Welding Patents (Class 219/121.63)
  • Patent number: 10279433
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for degating of an aluminum wheel blank by laser cutting, and the device comprises members including a lower lifting frame movable long beam, a middle lifting frame inner side oblique beam, a middle lifting frame pin shaft, a rubber supporting cushion, an upper lifting frame long fixed beam, a middle lifting frame outer side oblique beam, a first stroke limiting frame, a first stroke limiting wheel, a second stroke limiting frame, a second stroke limiting wheel, piston firm retaining rings, frame-shaped guide plates, directional sliding blocks, grating positioning devices, a wheel blank member, a roller way, a lower rack fixed frame, a lower gate taking device fixed frame, a laser cutting head, an eccentric turning wheel, high-temperature-resistant resin clamping gaskets, clamping blocks, rack vertical corner frames, clamping hydraulic cylinder pistons, horizontal clamping hydraulic cylinders, a movable plate and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fengbao Luo, Ruixiao Zhou, Chuan Dai, Dengyao Li, Xiao Liu
  • Patent number: 10279412
    Abstract: A turntable assembly for performing welding or other operations in a pivotably-mounted J-lay tower is disclosed. The assembly includes an annular turntable supported by a base frame to turn about a pipe string in use and a tilt-compensating mechanism acting on the base frame to level the turntable as the tower pivots in use. The tilt-compensating mechanism includes at least one support that is driveable up and down with respect to the tower. In the embodiment disclosed, the support is a carriage movable along an upright track that pivots with the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventor: John Duncan Cruickshank
  • Patent number: 10279432
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for laser cutting of aluminum alloy wheel blank burrs. The device includes a wheel hub lifting and locking mechanism and one or more groups of lasers mounted to a moving mechanism, and the moving mechanism comprises vertical guide columns (8) and horizontal guide columns (10) mounted to the vertical guide columns (8). During use, the device of the present invention can realize the function of online cutting of wheel burrs, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing manual labor, and the device has the characteristics of high cutting precision, rounded and burr-free cutting parts, stable performances, high degree of automation and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fengbao Luo, Ruixiao Zhou, Chuan Dai, Dengyao Li, Xiao Liu
  • Patent number: 10279431
    Abstract: A part, such as an automotive part, is provided. The part includes at least two work pieces which are joined together at a weld seam. The weld seam has a laser metal deposition layer with at least one of nickel and iron, and the laser metal deposition layer is substantially entirely free of silicate islands. The part further includes a painted, phosphate or electrocoated coating which is bonded with at least a portion of the laser metal deposition layer of the weld seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Florian Hanschmann, Jeremey Brian Magda, Kevin Dale Smith
  • Patent number: 10272524
    Abstract: A method of laser welding aluminum alloy workpieces with dual laser beams arranged in a cross-beam orientation is disclosed. The method comprises directing dual laser beams, which include a first laser beam and a second laser beam, at and along a weld seam established between the aluminum alloy workpieces together with a filler wire. The first laser beam includes a first longitudinal axis and the second laser beam includes a second longitudinal axis. When arranged in the cross-beam orientation, a plane that intersects the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis of the first and second laser beams, respectively, forms a line where it meets the aluminum alloy workpieces that is oriented transverse to the weld seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Hui-Ping Wang, Blair E. Carlson, Michael G. Poss, David A. Gatny, Perry G. Leggett
  • Patent number: 10265853
    Abstract: To provide a laser welding system that can correct divergence of a laser beam irradiation position with higher precision, and is capable of higher precision laser welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Murakami
  • Patent number: 10259159
    Abstract: A stack forming apparatus according to embodiments comprises a nozzle and a controller. The nozzle is configured to selectively inject more than one kind of material to a target and to apply laser light to the injected material to melt the material. The controller is configured to control the kind and supply amount of material to be supplied to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Naotada Okada
  • Patent number: 10252374
    Abstract: A laser cladding system includes a laser apparatus, a chamber, and a pump system. The laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam. The chamber includes an interior surface that defines a cladding area comprising a sealed volume. The chamber includes a window that is made from a laser-transparent material and is configured to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough into the cladding area. The pump system has a port in communication with the cladding area. The pump system is configured to selectively generate a vacuum pressure within the cladding area sufficient to evacuate gas from within the cladding area out through the port. The laser apparatus includes a laser head from which the laser beam is emitted and a robotic laser motion system configured to selectively move the laser head such that the laser beam moves relative to a reference point within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Cavanaugh, Daniel Sordelet
