Friction stir welding method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A friction stir welding (FSW) apparatus for effecting FSW of metal members lapped one on another, comprising:
- a FSW tool having a probe and a rotator, said probe and said rotator both being made of a non-conductive material;
an electromagnetic induction heater provided in the vicinity of, and concentrically with, said FSW tool, said electromagnetic induction heater having a structure and being arranged such that when a portion of the metal members is being stirred by said probe, heat from said electromagnetic induction heater is directed towards the portion of the metal members being stirred by said probe; and
an electromagnetic wave shield positioned above said electromagnetic induction heater at a side of said electromagnetic induction heater that is facing away from said probe.
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Abstract
A friction stir welding (FSW) method and apparatus are provided by which power needed for FSW is reduced and a compact FSW tool can be used. In the FSW method, metal members are lapped one on another and a rotating probe of an FSW tool is inserted into a contact portion of the metal members. The contact portion is softened by frictional heat and stirred by the probe so that the metal members are welded together. A portion of the metal members surrounding the probe is heated by a heater.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A friction stir welding (FSW) apparatus for effecting FSW of metal members lapped one on another, comprising:
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a FSW tool having a probe and a rotator, said probe and said rotator both being made of a non-conductive material; an electromagnetic induction heater provided in the vicinity of, and concentrically with, said FSW tool, said electromagnetic induction heater having a structure and being arranged such that when a portion of the metal members is being stirred by said probe, heat from said electromagnetic induction heater is directed towards the portion of the metal members being stirred by said probe; and an electromagnetic wave shield positioned above said electromagnetic induction heater at a side of said electromagnetic induction heater that is facing away from said probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A friction stir welding (FSW) method comprising:
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lapping metal members one on another; inserting a rotating probe of a FSW tool into a contact portion of said metal members so that said contact portion is softened by frictional heat and stirred by said probe such that said metal members become welded together, said FSW tool having a rotator, said rotating probe and said rotator being made of a non-conductive material; heating a portion of said metal members while the portion of said metal members is being stirred by said probe, the portion of said metal members being heated by an electromagnetic induction heater positioned concentrically around said FSW tool; and protecting metal components other than said metal members from electromagnetic waves with an electromagnetic wave shield positioned above said electromagnetic induction heater at a side of said electromagnetic induction heater that is facing away from said probe. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A friction stir welding (FSW) method comprising the steps of:
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lapping metal members one on another; inserting a rotating probe of a FSW tool into a contact portion of said metal members and moving said probe forward in a moving direction so that said contact portion is softened by frictional heat and stirred by said probe such that said metal members become welded together; heating a portion of said metal members surrounding said probe by a heater, said heater being positioned forward of said probe with respect to the moving direction of said probe; and inspecting an internal portion of said metal members welded by FSW with an inspection device, said inspection device being positioned rearward of said probe with respect to the moving direction of said probe, wherein said inspection device is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic inspecting devices and x-ray inspecting devices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification