Friction stir welding pin with internal flow channels
OwnerMurray W. Mahoneyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction stir welding pin having internal flow cavities. The pin is adapted to be driven by a conventional friction stir welding machine, and may include external threads for forcing plasticized material toward the weld root. An internal cavity located along the centerline and open to the distal end facilitates deformation of the workpiece material at the weld root. One or more flow channels extending from the sidewall of the pin to the internal flow cavity induce a continuous path of plasticized metal through the pin. The internal cavity may include internal threads to further help force plasticized material toward the root weld. The pin is particularly useful in welding aluminum work pieces where the tolerance of the workpiece thickness is not critical.
Claims20
A friction stir welding pin having improved throwing power, comprising:
- a pin body rotatable about an axis and having a distal end and an internal flow cavity open to the distal end.
A method of friction stir welding that increases weld root penetration, comprising:
- providing a friction stir welding pin rotatable about an axis and having a distal end and an internal flow cavity open to the distal end;
- rotating the pin at the interface between two work pieces at a speed to plasticize the material of the work pieces;
- and
- causing plasticized workpiece material to flow through the internal flow cavity toward the distal end.
A method of friction stir welding, comprising:
- providing a friction stir welding pin having an internal flow cavity;
- and
- operating the friction stir welding pin such that material plasticized by the pin flows through the internal flow cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.