US 2024/0173791 A1 · FRICTION STIR WELDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

A friction stir welding system can reduce the likelihood of oxide formation in the work pieces being friction stir welded by forming an inert gas atmosphere in which the friction stir welding process is performed. The friction stir welding system includes one or more inert purge gas sources that direct inert purge gas towards the forming friction stir weld. The inert purge gas can be directed towards the forming weld from both an upper and a lower side, which further reduces the likelihood of oxide formation. Additionally, the friction stir welding system can include one or more housings that contains the inert purge gas about the forming friction stir weld, such as about an upper and lower side of the friction stir weld.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A friction stir welding system, comprising:

a friction stir weld head on a first side of multiple work pieces to join the multiple work pieces along a weld pathway;
a friction stir weld backing spaced apart from the friction stir weld head by at least a portion of the multiple work pieces, the friction stir weld backing on a second side of the multiple work pieces opposite the first side of the multiple work pieces;
an inert purge gas source to output inert purge gas on the first side of the multiple work pieces;
and
a housing configured to at least partially contain the inert purge gas about the weld pathway on the first side of the multiple work pieces, wherein the inert purge gas source is located so as to output the inert purge gas between the housing and the first side of the multiple work pieces.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Friction stir welding systems and methods

Life of this patent

Friction stir welding systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20