  • Patent number: 10239158
    Abstract: Laser hybrid welding systems adapted to identify and/or fix a weld defect occurring during a laser hybrid welding process are provided. Embodiments of the laser hybrid welding system may include one or more devices that provide feedback to a controller regarding one or more weld parameters. One embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes sensors that are adapted to measure the weld voltage and/or amperage during the welding process and transmit the acquired data to the controller for processing. Another embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes a lead camera and a lag camera that film an area directly in front of the weld location and directly behind the weld location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 10239164
    Abstract: A robotic wire termination system for efficiently connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector. The robotic wire termination system generally includes a frame, a connector support attached to the frame, a robot manipulator having at least one arm, a heating device attached to the at least one arm and a control unit in communication with the robot manipulator to control the operation of the robot manipulator. The arm of the robot manipulator is adapted to move the heating device so that the heating device can apply heat to a selected connector pin of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Onanon, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10226840
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical device comprises applying a laser beam to a target area of the surface so as to selectively heat material of the surface thereby to provide transfer of material due to a surface tension gradient, wherein the surface is such that, when liquid, parts of the surface at higher temperatures have a higher surface tension than adjacent parts of the surface at lower temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John Weston, Duncan Paul Hand, Stephanie Giet, Marcus Ardron
  • Patent number: 10226835
    Abstract: A laser processing system includes a laser processing apparatus having a laser oscillator, a processing apparatus main body, and a laser nozzle that is provided in the processing apparatus main body, a robot for transferring a workpiece to a machining position of the laser nozzle to perform predetermined machining for the workpiece, an output measurement instrument that is located at a standby position provided in the processing apparatus main body and that is capable of measuring output of the laser beam from the laser nozzle, and a robot controller for controlling operation of the robot, wherein the robot controller controls the robot to support the output measurement instrument located at the standby position and to move the output measurement instrument to an irradiation position of the laser beam of the laser nozzle for measurement of the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuto Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10220475
    Abstract: The invention relates to machines and methods for separative machining of a plate-shaped workpiece by a processing beam. The machines include a first movement unit configured to move the workpiece in a first direction and a second movement unit configured to move a machining head configured to emit the processing beam. The second movement unit is configured to move the machining head in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to direct the processing beam onto the workpiece. The machines include a first workpiece support unit including a first workpiece-bearing face and a second workpiece support unit including a second workpiece-bearing face spaced apart by a gap from the first workpiece support unit and the first workpiece-bearing face. The gap extends along the second direction. The machines include at least two support slides configured to move in the gap in the second direction mutually independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Schmauder, Simon Ockenfuss, Peter Epperlein, Magnus Deiss, Dennis Wolf, Johannes Krampfert
  • Patent number: 10214441
    Abstract: Provided is a cutting device including a machining table configured to float a workpiece having a plate shape, a laser radiation unit configured to radiate a laser beam onto the workpiece, a coolant injection unit configured to inject a coolant onto the workpiece, and a moving device configured to relatively move the workpiece with respect to the laser radiation unit and the coolant injection unit in a preset direction. In the cutting device, a scattering member configured to receive injection of the coolant from the coolant injection unit and scatter the coolant is installed at the machining table in front of the workpiece in a moving direction in which the workpiece relatively moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10213874
