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:
Aug. 31, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2006
Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Earl Claude Helder, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Timothy Joseph Trapp, Upper Arlington, OH (US);
Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Earl Claude Helder, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Timothy Joseph Trapp, Upper Arlington, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a friction stir welding apparatus operable for welding one or more metals, metal alloys, or other materials, and a method for friction stir welding. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a pin tool holder, a shoulder having a surface coupled to the pin tool holder, and a pin tool coupled to the pin tool holder, the pin tool at least partially protruding from the surface of the shoulder, wherein the pin tool is made of a consumable pin tool material. The method includes introducing the pin tool into a workpiece; traversing the pin tool along a joint to be welded on the workpiece; and substantially continuously feeding the pin tool into the weld joint as it is traversed along the joint, thereby incorporating at least a portion of the consumable pin tool material into the volume of the joint to be welded.