METHOD FOR PRODUCING METAL MEMBER

• US 20180056438A1
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: MATSUYAMA, Toshikazu, AMANO, Masaharu, SHIBATA, Yoshitaka
• Granted Patent: US 10,618,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/12 the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/125 Rotary tool drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/126 Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/127 friction stir welding involving a mechanical connection forged connections B21K25/005; riveted connections B21J15/027
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/129 specially adapted for particular articles or workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/18 Zonal welding by interposing weld-preventing substances between zones not to be welded
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/20 Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/22 Ferrous alloys and copper or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/26 Alloys of Nickel and Cobalt and Chromium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining

Abstract

The method includes a step of preparing a first member made of a first metal and a second member made of a second metal having a smaller deformation resistance than the first metal, and a step of joining the first member and the second member. The step of joining includes a step of heating the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the first member and the second member, while pressing the first member and the second member against each other, without changing a relative positional relationship therebetween, and a step of cooling the first member and the second member heated, while being pressed against each other. In a first contact surface which is a surface of the first member coming into contact with the second member, a recess is formed so as to include a region intersecting the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A method for producing a metal member, comprising the steps of:

preparing a first member made of a first metal and a second member made of a second metal having a smaller deformation resistance than the first metal; and

joining the first member and the second member,

the step of joining the first member and the second member including steps of

heating the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the first member and the second member with respect to each other about an axis of rotation, while pressing the first member and the second member against each other, without changing a relative positional relationship between the first member and the second member, the first member having a surface serving as a first contact surface coming into contact with the second member, the first contact surface having a recess formed therein so as to include a region intersecting the axis of rotation, and

cooling the first member and the second member heated, with the members being pressed against each other.

2. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 1, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second member is disposed in a cavity of a mold.

3. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 2, wherein the mold includes

a cavity bottom wall defining the cavity, and

a cavity sidewall defining the cavity and extending in a direction intersecting the cavity bottom wall.

4. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 3, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, a second contact surface, being a surface of the second member coming into contact with the first member, is surrounded by the cavity sidewall.

5. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 2, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the first member is rotated while the mold is fixed.

6. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 1, wherein

the first member has a recessed portion formed therein,

the recess is formed in the recessed portion, and

in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second member in a state of being at least partially received in the recessed portion is relatively rotated with respect to the first member while being relatively pressed against the first member, to heat the first member and the second member.

7. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 6, wherein

the first member includes

a recessed portion bottom surface defining the recessed portion, and

a recessed portion side surface defining the recessed portion and extending in a direction intersecting the recessed portion bottom surface, and

in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second member is relatively rotated while being relatively pressed against the recessed portion bottom surface of the first member.

8. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 6, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second member is deformed to contact the recessed portion side surface.

9. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 6, further comprising the step of, in a state where the first member and the second member are joined together, machining the first member to remove the recessed portion side surface.

10. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 6, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second member is rotated while the first member is fixed.

11. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, in a state where the first member and the second member are joined together, removing a flash formed due to deformation of the second member in the step of heating the first member and the second member.

12. The method for producing a metal member according to claim 1, wherein in the step of heating the first member and the second member, the second metal in a temperature increased state has a deformation resistance smaller by 10% or more as compared to a deformation resistance of the first metal in a temperature increased state.