Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes: a rotating shaft, on which a thread for friction stirring is formed; and a drive unit rotatably supporting the rotating shaft. A rotating shoulder configured to rotate together with the rotating shaft to generate frictional heat between the rotating shoulder and back surfaces of workpieces is fixed to a distal end of the rotating shaft. The rotating shoulder is pushed against the back surfaces of the workpieces by a pushing mechanism. A stationary shoulder penetrated by the rotating shaft and configured to hold the workpieces in a sandwiching manner together with the rotating shoulder is non-rotatably mounted to the drive unit or a member connected to the drive unit.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes: a rotary tool provided with a stirring pin at its distal end; a shoulder, in which the rotary tool is inserted; a rotation driving unit, which causes the rotary tool to rotate about an axis; a pressing device, which presses the rotary tool and the shoulder against an inner corner portion; a moving device, which moves the rotary tool and the shoulder in an advancing direction along the inner corner portion; and a wire heating device, which heats a wire, which is friction-stirred together with two metal members (joining target members) by the stirring pin.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes: a rotating shaft, on which a thread for friction stirring is formed; and a drive unit rotatably supporting the rotating shaft. A rotating shoulder configured to rotate together with the rotating shaft to generate frictional heat between the rotating shoulder and back surfaces of workpieces is fixed to a distal end of the rotating shaft. The rotating shoulder is pushed against the back surfaces of the workpieces by a pushing mechanism. A stationary shoulder penetrated by the rotating shaft and configured to hold the workpieces in a sandwiching manner together with the rotating shoulder is non-rotatably mounted to the drive unit or a member connected to the drive unit.

Abstract: A dissimilar joint structure according to the present invention is provided at a first metal member and a second metal member which are made of dissimilar metals to each other. The dissimilar joint structure couples the first metal member and the second metal member 7. An inserting groove 8a is formed at the first metal member. The second metal member includes an inserting portion which is able to be inserted into the inserting groove. The first metal member is joined to the inserting portion 9 with the inserting portion 9 inserted into the inserting groove 8a.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a welding head having a welding tool to be pressed against workpieces and a rotation drive unit to drive the welding tool to be rotated; a head drive unit to drive the welding head to be displaced, the head drive unit including a cylinder actuator having a piston rod to which the welding head is attached; a first pressure unit to supply a pressure fluid into a first chamber of the cylinder actuator; a second pressure unit to supply a pressure fluid into a second chamber of the cylinder actuator; a control unit to control pressures of respective pressure fluids supplied by the first pressure unit and the second pressure unit.

Abstract: A lightweight, mobile friction stir welding machine, a sticking pad for the friction stir welding machine, and a friction stir welding system are provided. The sticking pad has a flat base member facing an object, an annular sealing member protruding from one of major surfaces of the base member so as to surround a central area of the surface of the base member, a slippery member attached to the end surface of the annular sealing member facing the object, and one or some deformation-suppressing protrusions protruding from the surface facing the object of the base member. The slippery member is made of a material that can make the slippery member contact the object with a friction coefficient lower than that with which the sealing member can be in contact with the same object.

Abstract: A dissimilar joint structure 10 according to the present invention is provided at a first metal member 6 and a second metal member 7 which are made of dissimilar metals to each other. The dissimilar joint structure 10 couples the first metal member 6 and the second metal member 7. An inserting groove 8a is formed at the first metal member 6. The second metal member 11 includes an inserting portion 9 which is able to be inserted into the inserting groove 8a. The first metal member 6 is joined to the inserting portion 9 with the inserting portion 9 inserted into the inserting groove 8a.

Abstract: A lightweight, mobile friction stir welding machine, a sticking pad for the friction stir welding machine, and a friction stir welding system are provided. The sticking pad has a flat base member facing an object, an annular sealing member protruding from one of major surfaces of the base member so as to surround a central area of the surface of the base member, a slippery member attached to the end surface of the annular sealing member facing the object, and one or some deformation-suppressing protrusions protruding from the surface facing the object of the base member. The slippery member is made of a material that can make the slippery member contact the object with a friction coefficient lower than that with which the sealing member can be in contact with the same object.

Abstract: A friction stir welding device for welding an article by means of a welding tool, includes: a tool holding section configured to hold the welding tool and rotate round a predetermined reference axial line; rotation driving unit configured to drive the tool holding section to rotate round the reference axial line; movement driving unit configured to drive the tool holding section to move along the reference axial line; and a car body loaded with the tool holding section, the rotation driving unit and the movement driving unit, the car body being configured to travel above or below the article.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a base 23 fixed at a predetermine position, a tool holding jig 29, to which a welding tool 21 is mounted, installed on the base 23 rotatably about a preset reference axis L1 and movably along the reference axis L1, a tool rotation driving means for rotating the tool holding jig about the reference axis L1, and a tool movement driving means for moving the tool holding jig along the reference axis L1. The apparatus realizes miniaturization of the apparatus, simplification of the structure, and improvement of the operability.

Abstract: A friction stir welding device for welding an article by means of a welding tool, includes: a tool holding section configured to hold the welding tool and rotate round a predetermined reference axial line; rotation driving unit configured to drive the tool holding section to rotate round the reference axial line; movement driving unit configured to drive the tool holding section to move along the reference axial line; and a car body loaded with the tool holding section, the rotation driving unit and the movement driving unit, the car body being configured to travel above or below the article.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a base 23 fixed at a predetermine position, a tool holding jig 29, to which a welding tool 21 is mounted, installed on the base 23 rotatably about a preset reference axis L1 and movably along the reference axis L1, a tool rotation driving means for rotating the tool holding jig about the reference axis L1, and a tool movement driving means for moving the tool holding jig along the reference axis L1. The apparatus realizes miniaturization of the apparatus, simplification of the structure, and improvement of the operability.