IP Library Granted Patent US 9,919,378
Granted Patent B2
US 9,919,378 · App. 14/126,335 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Welding tool comprising a shoulder, welding method and workpiece

Inventors: Juergen Silvanus (Munich, DE); Erich Forster (Grossaitingen, DE); Eric Tauscher (Augsburg, DE)
Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
B23K20/122B23K20/1245B23K20/1265
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,919,378
App. No.
14/126,335
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A welding tool for connecting at least two workpieces at a connection region by friction stir welding includes a shoulder that separates the connection region from the surroundings. The shoulder is designed as a molding tool to mold during the friction stir welding.

Claims (16)

1. A welding tool for connecting at least two workpieces at a connection region by means of friction stir welding, the welding tool comprising:

a probe configured to rotate around a rotation axis, wherein the connection region is softened by friction heat provided by the probe during said friction stir welding;

a shoulder, through which the probe passes without contacting the shoulder, wherein the shoulder separates the connection region from the surroundings,

wherein the shoulder has a projection on or next to a lateral surface of the shoulder,

wherein the projection is arranged on the softened connection region during the friction stir welding process, and

wherein the projection is non-displaceably fixed on or next to the lateral shoulder surface in a direction of the rotation axis,

wherein the projection has a projection surface, which is configured to be arranged on the softened connection region during the friction stir welding process,

wherein the projection surface has a first step and a second step that is set off from the first step in a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis,

wherein a plurality of projections, including the projection, are formed on or next to the shoulder surface, and

wherein the plurality of projections each have a surface, including the projection surface, facing each other in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a distance between the surfaces facing each other varies in the longitudinal direction.

2. The welding tool of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is rotationally asymmetric about the probe.

3. The welding tool of claim 1 , wherein the first step is connected to the second step via a slope.

4. The welding tool of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a corresponding projection surface having a respective first step and respective second step that is set off from the respective first step in the longitudinal direction.

5. The welding tool of claim 4 , wherein each of the respective first steps is connected to a corresponding one of the respective second steps via a respective slope, wherein each of the respective slopes extend in the longitudinal direction.

6. The welding tool of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is configured to mold the softened connection region or the at least one workpiece.

7. The welding tool of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is configured to mold a welded seam formed during the friction stir welding process at the softened connection region.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 15, 2018
From: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
To: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
Reel/Frame 045348/0180 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2014
From: SILVANUS, JUERGEN; FORSTER, ERICH; TAUSCHER, ERIC
To: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 032597/0728 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2011 106 505 · Jun 15, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140203067A1 · Jul 24, 2014