JPH1158038A - Friction stirring joint equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an equipment which joins two members arranged in an abutted or a overlapped state by friction stirring at the abutting or the overlapping part and which is capable of manufacturing in a small space a joined product having a homogeneous joined condition. SOLUTION: This equipment is provided with a tool unit 10 that moves in a joining line direction and plural supporting devices 60 that freely move forward and backward, namely advance to support members 1, 2 to be joined before and after the passing time of the tool unit 10 and recede to allow the tool unit 10 to pass through at its passing time. The tool unit 10 is constituted of a joining tool 30 having a revolving probe 32 that is inserted into an abutting part or the like, and a receiving part 40 that is arranged oppositely to the probe 32 of the joining tool 30 and provided with a face for coming into contact with the rear face of the abutting part 3 or the like. The tool unit 10 is designed to bring the face of the receiving part 40 into contact with the rear face of the abutting part or the like, and also to move with the probe 32 inserted in the abutting part 3 or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a friction stir welding apparatus used for butt joining or lap joining of joining members made of a metal material such as an aluminum material.
The present invention relates to a friction stir welding apparatus which is preferably used to produce a large-sized joint product such as a floor material, a wall material, a ceiling material, and a scaffold material by performing butt joining or lap joining of a plurality of plate-like joining members. .

[0002] In this specification, the term "aluminum" is used to include its alloy.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art The following method has been proposed as a friction stir welding method, which is one of the solid-state welding methods. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a large-diameter cylindrical rotor (131) and a small-diameter rotor harder than the joining members (101) and (102) provided on the end axis (Q) of the rotor (131) so as to protrude. Using a joining tool (130) having a pin-shaped probe (132), the two metal plate-shaped joining members (10) arranged in abutting state while rotating the rotor (131) at high speed.
1) Insert the probe (132) into or near the butting portion (103) of (102). The insertion is performed until the tip of the probe (132) reaches the vicinity of the surface of the joining members (101) and (102) on the side opposite to the probe insertion side, that is, the vicinity of the back surface of the butted portion (103). Usually, at this time, the shoulder (131a) consisting of the flat surface on the probe side of the rotor (131) is attached to both the joining members (101) and (102).
The butting portion (103) is pressed against the surface of the probe (132) insertion side, that is, the upper surface of the butting portion (103).
Then, the probe (132) is relatively moved along the butting portion (103) with the probe inserted. The probe (132) is generated by frictional heat generated by the rotation of the probe (132) or frictional heat generated by sliding between the shoulder (131a) of the rotor (131) and the joining members (101) and (102). The joining members (101) and (102) are softened and agitated in the vicinity of the portion where the probe (132) is moved. After plastically flowing in such a manner that the probe wraps backward in the traveling direction of the probe (132) so as to fill the groove, the frictional heat is rapidly lost, and the solidified material is cooled and solidified. This phenomenon is caused by the probe (13
It is sequentially repeated with the movement of 2), and finally both joining members (101) and (102) are joined and integrated at the butting portion (103). In the figure,
(104) is a joint between the two joining members (101) and (102) joined by the probe (132). Such a friction stir welding method is used not only for butt welding as shown in FIG.

According to such friction stir welding, since it is a solid phase welding, there is no restriction on the type of metal material used as the joining members (101) and (102), or it is compared with fusion welding such as MIG or TIG. In addition, there is an advantage that deformation due to thermal distortion at the time of joining is small.

[0005] By the way, the friction stir welding as described above,
Butt joint (103) of both joining members (101) (102)
Alternatively, after inserting the probe (132) into the overlapping portion, it is necessary to move one of the probe (132) and the joining members (101) and (102).
There are two conventional friction stir welding apparatuses, one adopting a probe moving method for moving the probe (132) and the other employing a joining member moving method for moving the joining members (101) and (102). .

[0006]

However, in an apparatus employing the probe moving method, the joining members (101) (10)
Although the setting and restraint of 2) are easy, there are the following difficulties. That is, in order to manufacture a uniform joined product in a joined state, the probe (132) must be moved while maintaining a constant distance between the tip of the probe (132) and the back surface of the butting portion (103) or the overlapping portion. However, it is difficult to keep the distance constant over the entire length of the butted portion (103) or the overlapped portion. For example, during the movement of the probe (132), the probe (13)
In some cases, the tip of 2) protruded from the back surface of the abutting portion (103) or the overlapping portion of the joining members (101) and (102), or the insertion depth of the probe (132) became small. Therefore, in the device that adopts the probe moving method,
It was difficult to produce a homogenous joined product in a joined state.

