US 7,073,701 B2Granted

Method of joining two members by friction stir welding

AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.

InventorsKinya Aota, Tsuyoshi Takenaka, Yasuo Ishimaru

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Abstract

This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A method of joining two members by friction stir welding, comprising the steps of:

arranging said members so that respective joint faces thereof are adjacent each other, providing a joint region, and
inserting, at one side of said members, a friction stir welding probe of material harder than that of said members into both said members at the location of the adjacent joint faces thereof, and rotating said probe so as to effect friction stir welding to join said members, forming a joining region,
wherein at least one of said members has, at said one side thereof, a raised portion which is adjacent said joint face thereof and protrudes towards the probe so as to make the joint region thicker than a remaining region of each member, said raised portion being contacted by said probe during the friction stir welding and at least partially removed by the probe, and the method further includes cuffing off the part of said raised portion remaining after the friction stir welding by said probe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/600,573Filed 23 Jun 2003 · division
Priority: JP 8-6249119 Mar 1996
Published: US 2004/0065040 A18 Apr 2004
Granted: 11 Jul 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

B61D 17/043
With bodies of metal; with composite, e.g. metal and wood body structures: connections between superstructure sub-units
B23K 20/122
The heat being generated by friction; Friction welding: using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding
B23K 20/123
Using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding: controlling or monitoring the welding process
B23K 20/126
Characterised by the apparatus: workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping

Family

Application08/820,231Parent of this division · filed 18 Mar 1997
US 2004/0065040 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Apr 2004
US 6,581,819 B1Parent of this division
US 7,073,701 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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