Laser welding of sandwich structures
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorClifford C. Bampton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for bonding multi-layer sheet structure by using controlled depth laser welding. The laser energy may be applied in stages, whereby the inner sheets are first welded together and, the outer sheets are then joined thereto. The sheets are thereafter expanded to form the desired structure. Although the laser energy may be varied to control the depth of penetration, one embodiment utilizes a shield material to be applied between two sheets to prevent the laser energy from penetrating and joining the two sheets together. Similarly, shields may be used to control the width of the laser weld.
Claims18
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises:
- a. positioning three sheets in a stack relative to each other;
- b. penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together;
- and
- c. expanding said stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises:
- (a) positioning at least three sheets in a stack relative to each other, said stack comprised of at least one face sheet and at least one core sheet;
- (b) penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together, said selected areas being in a pattern which defines the core of said sandwich structure;
- and
- (c) expanding the welded stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.