# US 9,517,529 B2 · System for friction stir welding including a mobile counter-bearing

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- Number: US 9,517,529 B2
- Document ID: US9517529B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/015,083
- Filed: 2013-08-30
- Published: 2014-03-13
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-07
- Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH
- Applicants: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
- Inventors: Christophe Mialhe; Patrick Lieven; Romain Delahaye
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517529B2

## CPC

- B23K 20/126: {Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping}
- B23K 20/122: {using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding}
- B23K 20/1255: {Tools therefor, e.g. characterised by the shape of the probe}
- B23K 20/1265: {Non-butt welded joints, e.g. overlap-joints, T-joints or spot welds}
- B23K 20/26: Auxiliary equipment
- B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles}
- 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

System for friction stir welding of two parts which includes a welding unit which includes at least one welding head fitted with a rotating pin and a counter-bearing unit which has a support surface to support the parts against a pressure exerted by the welding head, and wherein each welding head can be moved relative to the support surface in a first direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotating pin and in a second direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation, and wherein the support surface can be moved in the second direction and is formed of two coaxial clamp rollers which are set apart from each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A friction stir welding system for welding at least two parts to be assembled, the friction stir welding system comprising:
a welding unit which includes a welding device which includes at least one welding head provided with a rotating pin;
a counter-bearing unit which offers a support surface designed to support the parts to be assembled against a pressure exerted by each of the at least one welding head;
wherein:
the at least one welding head is moved relative to the support surface of the counter-bearing unit, in a first direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotating pin of each of the at least one welding head;
each of the at least one welding head is moved in a second direction which is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rotating pin of the at least one welding head;
the counter-bearing unit is configured for moving the support surface along the second direction;
wherein the counter-bearing unit includes two clamp rollers set apart from each other and which have a common axis of revolution which is substantially orthogonal to the first direction and orthogonal to the second direction, where each of the clamp rollers has a main circumferential track which forms at least one part of the support surface; and
wherein the counter-bearing unit is configured for moving the clamp rollers towards each other so that two respective side-walls of each of the clamp rollers are configured to contact and sandwich a portion of a first part of the at least two parts between the two respective side-walls, and the side-wall of each clamp roller is connected to the corresponding main circumferential track by a curved circumferential part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The welding system according to claim 1, wherein each of the clamp rollers includes a circumferential shoulder protruding radially outwards.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The welding system according to claim 2, wherein each of the clamp rollers has a secondary circumferential track connected to the main circumferential track of the clamp roller through the circumferential shoulder of the clamp roller.