    Abstract: A double side welding method used for producing a differential gear for welding a weld part to join a ring gear fitted on a gear case from both sides. The method uses welding distortion caused by welding to improve product accuracy. The method includes welding from both sides of a weld part where a first member and a second member, which are the objects being joined, face each other. The method is performed by first welding, which is performed from one side, and second welding, which is performed from the other opposite side from that first welding. Heat quantity adjustment, that adjusts the quantity of heat input to the weld part for the second welding, is performed after the first welding, and is carried out such that an amount of welding distortion that is the objective arises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Uchida, Shingo Iwatani, Takahito Endo, Go Kuramoto, Jun Kamitake, Shuhei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10206289
    Abstract: Soldering is performed with a high yield ratio even when extremely-thin wires are joined at an extremely-narrow pitch. Moreover, a bridge between conductive joint portions is reduced. A core wire 41 is placed on a preliminarily-soldered conductive joint portion 2. Then, the conductive joint portions 2 and the core wires 41 are covered with an optically-transparent sheet 30. Thus, the state in which the core wire 41 is placed on the conductive joint portion 2 is held. In this state, the optically-transparent sheet 30 is irradiated with light. A preliminary solder 3 is heated and melted to join the core wire 41 and the conductive joint portion 2 together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TATSUTA ELECTRIC WIRE & CABLE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Aoyagi, Yoshinori Kawakami, Yoshio Hirano, Kiyotaka Urashita, Ryota Fujikawa, Nobuhiro Fujio
  • Patent number: 10166631
    Abstract: A laser processing head apparatus with a camera monitor includes a light source for illumination having a near-infrared laser diode that generates a near-infrared laser beam of which upper limit value is a wavelength of a laser beam for processing, and out of processing point-emitted light, a processing point-reflected laser beam and illumination light for imaging, which have passed through a condensed lens and a laser beam reflection mirror and are directed to the camera respectively. An optical filter blocks transmission of the processing point-emitted light and the processing point-reflected laser beam, and transmits the illumination light for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Kuba, Naoyuki Nakamura, Akihiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 10166751
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing a three dimensional (3D) part. In one implementation a system in accordance with the present disclosure may make use of an additive manufacturing (AM) subsystem for performing an AM operation to form the 3D part. The 3D part may be formed using a plurality of distinct material layers layered one on top of another. The system may also involve at least one of a laser peening (LP) subsystem and a High Velocity Laser Accelerated Deposition (HVLAD) subsystem. The LP subsystem may be used for laser peening a selected subquantity of the layers, to impart improved hardness to the selected subquantity of the layers and/or to the overall 3D part. The HVLAD subsystem may be used to bond at least one of the material layers to a previously laid down one of the material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kramer, Andrew Bayramian, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Joseph C. Farmer, John C. Post, James A. Demuth
  • Patent number: 10161787
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module including a laser source capable of emitting a coherent light beam of given wavelength, a first sensor capable of picking up a first light signal of a wavelength lying in a first band of wavelengths centered around the given wavelength and a second sensor capable of picking up a second light signal of a wavelength lying in a second band of wavelengths centered around a wavelength distinct from the given wavelength. In particular, the light module includes a detection module capable of comparing at least one value that is a function of the signals to a threshold value and of commanding the stopping of the laser source as a function of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Arnaud Faivre
  • Patent number: 10144091
    Abstract: A welded portion shape of a cross-section perpendicular to the shaped steel longitudinal direction is set to satisfy a>0 mm, b>0 mm, c?0.14 Tw, d?0 mm, e?0 mm, a+d?2 mm and b+e?2 mm; where a is a front melting width of the web material (on the laser beam irradiation side), b is a rear melting width of the web material (on the laser beam non-irradiation side), c is a maximum weld penetration depth, in a plate pressure direction, into the flange material, d is a front melting width of the flange material (on the laser beam irradiation side), e is a rear melting width of the flange material (on the laser beam non-irradiation side), and Tw is the plate thickness of the web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakurada, Takefumi Nakako, Hiroshi Asada
  • Patent number: 10144062
    Abstract: A method for producing a component of a turbomachine is disclosed. The method includes a) layer-by-layer deposition of a powder component material onto a component platform in a region of a buildup and joining zone, where the deposition takes place in accordance with layer information of the component to be produced; b) local layer-by-layer fusion or sintering of the powder component material by energy supplied in the region of the buildup and joining zone, where the buildup and joining zone is heated to a temperature just below a melting point of the powder component material; c) layer-by-layer lowering of the component platform by a predefined layer thickness; and d) repetition of steps a) to c) until the component is finished. A device for producing a component of a turbomachine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Bayer, Karl-Hermann Richter
