George P Cook

US Patent:

7850057, Dec 14, 2010

Filed:

Feb 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/703811

Inventors:

Paul Fleming - Boulder CO, US
David Lammlein - Houston TX, US
George E. Cook - Brentwood TN, US
Don Mitchell Wilkes - Nashville TN, US
Alvin M. Strauss - Nashville TN, US
David Delapp - Ashland City TN, US
Daniel A. Hartman - Santa Fe NM, US

Assignee:

Vanderbilt University - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B23K 20/12

US Classification:

2281121, 228 21, 228103

Abstract:

A friction stir system for processing at least a first workpiece includes a spindle actuator coupled to a rotary tool comprising a rotating member for contacting and processing the first workpiece. A detection system is provided for obtaining information related to a lateral alignment of the rotating member. The detection system comprises at least one sensor for measuring a force experienced by the rotary tool or a parameter related to the force experienced by the rotary tool during processing, wherein the sensor provides sensor signals. A signal processing system is coupled to receive and analyze the sensor signals and determine a lateral alignment of the rotating member relative to a selected lateral position, a selected path, or a direction to decrease a lateral distance relative to the selected lateral position or selected path. In one embodiment, the friction stir system can be embodied as a closed loop tracking system, such as a robot-based tracked friction stir welding (FSW) or friction stir processing (FSP) system.

US Patent:

8052034, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Nov 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/940237

Inventors:

Paul Fleming - Boulder CO, US
David H. Lammlein - Houston TX, US
George E. Cook - Brentwood TN, US
Don Mitchell Wilkes - Nashville TN, US
Alvin M. Strauss - Nashville TN, US
David R. Delapp - Ashland City TN, US
Daniel A. Hartman - Fairhope AL, US

Assignee:

Vanderbilt University - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B23K 20/12
B23K 31/12

US Classification:

2281121, 228 21, 228103

Abstract:

Friction stir methods are disclosed for processing at least one workpiece using a rotary tool with rotating member for contacting and processing the workpiece. The methods include oscillating the rotary tool laterally with respect to a selected propagation path for the rotating member with respect to the workpiece to define an oscillation path for the rotating member. The methods further include obtaining force signals or parameters related to the force experienced by the rotary tool at least while the rotating member is disposed at the extremes of the oscillation. The force signals or parameters associated with the extremes can then be analyzed to determine a lateral position of the selected path with respect to a target path and a lateral offset value can be determined based on the lateral position. The lateral distance between the selected path and the target path can be decreased based on the lateral offset value.

US Patent:

8191753, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Oct 7, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/242766

Inventors:

Paul Fleming - Boulder CO, US
David H. Lammlein - Houston TX, US
George E. Cook - Brentwood TN, US
Don Mitchell Wilkes - Nashville TN, US
Alvin M. Strauss - Nashville TN, US
David R. Delapp - Ashland City TN, US
Daniel A. Hartman - Fairhope AL, US

Assignee:

Vanderbilt University - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B23K 20/12
B23K 31/12

US Classification:

228 21, 2281121, 228103

Abstract:

An apparatus and computer program are disclosed for processing at least one workpiece using a rotary tool with rotating member for contacting and processing the workpiece. The methods include oscillating the rotary tool laterally with respect to a selected propagation path for the rotating member with respect to the workpiece to define an oscillation path for the rotating member. The methods further include obtaining force signals or parameters related to the force experienced by the rotary tool at least while the rotating member is disposed at the extremes of the oscillation. The force signals or parameters associated with the extremes can then be analyzed to determine a lateral position of the selected path with respect to a target path and a lateral offset value can be determined based on the lateral position. The lateral distance between the selected path and the target path can be decreased based on the lateral offset value.