Friction stir welded assembly and method of forming a friction stir welded assembly
US6933057B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12493
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of stir welding T-joints comprises assembling and stir welding first and second members. The first member comprises a sheet portion of material and also comprises restraining surfaces. The second member comprises a rib. The rib is stir welded to the sheet portion with the edge margin of the rib being positioned between the restraining surfaces of the first member. During stir welding, the restraining surfaces of the first member limit movement of the rib relative to the first member. A tooling portion is preferably formed as a contiguous portion of the material of one of the first and second members. The first and second members are secured to a stir welding apparatus via the tooling portion during the stir welding. The method yet further comprises a step of separating the tooling portion from the first and second members after forming the stir welded T-joint.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.