The Boeing Company

Mario A Reyes

Martin R Grether

Colin R Kreiger

Alexander J Matsuoka

Michael P Shemkunas

Scott A Rose

Sean M Thuston

Michael-Lee Edward Frick

A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a pin, a housing, and a shoulder. The pin is configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces. The pin rotates to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line. The housing is coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing. The pin extends through a support surface of the housing. The support surface contacts respective inner surfaces of the work pieces during the FSW process. The shoulder surrounds the pin and is configured to be rotated during the FSW process. The shoulder contacts respective outer surfaces of the work pieces during the FSW process such that the work pieces are sandwiched between the shoulder and the support surface of the housing.

Friction stir welding tool and welding method

A seat track assembly for use in a vehicle. The seat track assembly includes a floor joist including a main body extending in a longitudinal direction, a seat track channel defined in the main body, and at least one support flange extending in a lateral direction from the main body. A raceway is on the at least one support flange, wherein the raceway extends longitudinally along the floor joist, and has an interior sized to receive wiring therein. The seat track assembly also includes a track cover including a top plate. The raceway is positioned between the at least one support flange and the top plate, and the top plate extends past the raceway in the lateral direction.

Seat track assembly for use in an air vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

Mario A Reyes