Method and apparatus for laser welding hoses in an air induction system
AssigneeSiemens VDO Automotive Corporation
InventorsBobbye K. W. Baylis, Zhouxuan Xia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Laser welding is used to attach a polyolefin air induction component to an elastomeric hose member. One of the hose or induction component includes a portion that is made from a transparent material. In one example, the hose includes a hose end portion that is formed from a transparent material. The transparent material is then positioned in an overlapping relationship to a tube received within an opening in the induction component, which acts as an absorbing component. Contour through transmission welding is used to generate a laser beam that passes through the transparent material, heats the absorbing component, which in turn heats the transparent material and forms a laser weld.
Claims21
An air induction system comprising:
- a first component defining an opening;
- a second component engaging said first component at an attachment interface and cooperating with said opening to direct air flow into or out of said first component;
- and
- a laser weld area formed at said attachment interface for securely attaching said first and second components together.
An air induction system comprising:
- an induction component made from a polyolefin material and defining an opening with a tube extending outwardly from said induction component around said opening;
- a hose made from an elastomeric material with one hose end positioned relative to said tube in an overlapping relationship to define an attachment interface;
- and
- a laser weld area formed at said attachment interface to securely attach said hose to said induction component.
A method for attaching a first induction component to a second induction component in an air induction system comprising the steps of:
- positioning the first and second induction components in an abutting relationship to define an overlap area;
- and
- laser welding the overlap area to securely attach the first and second induction components together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.