Rotatable tool and apparatus therefor
AssigneeTol-O-Matic, Inc.
InventorsKeith Hochhalter, Mike Seiler, Drew Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction stir weld apparatus having a linear drive actuator and a separate friction stir weld device. The linear actuator and the friction stir weld device are driven by concentric motors. In the preferred embodiment, the thrust member of the actuator is connected to the friction stir weld device within or adjacent to the friction stir weld device motor to advance and retract the friction stir weld deice along a linear axis concentric with the actuator and friction stir weld device motors.
Claims30
A friction stir weld apparatus comprising:
- a linear guide mechanism;
- a linear drive actuator fixed relative to said guide mechanism and having a thrust member movable linearly along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a friction stir weld device operatively connected to said guide mechanism and said thrust member for linear movement relative to said actuator along said longitudinal axis.
A friction stir weld apparatus comprising:
- a linear drive actuator having an actuator motor with an axis of rotation and a thrust member movable linearly along a longitudinal axis substantially concentric with said axis of rotation and
- a friction stir weld device operatively connected to said thrust member and movable linearly relative to said actuator.
A friction stir weld apparatus comprising:
- a linear drive actuator having a thrust member movable linearly along a longitudinal axis between forward and rearward positions and
- a separate friction stir weld device having a rearward end and being operatively connected to said thrust member at a point on said friction stir weld device forward of said rearward end for linear movement along said longitudinal axis.
A friction stir weld device comprising:
- a housing;
- a hollow core motor mounted within said housing and having a rearward end, a forward end and an axis of rotation;
- a rotor operatively connected to said motor for rotation therewith;
- and
- a bearing for rotatably supporting said rotor relative to said housing, said bearing positioned radially between a portion of said housing and a portion of said rotor and longitudinally between said rearward end and said forward end of said motor.
An apparatus comprising:
- a linear guide mechanism;
- a linear drive actuator fixed relative to said guide mechanism and having a thrust member moveable linearly along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a tool device operatively connected to said guide mechanism and to said thrust member for linear movement relative to said actuator along said longitudinal axis, said tool device including a tool hear rotatable about said longitudinal axis.
The apparatus of clam 21 wherein said tool device is moveable linearly along said longitudinal axis between a rearward, retracted position and at least one forward, extended position relative to said actuator.
A friction stir weld device comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor mounted within said housing and having an axis of rotation;
- a rotor mounted relative to said housing for rotation with said motor;
- a friction stir weld tool head mounted for rotation with said rotor, said rotor and said tool head being rotatable about an axis concentric with said axis of rotation.
The device of clam 28 wherein said motor is a hollow core motor.
A friction stir weld apparatus comprising:
- a support member;
- a linear drive actuator fixed relative to said support and having a housing, a motor with an axis of rotation, a lead screw, a nut having threads compatible with said lead screw and a thrust member having a connection end, one of said nut and said screw being rotatable with said motor and axially fixed relative to said housing and the other of said nut and said screw being rotatably fixed relative to said housing and axially moveable along said axis of rotation, said screw having a free end terminating rearwardly of said connection end;
- and
- a friction stir weld device connected with said connection end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.