[0007] On the other hand, in an apparatus adopting the joining member moving system, it is easy to manufacture a joined product having a uniform joining state.
Since it is necessary to secure a space for moving the two joining members (101) and (102), there is a problem that at least twice the length of the joining members (101) and (102) is required for joining.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned technical background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a friction stir welding apparatus capable of manufacturing a homogenous joint product in a joint state in a small space. .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to friction stir welding in which two joining members arranged in a butt state or a superposed state are friction stir welded at a butt part or a superposed part. A tool unit that is movable in a joining line direction and is in an advanced state when the tool unit does not pass, and supports the joining member, while retreating when the tool unit passes and passing through the tool unit. A plurality of support devices that can move forward and backward, the tool unit is a welding tool having a rotating probe inserted into a butting portion or a superimposed portion, and is arranged to face the probe of the welding tool. Having a contact surface having an abutting surface that comes into contact with the back surface of the butting portion or the overlapping portion of the joining member, and having the abutting surface of the receiving member on the back surface of the butting portion or the overlapping portion. Together to contact, in a manner of inserting the probe of the rotating the butt portion or overlapping unit,
With the movement of the tool unit, the contact portion with the probe is sequentially softened by frictional heat and agitated so that the two joining members are joined and integrated at the butt portion or the overlapping portion. It is characterized by the following.

According to this, in the tool unit, the contact surface of the receiving member is brought into contact with the back surface of the butting portion or the overlapping portion, and the rotating probe is inserted into the butting portion or the overlapping portion. Therefore, the probe is moved so that the distance between the front end thereof and the back surface of the receiving member, that is, the butting portion or the overlapping portion always takes a constant value. As a result, the joint is formed uniformly over the entire area in the length direction, and a uniform joined product in a joined state is manufactured.

Further, the supporting device is in an advanced state when the tool unit does not pass through, and supports the joining member. On the other hand, when the tool unit passes, the supporting device retreats to allow the tool unit to pass. The tool unit can be moved without interfering with the support device.

Further, since the joining unit is joined by moving the tool unit, there is no need to secure a moving space for the joining members, and the joining can be performed in a small space.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, (1) and (2) are two long plate-shaped aluminum joining members arranged with their one end surfaces in the width direction abutting each other. The length of both joining members (1) and (2) is, for example, about 25 m. The two joining members (1) thus arranged in abutting state
In (2), the friction stir welding apparatus of this embodiment is used to join and integrate at the butting portion (3). Hereinafter, the friction stir welding apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

Below the two joining members (1) and (2) arranged in abutting manner as described above, there are two joining members (1) and (2).
A plurality of support devices (60)... The support device (60) is composed of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, and has a cylinder body (6).
1) and a rod (62) provided on the cylinder body (61) and having a support roller (63) at the tip thereof, and disposed at equal intervals in the length direction of the two joining members (1) and (2). Have been. The supporting members (1) and (2) are horizontally supported in such a manner that the peripheral surface of the support roller (63) is brought into contact with the lower surfaces of the both joining members (1) and (2). Further, the rod (62) is advanced when the tool unit (10), which will be described later, does not pass through, and supports both the joining members (1) and (2) horizontally, while passing the tool unit (10). Sometimes the tool unit (1
0) is allowed.

Above the two joining members (1) and (2),
A plurality of retractable pressing devices (70) for pressing the two joining members (1) and (2) supported by the support device (60) against the support roller (63) are arranged, and the support device (60) is provided. To support the two joining members (1) and (2). The holding device (7
0) is composed of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder similarly to the support device (60), and has a cylinder body (7).
1) and a rod (72) provided on the cylinder body (71) and having a pressing roller (73) at its tip, and are disposed at equal intervals in the length direction of the two joining members (1) and (2). Have been. Then, both the joining members (1) and (2) are pressed in such a manner that the peripheral surface of the pressing roller (73) is brought into contact with the upper surfaces of the both joining members (1) and (2). Further, the rod (72) is advanced when the tool unit (10), which will be described later, does not pass through, and presses both the joining members (1) and (2), while the tool unit (1) is pressed.
At the time of passing through (0), the tool unit (10) exits and is allowed to pass through.

