US 2001/0019039 A1 · Welding assembly with nestable conductive ends

Abstract

A welding material in positioned in electrically conductive relation between exterior surface portions of first and second weldable members, such as hydroformed tubes, at a location where the first and second weldable members are to be joined. A welding device comprises first and second electrodes or conductive ends that extend along substantially the entire extent of first sides of the first and second weldable members, respectively. The first and second conductive ends include first and second concave recesses, which nest with the first and second weldable members, respectively. Electrical current is applied across the first and second weldable members by the nesting first and second conductive ends such that the applied current melts the welding material and thereby welds the exterior surface portions to one another. The welding device can be mounted on a robotic mechanism, which can move the welding device between first and second welding positions.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A welding device, comprising:

a first welding part having a first support and a first conductive end capable of being engaged to a structure to be welded;
and
a second welding part coupled to said first welding part and having a second conductive end capable of being engaged to the structure to be welded,
said first conductive end having a first base coupled to said first support, and a first contoured portion coupled to and extending away from said first base and including a first concave recess to nest with the structure to be welded.

1 more element

A method of welding, comprising:

providing a first weldable member having a first longitudinal axis and a first cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, the cross-section being closed, hollow, and having first and second opposing sides;
providing a welding device including a first welding part having a first support and a first conductive end, the first conductive end having a first base coupled to the first support and a first surface opposite to the first base;
engaging the first surface of the welding device with the first side of the first weldable member such that the first surface is substantially coextensive with the first side of the first weldable member;
and
conducting electricity through the first conductive end of the welding device and the first weldable member by conducting electricity though the first surface of the welding device and the first side of the first weldable member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Welding assembly with nestable conductive ends

Life of this patent

Welding assembly with nestable conductive ends

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25