Pressure foot clamping apparatus and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeffrey Wood, Mike Matlack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for clamping and controlling flash around a manufacturing tool engaging a workpiece and preventing fill within he workpiece. In one embodiment, a clamp for securing a workpiece during a manufacturing operation includes a housing and a foot biased away from the housing, the foot defining an opening through which a manufacturing tool may pass to engage the workpiece. In another embodiment, the manufacturing tool is a rotating or counter-rotating shoulder friction stir spot welding tool. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the foot defines at least one recess for holding flashing.
Claims29
A clamp for securing a workpiece during friction stir welding, comprising:
- a housing adapted to be coupled to a friction stir welding tool;
- and
- a foot moveably coupled to the housing and biased away from the housing, the foot being adapted to be engaged with and to provide a clamping force against a workpiece, the foot defining an opening through which a working portion of the friction stir welding tool may pass to engage the workpiece.
A clamp for securing a workpiece during friction stir welding, comprising:
- a housing adapted to be coupled to a friction stir welding tool;
- and
- a foot linked to the housing, wherein the foot is biased away from the housing to apply a clamping force to the workpiece and wherein the foot defines at least one recess for retaining flashing material.
A friction stir welding assembly, comprising;
- a dual spindle drive;
- a shoulder tool rotatably driven by the dual spindle drive;
- a pin tool separately rotatable within the shoulder tool driven by the dual spindle drive;
- and
- a pressure foot attached to the drive, the pressure foot arranged to apply a clamping force to the workpiece, the pressure foot substantially surrounding the shoulder tool and at least partially defining at least one recess for retaining flashing material.
A method for friction stir welding, comprising:
- at least partially surrounding a shoulder tool to retain flashing;
- and
- applying a clamping force to a workpiece.
A method for friction stir welding, comprising:
- applying a clamping force to a workpiece;
- plunging a pin tool into the workpiece;
- withdrawing a shoulder tool from contact with the workpiece;
- withdrawing the pin tool from the workpiece;
- returning a shoulder tool to contact with the workpiece;
- and
- containing flashing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.