• Patent Title: Friction stir welding process
  • Application No.: US17791973
    Application Date: 2021-01-13
  • Publication No.: US11766738B2
    Publication Date: 2023-09-26
  • Inventor: Jonathan Peter Martin
  • Applicant: BAE Systems plc
  • Applicant Address: GB London
  • Assignee: BAE Systems plc
  • Current Assignee: BAE Systems plc
  • Current Assignee Address: GB London
  • Agency: Maine Cernota & Rardin
  • Priority: EP 275006 2020.01.14 GB 00512 2020.01.14
  • International Application: PCT/GB2021/050069 2021.01.13
  • International Announcement: WO2021/144564A1 2021.07.22
  • Date entered country: 2022-07-11
  • Main IPC: B23K20/00
  • IPC: B23K20/00 B23K20/12
Friction stir welding process
Abstract:
A method of friction-stir welding, FSW, a joint J, for example a T joint and/or a lap joint, between a first workpiece W1 and a second workpiece W2, is described. The method comprises: performing a first pass P1 of FSW of the joint J by moving therealong a first tool (10), comprising a first probe (100) rotating in a first rotational direction RD1, in a first movement direction MD1 defining a first line L1, on a first side S1 of the joint J, comprising: inserting the first probe (100) to a first depth D1, thereby providing a first welded region WR1; withdrawing at least partially the first probe (100), thereby providing a first partially welded and/or unwelded region PWUR1; and fully withdrawing the first probe (100), thereby resulting in a first exit hole EXH1; performing a second pass P2 of FSW of the joint J by moving therealong a second tool (20), comprising a second probe (200) rotating in a second rotational direction RD2, in a second movement direction MD2 defining a second line L2, on the first side S1 of the joint J, comprising: inserting the second probe (200) to a second depth D2, thereby providing a second welded region WR2; optionally withdrawing at least partially the second probe (200); and fully withdrawing the second probe 200, thereby resulting in a second exit hole EXH2; wherein the second welded region WR2 includes the first exit hole EXH1; and wherein the second exit hole EXH2 is included in the first welded region WR1.
Public/Granted literature
Information query
Patent Agency Ranking
0/0