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US 8,506,201 B2Granted
Structural assemblies and preforms therefor formed by linear friction welding
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKevin T. Slattery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preform for use in forming a structural assembly is provided. The preform can be formed by linear friction welding structural members to a base member and friction welding each structural member to at least one of the other structural members. The resulting preform can be formed with dimensions and a configuration that approximate the dimensions and configuration of the structural assembly.
Claims17
A preform for forming a structural assembly having a predetermined configuration, the preform comprising:
- a base member;
- and
- a plurality of structural members, each structural member being connected by a linear friction weld joint to the base member, and each structural member defining a connection surface defining an angle relative to the base member, the connection surface of each structural member corresponding to and being in contact with the connection surface of an adjacent structural member and being connected by a friction weld joint to the connection surface of the adjacent structural member wherein the friction stir weld joint comprises an entry and an opposed exit displaced and positionally offset from an interface defined by the connection surfaces of the adjacent structural members,
- wherein each structural member is connected by one of the linear friction weld joints to a first surface of the base member and the connection surface of at least one structural member is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first surface of the base member, wherein adjacent structural members and the associated linear friction weld joints are in continuous contact with the first surface of the base member from one of the adjacent structural members to another of the adjacent structural members across the corresponding connection surfaces, and
- wherein the structural members are configured to correspond to the predetermined configuration of the structural assembly.
2 more elements
A preform for forming a structural assembly having a predetermined configuration, the preform comprising:
- a base member;
- a plurality of structural members, each structural member being connected by a linear friction weld joint to the base member, and each structural member defining a connection surface defining an angle relative to the base member, the connection surface of each structural member corresponding to and being in contact with the connection surface of an adjacent structural member and being connected by a friction weld joint to the connection surface of the adjacent structural member;
- and
- a friction stir weld joint connecting the connection surfaces of the adjacent structural members, wherein the friction stir weld joint comprises an entry and an opposed exit that are each displaced and positionally offset from an interface defined by and between the connection surfaces of the adjacent structural members, wherein the exit and entry of the friction stir weld joint are on opposite sides of a respective one of the adjacent structural members so as to be separated by the respective structural member.
- wherein the structural members are configured to correspond to the predetermined configuration of the structural assembly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.