Patent · US Expired

Friction stir welding apparatus

US6237829A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
17References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 2000
Grant dateMay 29, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24612
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in a joining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out. After the joining, the remaining parts of the thickened parts can be machined so as to form a smooth surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.