Apparatus and method for measuring loads on a friction stir welding tool
US7537150B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L25/00
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for measuring loads on a rotating friction stir welding tool of a friction stir welding machine. The apparatus includes a frame that can be connected to the friction stir welding machine, and rollers rotatably connected to the frame are structured to contact and rotate with the friction stir welding tool. Each roller is adapted to adjust in a respective direction and communicate with a respective load cell so that the load cells detect a positional characteristic of the rollers and measure loads applied to the rotating friction stir welding tool during operation. The rollers can contact the rotating tool directly during operation of the machine, such as while the rotating tools is being moved through a workpiece to form a friction stir weld joint, to measure the loads on the tool in the direction of movement of the tool and a direction normal to the movement, i.e., the path and path normal directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.