Welding Patents (Class 219/121.63)
  • Patent number: 8498037
    Abstract: A method for processing workpieces includes performing a laser processing operation in which a laser beam is directed at a first mirror face and at a second mirror face of a redirecting mirror. The second mirror face is at least partially surrounded by the first mirror face. During the laser processing operation, the second mirror face performs a pendulum movement relative to the first mirror face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Trumpf Laser—und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Andreasch, Stefan Boeckmann
  • Patent number: 8487209
    Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method reduce the effect of the fume resulting from a weld. An air injecting nozzle is installed at a laser processing head. The injecting direction of air from the air injecting nozzle is set such that the air flows across a laser beam irradiated from the laser processing head while the air flow avoids direct contact with the laser irradiating point on the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sakamoto, Kazuya Okada, Yasushi Morikawa, Takahisa Hasegawa, Atsushi Saito, Junichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8487211
    Abstract: A fusion welding method includes the steps of: generating a hybrid laser beam obtained by mixing a low-intensity laser beam with a first high-intensity laser beam and a second high-intensity laser beam; moving the hybrid laser beam along a gap between a first member and a second member; and melting the first member and the second member in the periphery of the gap with the hybrid laser beam, and filling the gap with the melt of the first member and the melt of the second member to weld the first member and the second member, wherein the first high-intensity laser beam is applied to the area of the first member to which the low-intensity laser beam is applied, and the second high-intensity laser beam is applied to the area of the second member to which the low-intensity laser beam is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tutomu Sakurai, Seiji Kumazawa, Hidenao Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8481885
    Abstract: A welding apparatus and a welding method are employed for laser narrow groove welding which performs welding scanning a laser beam in the welding direction while feeding a solid filler metal into a narrow groove. The welding apparatus includes a laser beam irradiation head having a mechanism periodically oscillating an irradiation point of the laser beam with a predetermined amplitude in the bottom of the groove, and a filler metal control device having a solid filler metal feeder feeding the solid filler metal to the molten pool formed in the bottom of the groove by the laser beam and adjusting the feeding position independent of a motion of the laser beam irradiation head so that the tip position of the solid filler metal detected is constantly positioned in the center of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsukamoto, Hirotsugu Kawanaka, Yoshihisa Maeda, Shinji Imaoka, Tetsuya Kuwano, Taiji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20130161299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for guiding a laser beam along a target path, particularly a joint. It has a laser beam input module that guides an incident laser beam onto a swiveling beam guiding device downstream from the laser beam input module. The beam guiding device projects the laser beam onto the target path. Said beam guiding device comprises a tactile sensor connected to the swiveling optic that is designed to perform a tactile scan of the target path and to deflect the swiveling optic appropriately. According to the invention, an intermediate focal point is located in the beam path of the laser beam between laser beam input module and swiveling optic. Moreover, the swivel axis of the swiveling optic runs through the intermediate focal point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SCANSONIC MI GMBH
    Inventor: Scansonic MI GMBH
  • Patent number: 8471182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for automated or “robotic” application of hardfacing to the surface of a steel-toothed cutter of a standard earth-boring rock bit or a hybrid-type rock bit. In particular, the system incorporates a grounded adapter plate and chuck mounted to a robotic arm for grasping and manipulating a rock bit cutter, particularly a hybrid rock bit cutter, beneath an electrical or photonic energy welding source, such as a plasma arc welding torch manipulated by a positioner. In this configuration, the torch is positioned substantially vertically and oscillated along a horizontal axis as the cutter is manipulated relative along a target path for the distribution of hardfacing. Moving the cutter beneath the torch allows more areas of more teeth to be overlayed, and allows superior placement for operational feedback, such as automatic positioning and parameter correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce Stauffer, David Luce, Alan Massey, Kenneth Gilmore, Keith Nehring
  • Patent number: 8471173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding coated sheet metal (3), which comprises at least one laser (13) and at least one shielded arc unit (5) and a rod feeding device (11) for a welding rod (12). The aim of the invention is to provide a method or a device of the aforementioned kind which allows fo˜ reducing or completely avoiding inclusions such as are e.g. caused by the evaporation of the coating of the metal sheet (3). For this purpose, a clamping device (6) is used for positioning the coated metal sheet (3) without substantial gaps between the individual sheets. A material having a zinc and/or carbon and/or aluminum content is used as the weld metal or welding rod (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Miessbacher, Manfred Rührnössl
