun 2018
US 11,077,517 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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