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US 7,078,647 B2Granted
Arc-enhanced friction stir welding
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsSindo Kou, Guoping Cao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Friction stir welding is enhanced by preheating of the workpiece with an electrical arc, such as an arc applied by a common gas-tungsten arc welding (GTAW) torch. As the arc is moved about a path on the workpiece, it preheats or partially welds the path, with the friction stir welding head following along the path to complete the weld.
Claims22
A welding device for welding a workpiece, the device including:
- a. a torch applying an electrical arc directly to the workpiece, the torch lacking any means for supplying meltable material to the workpiece,
- b. a friction stir welding head spaced from the torch, the friction stir welding head frictionally stirring the workpiece,
- wherein:
- (1) at least one of:
- (a) the torch and friction stir welding head, and
- (b) the workpiece,
- is movable with respect to the other, whereby the torch and friction stir welding head travel about the workpiece;
- (2) the torch preheats the workpiece without supplying any meltable material thereon;
- and
- (3) the friction stir welding head follows the path of the torch about the workpiece.
7 more elements
A method for welding a workpiece, the method including:
- a. applying an electrical arc directly to the workpiece without supplying any meltable material thereon,
- b. frictionally stirring the workpiece at a location spaced from the arc,
- wherein the arc and the frictional stirring are applied along a path on the workpiece, with the frictional stirring following the arc along the path.
A welding device for welding a workpiece, the device including a welder having:
- a. a torch connected to an electrical power supply, whereby the torch can generate an electrical arc;
- and
- b. a rotatable friction stir welding head spaced from the torch,
- wherein:
- (1) the welder lacks any means for supplying meltable material to the workpiece:
- (2) at least one of the torch and the friction stir welding head is movable into at least substantially the same plane as the other, and
- (3) at least one of the welder and the workpiece is movable with respect to the other, whereby the welder may be moved along a path defined on the workpiece.
4 more elements
A method for welding a workpiece, the method including:
- a. applying an electrical arc to a first location situated on the workpiece without melting the workpiece or any material thereon;
- b. removing the electrical arc from the first location, and
- a. subsequently frictionally stirring the workpiece at the first location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.