FRICTION-STIR WELDMENTS AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A metal product comprising:
- a first metal plate comprising a first center-neutral axis;
a second metal plate comprising a second center-neutral axis; and
a friction-stir corner weld that connects the first metal plate to the second metal plate, wherein the first center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the second center-neutral axis of the second metal plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Friction-stir weldments and systems and methods for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a metal product includes a first metal plate having a first center-neutral axis, a second metal plate comprising a second center-neutral axis, and a friction-stir corner weld that connects the first metal plate to the second metal plate, where the first center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the second center-neutral axis of the second metal plate. In another embodiment, a system for producing friction-stir weldments includes a backup anvil having a first supporting face and a second supporting face, where the first supporting face is adapted to receive and support the first metal plate, and where the second supporting face is adapted to receive and support a second metal plate, wherein the center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the center-neutral axis of the second metal plate.
61 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A metal product comprising:
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a first metal plate comprising a first center-neutral axis; a second metal plate comprising a second center-neutral axis; and a friction-stir corner weld that connects the first metal plate to the second metal plate, wherein the first center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the second center-neutral axis of the second metal plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a backup anvil having a first supporting face and a second supporting face, wherein the second supporting face is opposite of the first supporting face, wherein the first supporting face is adapted to receive and support a first metal plate, and wherein the second supporting face is adapted to receive and support a second metal plate, wherein the center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the center-neutral axis of the second metal plate; a first set of restraining members capable of restrictively restraining the first metal plate on the first supporting face of the backup anvil; a second set of restraining members capable of restrictively restraining the second metal plate on the second supporting face of the backup anvil; and a friction-stir welding tool capable of welding the first metal plate to the second metal plate to produce a friction-stir weldment having a friction-stir corner weld, wherein, as welded, the center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the center-neutral axis of the second metal plate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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first restraining a first metal plate to a backup anvil in a first orientation, wherein the first metal plate comprises a first complementary end and a center-neutral axis; second restraining a second metal plate to the backup anvil in a second orientation, wherein the second metal plate comprises a second complementary end and a center-neutral axis, wherein after the second restraining step the first complementary end of the first metal plate abuts the second complementary end of the second metal plate, and wherein the center-neutral axis of the first metal plate is transverse to the center-neutral axis of the second metal plate; and welding the first metal plate to the second metal plate at the first and second complementary ends via a friction-stir welding tool, thereby producing a friction-stir weldment having the center-neutral axis of the first metal plate transverse to the second center-neutral axis of the metal plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification