Joining of structural members by friction plug welding
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKeith R. McTernan, Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The method of manufacturing a structural assembly includes positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween and inserting a rotating plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby join the first structural member to the second structural member. The resulting friction plug weld provides a relatively strong joint between the structural members, requires less forming and machining time, and is compatible with single-sided tooling. Additionally, the friction plug weld is compatible with other joining methods, such as friction stir welding.
Claims30
A method of manufacturing a structural assembly, comprising:
- positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween;
- inserting a rotating plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby form a friction plug weld joint joining the first structural member to the second structural member;
- and
- thereafer forming an elongate weld joint between the first and second structural members along the interface, the elongate weld joint at least partially consuming the plug.
A method of manufacturing a structural assembly, comprising:
- positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween;
- positioning a plug adjacent the outer surface of the first structural member;
- rotating the plug;
- concurrently with said rotating step, inserting the plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby form a friction plus weld joint joining the first structural member to the second structural member;
- and
- thereafter forming an elongate weld joint between the first and second structural members along the interface, the elongate weld joint at least partially consuming the plug.
A method of manufacturing a structural assembly, comprising:
- positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween;
- drilling an aperture in at least one of the first and second structural members, the aperture being structured to receive a plug;
- inserting the rotating plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby form a fiction plug weld joint joining the first structural member to the second structural member;
- and
- thereafter forming an elongate weld joint between the first and second structural members along the interface, the elongate weld joint at least partially consuming the plug.
A method of manufacturing a structural assembly, comprising:
- positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween;
- drilling an aperture in at least one of the first and second structural members, the aperture being structured to receive a plug;
- positioning the plug adjacent the outer surface of the first structure member;
- rotating the plug;
- concurrently with said rotating step, inserting the plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby form a friction plug weld joint joining the first structural member to the second structural member;
- and
- thereafter forming an elongate weld joint between the first and second structural members along the interface, the elongate weld joint at least partially consuming the plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.