Patent ID: 6874672
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A frictional stirring weld apparatus for bonding elements with a rotary tool including a pin extending along a rotational axis of the rotary tool to be inserted between first surfaces of the elements facing to each other, and a shoulder to be pressed against second surfaces of the elements extending radially outward from the first surfaces respectively, comprising, a head movable with respect to the elements to position and orient the rotary tool in such a manner that the pin is aligned along a boundary between the first surfaces and the shoulder faces to the second surfaces, and to generate a relative movement between the rotary tool and the elements along the second surfaces, a compensating member which is capable of holding thereon the rotary tool, at least partially rotatable on the rotational axis with respect to the head to rotate the rotary tool, and supported on the head movably along the rotational axis with respect to the head so that a positional relationship between at least one of the pin and shoulder and a combination of the elements is adjustable in a direction parallel to the rotational axis; and a positional relationship detector for measuring an actual value corresponding to an actual positional relationship between the rotary tool and the combination of the elements in the direction, wherein the compensating member is movable with respect to the head along the rotational axis in such a manner that a difference between the measured actual value and a desirable value corresponding to a desirable positional relationship between the rotary tool and the combination of the elements in the direction is not more than a predetermined degree, and wherein the positional relationship detector is stationary with respect to the compensating member in the direction so that the positional relationship detector is movable together with the rotary tool in the direction.