The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2000
Douglas J. Waldron, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Robert Scott Forrest, Santa Ana, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A friction stir welding apparatus includes a C-shaped frame having two opposing jaws which are spaced apart to define a space for receiving workpieces which are to be welded together. One of the jaws supports a rotatably driven friction stir welding spindle, and the other jaw supports a back-up tool. The spindle is supported in a polycrystalline thrust bearing disposed in the one jaw for absorbing thrust forces exerted on the spindle during a welding operation. The C-shaped frame may be an integral one-piece structure, in which case the apparatus and workpieces are relatively advanced to cause the spindle to penetrate the workpieces at an edge thereof and to carry the welding tools along a weld path to a second edge of the workpieces, where the spindle exits and disengages the workpieces. Alternatively, the C-shaped frame may comprise a pair of separate jaws which are pivotally connected in scissor fashion, in which case the jaws may be pivotally urged toward one another to carry the welding tools into engagement with the workpieces for performing a welding operation. The C-shaped frame balances and absorbs the large thrust loads imposed on friction stir welding tools.