Patent ID: 6230958
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method of friction plug welding repair comprising the steps of:a) locating a defect in a weld that joins two sections of material together;b) removing weld material at the defect to form a tapered opening that has a chamfer said opening being open ended at both end portions;c) placing a plug through the opening, wherein the plug has top and bottom end portions, the top end portion being tapered and larger in diameter than the opening, wherein the top end portion has two sections including a gradually tapering section and a rapidly tapering section defining the maximum diameter of the top end portion;d) pulling the bottom end portion of the plug so that the top end portion of the plug engages the opening;e) rotating the plug with sufficient revolutions per unit time that the combined effect of the rapidly tapering section of the plug top end enables the plug to heat up and provide radial and axial pressure.