Welding head for friction stir welding
AssigneeEsab AB
InventorÅke Landmark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The friction stir welding head presented herein includes a head housing and an axle. The head housing extends from a top end to an open bottom end and defines a bore extending between the top end and the open bottom end. The axle that is coaxial with and rotatable within the bore. The axle is also laterally secured within the head housing and axially movable with respect to the head housing. Still further, the axle includes an engagement end that extends beyond the open bottom end of the head housing. The engagement end supports a friction stir welding tool that is configured to rotate with the axle to effectuate friction stir welding operations. The friction stir welding head may also include a load cell configured to generate load signals in response to axial movement of the axle.
Claims20
A friction stir welding head, comprising:
- a head housing that extends from a top end to an open bottom end and defines a bore extending between the top end and the open bottom end;
- an axle that is coaxial with and rotatable within the bore, wherein the axle:
- includes an engagement end that extends beyond the open bottom end of the head housing and supports a friction stir welding tool that is configured to rotate with the axle to effectuate friction stir welding operations, the friction stir welding tool including a shoulder and a pin;
- and
- is secured within the head housing so that the axle, the pin, and the shoulder are laterally fixed with respect to the head housing and axially movable as a single unit with respect to the head housing;
- and
- a load cell disposed beneath the open bottom end of the head housing and configured to generate load signals in response to axial movement of the axle, the pin, and the shoulder.
A friction stir welding head, comprising:
- a head housing that extends from a top end to an open bottom end and defines a bore extending between the top end and the open bottom end;
- one or more floating components configured to support a friction stir welding tool including a shoulder and a pin, the one or more floating components, the shoulder, and the pin being axially movable as a unit with respect to the head housing;
- and
- a load cell disposed beneath the open bottom end of the head housing, the load cell being configured to generate load signals in response to axial movement of the floating components, the shoulder, and the pin.
A method of friction stir welding, comprising:
- providing a head housing that extends from a top end to an open bottom end and defines a bore extending between the top end and the open bottom end;
- installing a floating axle in the head housing, the floating axle including an engagement end that extends beyond the open bottom end, the engagement end supporting a friction stir welding tool that includes a shoulder and a pin, wherein the installing secures the floating axle within the head housing so that the floating axle, the pin, and the shoulder are laterally fixed with respect to the head housing and axially movable as a unit with respect to the head housing;
- installing a load cell on the open bottom end of the head housing;
- and
- controlling friction stir welding with the friction stir welding tool based on load signals generated by the load cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.