Online weld inspection and repair method for resistance welding and weld-bonding
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPei-Chung Wang, Zongqing Lin, Xinmin Lai, Yansong Zhang, Guanlong Chen, Samuel P. Marin, Sheila A. Marin
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Abstract
A method to diagnose weld integrity in a welding process includes monitoring a weld indentation characteristic, comparing the monitored weld indentation characteristic to a threshold weld indentation characteristic, and identifying a discrepant weld when the weld indentation characteristic comparison shows the monitored weld indentation characteristic violates the threshold weld indentation characteristic.
Claims23
A method to diagnose weld integrity in a welding process, comprising:
- monitoring a weld indentation characteristic;
- comparing the monitored weld indentation characteristic to a threshold weld indentation characteristic;
- and
- identifying a discrepant weld when the weld indentation characteristic comparison shows the monitored weld indentation characteristic violates the threshold weld indentation characteristic.
A method to diagnose weld integrity and implement a repair weld in a resistance welding process, comprising:
- monitoring a weld indentation characteristic, comprising integrally tracking movement of weld electrodes along a workpiece during the resistance welding process;
- comparing the monitored weld indentation characteristic to a threshold weld indentation characteristic;
- identifying a discrepant weld when the weld indentation characteristic comparison shows the monitored weld indentation characteristic violates the threshold weld indentation characteristic;
- moving the weld electrodes to an alternative location on the workpiece based upon the identifying;
- and
- applying a repair weld.
An apparatus to diagnose weld integrity in a resistance welding process, comprising:
- resistance welding electrodes deployable to a workpiece by deployment machinery;
- a sensor integrally mounted to the deployment machinery to monitor a weld indentation characteristic in real-time;
- and
- a weld work station having a processor and programming configured to monitor a weld indentation characteristic real-time,
- compare the monitored weld indentation characteristic to a stored threshold weld indentation characteristic, and
- identify a discrepant weld when the weld indentation characteristic comparison shows the monitored weld indentation characteristic violates the threshold weld indentation characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.