Alcoa Inc.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Other

Invocas, Inc.

Aluminum Company of America

The Penn State Research Foundation

Alcon, Inc.

Unimation, Inc.

Israel Stol

John W Cobes

Joseph M Fridy

Trent A Chontas

Robert H Appleman

Richard P Martukanitz

Donald J Spinella

James T Burg

Michael Anthony Burke

Gunes M Ecer

James D Klingensmith

Robert W Woods

Gerald G Lessmann

S John Pien

Wayne M Thomas

Sherri F McCleary

Eric M Stull

Russell S Long

Richard S Dulski

Greg S White

Michael Braun

Rabindra K Bhattcharyya

Paula L Price

Floyd Thompson

Kyle L Williams

Philip L Threadgill

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for buried-arc welding with thru-the-arc seam tracking. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for buried-arc welding with thru-the-arc seam tracking.

Buried-arc welding of metal work pieces with through-the-arc seam tracking

A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool comprises an exterior threaded solid pin having a diameter and a length; a shoulder having a threadless inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the exterior threaded solid pin and at least one substantially radial threaded set screw hole; an monolithic shoulder-shank having a threadless inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the exterior threaded solid pin and at least one substantially radial threaded set screw hole; a pair of locking nuts having a threadless outer diameter and a threaded inner diameter operably compatable with the exterior threaded solid pin, wherein the shoulder and the monolithic shoulder-shank are capable of slidable engagement with the exterior threaded solid pin along the length of the exterior threaded solid pin to set a space slightly larger than a thickness of a work piece to be welded.

Advanced multi-shouldered fixed bobbin tools for simultaneous friction stir welding of multiple parallel walls between parts

A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool () comprises an integral shank-pin unit () having a plurality of pin portions on the shank-pin unit, where the plurality of pin portions for driving into a plurality of joints to perform a friction stir welding operation on the corresponding plurality of joints and, where a shank portion of the shank-pin unit is for attachment to an optional axial tension rod (), each of the friction stir welding modules comprises a pair of shoulders () that is connected to the shank-pin unit where each shoulder has a distal end and a proximal end, where the proximal end of each shoulder faces the pin portion of the shank-pin unit, whereby the shoulder and pin(s) rotate in unison, and a pair of split collars or a pair of nuts that is connected to the shank-pin unit and faces the distal end of each shoulder, where the plurality of friction stir welding modules are connected to each other whereby the modules rotate in unison to simultaneously make a plurality of parallel welds. In addition, a method of friction stir welding a plurality of joints simultaneously comprising using at least one multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool is provided.

A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool comprises an integral shank-pin unit having a plurality of pin portions for driving into a plurality of joints. A shank portion of the shank-pin unit is for attachment to an optional axial tension rod. A plurality of friction stir welding modules comprise a pair of shoulders that is connected to the shank-pin unit. The proximal end of each shoulder faces the pin portion of the shank-pin unit, whereby the shoulder and pin(s) rotate in unison. A pair of split collars or a pair of nuts is connected to the shank-pin unit and faces the distal end of each shoulder. The plurality of friction stir welding modules are connected to each other and rotate in unison to simultaneously make a plurality of parallel welds.

Portable friction stir welding apparatus having a crawler which supports a motor for rotating a Friction Stir Welding tool and is coupled to a drive mechanism for urging the crawler along a predefined weld path on work pieces. The crawler can comprise one member or a set of two or three physically separated members each rotatably coupled to the friction stir welding tool. The friction stir welding tool for making the weld is rotatably coupled to each member and restricts axial displacement of the physically separate members relative to each other. The members are adapted to engage rails on the work pieces which provide at least one of guiding, alignment, fixturing, torque compensation for the members as the friction stir welding tool is rotated and the crawler is moved along a joint.

Friction stir welding apparatus

A friction stir welding tool includes an integral shank-pin unit and a shoulder attached to the shank-pin unit.

Advanced friction stir welding tools

A fracture resistant friction stir welding tool includes a pin for plunging into one or more workpiece(s) to be welded and a shoulder for preventing plasticized material from flowing out of the joint being welded. The friction stir welding tool includes a tool body including a cavity for receiving the shoulder and exerting a compressive stress on the shoulder, and the pin is placed in compression by an axial tension member in the pin.

Fracture resistant friction stir welding tools

Buried arc welding is employed to fuse together a first component, a second component, and a third component or an underlying portion of the second component, the first and second components in butting relationship along a butting joint and the third component or underlying portion of the second component lying beneath the butting joint.

Buried arc welding of integrally backed square butt joints

A method of repairing a discrepancy in a casting, weldment or other workpiece comprised of a material characterized by thermoplastic properties includes excising the discrepancy by cutting, milling, or otherwise removing workpiece material surrounding the discrepancy so as to remove the discrepancy and form a cylindrical hole in the workpiece. The method further includes placing a cylindrical plug in the cylindrical hole and moving a friction stir welding tool around the circumference of the plug to weld the plug to the workpiece.

Friction stir weld repair

A tool for making simultaneously a plurality of parallel friction stir welds includes at least one shank for holding in a chuck or collet of a friction stir welding machine, a plurality of friction stir welding pins, and friction stir welding shoulders including at least four working surfaces adjacent said pins, the shoulders and pins mounted in axial relationship; dimensions of said friction stir welding pins and shanks corresponding to dimensions and spacings of said friction stir welds.

Multi-shouldered fixed bobbin tools for simultaneous friction stir welding of multiple parallel walls between parts

A method of welding metal components together including moving a laser beam in a first direction along an interface between a pair of metal components such that in the vicinity of the focused beam, metal from each component is vaporized to produce a keyhole in a pool of molten metal. The laser beam is oscillated in a direction different from (e.g., transverse to) the first direction such that the keyhole oscillates through the pool of molten metal and molten metal fills into the keyhole as the position of the keyhole changes.

Laser-hybrid welding with beam oscillation

A method of joining metal components having the steps of depositing adhesive material between the components and welding the components together via solid-state or fusion welding. The welds are spaced apart from the adhesive material and are produced so as to prevent exposure of the adhesive material to the welding. The two types of bonds (adhesive and welding) are produced in the components separated by time and space.

Method of combining welding and adhesive bonding for joining metal components

An energy absorbing assembly for a vehicle including an elongated crash box having ends with circular cross sections. One end of the crash box is received in a bumper beam and is friction welded to an inside surface of the beam. The other end of the crash box is friction welded to a bracket assembly.

Flash welded joint structure and method for making a joint structure

A method of welding continuous or intermittent lap-penetration joints using a gas metal buried arc (GMBA) welding process. A first component is GMBA welded to an underlying second metal component, by forming an arc between a consumable metal electrode and a surface of the first component, depositing metal from the electrode to the first component and producing a pool of molten metal which extends through the first component and into the second component. The molten pool metal solidifies into a weld that extends into the second component wherein the weld width at the interface between the components is at least equal to the thickness of the thinner of the first component and the second component. The arc is at least partially buried within the thickness of the first component and is moved in the direction of the desired joint location to produce a joint.

Gas metal buried arc welding of lap-penetration joints

A method of joining a pair of metal components with a rivet having a hardness that is substantially similar to at least one of the metal components. The metal components are stack upon each other and the rivet is rotated and simultaneously plunged in the metal components under pressure to friction weld and metallurgically bond the rivet to the metal components.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Israel Stol