Friction stir welding load confirmation system
AssigneeThe Boeing Comapany
InventorsKurt A. Burton, Mike P. Matlack, Herb L. Bommer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable multi-axis load confirmation tool having a rotating ball on the end thereof follows a three-dimensional weld program path therewith. The ball reacts to an internal load cell for verifying weld program path dynamics before an actual program is run with friction stir welding tools. The load cell is connected to instrumentation electronics converting a load cell signal to a digital readout and comparing the load cell signal to weld program load requirements. The tool integrates into a tool holder loaded on a friction stir welding spindle for simulating an actual friction stir welding tool.
Claims14
A friction stir welding load confirmation system comprising:
- a tool holder;
- a housing comprising a tip end and an adaptor end, said adaptor end coupling to said tool holder;
- a ball transfer unit retained within said housing and comprising a ball extending at least partially from said tip end, said ball transfer unit further comprising a plurality of ball bearings and a transfer unit, whereby said ball bearings rotate as a function of rotation of said ball, whereby force exerted on said transfer unit from said ball pushes against a load cell, said load cell, also retained within said housing, generating load signals as a function of movement of said ball;
- and
- a controller receiving said load signals and checking whether transversing loads and load combinations provided by said load signals match loads required by a stir welding program.
A friction stir welding load confirmation system analyzing an area of two airplane panels to be welded comprising:
- a friction stir welding machine comprising a spindle;
- a tool holder coupling to said spindle;
- a housing comprising a tip end and an adaptor end, said adaptor end coupling to said tool holder;
- a ball transfer unit retained within said housing and comprising a ball extending at least partially from said tip end, said ball transfer unit further comprising a plurality of ball bearings and a transfer unit, whereby said ball bearings rotate as a function of rotation of said ball, whereby force exerted on said transfer unit from said ball pushes against a load cell, said load cell, also retained within said housing, generating load signals as a function of movement of said ball along a preprogrammed three-dimensional path on the two airplane panels to be welded;
- and a controller receiving said load signals and converting said load signals to a digital readout for comparison with friction stir welding machine load requirements, whereby said friction stir welding machine load requirements correspond to airplane industry standards for weld joint strength of airplane panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.