Rotating laser welding pressure unit
AssigneeBenecor, Inc.
InventorJeffrey D. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser welding pressure unit comprises a housing, a rotating element, and a foot. The housing may attach to a laser head. The rotating element may include an outer ring rotatably coupled to an inner ring, wherein the outer ring is coupled to the housing. The foot may couple to the inner ring such that the foot rotates with respect to the housing. The foot may also be configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet and may be oriented such that while the metal sheet is being welded, the foot rotates about a central vertical axis and the laser welding pressure unit is able to move in any direction without the foot breaking contact with the surface.
Claims20
A laser welding pressure unit comprising:
- a housing configured to attach to a laser head;
- and
- a foot coupled to the housing, the foot configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet and oriented such that while the metal sheet is being welded, the foot rotates about a central, generally vertical axis and the laser welding pressure unit is able to move in nearly any direction without the foot breaking contact with the surface.
A laser welding pressure unit comprising:
- a housing configured to attach to a laser head;
- a rotating element including an outer ring rotatably coupled to an inner ring, wherein the outer ring is coupled to the housing;
- and
- a foot coupled to the inner ring such that the foot rotates with respect to the housing, the foot configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet and oriented such that while the metal sheet is being welded, the foot rotates about a central, generally vertical axis and the laser welding pressure unit is able to move in nearly any direction without the foot breaking contact with the surface.
A laser welding system comprising:
- a laser head configured to supply a laser beam to create a weld;
- and
- a laser welding pressure unit coupled to the laser head and configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet during welding such that the weld may be created in nearly any direction without the laser welding pressure unit breaking contact with the surface, the laser welding pressure unit including—
- a housing configured to attach to the laser head, and
- a foot coupled to the housing, the foot including a central, generally vertical axis about which the foot rotates while the metal sheet is being welded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.