  • Patent number: 10144092
    Abstract: The use of a laser beam, which has an external and an internal laser beam area with different intensities allows a higher temperature gradient to be produced along the z direction, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernd Burbaum, Norbert Pirch
  • Patent number: 10144090
    Abstract: This invention provides a process and device for simultaneous laser welding; after using the moving lower die and the fixing upper die to make the base and the lens attached, by using the light pipe, for example, transparent substances or other cheap materials, to make the laser, which is emitted from the laser source, emit through the lens to a welding region of the base after being processed, to operate rapid and average heating to the welding region; meanwhile, using the welding cylinder to press the base and the lens together, to make base and the lens pressed and welded together in molten state, and when welding, it does not generate powder or other defects, and, at the same time, it can make the height H and the width w of the generated waste selvage between [0, 0.4] mm, which can improve the performance of welding object more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Shanghai Seeyao Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhaoji Guo, Xiaofeng Yang, Guoxiang Xin, Hai Huang, Yonghe Wang
  • Patent number: 10124441
    Abstract: A part, such as an automotive part, is provided. The part includes at least two work pieces of steel which are joined together at a weld seam which includes at least one of nickel and iron and is substantially entirely free of silicate islands. The part also includes a painted, phosphated or electrocoated coating which is bonded with at least a portion of the substantially entirely silicate island free weld seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Florian Hanschmann, Jeremey Brian Magda, Kevin Dale Smith
  • Patent number: 10118253
    Abstract: A light source assembly and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method for manufacturing the light source assembly includes the following steps. A back plate and a light bar are provided, in which the light bar includes a substrate and plural light emitting diodes disposed on a mounting surface of the substrate. The light bar is disposed on the back plate and a weld-processing area which includes an air interface is formed between the light bar and the back plate. The light bar and/or the back plate are/is melted by welding to form melted materials for filling the weld-processing area to fix the substrate on the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Jen Chiu, Jung-Yin Chang
  • Patent number: 10103180
    Abstract: A crystallization apparatus for crystallizing a semiconductor layer formed on a substrate. The crystallization apparatus includes a laser generator, which generates a laser beam, an optical device for changing a path of the laser beam emitted from the laser generating device, and a stage on which the substrate is arranged, wherein the optical device changes the path of the laser beam by rotating with respect to a constant axis, and the stage is moved so that the laser beam having the changed path is irradiated to a constant region on the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Yong Kim, Joon-Hyung Kim, Je-Kil Ryu, Sung-Gon Kim, Pil-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 10101201
    Abstract: A system for continuously monitoring a laser beam includes a photodiode sensor mounted adjacent to a laser beam optical path. A laser beam optical path analysis module connected to the photodiode sensor and adapted to receive, analyze and report the sensor output from the photodiode sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Nikrin, David J. Buendorf, Dennis L. Howard, Paul C. Ray, Matthew J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 10088076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the singulation of valve plates and/or assembled valves from a lead-frame are described. The method and apparatus utilizes an electric current to fuse tabs which join the valve plate and/or the assembled valve to the lead-frame. The valve comprises a first and second valve plate with offsetting apertures and a flap disposed and movable between the first and second plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Jaeb, Stuart Hatfield
  • Patent number: 10076786
    Abstract: A method of processing a component (10) with an energy beam (13) comprises simultaneously scanning and heating a first portion (12) and second adjacent portion (14) of the component with an energy beam (13) At a point or area of divergence of the portions of the component, the energy beam is controlled to repeatedly move back and forth between the portions of the component. This simultaneous heating of adjacent portions (12, 14) of the component is configured to keep a thermally-induced distortion of the component within a predefined tolerance. This dual-path processing may be performed on a bed of fluidized powdered material including a powdered metal material and a powdered flux material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel
  • Patent number: 10065363
