Friction stir welding apparatus and method of operating same

Abstract

A friction stir welding apparatus and a method of operating the friction stir welding apparatus are disclosed. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe, a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool, and a roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool. The method includes adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends, rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces, gradually inserting the probe into the joint line, and moving the probe along the joint line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail illustrative, non-limiting embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general-purpose articulated robot, to which is attached a friction stir welding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a front view of the friction stir welding apparatus, illustrating a state before the welding process is performed, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the friction stir welding apparatus, illustrating a state during the welding process;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the friction stir welding apparatus, illustrating main parts during the welding process;

FIG. 4A is a front view of the friction stir welding apparatus, illustrating a state when the welding process is initiated, and FIG. 4B is a front view of the friction stir welding apparatus, illustrating a state during the welding process; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of a friction stir welding apparatus according to a modified embodiment.

Claims

1. A friction stir welding apparatus comprising: a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe;a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool; anda roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool.

2. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller is a caster roller attached to a rotary shaft member which rotates about an identical axis with a rotation axis of the rotary tool.

3. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retaining arm is attached to a distal end of a robot arm, which is movable in three-dimensional directions.

4. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the retaining arm is attached to a distal end of a robot arm, which is movable in three-dimensional directions.

5. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

6. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

7. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

8. A friction stir welding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

9. A method of operating a friction stir welding apparatus, which comprises: a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe;a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool; anda roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool,wherein the method comprises the steps of:adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends;rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces;gradually inserting the probe into the joint line; andmoving the probe along the joint line.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the roller is a caster roller attached to a rotary shaft member which rotates about an identical axis with a rotation axis of the rotary tool.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the retaining arm is attached to a distal end of a robot arm, which is movable in three-dimensional directions.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the retaining arm is attached to a distal end of a robot arm, which is movable in three-dimensional directions.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the retaining arm is of a C-shaped form.