Multi-shouldered fixed bobbin tools for simultaneous friction stir welding of multiple parallel walls between parts
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsIsrael Stol, John Cobes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for making simultaneously a plurality of parallel friction stir welds includes at least one shank for holding in a chuck or collet of a friction stir welding machine, a plurality of friction stir welding pins, and friction stir welding shoulders including at least four working surfaces adjacent said ins, the shoulders and pins mounted in axial relationship; dimensions of said friction stir welding pins and shanks corresponding to dimensions and spacings of said friction stir welds.
Claims21
A friction friction stir welding tool for simultaneously making a plurality of parallel welds, said friction stir welding tool comprising:
- a plurality of friction stir welding modules, each of said friction stir welding modules comprising:
- at least one friction stir welding pin;
- a pair of workpiece engaging surfaces facing said at least one friction stir welding pin;
- each of said workpiece engaging surfaces being disposed on a shoulder attached to or integral with said at least one friction stir welding pin, whereby said shoulders and pin(s) rotate in unison;
- said friction stir welding modules being connected to each other or integrally formed whereby said modules rotate in unison;
- at least one shank attached to or integral with at least one of said friction stir welding modules, whereby said shank and said modules rotate in unison;
- said at least one shank for engagement with a chuck or collet of a friction stir welding machine to be rotated thereby.
A method of making a plurality of friction stir welds simultaneously to join a pair of workpieces, said method comprising:
- placing said workpieces in juxtaposition;
- moving said workpieces through a FSW machine, said FSW machine having a FSW tool having a plurality of welding modules;
- whereby said plurality of FSW welds are produced by said FSW tool.
A weldment comprising at least two parallel friction stir welds made in a single pass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.