A pair of pressurizing devices (80) that can move forward and backward to press the two joining members (1) and (2) in the butting direction are provided on both sides in the width direction of the two joining members (1) and (2). ) ...
(90) ... are arranged. The pressurizing device (80)
(90) is composed of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, and includes a cylinder body (81) (91) and a pressure roller (8) provided at the tip of the cylinder body (81) (91).
3) rods (82) and (92) having (93), and are disposed at equal intervals in the length direction of both joining members (1) and (2). Then, the pressure roller (83) (9)
The two joining members (1) and (2) are pressed in the butting direction in such a manner that the peripheral surface of 3) is brought into contact with both end surfaces in the width direction of both joining members (1) and (2). Further, of the pair of pressurizing devices (80) and (90), the rod of the pressurizing device (80) arranged on the side where the body (20) and the connecting portion (22) of the tool unit (10) described later pass. (82) is advanced when the tool unit (10), which will be described later, does not pass through, and presses both the joining members (1) and (2), while it retreats and passes through the tool unit (10) when the tool unit (10) passes. 10) is allowed.

Reference numeral (10) denotes a tool unit which moves in the joining line direction, that is, in the length direction of both joining members (1) and (2). The tool unit (10) includes two joining members (1).
A joining tool (30) having a rotating probe (32) inserted into the butting portion (3) of (2); a joining tool (30) disposed opposite to the probe (32) of the joining tool (30); (3) having a contact surface (40) having an abutting surface with which the back surface abuts, wherein the joining tool (3) is attached to a tool unit body (20) having a U-shape in side view.
0), a receiver (40) and the like are attached. The configuration of the tool unit (10) will be described below.

The tool unit body (20) includes a rectangular flat plate-like receiving member (21) disposed horizontally below the two joining members (1) and (2), and the two joining members (1).
A rectangular flat welding tool mounting portion (2) disposed above (2) so as to face the receiver mounting portion (21).
3) and a rectangular flat plate-like connecting part (22) for connecting one side edge of the receiving part mounting part (21) and one end of the joining tool mounting part (23).

At the approximate center of the joining tool mounting portion (23), a large-diameter cylindrical rotor (31) and the rotor (31)
A joining tool (30) provided integrally on the end axis (Q) of the joint member and having a small-diameter pin-shaped probe (32) inserted into the butting portion (3) of the joining members (1) and (2). )
Is mounted via a lifting device (not shown) in such a manner that the probe (32) is directed downward and the axis (Q) of the rotor (31) is slightly inclined rearward in the moving direction. . The welding tool (30) is designed to be able to rotate the probe (32) by rotating the rotor (32). Further, the probe (32) and the rotor (32) are connected to both joining members (1).
It is made of a heat-resistant material that is harder than (2) and can withstand frictional heat generated at the time of joining. Further, on the peripheral surface of the probe (32), irregularities for stirring (not shown) of the butting portion (3) are formed. The joining tool (30) is configured so that the probe (32) can be inserted into or pulled out of the butting portion (3) of the joining members (1) and (2) by the elevating device. I have. In addition, (31a) shown in FIG. 1 is the shoulder part which consists of a probe side flat surface of the rotor (31).

On the upper surface of the receiver mounting portion (21),
A receiving device () which is arranged to face the probe (32) of the joining tool (30) and has an abutting surface with which the back surfaces of the butting portions (3) of the joining members (1) and (2) abut. 4
0) is attached. In this embodiment, the receiving member (40) comprises a rotatable cylindrical receiving roller (41) having a peripheral surface as an abutting surface. Then, the receiving roller (4)
In a mode in which the peripheral surface of 1) is brought into contact with the butted portion (3) the back surface,
Attached via a roller support (42).

Further, four rotatable columnar auxiliary rollers (43) are provided on the upper surface of the receiver mounting portion (21).
Are arranged in the moving direction of the tool unit (10) two before and after the receiving roller (41) in the moving direction, and the peripheral surface thereof is brought into contact with the back surface of the butting portion (3). (44)... Each auxiliary roller (43) and each roller support frame (4)
4) is the receiving roller (41) and the roller support frame (4).
It is formed in the same shape and size as 2).

On the other hand, four wheels (50) rotatably driven by a driving device (not shown) are provided on the lower surface of the receiver mounting portion (21) via a wheel support (51). And two rails (5) in which these wheels (50) are arranged below the two joining members (1) and (2) so as to be parallel to the length direction of the two joining members (1) and (2).
By traveling on (5), the tool unit (1
0) is moved, and therefore the probe (32) inserted into the butting portion (3) of the two joining members (1) and (2) is moved by the butting portion (3).
It can be moved along.

As described above, the tool unit body (20)
A welding unit (30), a receiving roller (41), and the like are attached to a tool unit (10).

