Friction stir welding tool and welding method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael Philip Shemkunas, Scott Anthony Rose, Mario A. Reyes, Sean Michael Thuston, Bryan Tweedy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a pin configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces and to rotate to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line. A housing is coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing. The housing includes a main body having one or more cooling channels having one or more arcuate segments. One or more sliders are coupled to the main body of the housing.
Claims20
A friction stir welding (FSW) tool comprising:
- a pin configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces and to rotate to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line;
- a housing coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing, wherein the housing comprises a main body having one or more cooling channels having one or more arcuate segments;
- and
- one or more sliders coupled to the main body of the housing.
A method for a friction stir welding (FSW) tool, the FSW tool comprising:
- a pin configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces and to rotate to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line;
- a housing coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing, wherein the housing comprises a main body having one or more cooling channels having one or more arcuate segments;
- and
- one or more sliders coupled to the main body of the housing, the method comprising:
- flowing a coolant through the one or more cooling channels;
- and
- engaging one or more portions of the two workpieces with the one or more sliders.
A friction stir welding (FSW) tool comprising:
- a pin configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces and to rotate to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line;
- a housing coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing, wherein the housing comprises a main body having a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel, wherein the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel include curved segments extending around one or more portions of a bearing;
- a first slider at a first end of the housing, wherein the first slider extends over one or more first top portions of a top surface of the main body and one or more first side portions of side walls of the main body;
- a second slider at a second end of the housing, wherein the second slider extends over one or more second top portions of the top surface of the main body and one or more second side portions of the side walls of the main body;
- a lower shoulder secured to the housing, wherein the lower shoulder comprises a bore, and wherein a portion of the pin extends through the bore;
- and
- a upper shoulder that surrounds the pin and is configured to be rotated during the FSW process, the upper shoulder configured to contact respective outer surfaces of the work pieces during the FSW process such that the work pieces are sandwiched between the upper shoulder and a support surface of the lower shoulder enclosed in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.