Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in a joining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.

Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in a joining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in adjoining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces, structural body formed. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in adjoining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces, structural body formed. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in adjoining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip and first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.

Abstract: The invention intends to reduce a frequency at which defects occur in a welding region during friction stir welding, and to improve the reliability of the welding region. The invention resides in a friction stir welding apparatus wherein a distance to the surfaces of the workpieces is detected by a detector, a change of the detected distance is found by a signal processing device, and a tool is rotated by a rotation driving device in a state where a vertical driving device is controlled by a control device so as to suppress the found change, whereby a plastic fluidity of the workpieces is caused to accomplish joining of the workpieces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in adjoining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip and first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.

Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a friction stir welding method and apparatus capable of maintaining a rotating tool and workpieces at a substantially constant geometrical relation for arbitrary curved surfaces having a three-dimensional shape, as well as a welded structure obtained thereby.

Abstract: A friction stir welding system capable of maintaining a rotating tool and workpieces at a substantially constant geometrical relation for arbitrary curved surfaces having a three-dimensional shape, as well as a welded structure obtained thereby. A method comprises joining workpieces while setting rotational angles of two rotational axes of a rotating tool which the two rotational axes are rotatable in intersecting directions or perpendicularly intersecting directions independently of rotation of the rotating tool, detecting a normal line direction with respect to joint surfaces of the workpieces and a tangential direction of a joint line, and joining the workpieces in three-dimensional directions while setting, on the basis of the detected normal line direction and tangential direction, an angle relative to a normal line direction, as well as a tangential direction, at a tip end of the rotating tool, and also resides in a friction stir welding apparatus using the method.

Abstract: In a case where a welding of a member is performed through a friction stir welding, to restrain the generation of a clearance in a portion to be joined by the welding and to provide a joint having a good joining portion, abutting faces of members are formed with slanting surfaces. A friction stir welding is carried out from an upper portion. The welding is carried out with the slanting surfaces resisting the forces produced in forming the welding bead. Since the slanting surfaces are provided, a flow-out of the material in the welding bead can be restrained, and further a bending of the joining portion can be restrained. Further, a tab is arranged at a beginning end and a finish end of the welding and then the welding is carried out starting at one tab and ending at the other tab.

Abstract: In a case where a welding of a member is performed through a friction stir welding, to restrain the generation of a clearance in a portion to be joined by the welding and to provide a joint having a good joining portion, abutting faces of members are formed with slanting surfaces. A friction stir welding is carried out from an upper portion. The welding is carried out with the slanting surfaces resisting the forces produced in forming the welding bead. Since the slanting surfaces are provided, a flow-out of the material in the welding bead can be restrained, and further a bending of the joining portion can be restrained. Further, a tab is arranged at a beginning end and a finish end of the welding and then the welding is carried out starting at one tab and ending at the other tab.

Abstract: In a case where a welding of a member is performed through a friction stir welding, to restrain the generation of a clearance in a portion to be joined by the welding and to provide a joint having a good joining portion, abutting faces of members are formed with slanting surfaces. A friction stir welding is carried out from an upper portion. The welding is carried out with the slanting surfaces resisting the forces produced in forming the welding bead. Since the slanting surfaces are provided, a flow-out of the material in the welding bead can be restrained, and further a bending of the joining portion can be restrained. Further, a tab is arranged at a beginning end and a finish end of the welding and then the welding is carried out starting at one tab and ending at the other tab.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.

Abstract: In a railway car, extruded frame members of an aluminum base alloy containing Si of 0.4-0.9 wt % and Mg of 0.4-1.2 wt % are welded according to a friction stir welding method. In a structure, an aluminum base alloy plate containing Si of 0.4-0.9 wt % and Mg of 0.4-1.2 wt % is prepared, to one face of the aluminum base alloy plate a rib is formed, and the aluminum base alloy plate is an extruded frame member. Accordingly, a railway car having a low welding distortion and a structure having a low welding distortion can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in adjoining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces, structural body formed. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region.

Abstract: The present invention is a cooling plate including a groove, which becomes a passage of a coolant, inside a body, wherein one or more fins are provided inside the groove, wherein the groove is covered with a lid having width larger than the groove, wherein the lid is joined to the body by friction stir welding, and wherein a weld bead formed by the joining is outside the passage, and the weld bead formed by the joining is formed within the body and further, is characterized by a manufacturing method of a cooling plate that has a first groove, which becomes a passage of a coolant, and a second groove, which has width larger than the first groove and receives a lid on the first groove, inside a body, receives the lid on the second groove, and is joined to the body, the manufacturing method of a cooling plate wherein, while the lid and the body are joined together by the friction stir welding owing to insertion of a rotation tool having a shoulder and a pin, the joining is performed so that a weld bead formed by