Patent ID: 8123104

Claim:
An apparatus for maintaining and selectively altering work pieces being bonded by friction stir welding, wherein the work pieces are abutted to form a seam, comprising: a first ring assembly for positioning on one side of the seam, comprising: an inner ring interconnected to an outer ring by way of a center ring; a plurality of clamp assemblies interconnected to a first surface of said center ring; and a plurality of plates interconnected to a second surface of said center ring; a second ring assembly for positioning on one side of the seam opposite from said first ring assembly, comprising: an inner ring interconnected to an outer ring by way of a center ring; a plurality of clamp assemblies interconnected to a first surface of said center ring; and a plurality of plates interconnected to a second surface of said center ring; and wherein said first ring assembly and said second ring assembly are used to facilitate bonding of the work pieces without an internal mandrel or any internal support for the work pieces being bonded.