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:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2000
Jack Lee Weeks, Scottsboro, AL (US);
Peter Oelgoetz, Huntsville, AL (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for forming a weld joint between abutting ends of first and second tubular members. The welding apparatus includes a support ring defining an aperture therethrough. The support ring has first and second sides defining a channel therebetween. The first and second sides of the support ring define a plurality of supports spaced about the circumference of the support ring, each of which defines a gripping surface for contacting at least a portion of the exterior surface of a corresponding tubular member to thereby secure the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members at least partially within the aperture of the support ring. The welding apparatus includes at least one friction stir welding tool, which is movably and rotatably mounted within the channel defined by the support ring and projects toward the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members. In one embodiment, the welding apparatus includes a drive assembly and a motor in operable communication with the drive assembly for moving the rotating friction stir welding tool about the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members to thereby form the weld joint.