Patent ID: 7357292

Claim:
A friction stir welding tool, comprising: a shank portion; a shoulder portion which is releasably engageable with the shank portion, and wherein the shoulder portion has a main body which has opposite first and second ends, and wherein the main body of the shoulder portion defines a pin passageway which extends from the first end and in the direction of the second end, and wherein the pin passageway has a diminishing cross-sectional dimension when measured in the direction which extends from the first end of the shoulder portion to the second end thereof; and a pin which is releasably engageable with the shoulder portion, and wherein the pin has opposite first and second ends, and an intermediate portion located between the first and second ends, and wherein the pin has a diminishing cross-sectional dimension when measured from the intermediate portion and in the direction of the first end thereof, and wherein the first end of the pin is telescopingly received, at least in part, in the pin passageway.