  • Patent number: 8471168
    Abstract: A method for treating a metal article can comprise: fusion welding a cladding onto an article comprising a surface and a compressive case depth processing the cladding. An average compression case depth, as measured from the cladding outer surface, can be greater than the cladding thickness. Also included herein are articles made from this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Swami Ganesh
  • Publication number: 20130153549
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for manufacturing a swing-ring plate. More particularly, the apparatus and method for manufacturing the swing-ring plate comprises a bending mechanism that moves a linear plate cut to a certain length from a first side to a second side, and bends the linear plate so as to face both ends thereof each other to form a ring shape; a pre-bonding mechanism that fixes the bent plate in the ring shape and pre-bonds the ends in the horizontal and vertical directions; and a final bonding mechanism that completely bonds the pre-bonded part of the plate by revolving around the fixed pre-bonded plate and positioning so that the top and bottom surfaces of the pre-bonded plate face upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HANARO TECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Si Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8464804
    Abstract: A robot for machining a part of structure under water, comprising a machine tool having a chamber receiving a machining element, a support and guiding structure of the machine tool fixable with respect to the part to be machined and having submersible mobile elements and corresponding submersible guiding elements defining axes along which the mobile elements are movable to position the machine tool with respect to the part to be machined, displacement units for displacement of the mobile elements along the axes, a gas supply connecting to the machine tool to inject gas in the chamber, and a programmable control unit for operating the displacement units and the machine tool based on a closed-loop control mode in order to achieve the machining of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Julien Beaudry, Pierre-Luc Richard, Dominique Thuot, Philippe Hamelin, Michel Blain
  • Publication number: 20130146569
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting a laser beam applied to a workpiece in a processing operation. A laser processing system receives the laser beam that is associated with a beam quality property. The laser processing system adjusts the laser beam to change the beam quality property based on a characteristic of the workpiece, a characteristic of the processing operation, or a combination thereof. The adjusted laser beam can also be delivered to the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Woods, Sanjay Garg, Tate S. Picard
  • Patent number: 8461475
    Abstract: A system for the thermal processing of workpieces. In this respect, workpieces can be processed by a plasma jet or by a laser beam. The thermal processing of workpieces is done more flexibly and also less expensive in this respect. A laser processing head or a plasma processing head can be connected by a single shaft element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Krink, Friedrich-Wilhelm Bach, Frank Laurisch, Thomas Ruemenapp
  • Patent number: 8455787
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus in which a workpiece is placed on a work support base that supports the workpiece at a plurality of support points and performs, while moving a processing head in a horizontal direction with respect to the workpiece, laser processing on the workpiece on the work support base by the processing head, includes a tilt judging unit that judges, based on a positional relationship between a product chip that is to be separated from the workpiece when the workpiece is subjected to laser processing and support points, whether the product chip tilts in a height direction and projects upward on a side of the processing head from the workpiece before laser processing; and a drive control unit that controls a height of the processing head with respect to the workpiece when moving the processing head to a processing position for a next product chip after completing laser processing on the product chip based on a judgment result of the tilt judging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroko Takada
  • Publication number: 20130134139
    Abstract: A laser machining method includes A) generating, by a laser source, a laser beam having an initial wavelength between 700 and 1200 nanometers of laser pulses; B) doubling frequency of one part of the laser beam by a non-linear crystal; C) varying power throughout each emitted laser pulse so that the power profile has a maximum peak power or part of the pulse with a maximum power in an initial sub-period, and throughout an intermediate sub-period of longer duration than the initial sub-period, a lower power than the maximum power. The maximum power value is at least two times higher than the mean power throughout the laser pulse and an increase time to maximum power from a start of each laser pulse is less than 0.3 milliseconds. The machining method can concern welding highly reflective metals, copper, gold, silver, or an alloy including one of these metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ROFIN-LASAG AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Duerr, Christoph Ruettimann, Bruno Frei
  • Publication number: 20130136940
