Apparatus and system for unitized friction stir welded structures and associated method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKevin Slattery
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly for positioning a structural assembly for friction stir welding, and a system and method for friction stir welding the structural assembly are provided. The assembly includes an engaging structure and at least one tooling block capable of engaging the engaging structure, as well as a substructure positioned adjacent to the engaging structure and tooling block. The substructure and engaging structure capable of being friction stir welded together to form a butt joint therebetween.
Claims34
An assembly for positioning a structural assembly for friction stir welding comprising:
- an engaging structure;
- at least one tooling block capable of engaging the engaging structure;
- and
- a substructure positioned adjacent to the engaging structure and tooling block, the substructure and engaging structure capable of being friction stir welded together.
A system for friction stir welding a structural assembly comprising:
- an engaging structure;
- at least one tooling block capable of engaging the engaging structure;
- a substructure positioned adjacent to the engaging structure and tooling block in an abutting configuration to define at least one interface between the substructure and engaging structure;
- and
- a probe operable to friction stir weld the engaging structure and substructure member together along the interface.
A method for friction stir welding a structural assembly comprising:
- positioning at least one tooling block to engage an engaging structure;
- positioning a substructure adjacent to the engaging structure and tooling block in an abutting configuration to define at least one interface between the substructure and engaging structure;
- and
- urging a probe along the interface to friction stir weld the engaging structure and substructure together along the interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.