High strength friction stir welding
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEdward Litwinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A precipitation hardened structural assembly is provided, including a first structural member and a second structural member positioned adjacent to the first structural member such that the first and second structural members define an interface therebetween. At least one friction stir weld joint joins the first structural member to the second structural member at least partially along the interface. The first and second structural members and the friction stir weld joint are solution heat treated at a first predetermined temperature schedule and precipitation heat treated at a second predetermined temperature schedule and wherein the friction stir weld joint comprises a refined grain structure having grain size of less than about 5 microns.
Claims33
A precipitation hardened structural assembly, comprising:
- a first structural member;
- a second structural member positioned adjacent to said first structural member such that said first and second structural members define an interface therebetween;
- and
- at least one friction stir weld joint joining said first structural member to said second structural member at least partially along said interface, said first and second structural members and said friction stir weld joint being solution heat treated at a first predetermined temperature schedule and precipitation heat treated at a second predetermined temperature schedule and wherein said friction stir weld joint comprises a refined grain structure having grain size of less than about 5 microns.
An apparatus for attachment to a rotatable spindle for forming a friction stir weld joint, comprising:
- a friction stir welding tool in rotatable communication with the spindle, said friction stir welding tool defining a cavity;
- and
- at least one heater adapted to thermally communicate with said friction stir welding tool to thereby heat said tool, said at least one heater being at least partially received in said cavity of said friction stir welding tool.
An apparatus for friction stir welding at least one structural member, comprising:
- a machine having a rotatable spindle;
- a friction stir welding tool in rotatable communication with said spindle;
- and
- at least one heater adapted to thermally communicate with said friction stir welding tool to thereby heat said tool, said at least one heater being structured so as to be electrically insulated from the at least one structural member.
A method of forming a friction stir weld joint, comprising:
- mounting a friction stir welding tool to a rotatable spindle such that the friction stir welding tool rotates with the spindle;
- heating the friction stir welding tool with at least one heater to thereby inhibit grain growth in the weld joint;
- subsequent to said heating step, inserting the friction stir welding tool into at least one structural member;
- and
- moving the friction stir welding tool through the at least one structural member to form the friction stir weld joint.
A method of manufacturing a structural assembly, comprising:
- forming a friction stir weld joint in at least one structural member using a rotating friction stir welding tool to construct the structural assembly;
- and
- heating the friction stir weld tool prior to and during said forming step with at least one heater to thereby inhibit grain growth in the weld joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.