Friction stir weld system for welding and weld repair
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsR. Jeffrey Ding, Peter L. Romine, Peter A. Oelgoetz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction stir weld system for welding and weld repair has a base foundation unit connected to a hydraulically controlled elevation platform and a hydraulically adjustable pin tool. The base foundation unit may be fixably connected to a horizontal surface or may be connected to a mobile support in order to provide mobility to the friction stir welding system. The elevation platform may be utilized to raise and lower the adjustable pin tool about a particular axis. Additional components which may be necessary for the friction stir welding process include back plate tooling, fixturing and/or a roller mechanism.
Claims15
A friction stir weld apparatus comprising:
- a base foundation unit connected to at least one mobile support;
- an elevation platform connected to the base foundation unit, said elevation platform at least moveable along an axis relative to the base foundation unit;
- a pin tool having a stir welding probe, said pin tool moveable with the elevation platform;
- and
- a process control system in communication with the elevation platform and pin tool, said process control system monitoring at least one parameter related to said pin tool.
A friction stir welding system comprising:
- a base foundation unit connected to at least one mobile support;
- a moveable elevation platform at least partially housed within the base foundation unit in a first position;
- an adjustable pin tool moveable relative to the elevation platform and moveable with the elevation platform;
- back plate tooling located proximate the pin tool on an opposite side of a weld joint of at least one;
- fixturing capable of holding at least a portion of at least one item;
- a roller mechanism located proximate the pin tool on the pin tool side of the weld joint in contact with at least a second portion of said at least one item;
- and
- a process control system in communication with at least the elevation platform, said process control system monitoring at least one parameter related to said pin tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.