Method and apparatus for backing up a friction stir weld joint
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorR. Scott Forrest
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a backing device for backing up weld joints formed by friction stir welding workpieces having curvilinear geometries. The backing device includes a backing ring defining a contact zone. At least a portion of the contact zone defined by the backing ring engages the weld joint opposite the friction stir welding tool to thereby support the weld joint and to constrain the plasticized material within the weld joint. The backing device includes a restraining member in operable communication with the backing ring to urge the contact zone of the backing ring toward the weld joint. The backing device includes a sensor for measuring the magnitude of force exerted by the contact zone of the backing ring upon the weld joint.
Claims34
An apparatus for backing up a weld joint formed in a workpiece by a friction stir welding tool comprising:
- a backing ring, at least a portion of said backing ring engaging the weld joint opposite the friction stir welding tool such that said backing ring deforms to thereby define a contact zone that exerts a force against the weld joint, said force having a magnitude;
- a restraining member in operable communication with said backing ring;
- at least one sensor for measuring the magnitude of force exerted by said contact zone of said backing ring upon the weld joint;
- and
- means for moving said restraining member relative to the weld joint in order to modify the force exerted by said contact zone of said backing ring upon the weld joint, said moving means being responsive to said sensor and being in operable communication with said restraining member.
An apparatus for friction stir welding a weld joint in a workpiece, comprising:
- a milling machine having a rotatable spindle;
- a friction stir welding tool in rotatable communication with said spindle and in frictional engagement with the workpiece to thereby form the weld joint;
- a backing ring having a central axis, at least a portion of said backing ring engaging the weld joint opposite said friction stir welding tool such that said backing ring deforms to thereby define a contact zone that exerts a force against the weld joint, said force having a magnitude;
- at least one sensor for measuring the magnitude of force exerted upon the workpiece;
- and
- means, responsive to said at least one sensor and in operable communication with said backing ring, for moving said central axis of said backing ring relative to the weld joint in order to modify the force exerted by said contact zone of said backing ring upon the weld joint.
A method of friction stir welding a workpiece, comprising:
- mounting a friction stir welding tool to a rotatable spindle such that the friction stir welding tool rotates with the spindle;
- positioning the friction stir welding probe adjacent to a first side of a workpiece;
- positioning a backing ring defining a central axis adjacent to a second side of the workpiece opposite the friction stir welding tool;
- inserting the friction stir welding tool into the first side of the workpiece to form a weld joint;
- concurrently with said inserting step, moving the central axis of the backing ring toward the weld joint stitch that the backing ring at least partially engages the weld joint opposite the friction stir welding tool and whereby the backing ring deforms to thereby define a contact zone that exerts a force against the weld joint, the force having a magnitude;
- measuring the magnitude of the force exerted upon the workpiece;
- and
- adjusting the distance between the central axis of the backing ring and the weld joint to thereby modify the force exerted by the contact zone of the backing ring on the weld joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.