    Abstract: A welding system, welding process and welded article are disclosed. The system includes a laser welding apparatus, a GMAW apparatus, and a GTAW apparatus. The laser welding apparatus, the GMAW apparatus, and the GTAW apparatus are positioned to weld an article along a weld path. The process includes providing a welding system having a laser welding apparatus, a GMAW apparatus, and a GTAW apparatus. The process further includes welding an article with one or more of the laser welding apparatus, the GMAW apparatus, and the GTAW apparatus. The welded article includes a weld formed by welding from a GMAW apparatus, a laser welding apparatus, and a GTAW apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dechao LIN, Srikanth Chandrudu KOTTILINGAM, Yan CUI, David Edward SCHICK, Brian Lee TOLLISON
  • Patent number: 8452073
    Abstract: A closed-loop control method for an electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) process includes detecting a feature of interest during the process using a sensor(s), continuously evaluating the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein, and automatically modifying control parameters to control the EBF3 process. An apparatus provides closed-loop control method of the process, and includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, a wire feeder for feeding a wire toward a substrate, wherein the wire is melted and progressively deposited in layers onto the substrate, a sensor(s), and a host machine. The sensor(s) measure the feature of interest during the process, and the host machine continuously evaluates the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein. The host machine automatically modifies control parameters to the EBF3 apparatus to control the EBF3 process in a closed-loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Karen M. Taminger, Robert A. Hafley, Richard E. Martin, William H. Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 8445810
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a laser welding apparatus has a laser irradiation head that is arranged in an outer frame and is divided inside into a light source side and an irradiation side by a partitioning member. The apparatus also has a gas jet nozzle that is formed so as to irradiate a portion to be welded with the laser light and jet the inert gas to the portion to be welded; and a welding wire feed pipe that sequentially feeds a welding wire. The apparatus also has a welding wire contact mechanism that includes a measuring means for measuring a distance between the extremity of the irradiation side and the extremity of the welding wire, and is formed so that the extremity of the welding wire is brought into contact with and pressed against the portion to be welded by an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hisashi Hozumi, Yutaka Togasawa, Kenji Matsuzaki, Mitsuaki Shimamura, Satoshi Okada, Wataru Kono, Masaki Yoda
  • Patent number: 8440966
    Abstract: A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS) is provided. A preamplifier is installed as nearest to an ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) trap as possible at a detector part in the mass spectrometer, and thermal noise generated at the preamplifier is minimized by means of a cryo-cooling system to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of ion detection signals such that an ultra-low amount of specimen can be detected, which was impossible in the related art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Basic Science Institute
    Inventors: Myoung Choul Choi, Yeon Suk Choi, Jeong Min Lee, Seung Yong Kim, Dong Lak Kim, Hyun Sik Kim, Jong Shin Yoo, Stefan Karl-Heinz Stahl
  • Patent number: 8431855
    Abstract: The formation of a bellows made up of a stack of a predetermined number of ring-convolutions and having an intermediate plate supported within said stack is achieved by supplying several thin metal rings, each having inner and outer edges. A pair of these metal rings are positioned in contiguous relationship and their adjacent inside edges are welded together to form a ring-convolution. This process is repeated until a sufficient number of ring-convolutions are made to eventually make the desired bellows. Before these separate ring-convolutions are fused to each other, an intermediate plate and a support ring are made. The intermediate plate is a disc of metal that is sized smaller than the inside diameter of the rings and is secured to the support ring. The support ring is then positioned between two formed ring-convolutions in contiguous relationship and the three abutting outside edges are welded to each other to form a support plate convolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Codman Neuro Sciences Sarl
    Inventors: Philippe Margairaz, Pierre Pringalle, Jean-Sebastien Petithory
  • Patent number: 8431860
    Abstract: A welding method includes sandwiching a first base material and a second base material between a first block and a second block, the first and second base materials being made of a light-transmitting resin, and welding the first and second base materials to each other by making a laser beam enter the second base material through a front surface of the second base material toward the first block from outside an outline of the second block at an acute entry angle with respect to the front surface of the second base material and by focusing the laser beam on the first and second base materials between the first and second blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Akihiko Ushimaru
  • Patent number: 8426765
    Abstract: A welding apparatus for welding workpieces of high-temperature superalloys is provided. The welding apparatus includes a heat source for producing a heat input zone on the workpiece surface, a supplying device for supplying welding filler into the heat input zone and a transporting device for producing a relative movement between the heat source and the supplying device on the one hand and the workpiece surface on the other hand. The welding apparatus further includes a control unit with a control program, which carries out the relative movement in such a way that the welding power and the diameter of the heat input zone are set such that the cooling rate during the solidifying of the material is at least 8000 Kelvins per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Nikolai Arjakine, Georg Bostanjoglo, Bernd Burbaum, Andres Gasser, Torsten Jambor, Stefanie Linnenbrink, Torsten Melzer-Jokisch, Michael Ott, Norbert Pirch, Rolf Wilkenhöner
