Abstract:
An assembly includes a first structural member made from a first material, such as aluminum, a second structural member made from a second material, such as magnesium, and adapted to mate and interlock with the first member, and a third structural member made from the first material to facilitate a permanent affixation between the first and second members. The second member fits within the first member and the third member fits within the second member. The second member includes at least one aperture surrounded by a protrusion, and the third member includes at least one aperture that mates and interlocks with the protrusion. A surface of the third member is exposed through the apertures of the first and second members. The first member is welded to the third member through the apertures in order to permanently affix the first and second members to one another without metallurgical altering or local welding of the second member.
Abstract:
Portable friction stir welding apparatus having a crawler which supports a motor for rotating a Friction Stir Welding tool and is coupled to a drive mechanism for urging the crawler along a predefined weld path on work pieces. The crawler can comprise one member or a set of two or three physically separated members each rotatably coupled to the friction stir welding tool. When one member is used to make a weld, it is located on top of the work pieces. When two members are used to make a weld, one member is located on the top of the work pieces and the second member is located on bottom of the work pieces. When three members are used to make two welds simultaneously on an upper work piece and a lower work piece, one member of the crawler is located on the top surface of the upper work piece, a second member is located between the two work pieces, and a third member is located on the bottom surface of the lower work piece. The friction stir welding tool for making the weld is rotatably coupled to each member and restricts axial displacement of the physically separate members relative to each other. The members are adapted to engage rails on the work pieces which provide at least one of guiding, alignment, fixturing, torque compensation for the members as the friction stir welding tool is rotated and the crawler is moved along a joint.
Abstract:
Friction stir welding tool (10) to facilitate stress reduction within the tool that may include a body (20), a pin (30), a tension member (50), and an end assembly (60), the tension member (50) and end assembly (60) facilitating axial compression of the pin (30). The tension member (50) may be decoupled from the pin (30) and/or body (20) of the tool (10) via one or more decoupling members (62). The end assembly (60) may comprise spring members (64) to provide an axial force to the tension member (50). The pin (30) may include various features to facilitate stress reduction proximal the pin (30).
Abstract:
Methods for welding a first metal part to a second metal part by a solid state process to form a welded article having at least a welded region are provided herein. The welded region of the weld is post-weld aged by heating it to a set temperature for a set time and compressing the weld.
Abstract:
7xxx aluminum alloy weld filler alloys and methods of using the same are described. The 7xxx aluminum alloy weld filler alloys may be used to repair 7xxx alloy products. The repaired volume of the 7xxx alloy products may be substantially crack-free, and may facilitate reuse of the repaired 7xxx alloy products.
Abstract:
Portable friction stir welding apparatus having a crawler (200) which supports a motor (308) for rotating a Friction Stir Welding tool (213) and is coupled to a drive mechanism for urging the crawler along a predefined weld path on work pieces. The crawler can comprise one member (201) or a set of two or three physically separated members (201, 202, 203) each rotatably coupled to the friction stir welding tool. When one member is used to make a weld, it is located on top of the work pieces. When two members are used to make a weld, one member is located on the top of the work pieces and the second member is located on bottom of the work pieces. When three members are used to make two welds simultaneously on an upper work piece and a lower work piece, one member of the crawler is located on the top surface of the upper work piece, a second member is located between the two work pieces, and a third member is located on the bottom surface of the lower work piece. The friction stir welding tool for making the weld is rotatably coupled to each member and restricts axial displacement of the physically separate members relative to each other. The members are adapted to engage rails on the work pieces which provide at least one of guiding, alignment, fixturing, torque compensation for the members as the friction stir welding tool is rotated and the crawler is moved along a joint.
Abstract:
A method of joining metal components (2, 8) having the steps of depositing adhesive material (16) between the components and welding the components together via solid-state or fusion welding. The welds (18) are spaced apart from the adhesive material (16) and are produced so as to prevent exposure of the adhesive material (16) to the welding (18). The two types of bonds (adhesive and welding) are produced in the components separated by time and space.
Abstract:
[0050] One embodiment of a friction stir welding apparatus comprises two friction stir welding tools on a carriage (12). The first friction stir welding tool (14) is capable of rotating in a first direction. The second friction stir welding tool (16) is capable of rotating in a second direction, counter to the first direction. The first friction stir welding tool and the second friction stir welding tool are operable to weld simultaneously and in tandem along an intersection of at least two work pieces. In some embodiments, when welding, the first friction stir welding tool (14) is capable of exerting a greater force on a first work piece than on a second work piece and the second friction stir welding tool (16) is capable of exerting a greater force on the second work piece than on the first work piece so that a sum of the forces of the first and second stir welding tools on the work pieces urges the carriage (12) and the friction stir welding tools along the seam or inter section in a substantially linear path.
Abstract:
Structural connectors (500) for watercrafts, buildings and aircrafts are disclosed. In general, each structural connector includes at least a pair of members (510A, 512A) extending outwardly from and substantially perpendicular to a body (502) of the structural connector, the members spaced apart from one another so as to form a recess (514A) therein between. In some embodiments, the recess may be sized and shaped for receiving supporting members (550) including the likes of stringers and support plates.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to fire-resistant systems, methods, and apparatus. In one embodiment, a fire-resistant system includes a fire-resistant panel and a protected material coupled to the fire-resistant panel. The fire-resistant panel includes a passive layer and a back layer. The passive layer comprises a phyllosilicate material. The back layer comprises an inorganic material and may be coupled to the passive layer. Optionally, the fire-resistant panel may include a secondary layer comprising a functional material, where the functional material comprises one of a phase change material or an endothermic material.