Method and device for detecting the mechanical forces at the welding pin tip during friction stir welding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293430-B2
Application number	US-201515128503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting the mechanical forces at the welding pin tip during friction stir welding, having the following features: a) a strip-shaped sensor (3) at a long side of a tool cup (9) holding a welding pin pen (12) by way of a pin shaft (13) using a tool receiving cone (14), and also holding a welding shoe (11); b) a conical narrowed portion (20) in the further region of the tool-receiving cone (14), which serves to receive a sensor (18) for detecting the axial force, the torque and the bending moment at the welding pin pen (12); c) a further narrowed portion in the front region of the tool-receiving cone (14), having three sensors (24) distributed across the circumferences at a distance of 120 degrees; d) a sensor signal amplifier having a rotor antenna (19) for receiving, amplifying and forwarding all detected measurement values, said measurement values being forwarded by a static antenna (17) to a machine control; and e) an inductive power supply system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A friction stir welding device for detecting mechanical forces during friction stir welding, the friction stir welding device comprising:
a) a tool bell comprising a tool receptacle conus and a welding pin having a pin shaft and pin tip, wherein the welding pin is connected to the tool bell by a welding shoe;
b) a strip-shaped sensor attached to a longitudinal, external side of the tool bell, wherein the strip-shaped sensor is configured for determining force, pressure, or path;
c) a sensor positioned in a tailored conus feature in the tool receptacle conus, wherein the sensor is configured for determining an axial force, a torque, and a bending moment at the welding pin;
d) at least three sensors distributed at a spacing of 120 degrees around a circumference of the tool receptacle conus;
e) a piezoelectric force-measuring sensor located along a longitudinal axis of the pin shaft;
f) a sensor signal amplifier comprising a rotary antenna for receiving, for amplifying, and for transmitting all detected measured values measured by the sensor, wherein the measured values are transmitted by a static antenna to a machine controller;
g) an inductive power supply system comprising a moving secondary coil and a stationary primary coil, wherein both coils are positioned within the tool bell.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a pin adjustment element connected to the pin shaft, wherein the pin adjusting element is configured to adjust the pin tip in a longitudinal dimension.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured to receive fresh air and/or cleaning fluid.

4. A method for detecting mechanical forces during friction stir welding, the method comprising:
a) providing a friction stir welding device according to claim 1 ;
b) instructing the sensors to detect and measure the mechanical forces acting on the friction stir welding device;
c) transmitting the detected and measured values of the mechanical forces with a system comprising the rotary antenna and the static antenna, wherein the measured values are amplified and transmitted to an evaluation unit; and
d) evaluating the detected and measured values of the mechanical forces for regulating the friction stir welding.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the evaluating step includes controlling a longitudinal dimension of a pin adjustment element for adjusting the welding pin tip.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein fresh air and/or cleaning liquid is added to the device through a connector.

Assignees

• Grenzebach Maschb Gmbh

Inventors

• Weigl Markus

Classifications

• G01L1/26

  Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload · CPC title

• B23K20/123 Primary

  Controlling or monitoring the welding process · CPC title

• B23K20/128

  making use of additional material · CPC title

• B23K20/121

  Control circuits therefor · CPC title

• G01L1/162

  using piezoelectric resonators · CPC title