Patent ID: 7556187
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: B23K,B60B

Abstract:
1. A friction stir welding apparatus for bringing end faces of a plate material, having fingers at corners thereof, into abutment against each other to form a hollow cylindrical body, and friction-stir-welding said end faces to each other, comprising: a base; first support means and second support means which are mounted on said base; a support core spaced from said base by said first support means and said second support means, for insertion into said hollow cylindrical body and for supporting said hollow cylindrical body; and a first gripping member and a second gripping member disposed on said support core for gripping respective protrusions, which are formed when the fingers are held in abutment against opposite ends of abutting regions of said hollow cylindrical body, and which extend along a joining direction; wherein said support core has passages defined therein for passage of a cooling medium therethrough.