US 12,220,761 B2
Friction stir welding tool and welding method
Michael Philip Shemkunas, Mukilteo, WA (US); Scott Anthony Rose, Wentzville, MO (US); Mario A. Reyes, Mercer Island, WA (US); and Sean Michael Thuston, High Ridge, MO (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/063,353.
Prior Publication US 2024/0189936 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. B23K 20/00 (2006.01); B23K 20/12 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 20/1255 (2013.01) [B23K 20/1235 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A friction stir welding (FSW) tool comprising:
a pin configured to extend through a joint line between edges of two work pieces and to rotate to perform a FSW process that welds the two work pieces together at the joint line;
a housing coupled to a distal end of the pin to enable rotation of the pin relative to the housing, the pin extending through a support surface of the housing, the support surface contacts respective inner surfaces of the work pieces during the FSW process; and
a shoulder that surrounds the pin and is coaxial with the pin, wherein the shoulder is slidable along a length of the pin and is biased towards the housing so that a distal end of the shoulder contacts respective outer surfaces of the work pieces and sandwiches the work pieces between the shoulder and the support surface of the housing during the FSW process, and wherein the shoulder is configured to be rotated independently of the pin during the FSW process for the distal end of the shoulder to slide along the outer surfaces of the work pieces.