Patent ID: 6862860

Claim:
A friction stir welding method of a first panel and a second panel, said first panel having a first plate, a second plate connected to said first plate, and a third plate connected to said first plate, said second and third plates being connected respectively to opposed ends of the first plate, said second plate and said third plate being disposed substantially parallel, said first plate being disposed substantially orthogonal to said second plate and said third plate; said second panel having a first plate, a second plate connected to said first plate of said second panel, and a third plate connected to said first plate of said second panel, said second plate and said third plate of said second panel being disposed substantially parallel, said first plate of the second panel being disposed substantially orthogonal to said second plate and said third plate of the second panel, comprising the steps of: abutting said first panel and said second panel, with said first plate of said first panel and said first plate of said second panel abutting each other, thereby providing an abutted portion where the first and second panels abut each other; at a side of said second plate in said abutted portion and at a side of said third plate in said abutted portion, arranging respective rotary tools; and in a direction of one of said rotary tools, perpendicular to the second and third plates, arranging another of said rotary tools; and carrying out a friction stir welding by moving said two rotary tools with substantially a same velocity.