IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0934284
(2007-11-02)
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등록번호 |
US-8141859
(2012-03-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Matlack, Michael P.
- Burton, Kurt A.
- Baumann, John A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
An apparatus and method for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool, after the pin tool and shoulder tool have become welded together during a friction stir welding operation. In one exemplary embodiment a frame is used to support the shoulder tool. A fluid pressure actuating assembly is used for
An apparatus and method for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool, after the pin tool and shoulder tool have become welded together during a friction stir welding operation. In one exemplary embodiment a frame is used to support the shoulder tool. A fluid pressure actuating assembly is used for gradually exerting a force on the pin tool while the shoulder tool is held stationary within the frame. The gradually increasing force gradually breaks the weld and separates the pin tool from the shoulder tool without damaging the pin tool.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool of a friction stir welding tool assembly, said apparatus comprising: a frame for supporting a shoulder tool, where said shoulder tool has a pin tool positioned within a bore of said shoulder tool, said pin tool having been secured to sai
1. An apparatus for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool of a friction stir welding tool assembly, said apparatus comprising: a frame for supporting a shoulder tool, where said shoulder tool has a pin tool positioned within a bore of said shoulder tool, said pin tool having been secured to said shoulder tool by a plasticized material forming a weld therebetween during a friction stir welding process;a bushing having a bore, with the bore precisely sized to receive a portion of a length of the shoulder tool therein, and wherein the bore has a shape that is complementary to an external shape of the shoulder tool such that the bore supports the shoulder tool with little or no axial play within the bore, the bushing further being supported by said frame for holding said shoulder tool immovably while force is exerted along an axial center of said pin tool; anda fluid pressure actuating assembly having a piston aligned coaxially with an axial center of said bore, for gradually exerting axial force on said pin tool while said shoulder tool is held fixedly within said bushing, to gradually break said weld and separate said pin tool from said shoulder tool. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure actuating assembly comprises: a fluid pressure generating subsystem; anda drive component subsystem responsive to said fluid pressure generating subsystem for exerting a force on said pin tool. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said drive component system includes a rod, said rod being dimensioned to fit within said bore of said shoulder tool and being disposed coaxially with said bore of said bushing. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said drive component subsystem is supported within said frame. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid pressure generating subsystem comprises a manually actuated fluid pressure generating device that enables an increasing fluid pressure to gradually be applied to said drive component subsystem. 6. An apparatus for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool of a friction stir welding tool assembly, comprising: a frame for supporting a bushing, the bushing having a bore sized to hold a portion of a shoulder tool, and wherein the bore has a shape that is complementary to an external shape of the shoulder tool such that the bore supports at least the portion of the shoulder tool therein with little or no axial play within the bore;a fluid pressure generating subsystem;a drive component subsystem supported on said frame and having a rod, the rod having a diameter selected to fit within a bore of the shoulder tool and to be moveable within the bore in the shoulder tool, with little or no axial play;the drive component being responsive to said fluid pressure generating subsystem, and adapted to apply a manually controllable linear force to the rod long along an axial center of the bushing, to thus apply the linear force along an axial center of a pin tool positioned within a bore of a shoulder tool, where the pin tool has been secured to the shoulder tool by a plasticized material forming a weld therebetween during a friction stir welding process; andthe fluid pressure generating subsystem adapted to cause the drive component system to exert a linear force on the pin tool to gradually break the weld between the shoulder tool and the pin tool without damaging the pin tool or the shoulder tool. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fluid pressure generating subsystem comprises a manually operated pump for applying a fluid under pressure to said drive component subsystem. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said drive component subsystem comprises: a piston on which a pressurized fluid from said fluid pressure generating subsystem acts; anda sleeve operably associated with and supported by said piston, the sleeve including a bore for receiving a terminal end of the rod, and where the bore of the sleeve is dimensioned such that the terminal end of the rod has little or no axial play within the bore in the sleeve. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a movable cover for covering a portion of said frame. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said drive component subsystem is coupled to said fluid pressure generating subsystem by a flexible conduit. 11. An apparatus for separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool of a friction stir welding tool assembly, comprising: a frame;a bushing adapted to be positioned on said frame and held fixedly on said frame, the bushing having a bore with a diameter selected to removably support a portion of a shoulder tool therein, and where the bore further has a shape that is complementary to an external surface of the shoulder tool such that the bore supports the portion of the shoulder tool with little or no axial play;a fluid pressure generating subsystem;a drive component subsystem supported on said frame in axial alignment with said bushing and responsive to said fluid pressure generating subsystem, and adapted to apply a linear force to a pin tool positioned within a bore of a shoulder tool in response to fluid pressure generated by said fluid pressure generating subsystem, the pin tool having been secured to the shoulder tool by a plasticized material forming a weld therebetween during a previously executed friction stir welding operation; andthe fluid pressure generating subsystem adapted to cause the drive component subsystem to exert a gradually increasing linear force on the pin tool, while said shoulder tool is being held immovably by said bushing, to gradually break the weld between the shoulder tool and the pin tool. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said drive component subsystem includes: a fluid pressure activated cylinder having a piston;a sleeve secured to an end of the piston, the sleeve having a bore;a rod inserted into the bore of the sleeve, the rod further being dimensioned to fit into said bore in said shoulder tool and being axially aligned with said bore of said shoulder tool to enable said rod to make contact with said pin tool as said piston is extended in response to a fluid pressure generated from said fluid pressure generating subsystem. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said fluid pressure generating subsystem comprises a manually actuated lever for enabling an individual to manually generate said gradually increasing fluid pressure to said cylinder. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bushing and the sleeve are removably mounted within said frame and said end of said piston, respectively. 15. A method of separating a pin tool from a shoulder tool of a friction stir welding tool assembly without breaking the pin tool, said method comprising: supporting a shoulder tool immovably within a bore of a bushing, where said bore has a shape that is complementary to an external surface of said shoulder tool, and where said bore in said bushing has a diameter selected to provide little or no axial play of said shoulder tool when said shoulder tool is positioned within said bore in said bushing, and where said shoulder tool has a pin tool positioned with a bore of said shoulder tool, said pin tool having been secured to said shoulder tool by a plasticized material forming a weld therebetween during a friction stir welding process;disposing a linearly extendable component in axial alignment with said pin tool;inserting a removable rod within a sleeve associated with said linearly extendable component, said removable rod having a diameter selected to enable it to be inserted within said bore in said shoulder tool while allowing little or no play of said rod within said bore of said shoulder tool; andusing a fluid pressure to gradually exert a gradually increasing force on said rod of said linearly extendable component, that said linearly extendable component applies to said pin tool while said shoulder tool is being held immovably, to gradually break said weld and separate said pin tool from said shoulder tool. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein using a fluid pressure to gradually exert an increasing force comprises using a manually actuated fluid pressure device that enables an individual to manually control the generation of said force. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein disposing a linearly extendable component comprises disposing a cylinder having a piston in axial alignment with said shoulder tool, and securing said cylinder against movement relative to shoulder tool.
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