Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus having a new cooling system that can cool a portion required to be cooled accurately and uniformly with a simple configuration, while suppressing unnecessary thermal expansion of a mounting jig includes a holding mechanism 20 having a holding member 22a movable with respect to a processing target member W so as to freely hold the processing target member W, in which the holding member 22a and a portion of a mounting jig 12 that can freely face the holding member 22a become paired, and a coolant supply source S that can freely supply a coolant to the paired holding member 22a and the portion of the mounting jig 12.

Abstract: The present invention provides a friction stir welder that includes a stage on which at least two material pieces to be welded are mounted and stacked, a pressing member that covers and presses end faces of the material pieces to be welded that are mounted and stacked on the stage, and a rotary tool that is inserted into the stacked material pieces to be welded while rotating, so that a plastic flow is generated at an interfacing portion as well as in the vicinity thereof between the rotary tool and the material pieces to be welded, thereby to joint the material pieces to be welded to each other.

Abstract: A replacement device of a processing apparatus includes a gripping device having a single first support member positionally fixed, a first gripping portion provided on the first support member to grip a holder not to rotate in a releasing direction when the processing member is removed from the holder, and a second gripping portion provided on the first support member apart from the first gripping portion to grip the holder not to rotate in a restricting direction when the processing member is attached to the holder, and a holding device having a single movable second support member, plural first holding portions provided on the second support member to respectively accommodate the processing member removed from the holder, and plural second holding portions provided on the second support member apart from the first holding portions to respectively accommodate the processing member that is to be attached to the holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction-stir joining method for joining a first member, having a base metal covered with a substance different from the base metal, with a second member with the second member placed on the first member by moving a joining tool along a joining line having thereon a joining start point and a joining finish point. The method includes steps of inserting the joining tool into the second member at the joining start point; moving the joining tool a predetermined distance along the joining line in a direction opposite the joining finish point; causing the joining tool to turn back at a turning-back point spaced the predetermined distance from the joining start point; moving the joining tool along the joining line to the joining finish point past the joining start point; and pulling the joining tool out from the second member at the joining finish point.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes a displacement detecting device that detects displacement of a welding tool caused by deformation of a fitting jig, at the time of performing friction stir welding in which an arm to which the fitting jig fitted with the welding tool is fixed is moved to move the welding tool with respect to the processing target member. The fitting jig can be deformed more than the arm at the time of performing friction stir welding. The displacement detecting device has a displacement sensor fixed to the welding tool, and a reference member fixed to a fixing portion between the fitting jig and the arm to provide a reference position for detecting the displacement to the displacement sensor.

Abstract: A friction stir welding member is formed by welding a second member to a first member in such a manner that a second member is stacked on a first member, a material property of the second member being different from a material property of the first member, a pin of a welding tool using a Friction Stir Welding technique is inserted into the second member, welding is started at one end of the second member, and the pin is pulled out at a welding terminal portion before the pin reaches the other end of the second member. A projection projecting toward the welding tool is provided integrally with the second member, the projection is formed so as to have a height that is higher than a length of the pin, and the projection is provided with the welding terminal portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. A terminal, an insulating plate, and an end plate are provided at one end of the stack body, and a terminal, an insulating plate, and an end plate are provided at the other end of the stack body. Each of the terminals includes an electrically conductive plate member, and an electrically conductive rod terminal joined integrally with the electrically conductive plate member. A joint portion joining the electrically conductive plate member and the electrically conductive rod terminal is formed by friction stir welding.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus and a method of operating the friction stir welding apparatus are disclosed. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe, a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool, and a roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool. The method includes adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends, rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces, gradually inserting the probe into the joint line, and moving the probe along the joint line.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. A terminal, an insulating plate, and an end plate are provided at one end of the stack body, and a terminal, an insulating plate, and an end plate are provided at the other end of the stack body. Each of the terminals includes an electrically conductive plate member, and an electrically conductive rod terminal joined integrally with the electrically conductive plate member. A joint portion joining the electrically conductive plate member and the electrically conductive rod terminal is formed by friction stir welding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction stir welding process for joining two members having different shearing strengths, and a friction stir welded structure fabricated by the process. The friction stir welding process includes the step of positioning a first welded member and a second welded member such that both members overlap each other, thereby defining an overlapped region, and the step of inserting a rotating pin into the overlapped region from a surface of the second welded member, so that the first and second welded members are joined together. In this process, the first welded member has a lower shearing strength than that of the second welded member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a friction stir welder that includes a stage on which at least two material pieces to be welded are mounted and stacked, a pressing member that covers and presses end faces of the material pieces to be welded that are mounted and stacked on the stage, and a rotary tool that is inserted into the stacked material pieces to be welded while rotating, so that a plastic flow is generated at an interfacing portion as well as in the vicinity thereof between the rotary tool and the material pieces to be welded, thereby to joint the material pieces to be welded to each other.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus and a method of operating the friction stir welding apparatus are disclosed. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe, a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool, and a roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool. The method includes adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends, rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces, gradually inserting the probe into the joint line, and moving the probe along the joint line.

Abstract: A fuel tank structure for a vehicle using gaseous fuel, has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies communicating from one another. The plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies are disposed at a fuel tank mount portion in a state of being adjoined from one another.

Abstract: A fuel tank structure for a vehicle using gaseous fuel, has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies communicating from one another. The plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies are disposed at a fuel tank mount portion in a state of being adjoined from one another.

Abstract: A fuel tank structure has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies (4), a piping (36) arranged to communicate the end portions of the tank main bodies 4 from one another and a block-shaped connector portion (35) provided at the outside of the end portion of the tank main body (4). The piping (36) couples the corresponding connector portions (35) to each other and is entirely disposed to the tank main body side with respect to an end surface of the connector portion (35), which is on the opposite side to the tank main body (4) with respect to the connector portion.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool for friction stir welding, a spindle motor of a rotational driving unit for rotationally driving the rotary tool when the rotary tool is mounted on the rotational driving unit, a servo motor of a press driving unit for pressing the shank of the rotary tool against the surface of a portion to be butt welded when the rotational driving unit is mounted on the press driving unit, a mount bracket for supporting the press driving unit, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressing force exerted on the surface of the portion to be butt welded by the shank, and a control unit for controlling the driving of the servo motor such that the pressing force falls within a predetermined range based on a detection signal sent from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool for friction stir welding, a spindle motor of a rotational driving unit for rotationally driving the rotary tool when the rotary tool is mounted on the rotational driving unit, a servo motor of a press driving unit for pressing the shank of the rotary tool against the surface of a portion to be butt welded when the rotational driving unit is mounted on the press driving unit, a mount bracket for supporting the press driving unit, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressing force exerted on the surface of the portion to be butt welded by the shank, and a control unit for controlling the driving of the servo motor such that the pressing force falls within a predetermined range based on a detection signal sent from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method for bending a metallic flanged member includes the steps of applying a compressive force to a flange 2 of a metallic flanged member 1 in a direction that intersects a longitudinal direction of the metallic member for compression plastic deformation of the flange, and thereafter bending the metallic flanged member 1 along a flanged side thereof in such a manner that the flanged side of the metallic flanged member is situated on an inner side of a bending process, and an apparatus for use with the same method.