  • Patent number: 8426033
    Abstract: Provided are precipitation hardened high strength nickel based alloy welds that yield improved properties and performance in joining high strength metals. The advantageous weldments include two or more segments of ferrous or non-ferrous components, and fusion welds, friction stir welds, electron beam welds, laser beam welds, or a combination thereof bonding adjacent segments of the components together, wherein the welds comprise a precipitation hardened nickel based alloy weld metal composition including greater than or equal to 1.4 wt % of combined aluminum and titanium based on the total weight of the nickel based alloy weld metal composition. Also provided are methods for forming the welds from the nickel based alloy weld compositions, wherein the precipitation hardening occurs in the as-welded condition. The nickel based welds do not require a separate heat treatment step after welding to produce advantageous strength properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Raghavan Ayer, Neeraj Srinivas Thirumalai, Hyun-Woo Jin, Daniel B. Lillig, Douglas Paul Fairchild, Steven Jeffrey Ford
  • Patent number: 8426766
    Abstract: A welding method for an impeller having a plurality of blades, a disc and an exterior body including a shroud welded to the plurality of blades, comprising the steps of: a first step for forming a groove having a prescribed depth and a prescribed width toward one of the blades on a surface of the disc or the exterior body, which is opposite to a surface against the blade abuts, emitting laser light toward the bottom of the groove, and performing melt-through bead welding to bond the bottom of the groove to an end of the blade in such a way that a bead formed on the back of the disc or the shroud is curved with an inward depression; and a second step for performing overlaying welding after completion of the first step by supplying a filler metal to a molten zone while the bottom of the groove is scanned with the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsukamoto, Yoshihisa Maeda, Hiromi Kobayashi, Hideto Nogiwa, Tetsuya Kuwano, Ryujiro Udo, Masaaki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 8426768
    Abstract: A method of directing a laser beam along a desired path on a workpiece and at spaced intervals delivering a pulse of laser energy comprising the steps of: using a position command stream and position feedback to control the positioning of galvanometer scanned mirror or mirrors to define the path a laser beam will travel to intersect the desired path on the workpiece; and using position feedback alone to determine when a pulse of laser energy is delivered to strike the workpiece at locations such that are uniformly overlapped along the path notwithstanding variations in galvanometer mirror velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Rekowski
  • Publication number: 20130092667
    Abstract: A method and system to weld or join workpieces employing a high intensity energy source to create a weld puddle and at least one resistive filler wire which is heated to at or near its melting temperature and deposited into the weld puddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Lincoln Global, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130092666
    Abstract: A laser apparatus for welding is disclosed. The laser apparatus includes: a laser optic head adapted and configured to modify a spot size of a laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator and to project the laser beam into a joining portion of joining members, wherein the laser optic head is adapted and configured to modify the spot size to selectively perform brazing or welding. A method of selectively brazing or welding according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: providing a laser apparatus of as described herein; and actuating the laser optic head to modify the spot size of the laser beam and project the laser beam into the joining portion of the joining members to selectively perform brazing or welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kwang Min Oh
  • Patent number: 8420976
    Abstract: An apparatus for fitting two first workpieces with respective second workpieces of different dimensions has a track extending longitudinally through an assembly station and a welding station. An assembling appliance in the assembly station has a pair of jigs each dimensioned to fit with a respective one of the second workpieces, and a holdown appliance in the welding station similarly has a pair of differently sized holddowns. The holddown appliance can move between a pair of positions in each of which a respective one of the holddowns is aligned under the welding head. A workpiece holder in which either of the first workpieces can be held is shiftable between positions in the assembly station under the assembling appliances and a position in the welding station underneath a stationary welding head therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: EMAG Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Mootz
  • Publication number: 20130087538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to an associated method for joining sheet metal parts, each with a flange, by laser, wherein the flanges of the sheet metal parts (2) are joined into one connecting flange. The device has a clamping device (5) for clamping the sheet metal parts (2) to be joined in a main clamping direction running transversely to the connecting flange and a beam guidance system for a laser beam (1). Moreover, the device has a compensation shaft (9) which tracks the laser beam (1) according to a relative movement between the connecting flange and a guidance apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SCANSONIC MI GMBH
