Patent ID: 7490750

Claim:
An apparatus for locally clamping at least a first component (C 1 ) and a second component (C 2 ) during friction stir welding wherein the components (C 1 , C 2 ) are placed in close proximity to one another, comprising: a friction stir welding tool ( 100 ) formed with at least one sidewall ( 130 ) and having a probe ( 120 ) exposed to a controlled compressive force thereby forcing the probe( 120 ) into the first component (C 1 ) and the second component (C 2 ) during friction stir welding; a local clamping means ( 200 ) having a housing ( 210 ) and a plurality of contact devices ( 220 ) located to transfer a clamping force to the first (C 1 ) and the second (C 2 ) components in the immediate vicinity of the tool ( 100 ) to hold the components (C 1 , C 2 ) firmly in place during friction stir welding, the contact devices ( 220 ) separated from the sidewall ( 130 ) by a clamping distance ( 600 ) of less than the maximum width ( 160 ) of the tool ( 100 ); and an interface ( 300 ) that at least during welding releasably, rotably, and slidably join the tool ( 100 ) and the local clamping means ( 200 ) such that the tool ( 100 ) and the local clamping means ( 200 ) may rotate about an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the tool ( 100 ), and extend, and retract independently of each other.