Friction stir welding attachment, friction stir welding head, and friction stir welding device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12325084-B2
Application number	US-202118272000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2021
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A friction stir welding attachment includes a body configured to be attached to a spindle supported by a spindle head of a machine tool, a metalworking shaft rotatably supported by the body wherein a welding tool is attachable to the metalworking shaft, a plurality of air motors provided in the body, and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a rotation of each of the plurality of air motors to the metalworking shaft. A fixing portion is provided to supply external air to the plurality of air motors. A drive air distributor is provided to distribute drive air to the air motors. A rotation sensor for detecting a rotation state is provided to the metalworking shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A friction stir welding attachment comprising:
a body configured to be attached to a spindle supported by a spindle head of a machine tool;
a metalworking shaft rotatably supported by the body, wherein a welding tool is attachable to the metalworking shaft;
a plurality of air motors provided in the body; and
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a rotation of each of the plurality of air motors to the metalworking shaft.

2. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 ,
wherein:
the air motors are symmetrically located with respect to the metalworking shaft, and the transmission mechanism comprises a center gear connected with the metalworking shaft and a plurality of motor gears connected with the air motors and engaged with an outer circumference of the center gear.

3. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive air distributor provided in the body and configured to distribute a drive air from outside the machine tool to the plurality of air motors, the plurality of air motors being configured to be rotated by the drive air, a flow rate of the drive air being adjustable by the drive air distributor in response to an external signal.

4. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 3 , wherein the body has a center through hole extending along an axial center thereof, and the drive air comprises center through air supplied into the center through hole from the spindle.

5. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a fixing portion rotatably provided around an outer circumference of the body, the fixing portion being connectable to the spindle head, wherein the drive air comprises an external air supplied through the spindle head and the fixing portion.

6. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotation sensor configured to detect a rotation state of the metalworking shaft or the air motors.

7. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 , wherein the metalworking shaft is aligned with a direction intersecting an axis line of the spindle.

8. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 7 , wherein the metalworking shaft, which is aligned with the direction intersecting the axis line of the spindle, is arranged so that a metalworking portion of the welding tool is located on the axis line of the spindle when the welding tool is attached to the metalworking shaft.

9. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 , wherein the metalworking shaft is coaxial with an axis line of the spindle.

10. A friction stir welding head comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 ; and
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

11. A friction stir welding machine comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 1 ;
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment; and
the machine tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

12. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a drive air distributor provided in the body and configured to distribute a drive air from outside the machine tool to the plurality of air motors, the plurality of air motors being configured to be rotated by the drive air, a flow rate of the drive air being adjustable by the drive air distributor in response to an external signal.

13. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a rotation sensor configured to detect a rotation state of the metalworking shaft or the air motors.

14. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a rotation sensor configured to detect a rotation state of the metalworking shaft or the air motors.

15. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a rotation sensor configured to detect a rotation state of the metalworking shaft or the air motors.

16. The friction stir welding attachment according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a rotation sensor configured to detect a rotation state of the metalworking shaft or the air motors.

17. A friction stir welding head comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 2 ; and
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

18. A friction stir welding machine comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 2 ;
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment; and
the machine tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

19. A friction stir welding head comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 3 ; and
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

20. A friction stir welding machine comprising:
the friction stir welding attachment according to claim 3 ;
the welding tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment; and
the machine tool attached to the friction stir welding attachment.

Assignees

• Shibaura Machine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Katoh Kouichi
• Matsuzaki Hirohiko
• Aoki Toshinao

Classifications

• B23Q5/04

  rotary shafts, e.g. working-spindles · CPC title

• B23K20/125

  Rotary tool drive mechanism · CPC title

• B23K37/0241

  Attachments between the welding or cutting element and the carriage · CPC title

• B23Q5/06

  driven essentially by fluid pressure or pneumatic power · CPC title

• B23Q5/045

  Angle drives · CPC title