When welding is performed, the two joining members (1) are rotated while rotating the probe (32) of the welding tool (30).
The wheel (50) is inserted into the butting portion (3) of (2), and the wheel (50) is rotationally driven with the probe inserted. Accordingly, the tool unit (10) moves in a manner in which the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (41) is brought into contact with the back surface of the butting portion (3) and the probe (32) is inserted into the butting portion (3). Becomes Here, at the time of welding, the probe (32) of the welding tool (30) is moved so that the distance from the tip to the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (41) is in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 mm. It is desirable to arrange. If the distance is less than 0.05 mm, the tip of the probe (32) and the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (41) may inadvertently come into contact with each other and damage the receiving roller (41) and the probe (32). On the other hand, if it exceeds 0.4 mm, both joining members (1)
The distance between the butting portion (3) and the back surface of (2) becomes too long, and the vicinity of the butting portion (3) back surface is not softened and agitated.
This is because there is a possibility that bonding failure may occur at this portion.

Next, a case where friction stir welding is performed using the above friction stir welding apparatus will be described.

First, the supporting device (60) and the holding device (7)
0) and the rod (62) of the pressure device (80) (90)
(72), (82), (92)... Are advanced to fix the two joining members (1) and (2) in abutting state and in a horizontal state. Next, a roller (41) for receiving the probe (32)
The wheel unit (50) is driven to move the tool unit (10) in a state where the tool unit (10) is moved to the upper separated position.

Probe (32) of tool unit (10)
When the vehicle arrives at the expected joining start position of the butting portion (3) of the two joining members (1) and (2), the driving of the wheel (50) is temporarily stopped. At this time, the supporting device (60) and the holding device (7)
0) and rods (62) (72) of the pressure device (80)
Of (82), the one arranged at one end in the length direction of both joining members (1) and (2) is in a retracted state. Further, the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (41) is the two joining members (1).
Similarly, the auxiliary roller (42) comes into contact with the back surface of the abutting portion (3) of both joining members (1) and (2). It will be in a state of contact.

Next, the probe (32) is lowered while rotating. When the tip of the probe (32) comes into contact with the butted portion of the two joining members (1) and (2), the contact portion is softened by frictional heat, so that the probe (32) is further lowered and inserted into the butted portion (3). The distance between the tip of the probe (32) and the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (42) is 0.05 to 0.
The probe (32) is stopped and fixed in a state of 4 mm.

The probe (32) is lowered in advance, and the wheels (50) are driven to drive the tool unit (10).
, The probe (32) may be forcibly penetrated into the butting portion (3) from the longitudinal end surfaces of both the joining members (1) and (2).

Next, the wheels (52) are driven again to move the tool unit (10). This tool unit (1
By the movement of 0), the receiving roller (41) rotates while its peripheral surface abuts against the back surface of the abutting portion (3) of the two joining members (1) and (2), and the probe (32) rotates the abutting portion (3). ) And moves along the butting portion (3). In addition, with the movement of the tool unit (10), the rods (62), (72), and (82) of the support device (60), the holding device (70), and the pressurizing device (80) sequentially retreat, and the tool unit ( 10) The movement is allowed. Further, since the joining tool (30) is slightly inclined rearward in the moving direction, a portion of the shoulder (31a) of the rotor (31) on the moving direction side is separated from the upper surfaces of the two joining members (1) and (2). The rotor (31) moves in a state in which it slightly floats, and the portion of the rotor (31) opposite to the moving direction of the shoulder (31a) contacts the upper surfaces of both the joining members (1) and (2).

As the tool unit (10) moves as described above, the contact portion with the probe (32) is softened and agitated sequentially by frictional heat, and the two joining members (1) and (2) are brought into contact with the butting portion (3). ) Is joined and integrated. That is, the frictional heat generated by the rotation of the probe (32) or the frictional heat generated by the sliding between the shoulder (31a) of the rotor (31) and the upper surfaces of the two joining members (1) and (2). The two joining members (1) and (2) are softened and agitated near the contact portion with the probe (32),
As the probe (32) moves, the softening and agitating portion receives the advancing pressure of the probe (32) and wraps around the probe (32) in the traveling direction rearward so as to fill the passage groove of the probe (32). After that, it rapidly loses frictional heat and is cooled and solidified. This phenomenon is sequentially repeated with the movement of the probe (32), and finally the two joining members (1) and (2) are joined and integrated at the butt portion (3).