    Inventors: Steffen Walter, Igor Haschke
  • Patent number: 8415583
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping device for clamping at least two components (6, 7) in a radiation-protected machine tool, particularly in a laser welding device (1), comprising—a receptacle (18) for supporting the first component (6), —a clamping head (16) for applying a force to the second component (7) in order to generate clamping pressure at the joint surface (8, 9) between the two components (6, 7), —an inner clamping jaw (11) located within the peripheral beam path (10) of the machine tool, the jaw having a clamping surface (12) for internally clamping the components (6, 7), and—narrow connecting struts (15) for connecting the inner clamping jaw (11) to the external clamping head (16), said connecting struts (15) bridging the passage gap (7) in the clamping head (16) allowing access for the beam path (10) of the machine tool to the components (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
    Inventors: Frank Brunnecker, Holger Aldebert, Andreas Kraus
  • Patent number: 8412371
    Abstract: A laser welding system includes a robot control unit that acquires movement amount measurement values from encoders provided on axes of the robot and calculates the current position of a laser processing head based on the measurement values. Based on the calculated current position of the laser processing head, the robot control unit calculates a laser beam emission direction specifying the direction in which the laser beam should be aimed in order to strike a predetermined laser irradiation position. The robot control unit sends a command indicative of the laser beam emission direction to a processing head control unit which changes the direction of a reflecting mirror provided inside the laser processing head such that the laser beam is emitted in the specified direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gakushi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20130075039
    Abstract: A system for fabricating silicon carbide assemblies that includes at least two silicon carbide materials; at least one joining interlayer positioned between the at least two silicon carbide materials, wherein the at least one joining interlayer further includes a first material that melts at a first temperature and a second material interspersed throughout the first material, and wherein the second material melts at a temperature that is lower than that of the first material; and at least one apparatus for applying energy to the joining interlayer, wherein applying energy to the joining interlayer is operative to soften the first material and melt the second material, and wherein softening the first material and melting the second material is operative to transform the joining interlayer into a substantially porosity-free adherent material capable of joining together the at least two silicon carbide materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: EDISON WELDING INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Edward D. HERDERICK, Kirk E. COOPER, Nathan D. AMES
  • Patent number: 8404994
    Abstract: A laser beam welding device and a laser beam welding method are described. It is provided that a laser beam converted to have an annular cross-sectional area by using an optical system is deflected for the purpose of producing a radial weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Spennemann, Sonja Kittel
  • Patent number: 8402917
    Abstract: A mask frame assembly for thin film deposition including a frame having an opening portion and a support portion, and a mask having a deposition area in a position corresponding to the opening portion, wherein the mask includes a first layer including the deposition area and a peripheral portion disposed outside the deposition area and a second layer including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least a part of the first surface of the second layer faces the first layer and contacts the peripheral portion, and the second surface is welded to the support portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Woo Ko, Sang-Shin Lee, Taek-Kyo Kang, Seung-Ju Hong
  • Patent number: 8399799
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spark plug is a method for manufacturing the spark plug having an electrode base member and a noble metal tip welded thereto by means of a laser or an electrode base member, a tip base member joined thereto, and a noble metal tip welded to the tip bases material by means of a laser, and the method includes a laser welding process of welding the electrode base member or the tip base member to the noble metal tip by means of a laser and through use of a laser beam whose BBP value assumes 25 mm·mrad (a radius·a half angle) or less at a time point when a laser beam enters a transfer optical system for guiding the laser beam to areas to be welded where laser welding is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akikazu Taido, Tomoaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20130062325
    Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo CATALANO, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
  • Publication number: 20130062324
