Methods and apparatus for retractable pin friction stir welding and spot welding
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKurt A. Burton, Michael P. Matlack
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Abstract
An apparatus for friction stir welding is described that includes a stationary assembly having a bore therethrough, the bore having an inner diameter, and a rotational assembly having a welding end. At least the welding end of the rotational assembly extends through the bore. A portion of the rotational assembly is adjacent the inner diameter of the bore. At least one of the adjacent portion of the rotational assembly and the inner diameter of the stationary assembly are configured such that rotation of the rotational assembly will cause plasticized material from a welding process that has entered an area between the adjacent portion and the inner diameter to move towards a welding zone located proximate the welding end.
Claims16
A friction stir welding apparatus comprising:
- a first assembly comprising a bore therethrough, said bore defining an inner diameter;
- and
- a second assembly comprising a welding end, a first portion of said second assembly including said welding end extending through said bore, a second portion of said second assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical surface that is adjacent said inner diameter,
- said substantially cylindrical surface comprising material control threading arranged along a line substantially parallel to said second assembly;
- and
- said inner diameter-comprising a smooth surface such that rotation of either said first assembly or said second assembly and said material control threading will cause plasticized material from a welding process that has entered an area between the cylindrical surface and said inner diameter to move towards a welding zone located proximate said welding end of said second assembly wherein the second portion is discrete from the first portion and wherein the material control threading is surrounded by the smooth surface of the inner diameter.
A friction stir welding apparatus comprising:
- a rotational assembly comprising an outer diameter that defines a substantially cylindrical surface and a welding end, said rotational assembly comprising material control threading formed along the substantially cylindrical surface arranged along a line substantially parallel to the rotational assembly, said material control threading separate from any threading associated with said welding end;
- and
- a non-rotational assembly comprising a bore therethrough that defines a substantially smooth inner surface, the inner surface substantially adjacent to said material control threading, rotational interaction between said material control threading and the substantially smooth inner surface operable to guide any flash material from a friction stir welding process back into a welding zone proximate said welding end wherein the material control threading is surrounded by the substantially smooth inner surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.