Patent ID: 6598778
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B23K,B23P,B60G,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
An aluminum-based metal link comprising:a shaft portion extending along a first axis, said shaft portion having opposed axial end portions; at least one bushing mount portion having a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; at least one weld joint portion in which one of the opposed axial end portions of the shaft portion and the bushing mount portion are welded together by friction stir welding (FSW), the weld joint portion extending along outer peripheries of the one of the opposed axial end portions of the shaft portion and the bushing mount portion; and a hole having a third axis angularly offset from the second axis about the first axis and formed in the weld joint portion, the hole being formed upon termination of the FSW; wherein the shaft portion has a generally circular shape in section, the third axis of the hole being offset from a fifth axis parallel to a fourth axis perpendicular to the first and second axes by a predetermined angle about the first axis.