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to verifying a seam quality during a laser welding process. In certain aspects, a method includes detecting, in a spatially resolved manner, a first amount of radiation emerging from a workpiece in a first wavelength range, determining a first geometric parameter of a seam characteristic based on the first amount of radiation detected in the first wavelength range, detecting, in a spatially resolved manner, a second amount of radiation emerging from the workpiece in a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different than the first wavelength range, determining a second geometric parameter of the seam characteristic based on the second amount of radiation detected in the second wavelength range, comparing the first and second geometric parameters to respective reference values or to respective tolerance intervals to provide respective comparison results, and logically combining the respective comparison results to verify the seam quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Dorsch, Holger Braun, Dieter Pfitzner
  • Patent number: 8395080
    Abstract: A welding method includes sandwiching a first base material and a second base material between a first block and a second block, the first and second base materials being made of a light-transmitting resin, and welding the first and second base materials to each other by making a laser beam enter the second base material through a front surface of the second base material toward the first block from outside an outline of the second block at an acute entry angle with respect to the front surface of the second base material and by focusing the laser beam on the first and second base materials between the first and second blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Akihiko Ushimaru
  • Publication number: 20130056449
    Abstract: A welding system comprises pieces positioned to form a gap, a filler positioned in the gap, an arc welder positioned and configured to follow the gap and transfer melted material to the vicinity of the gap to create an initial weld pool, and a laser welder positioned and configured to project a beam through the initial weld pool adjacent to the gap to melt a portion of the filler, creating an enhanced weld pool and helping it to fill the gap. A welding method comprises fixing pieces to define a gap, positioning a filler in the gap, applying an electrical arc to at least one of the pieces so as to transfer melted material to the vicinity of the gap and thereby create an initial weld pool, and projecting a laser beam through the initial weld pool adjacent to the gap to melt a portion of the filler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dechao Lin, Yan Cui, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
  • Publication number: 20130056448
    Abstract: A wire bonding system of a semiconductor package comprising a wire feeding device for positioning a wire at a ball formation position, a laser beam generation unit for generating a carbon dioxide laser beam, and a laser beam guiding unit for directing the laser beam at the ball formation position to form a ball at the wire. Accordingly, moldability and producibility of the ball formed on the wire may be improved. Also, electrical properties at a section of the wire are modified so as to minimize a loop height of the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo-jin Kim, Sung-bok Hong, Hyung-jin Lee, Young-sik Kim
  • Patent number: 8387853
    Abstract: A component is repaired by removing a damaged region to form a cavity, in which layered repair inserts are installed. The profile of the cavity, and of the exposed surface of each repair insert is measured to serve as the basis for the contact surface of each subsequent repair insert. The repair inserts are fused to the wall of the cavity and to each other in a process in which heated locations of each repair insert are successively heated to minimize heat transfer within the repair inserts and in the underlying substrate material. The repair inserts may be made in a powder bed process from an alloy powder having the same composition as the material of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Stephen Tuppen, Daniel Clark
  • Publication number: 20130048615
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BENECOR, INC.
    Inventor: Benecor, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8383979
    Abstract: A part-holding device in a method for repairing a blade of a monobloc bladed disc of a turbo-machine, through electron-beam welding of a patch onto the blade along a junction plane is disclosed. The device includes a disc supporting device which supports the disc and an adjustable holding device which holds the blade and the patch. The adjustable holding device includes a platen which supports the adjustable holding device, arranged such that the space located above the junction plane allows for an electron beam to pass. The relative positions of the blade and the patch are set using the adjustable holding device that is supported by the platen, while leaving some space allowing for an electron beam to pass. Such a device is simple and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: SNECMA, SNECMA Services
    Inventors: Gérard Derrien, Stéphane Kerneis, Jacques François Le Saint, Claude André Charles Pagnon
  • Publication number: 20130043225
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser processing head (10) for processing a workpiece (10) by means of laser beam (12), comprising a housing (14), through which a beam path for the laser beam is led and which has a focusing optical unit (18) for focusing the laser beam onto a joint (42) of the workpiece to be processed, a light cutting device (30) fitted to the housing (14) and having a light source (34) for generating a light line (38) on the workpiece (16), which cuts a location to be joined at a predetermined distance (d) from the joint, a camera (24) with an optical bandpass filter (28) arranged in an observation beam path in front of the camera, wherein the light source (34) has an at least local emission maximum in the wavelength passband of the bandpass filter and the optical bandpass filter (28) is configured in such a way that the laser beam (12) is not transmitted, and wherein the camera images the light line at the location to be joined and also the portion—transmitted by the bandpass filter—of the proc
