Methods to fabricate fully enclosed hollow structures using friction stir welding
US8317080B2 · kind B2 · utility
11Cited by
23References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 2011 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12292
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is taught for creating a hollow sphere that is created by joining two cylinders together that have a semispherical hollow formed in the ends being joined together, wherein a metallic reinforcing disk is inserted at an interface between the two ends of the cylinders, wherein the two cylinders and reinforcing disk are joined using friction stir welding to create an inner sphere from the two hemispherical hollows that is bisected by the metallic reinforcing disk, and wherein the joined cylinders and reinforcing disk are machined to thereby create an outer spherical surface that is centered around the inner sphere.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.