    Abstract: A welding apparatus for making an automotive light including light guides having an inlet which receives the fibers the laser beam produced by the laser emitting device and an outlet which propagates/transmits the laser beam collimated by said guides. The light guide has respective free ends mechanically separated from each other, wherein the light guides are configured so as to direct collimated light beams on adjacent and locally continuous portions of welding interface so as to obtain a homogeneous and uniform distribution of the light beams along the welding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A. a Socio Unico
    Inventors: Nicola Schiccheri, Cristiano Boero, Domenico Ferigo, Fabio Leone
  • Patent number: 10065267
    Abstract: A tool-changing carrier, that is to say a tool turret (1) with a rotary turret unit having at least two tool mounts (9) and arranged such that it can be rotated relative to a basic turret body (12), has radiation-transmission means which are provided for passing electromagnetic radiation through the tool-changing carrier or along the same. A tool system comprises such a tool-changing carrier and at least two tool heads (3, 5, 15, 17, 18, 27, 34, 40, 43), intended for fixing on the tool mounts (9), wherein at least one tool head is an optical tool head (3, 15, 17, 18) which is suitable for exposing a workpiece (11) to electromagnetic radiation and has a tool optics unit (23) for deflecting and/or forming the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventors: Joerg Frank, Sascha Bausch, Dominic Deutges
  • Patent number: 10052721
    Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an aluminum-silicon containing pre-coat layer disposed on at least one major surface thereof, and having first and second opposite side edges. The sheet metal workpiece is arranged such that the first and second side edges are in contact with one another and such that the at least one major surface faces outwardly. A closed tube-shaped product is obtained by forming a laser-weld joint between the first and second side edges. In particular the laser-weld joint is formed absent removing the aluminum-silicon containing layer from along the adjacent edges, such that aluminum from the aluminum-silicon containing layer enters into the melt pool that is formed. An alloying material is introduced into the melt pool during laser welding and forms a compound with at least some of the aluminum in the melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Hongping Gu, Aldo Van Gelder, Jeremiah John Brady, Edward K. Steinebach, Mark Justin Jones
  • Patent number: 10052719
    Abstract: A laser welding device that laser-welds a lid to an open portion of a casing emits a laser beam to a joining subject portion including an inner side surface of the casing that defines the open portion and a peripheral surface of the lid that faces the inner side surface of the casing. The inner side surface of the casing and the peripheral surface of the lid are arranged to form a groove in between, and include inclined surfaces that function as a sliding portion. The groove portion has a groove width that is variable by sliding the sliding portion. A detection unit detects the groove width of the groove portion. An adjustment force application unit applies force for adjusting the groove width to the casing. A control unit controls the force applied by the adjustment force application unit in accordance with the groove width detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki Saito, Nobuaki Sakayanagi
  • Patent number: 10041351
    Abstract: A unit for a turbocharger can include a turbine wheel portion that includes a turbine wheel material and a turbine wheel axis; a shaft portion that includes a shaft material and a shaft axis; a first weld that includes a first average axial position over a first azimuthal span and first weld composition formed of a greater proportion of the turbine wheel material than the shaft material; and a second weld that includes a second average axial position over a second azimuthal span and second weld composition formed of a greater proportion of the turbine wheel material than the shaft material, where a sum of the first azimuthal span and the second azimuthal span is approximately 360 degrees, where the first average axial position differs from the second average axial position, and where the first weld composition differs from the second weld composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Zollinger, Maurizio Barbone, Didier Horlaville, Andrei Minculescu, Nicolas Vazeille
  • Patent number: 10029417
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus (10) including: a container (12) configured to bound a bed of powdered metal material; a fluidization arrangement (18) configured to fluidize the bed of powered material; an articulation mechanism (40) disposed within the container and configured to support and to rotate a component (38) about at least one horizontal axis; and an energy beam (34) configured to selectively scan portions (36) of a surface of the bed of powdered metal material to melt or sinter the selectively scanned portions onto the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Allister William James, Gerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel, Anand A. Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10024166
