US 12,011,776 B2
Instrumented tool handler for friction stir welding
Rodney Dale Fleck, Draper, UT (US); and Russell J. Steel, Salem, UT (US)
Assigned to Mazak Corporation, Florence, KY (US)
Filed by Mazak Corporation, Florence, KY (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/471,766.
Application 17/471,766 is a continuation of application No. 16/115,188, filed on Aug. 28, 2018, granted, now 11,130,192.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/552,199, filed on Aug. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0402509 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23K 20/12 (2006.01); B23K 9/095 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 20/1255 (2013.01) [B23K 20/122 (2013.01); B23K 20/123 (2013.01); B23K 20/1235 (2013.01); B23K 20/126 (2013.01); B23K 9/0956 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A friction stir welding tool comprising:
a tool holder configured to be connected to a machine tool and rotated around an axis;
the tool holder configured to receive a friction stir welding head;
a body extending about the tool holder and rotatable therewith;
wherein the body has a radially inner surface portion adjacent the tool holder and a radially outer surface portion opposite the radially inner surface portion, wherein the radially inner surface portion of the body is at a first radial distance from the axis and the radially outer surface portion of the body is at a second radial distance from the axis;
a temperature sensor rotatable with the tool holder;
a communication node rotatable with the tool holder;
the communication node operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the communication node configured for wireless communication of temperature sensor data with a computing device; and
wherein at least a portion of the communication node is received in the body to be at a third radial distance from the axis that is greater than the first radial distance and less than the second radial distance.