# US 7,607,558 B2 · Friction stir welding tool with counterbearing for mounting on a handling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,558 B2 - Document ID: US7607558B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/546,180 - Filed: 2006-10-11 - Published: 2007-04-12 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-11 - Assignees: GKSS-Forschungzentrum Geesthacht GmbH - Inventors: Henry Loitz; Shahram Sheikhi; Jens P. Wulfsberg; Jorge F. Dos Santos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607558B2 ## CPC - B23K 20/125: {Rotary tool drive mechanism} - B23K 20/126: {Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping} - B23K 20/1265: {Non-butt welded joints, e.g. overlap-joints, T-joints or spot welds} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract Illustrated and described is a friction stir welding device for mounting on a handling device. The object that the forces and moments which have to be absorbed by the handling device during the welding operation in the course of the movement of the friction stir welding tool along the weld seam are independent of the welding operation is achieved by a friction stir welding device with a tool drive, with a mounting element for connection to the handling device, with a friction stir welding tool, which is driven by the tool drive in a rotating manner about an axis of rotation, with a counterbearing roller and with a counterbearing drive, the counterbearing drive driving the counterbearing roller in a rotating manner about a counterbearing axis and the circumferential surface of the counterbearing roller being arranged opposite the friction stir welding tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Friction stir welding device (1) for mounting on a handling device, with a tool drive (2), with a mounting element (16) for connection to the handling device, with a friction stir welding tool (8), which is driven by the tool drive (2) in a rotating manner about an axis of rotation (10), with a counterbearing roller (30) having a circumferential surface (32) and with a counterbearing drive (22), the counterbearing drive (22) driving the counterbearing roller (30) in a rotating manner about a counterbearing axis (28) and the circumferential surface (32) of the counterbearing roller (30) being arranged opposite the friction stir welding tool (8), wherein the distance between the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing roller (30) is variable and the counterbearing drive (22) is held on the tool drive (2) by means of a linear drive (20). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, the mounting element (16) being fastened on the tool drive (2) and the counterbearing drive (22) being supported by the tool drive (2). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, the axis of rotation (1) of the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing axis (28) running in a common plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, the axis of rotation (1) of the friction stir welding tool (8) running perpendicularly to the counterbearing axis (28). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, a position sensor (34) for sensing the distance between the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing roller (30) being provided. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, the counterbearing drive (22) having an interface (36) for the connection to the control of the handling device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Friction stir welding device according to claim 1, the friction stir welding tool (8) having a pin (12), running parallel to the axis of rotation (10), and a shoulder (14), running perpendicularly to the pin (12). ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) Friction stir welding device according to claim 2, the axis of rotation (1) of the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing axis (28) running in a common plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) Friction stir welding device according to claim 2, the axis of rotation (1) of the friction stir welding tool (8) running perpendicularly to the counterbearing axis (28). ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) Friction stir welding device according to claim 3, the axis of rotation (1) of the friction stir welding tool (8) running perpendicularly to the counterbearing axis (28). ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) Friction stir welding device according to claim 2, the distance between the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing roller (30) being variable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) Friction stir welding device according to claim 3, the distance between the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing roller (30) being variable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) Friction stir welding device according to claim 4, the distance between the friction stir welding tool (8) and the counterbearing roller (30) being variable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) Friction stir welding device according to claim 2, the counterbearing drive (22) having an interface (36) for the connection to the control of the handling device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) Friction stir welding device according to claim 3, the counterbearing drive (22) having an interface (36) for the connection to the control of the handling device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) Friction stir welding device according to claim 2, the friction stir welding tool (8) having a pin (12), running parallel to the axis of rotation (10), and a shoulder (14), running perpendicularly to the pin (12). ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) Friction stir welding device according to claim 3, the friction stir welding tool (8) having a pin (12), running parallel to the axis of rotation (10), and a shoulder (14), running perpendicularly to the pin (12).