Granted Patent B2

US 12,734,604 · App. 19/069,026 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Weidong Song (Woodinville, WA); Michael Brennan (Renton, WA); Alex Langenstein (Seattle, WA)

Assignee: Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC

B23K20/128B23K20/1255B23K2103/20

Abstract

Claims (37)

1 . A method of joining two parts comprising:

advancing a friction stir additive manufacturing device along a weld line between a first work-piece and a second work-piece, the friction stir additive manufacturing device comprising a deposition head positioned around a spindle comprising a channel configured to feed a filler material;

rotating the spindle about the channel while advancing the device along the weld line;

depositing the filler material along the weld line;

shaping the filler material into a defined weld profile using a curved surface of the deposition head; and

joining the first work-piece and the second work-piece together.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first work-piece comprises a first material and the second work-piece comprises a second material, the second material being different than the first material.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filler material is the same as one of the first material and the second material.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filler material is a combination of the first material and the second material.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filler material is different than both the first material and the second material.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a mold below the first work-piece and the second work-piece opposite the friction stir additive manufacturing device, and filling the mold with the filler material while joining the first work-piece and the second work-piece, wherein the filler material in the mold forms an integrated stiffener.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first work-piece and the second work-piece comprise a plurality of through holes extending along an axis generally parallel to and offset a distance from the weld line, wherein the filler material extends into the plurality of through holes to form rivets.

8 . A method of joining two parts comprising:

advancing a friction stir additive manufacturing device along a weld line between a first work-piece and a second work-piece, the friction stir additive manufacturing device configured to deposit a filler material, the friction stir additive manufacturing device comprising a spindle and a deposition head configured to receive at least a portion of the spindle, the deposition head configured to remain stationary relative to the spindle;

rotating the spindle of the device while advancing the device along the weld line;

depositing the filler material along the weld line;

shaping the filler material into a defined weld profile using an inner curved surface of the deposition head; and

joining the first work-piece and the second work-piece together.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the weld profile comprises a smooth surface.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the weld profile is shaped in part by a surface of the spindle.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising contacting the first work-piece and the second work-piece with a side surface of the deposition head as the inner curved surface of the deposition head shapes the filler material.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the weld profile comprises a flat, planar, or smooth surface with curved edges.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first work-piece comprises a first material and the second work-piece comprises a second material, the second material being different than the first material.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

positioning a mold below the first work-piece and the second work-piece opposite the friction stir additive manufacturing device; and

filling the mold with the filler material while joining the first work-piece and the second work-piece, wherein the filler material in the mold forms a stiffener.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first work-piece and the second work-piece comprise a plurality of through holes extending along an axis generally parallel to and offset a distance from the weld line, wherein the filler material extends into the plurality of through holes to form rivets.

16 . A method of joining a first part and a second part comprising:

advancing a friction stir additive manufacturing device along a weld line between a first work-piece and a second work-piece, the friction stir additive manufacturing device configured to deposit a filler material and comprising a deposition head comprising:

a first semi-cylindrical portion having an inner radius and an outer radius relative to a first axis, and

a second semi-cylindrical portion having an inner radius and an outer radius relative to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the second semi-cylindrical portion having a curved inner surface configured to define a weld profile,

depositing the filler material along the weld line; and

joining the first work-piece and the second work-piece together.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising shaping the filler material into a defined weld profile at least in part by the curved inner surface of the second semi-cylindrical portion.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the friction stir additive manufacturing device further comprises a spindle at least partially received by the deposition head, and further comprising rotating the spindle while advancing the friction stir additive manufacturing device along the weld line, the deposition head remaining stationary relative to the spindle.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first work-piece comprises a first material and the second work-piece comprises a second material, the second material being different than the first material.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the filler material is a combination of the first material and the second material.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)