    Abstract: A unit for a turbocharger can include a turbine wheel portion that includes a turbine wheel material and a turbine wheel axis; a shaft portion that includes a shaft material and a shaft axis where the shaft material includes a molybdenum content less than 0.5 percent by weight; and a weld that includes a nail shape in cross-section where a head portion of the nail shape includes an axial dimension of approximately 1 mm or less and wherein a shank portion of the nail shape includes an axial dimension of approximately 0.4 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Zollinger, Maurizio Barbone, Didier Horlaville, Andrei Minculescu, Nicolas Vazeille
  • Patent number: 10016250
    Abstract: A laser patterning apparatus for a three-dimensional object includes a laser generator, a beam expander configured to adjust a size of a laser beam generated by the laser generator, a dynamic focusing module configured to adjust a z-axis focus position of the laser beam passing through the beam expander, a scan head configured to adjust x- and y-axis focus position of the laser beam passing through the beam expander, a shape recognizer configured to recognize a shape of a three-dimensional object, and a controller configured to extract x-, y-, and z-axis data of the three-dimensional object and to control the scan head and the dynamic focusing module, in order to pattern the three-dimensional object with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung Chan Choi, Doo Baeck An
  • Patent number: 10010974
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for quickly detecting a defect of a portion welded by laser beam welding. Specifically disclosed is a welding step in which a welding device is used, the welding device welding an object to be welded with a pulsed laser. In the welding step, a first photodetector receives only infrared rays having a wavelength allowing detection of a keyhole formed in a molten pool from among infrared rays radiating from a welded portion during the welding of the object, and an analyzer determines quality of the welded portion on the basis of intensity of the infrared rays received by the first photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Nakamura, Tooru Sugiyama, Seiichi Matsumoto, Noriaki Yamamoto, Yoshinori Shibata
  • Patent number: 9993896
    Abstract: A laser welding method for welding materials having different thicknesses includes abutting two plates having different thicknesses such that one surface of the thin plate and one surface the thick plate are made flush with each other; and thereafter welding the plates by applying a laser beam to abutting surfaces thereof, wherein the laser beam is directed obliquely relative to an abutting end face of the thick plate, a target position of the laser beam is determined on the abutting end face of the thick plate, and a target position depth D on the abutting end face of the thick plate is determined based on the formula t/3?D?t where t is a thickness of the abutting end face of the thin plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hosomi, Kenji Ogawa, Takefumi Nakako, Keiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9989385
    Abstract: A method of assembling an optical sensor for measuring pressure and/or temperature is disclosed. The optical sensor is adapted for use in high temperature environments, such as gas turbines and other engines. The method comprises fabricating a sensor element formed of a pill having an enclosed cavity, bonding the pill to a front end of a spacer, bonding a lens to the back end of the spacer to form the optical assembly, aligning an optical fiber to the optical assembly, and fixing the fiber in position by fusing the fiber to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Oxsensis Limited
    Inventors: Arnold Peter Roscoe Harpin, Stephen James Fasham, Stephen Geoffrey Tyler
  • Patent number: 9991546
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly device is provided. The assembly device includes a stack guide apparatus that arranges and stacks fuel cells using a plurality of guide bars and a press unit that repeatedly moves vertically based on the stack guide apparatus and presses the fuel cells stacked on the stack guide apparatus. A roller structure includes a roller in rolling contact with the guide bar and is installed at the press unit. A weight detection portion detects weight that is applied to the roller by the guide bar. Additionally, a controller determines whether the guide bar is at the home position based on a detection signal of the weight detection portion and operates the press unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Nam Gu Lee, Kyung Sik Son, Sang Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9989478
    Abstract: A method of inspecting packaging welds comprises the steps of creating a light beam that produces at least one light transition (t) and acquiring a raw matrix image (B(N)) covering the light transition. For each image (B(N)) obtained, a measurement of the diffusion of the light transition is stored. For each of N successive scanning increments, the raw matrix image (B(N)) is used to create an image line in which each pixel receives as its value the measurement in the raw matrix image (B(N)) of the diffusion of at least the light transition. The at least N image lines are stored in succession to obtain a matrix image and the matrix image is analyzed to determine that the weld along said fraction is in conformity when its transverse width remains, at all points, greater than a given minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BIZERBA LUCEO
    Inventors: Eric Pirot, Laurent Roubert, Ahmed Rbaa
  • Patent number: 9981336
