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US 12,594,620 B2Granted
Instrumented tool handler for friction stir welding
AssigneeMazak Corporation
InventorsRodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a head, a tool holder and a body between the head and the tool holder and attached to the head and the tool holder. The body may include a plurality of cooling fins. An interior of the body may include a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a torque sensor, and a communication node in electronic communication with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the torque sensor. The communication node may be in Bluetooth communication with a computing device.
Claims12
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool holder rotatable about an axis;
- an upper machine tool connector portion of the tool holder configured to connect to a machine tool;
- a central bore of the tool holder having a lower opening to receive a head for friction stirring a workpiece, the tool holder configured to support the head in the central bore as the machine tool urges the head downwardly against the workpiece and rotates the head to cause the head to friction stir the workpiece;
- a load sensor in the central bore of the tool holder between the tool holder and the head along the axis with the head received in the central bore, the load sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- a spacer in the central bore between the load sensor and the head along the axis and directly contacting the load sensor and the head with the head received in the central bore, the spacer configured to be urged upwardly and engaged with the load sensor as the machine tool urges the head downwardly against the workpiece, the spacer rotatable with the tool holder;
- the load sensor configured to detect a vertical load between the head and the workpiece via the engagement between the spacer and the load sensor as the machine tool urges the head downwardly against the workpiece;
- a temperature sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- and
- a communication node rotatable with the tool holder and operatively connected to the load sensor and the temperature sensor, the communication node operable to wirelessly communicate load sensor data and temperature sensor data.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool holder rotatable about an axis;
- a machine tool connector portion of the tool holder configured to connect to a machine tool;
- a central bore of the tool holder to receive a head;
- a load sensor in the central bore of the tool holder between the tool holder and the head along the axis with the head received in the central bore, the load sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- a spacer in the central bore between the load sensor and the head along the axis with the head received in the central bore, the spacer rotatable with the tool holder;
- a temperature sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- and
- a communication node rotatable with the tool holder and operatively connected to the load sensor and the temperature sensor, the communication node operable to wirelessly communicate load sensor data and temperature sensor data;
- and
- an induction coil rotatable with the tool holder, the induction coil operable to provide electric current as the tool holder rotates.
7 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool holder rotatable about an axis;
- a machine tool connector portion of the tool holder configured to connect to a machine tool;
- a central bore of the tool holder to receive a head;
- a load sensor in the central bore of the tool holder between the tool holder and the head along the axis with the head received in the central bore, the load sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- a spacer in the central bore between the load sensor and the head along the axis with the head received in the central bore, the spacer rotatable with the tool holder;
- a temperature sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
- a communication node rotatable with the tool holder and operatively connected to the load sensor and the temperature sensor, the communication node operable to wirelessly communicate load sensor data and temperature sensor data;
- and
- a battery and an induction coil that are rotatable with the tool holder.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.