Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting the mechanical forces at the welding pin tip during friction stir welding, having the following features: a) a strip-shaped sensor (3) at a long side of a tool cup (9) holding a welding pin pen (12) by way of a pin shaft (13) using a tool receiving cone (14), and also holding a welding shoe (11); b) a conical narrowed portion (20) in the further region of the tool-receiving cone (14), which serves to receive a sensor (18) for detecting the axial force, the torque and the bending moment at the welding pin pen (12); c) a further narrowed portion in the front region of the tool-receiving cone (14), having three sensors (24) distributed across the circumferences at a distance of 120 degrees; d) a sensor signal amplifier having a rotor antenna (19) for receiving, amplifying and forwarding all detected measurement values, said measurement values being forwarded by a static antenna (17) to a machine control; and e) an inductive power supply system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for friction stir welding materials of different thicknesses and that have fillet welds, comprising the following features: a) a receiver panel (1) that has a drive head (2) and a welding shoe (4) that has a pin bearing, said welding shoe (4) being selected and inserted according to whether it is being used with materials of different thicknesses or with materials that have fillet welds, b) the longitudinal axis of the spindle bearing being at an incline of an angle between 0 and 5 degrees relative to the vertical line; the transverse incline being 0 degrees for the fillet weld shoe (4), and c) when the welding pin (6) is exchanged, the length of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustment element (12) and the position of the counter-bearing of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustable pin stop (19) and, in the case of the pin stop (19), additionally secured by an adjustment screw (20).

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for the mobile friction stir welding of two tubular structures as joining partners, said apparatus having the following features: a) an annular main body (2) which can be unfolded using a hinge (4) and can be fixedly connected for operation opposite the hinge (4) using a locking mechanism (1); b) a plurality of lifting elements (3) which are distributed along the circumference of the main body (2), can be moved radially by a drive unit (5), and each include a retaining jaw (15) for securing the tubular structures, one retaining jaw (15) being mounted so as to be horizontally movable by a drive unit (6); c) a ring gear (21) which is connected to the main body (2) and on which a spindle head (11) can be moved by a drive unit (20) in an orbital movement about the tubular structures in order for a weld seam to be applied; d) a welding shoe (27) having a sliding surface (27) which is adapted to the curvature of the surfaces of the joining partners.

Abstract: Method and device for quick and reliable tool changing in the process of friction stir welding, comprising the following features: a) a robot (1) with a robot pivoting head (2) and a friction welding head (3) with a welding shoe (13), wherein the robot (1) can select a friction welding head (2) from a tool magazine (4), b) a device for sensing the mechanical forces at the welding pin tip (14) of each welding shoe (13) of a friction welding head (2), wherein a sensor (16) is attached to the frustoconical part of the tool (11), wherein a sensor (21) is provided, and wherein furthermore a sensor (25) is provided in the flared pin receptacle (26) and a piezoelectric force-measuring sensor (24) is provided in the longitudinal axis of the pin shaft (27) for measuring the axial force acting on the welding pin tip, c) an RFDI code provided on the pin shaft (27) of each welding shoe (13) for identification, d) a changing skid (28) provided on each welding shoe (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a bar system (1) for simultaneously pouring beer (3) from a reservoir (2) into a plurality of containers such as glasses (4), comprising a supply line (5) having an adjoining distributor region (6) having a plurality of outlets (7), wherein the beer (3) can be conducted via the supply line (5) into the distributor region (6) and via the latter into the containers such as glasses (4). In order to fill the containers such as glasses (4) uniformly with beer (3) and with a head of foam of equal height, it is possible according to the invention to till the distributor region (6) completely with beer (3) when the supply line (5) is partially full.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for increasing the quality of the weld seam in friction stir welding, with the following features: a) a receiving plate (1) with a drive head (2), the latter having a receiving flange (19) for receiving a holding bell (3) connected by means of a union nut (7) to a welding shoe (4) with a welding pin tip (5), b) the welding shoe (4) has a circular basic shape, on which there is a transverse web running over the cross section and rising at a right angle to said basic shape, said transverse web having a width of approximately 1/4 to 1/5 of the diameter of the basic shape and having an arc-shaped shoe sliding surface and shoe smoothing surface (9), c) the welding pin tip (5) has substantially a surface structure in the form of a tapering thread, this thread-like structure not being arranged in a purely circular manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for friction stir welding materials of different thicknesses and that have fillet welds, comprising the following features: a) a receiver panel (1) that has a drive head (2) and a welding shoe (4) that has a pin bearing, said welding shoe (4) being selected and inserted according to whether it is being used with materials of different thicknesses or with materials that have fillet welds, b) the longitudinal axis of the spindle bearing being at an incline of an angle between and 5 degrees relative to the vertical line; the transverse incline being 0 degrees for the fillet weld shoe (4), and c) when the welding pin (6) is exchanged, the length of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustment element (12) and the position of the counter-bearing of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustable pin stop (19) and, in the case of the pin stop (19), additionally secured by an adjustment screw (20).