    Abstract: A ribbon bonding tool is provided. The ribbon bonding tool includes a body portion including a tip portion, the tip portion defining a working surface. The ribbon bonding tool includes a group of four protrusions extending from the working surface, wherein the working surface defines four quadrants in a horizontal plane by extending an imaginary line at a midpoint along each of a length and a width of the working surface. Each of the four protrusions is arranged in one of four quadrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Poncelet, Todd James Walker, Christoph Benno Luechinger
  • Patent number: 9969029
    Abstract: A laser processing head comprises an optical focusing unit for focusing a laser beam on a processing zone of a workpiece and an annular nozzle arranged coaxially with respect to a central axis of the laser beam for introducing an auxiliary gas into a region surrounding the processing zone. The annular nozzle is mounted on the laser processing head so as to be displaceable along the laser beam axis and can be secured to the laser processing head in different positions along the laser beam axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TRUMPF LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Rominger, Gerhard Broghammer
  • Patent number: 9925723
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform and an illuminator disposed on opposite sides of a powder carrier relative to gravity. The powder carrier has a movement envelop that intersects the beam path and includes a material that is translucent to radiation emitted by the illuminator such that the emitted radiation traverses the powder carrier and fuses powder from a powder bed carried by the powder carrier with a substrate overlying the powder carrier and suspended from the build platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Sergey Mironets
  • Patent number: 9901969
    Abstract: A tailored blank for hot stamping includes a welded portion formed by butt-welding a first aluminum-plated steel sheet and a second aluminum-plated steel sheet, an Average Al concentration of a weld metal in the welded portion is in a range of 0.3 mass % to 1.5 mass %, an Ac3 point of the weld metal is 1250° C. or lower, and furthermore, an aluminum layer formed during the butt-welding is present on a surface of the welded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunobu Miyazaki, Yasuaki Naito, Kaoru Kawasaki, Takahiro Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 9896759
    Abstract: The present invention provides an OLED material vacuum thermal evaporating mask plate, comprising a mask frame (1), a quickset (3) fixed on the mask frame (1) and a mask (5) fixed on the quickset (3); the mask frame (1) comprises four edges, and the four edges surround to form an opening corresponding to the mask (5); each edge of the mask frame (1) comprises a groove (11) dented at the upper surface; the quickset (3) is fixed in the groove (11); the mask (5) is fixed on the quickset (3) by point weld, and welding points (7) are on the quickset (3). When the mask deforms and the replacement is necessary, only the quickset is extracted for polishing or is replaced. The mask frame can be repeatedly used to diminish the waste amount and to raise the availability of the mask frame. Meanwhile, the spare amount of the mask frame can be reduced to save material and production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tsungyuan Wu, Yawei Liu
  • Patent number: 9900032
    Abstract: A differential transmission assembly includes two metal prisms, a ground substrate, and a resistive sheet. The two metal prisms are driven differentially. Each metal prism extends along parallel lines with a space therebetween in a common direction, coplanar in a first plane, and contributing to formation of a three-dimensional electromagnetic field. The ground substrate extends in the common direction, in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The resistive sheet is disposed in a third plane aligned to be substantially perpendicular to an electric field component of a first mode of the three-dimensional electromagnetic field, and to be parallel to an electric field component of a second mode of the three-dimensional electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dietrich W. Vook
  • Patent number: 9878398
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for automated dynamic laser peening of a workpiece. In one embodiment, a system for automated dynamic laser peening of a workpiece comprises: a laser; a laser beam delivery system; and a dynamic platform system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: LSP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary J. May, Jeff L. Dulaney, Keith Glover
  • Patent number: 9851164
    Abstract: In a system and method of working tubes coupled to a tubesheet having a number of holes, wherein each hole in fluid communication with one of the tubes, an end-effector is positioned by a robot in coarse or rough alignment with a first hole in the tubesheet. Via lasers positioned on the end-effector, laser spots are formed on a surface of the tubesheet adjacent the first hole. The laser spots are detected by a camera and the alignment of the end-effector relative to the first hole in the tubesheet is refined via the robot based on the detected pattern of laser spots. The tool is then moved into the tube that is in fluid communication with the first hole in the tubesheet to work on (inspect, plug, sleeve or weld) the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CoreStar International Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Hand, Christopher M. Belville, Michael D. Coradi