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: PRECITEC KG
    Inventor: Bert Schurmann
  • Publication number: 20130043219
    Abstract: A method and system to weld or join workpieces employing a high intensity energy source to create a weld puddle and at least one resistive filler wire which is heated to at or near its melting temperature and deposited into the weld puddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steven R. Peters, Kent Johns, Michael Whitehead, Paul E. Denney, Jonathan S. Ogborn, Andrew Peters, Stephen Cole, Michael S Flagg, Vaidyanath Rajan
  • Patent number: 8378256
    Abstract: A method of sealing a surface crack in a member is provided includes steps of irradiating a region of the member at which the crack is produced with a heating laser beam so as to heat the region to a temperature lower than a melting point of the member, and then irradiating a region of the member at which the crack is produced with a welding laser beam subsequent to irradiation of the heating laser beam so as to heat the region to a temperature higher than or equal to the melting point of the member, thereby sealing an opening of the surface crack of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masataka Tamura, Yoshinobu Makino, Wataru Kono, Katsunori Shiihara, Yoshimi Tanaka, Masaki Yoda, Yoshio Hamamoto, Satoshi Okada, Hiromi Kato
  • Patent number: 8378253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding with a laser beam, using a welding nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having an axis and including at least an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral wall; an axial cavity extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the nozzle body so as to define an outer channel recessed from the surface of said peripheral wall; and a plurality of inner passages drilled through the nozzle body between the upper and lower surfaces. The laser welding method of the invention provides a dynamic gas jet mechanically interacting with the molten metal bath, and further enables better control of the bath hydrodynamic flows, and thus better laser-welding efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Karim Chouf, Philippe Lefebvre
  • Publication number: 20130026143
    Abstract: A method for contactless laser welding of a plurality of sheets of material stacked upon one another includes simultaneously delivering a laser beam and a stream of fluid through a laser head and further through an end cap which is removably mounted to the laser head. The end cap is configured with a stationary cylinder, which is coupled to the laser head, and a piston movable relative the cylinder. The piston moves in response to a pressure differential generated by the fluid in chambers above and below the piston. Once the pressure equilibrium is reached between the chambers, the pressure in the chamber below the piston is sufficient to reliably press the sheets of material against one another during a laser welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Samartsev, Valdimir Antonenko, Leonid Pudov
  • Publication number: 20130026142
    Abstract: A welding equipment that forms an end part includes a vacuum chamber; a holding member that is installed in the vacuum chamber and that holds the end part in which a welding groove is formed by placing a half cell, an end plate, and a beam pipe next to each other; a window that is installed in a top-end surface portion of the vacuum chamber, which intersects with an axial center of the end part, and that forms a portion thereof; a laser radiating head that is installed outside the vacuum chamber and that radiates a laser beam into an internal space of the end part through the window; and a mirror member that is installed in the internal space of the end part and that adjusts a reflected laser beam, formed by reflecting the laser beam, so as to be oriented perpendicular to the welding groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuya Sennyu, Shuho Tsubota, Fumiaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 8362385
    Abstract: Method in which a continuous butt-sealed rim of a collar defined by corresponding concentric ends, without undulations, of a first wall, radially innermost, and a second wall, radially outermost, of a double-wall bellows is obtained as a continuous butt-weld bead on the corresponding rims, arranged radially adjacent to each other, of the ends of the first and second walls, which have been prepared such that, before welding, they are radially spaced apart from each other by not more than 0.3 mm and with the rim of the second wall that projects in an axial direction with respect to that of the first wall for a length of 0.2-0.4 mm; butt welding is performed with a laser beam directed parallel to an axis of symmetry of the collar, making the latter rotate around the axis to progressively expose the entire perimeter of the rims of the ends of the first and second walls, simultaneously pressing the rims against each other with a force between 1 and 3 kg via spring clamping rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Flexider S.R.L.
    Inventor: Salvatore Gammino
  • Patent number: 8357875
    Abstract: A device for welding a plurality of foils to one another by means of a laser, for use in a packaging machine, comprises a clamping unit configured for applying pressure to a plurality of foils in a predetermined area as well as for conducting the laser radiation used for the purpose of welding to this area. A method for welding a plurality of foils to one another by means of a laser in a sealing station comprises welding the foils to one another along a sealing seam by means of the radiation of the laser while pressing them together in the area of the sealing seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Ehrmann, Tieme Jan Slomp, Robert Maier