System and method of joining overlapping workpieces
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorPei-Chung Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved fusion welding system having a perforating device and a heating combination is adapted for welding in tandem a set of adjacent overlapping workpieces. The system preferably includes a first laser that perforates the workpieces to produce an opening spaced from the edges; and the combination preferably includes a second laser and electrode for cooperatively melting fusible material into the opening.
Claims15
A welding system adapted for welding a plurality of overlapping adjacent workpieces to form a lap weld, wherein each workpiece presents an outer edge, said system comprising:
- a perforating device configured to engage at least a portion of the plurality of workpieces, so as to produce an opening cooperatively defined by each of the workpieces;
- and
- a heating combination including a plurality of separate and concurrently functionable welding elements,
- said elements being oriented relative to the device, and configured to cooperatively and contemporaneously heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum temperature, so as to cause the weld to form at least predominately within the opening,
- said opening being adjacent to and spaced from the outer edge of each of said plurality of workpieces,
- said combination further including an electrode, wherein said electrode is coaxially aligned with and spaced from a first end of a conductive sleeve,
- said electrode and sleeve being cooperatively configured to form an electric arc between the first end and electrode,
- said sleeve being fluidly coupled to a gas source, so that the source, electrode and sleeve are cooperatively configured to direct a gaseous stream through the arc, and produce a plasma column between the electrode and an outermost surface of the plurality of workpieces.
A welding system adapted for welding a plurality of overlapping adjacent workpieces to form a lap weld, wherein each workpiece presents an outer edge, said system comprising:
- a perforating device including a first laser configured to focus at least one laser beam having a first width, and power output not less than 4 kW upon an outermost surface of said plurality of workpieces, so as to produce an opening cooperatively defined by each of the workpieces, wherein said opening is adjacent, and spaced from the outer edges of, each of said plurality of workpieces;
- a heating combination including a second laser beam having a second width greater than the first width, and an electrode, wherein the second laser beam and electrode are cooperatively configured to heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum zone temperature;
- and
- a fusible member, at least a portion of which is positionable within the zone and has a melting range less than the minimum zone temperature, so that the combination is operable to melt the portion of the member into the opening,
- said electrode being spaced from and cooperatively configured to form an arc between the electrode and an outermost surface of the plurality of workpieces,
- at least a portion of the second laser beam being directed through at least a portion of the arc, such that at least a portion of the arc and second laser beam are coextensive, directed coterminatively towards the outermost surface, and cooperatively form a hybrid laser-arc column.
A method of welding a plurality of workpieces to form a lap weld, said method comprising:
- (a) perforating a portion of the workpieces to produce an opening adjacent to and spaced from the edge of each workpiece;
- (b) creating an arc having a first welding efficiency adjacent an outermost surface of the workpieces, and directing a first laser beam having a second welding efficiency into the arc, so that the arc and second laser beam are directed coterminatively towards the outermost surface, cooperatively form a hybrid laser-arc column having a third welding efficiency greater than the sum of the first and second welding efficiencies, and release heat energy sufficient to heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum zone temperature after the workpieces have been perforated and the opening produced;
- (c) positioning within the zone a fusible material having a melting range less than the minimum zone temperature, so as to produce molten material that flows into the opening and contacts each of said workpieces;
- and
- (d) cooling said molten material to a temperature less than the melting range and allowing the material to re-solidify.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.