The probe (32) moves under the condition that the portion of the rotor (31) opposite to the moving direction of the shoulder (31a) comes into contact with the upper surfaces of the two joining members (1) and (2). As a result, the material in the softened portion is prevented from being scattered and pressed, so that a uniform joining state is reliably realized, and the formation of unevenness on the upper surfaces of both joining members (1) and (2) is prevented, so that the joining portion ( 4) The upper surface becomes smooth. Further, a portion of the shoulder (31a) of the rotor (31) on the moving direction side is a joint member (1).
With the probe (3) floating above the upper surface of (2),
Since 2) moves, it is possible to prevent the corner portion of the shoulder portion (31a) on the movement direction side from being caught by fine irregularities that may be present on the upper surfaces of the two joining members (1) and (2). obtain.

Since the two joining members (1) and (2) are pressed in the butting direction by the pressing devices (80) and (90), a softened portion formed near the periphery of the probe (32) is formed. The gap (not shown) formed in the butting portion (3) is easily deformed due to close contact deformation, and the air present in the gap escapes to the outside of the joint (4), and the air flowing to the joint (4) is released. Entanglement is prevented.

Furthermore, the distance from the tip of the probe (32) to the peripheral surface of the receiving roller (41) is
Probe (32)
Moves such that the distance between its tip and the back surface of the butting portion (3) always takes a constant value. As a result, the joint (4) is formed uniformly over the entire length direction.

In this way, the two joining members (1) and (2) are joined and integrated, and the joining state is uniform, and high-quality joining such that there is little air entanglement in the joining portion (4) and therefore there are few joining defects. Goods.

Further, the supporting device (60) and the holding device (7)
0) and the rods (62) (72) of the butting device (80)
(82) exits when passing through the tool unit (10), so that the tool unit (10)
0) (70) and (80) can move without interference.

Further, since a probe moving system for moving the probe (32) is basically employed, there is no need to secure a space for moving the two joining members (1) and (2), and a small space is required. Can be joined.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment,
As the receiving member (40), a receiving roller (41) having a peripheral surface as an abutting surface is employed. Instead, a receiving table (not shown) having a flat surface as an abutting surface is employed. Is also good.

In the above embodiment, the joining member (1)
Although the case of performing the butt-joining of (2) is shown, it is needless to say that the present invention may be applied to the case of performing the lap-joining of the joining members.

[0041]

As described above, according to the friction stir welding apparatus according to the present invention, the tool unit makes the contact surface of the receiving member contact the back surface of the butting portion or the overlapping portion, The probe is moved so that the rotating probe is inserted into the overlapping portion, so that the probe is moved so that the distance between the tip thereof and the back surface of the butting portion or the overlapping portion always takes a constant value. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a uniform joined product in a joined state.

Furthermore, since the support device is retracted when passing through the tool unit, the tool unit can move without interfering with the support device.

Since a probe moving method for moving a probe is adopted instead of a method for moving a bonding member for moving a bonding member, there is no need to secure a space for moving the bonding member. Both joining members can be joined in a space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a friction stir welding apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a friction stir welding method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... joining member 3 ... butting part 4 ... joining part 5 ... rail 10 ... tool unit 20 ... tool unit main body 30 ... joining tool 32 ... probe 40 ... receiving tool 41 ... receiving roller 50 ... wheel 60 ... supporting device 70 ... Pressing device 80, 90 ... Pressurizing device

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An arrangement in which a butt state or a superposed state is set.
A friction stir welding apparatus for friction stir welding the joining members (1) and (2) at a butt portion (3) or an overlapping portion, wherein the tool unit (10) is movable in a joining line direction; When the unit (10) does not pass, it is in an advanced state to support the joining members (1) and (2), and when it passes through the tool unit (10), it retreats and allows the tool unit to pass. A plurality of support devices (60), and the tool unit (10) includes a joining tool (3) having a rotating probe (32) inserted into a butt portion (3) or an overlap portion.
0) and an abutment that is arranged to face the probe (32) of the joining tool (30) and abuts against the back surface of the butting portion (3) or the overlapping portion of the joining members (1) and (2). And a receiving member (40) having a surface, and the contact surface of the receiving member (40) is brought into contact with the back surface of the butting portion (3) or the overlapping portion. The rotating probe (32) is inserted into the part, and the probe (32) moves with the movement of the tool unit (10).
The contact portion is softened sequentially by frictional heat and agitated, and the two joining members (1) and (2) are joined and integrated at the butt portion (3) or the overlap portion. Stir welding equipment.