Friction Stir Welding Method

Abstract

The present invention provides a friction stir welding method in which a plurality of members are lapped and a welding tool is pressed into one of the members, while being rotated, to cause friction stir to weld the members. A small diameter projected part is disposed at a tip end of a shoulder of the welding tool, and is positioned out of a rotating axis of the welding tool. Especially, the method is suitable for spot welding and removes a surface oxidation film on a lapped welding interface to weld two members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first example of a welding method in the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plastic flow model in cross-section taken along the line A-B of the first example;

FIG. 3A is a front elevation of a welding tool of the first example;

FIG. 3B is a side elevation of the welding tool of the first example;

FIG. 4A is a front elevation of a welding tool 1 of a second example;

FIG. 4B is a side elevation of the welding tool 1 of the second example;

FIG. 5A is a front elevation of a welding tool of a third example;

FIG. 5B is a side elevation of the welding tool of the third example;

FIG. 6A is a front elevation of a welding tool 1 of a fourth example; and

FIG. 6B is a side elevation of the welding tool 1 of the fourth example.

Claims

1. A friction stir welding method comprising: lapping a plurality of members to be welded; and pressing a welding tool into one of the members, while the welding tool being rotated, to cause friction stir to weld the members, wherein the welding tool includes a projected part having a small diameter at a tip end of a shoulder, the projected part being positioned out of a rotating axis of the welding tool.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the projected part has a semispherical shape.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a minimum angle between an imaginary tangent line at a point on the surface of the projected part and the rotating axis of the welding tool is in a range of 45 to 90 degrees.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the welding tool have a plurality of projected parts.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the projected part has an elliptical shape.

6. A friction stir welding tool for welding a plurality of lapped members, the welding tool being pressed into one of the members, while the welding tool being rotated, to cause friction stir to weld the members, wherein the welding tool includes a projected part with a small diameter at a tip end of a shoulder, the projected part being positioned out of a rotating axis of the welding tool.

7. The welding tool according to claim 6, wherein the projected part has a semispherical shape.

8. The welding tool according to claim 6, wherein a minimum angle between an imaginary tangent line at a point on the surface of the projected part and the rotating axis of the welding tool is in a range of 45 to 90 degrees.

9. The welding tool according to claim 6, wherein the welding tool have a plurality of projected parts.

10. The welding tool according to claim 6, wherein the projected part has an elliptical shape.

11. A friction stir welding apparatus for welding a plurality of lapped members, the apparatus comprising a welding tool pressed into one of the members, while the welding tool being rotated, to cause friction stir to weld the members, wherein the welding tool includes a projected part having a small diameter at a tip end of a shoulder, the projected part being positioned out of a rotating axis of the welding tool.

12. The welding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the projected part has a semispherical shape.

13. The welding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a minimum angle between an imaginary tangent line at a point on the surface of the projected part and the rotating axis of the welding tool is in a range of 45 to 90 degrees.

14. The welding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the welding tool have a plurality of projected parts.

15. The welding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the projected part has an elliptical shape.