Methods Patents (Class 219/117.1)
  • Publication number: 20140154086
    Abstract: An alternator has a pole segment with a collar, an axially outward surface, and at least one key extending radially outward from the collar along the surface. A fan has a keying slot extending radially outward from a center ring, and a fan body including protrusions. The fan is mounted to the segment whereby the collar fits inside the ring and the key fits inside the keying slot, and the fan is welded to the segment at the protrusions. A method includes securing a fan to a pole segment by mating a radially-extending key formed on the segment to a keying slot of the fan and by welding the fan to the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jiwon Chung, Scott Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8726499
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable pulse generator, comprises: providing a lead body including a plurality of conductors; providing a feedthrough component comprising a plurality of feedthrough pins; hermetically enclosing pulse generating circuitry and switching circuitry within a housing, the feedthrough component being welded to the housing; laser machining each of the plurality of feedthrough pins to comprise a slot along a surface of the respective feedthrough pin; placing a respective conductor from the lead body in the respective slot of each of the plurality of feedthrough pins; and performing welding operations to connect the plurality of conductors of the lead body with the plurality of feedthrough pins of the feedthrough component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken McGiboney, Galen L. Smith, Michael Gaines, Jerome Boogaard
  • Publication number: 20140124485
    Abstract: A resistance spot welding method for a lap joint multi-metal sheets which may improve the welding efficiency and nugget quality comprises: coating a joining zone of one of two mutually facing surfaces of two adjacent metal sheets with an active agent with high resistivity to form a welding region, and clamping the welding region with an upper welding electrode and a lower welding electrode and providing an electric current into the welding region. The active agent with high resistivity generates high heat energy to melt the joining zone and join the two adjacent metal sheets. The active agent with high resistivity has a resistivity much greater than a resistivity of each of the two metal sheets, and the active agent with high resistivity consists of multi-component powders and an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL PINGTUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung Tseng, Yung-Chuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20140072853
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly and a method of manufacturing the same. The battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells including anode terminals and cathode terminals, a plurality of lead tabs disposed on at least one of the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of each battery cell, wherein a groove is formed in each lead tab, and a lead plate disposed on top portions of the plurality of lead tabs, the lead plate including a connector contacting the plurality of lead tabs and a through hole formed in a position corresponding to the groove of the lead tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung SDl Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Youn Won, Dae-Yon Moon
  • Publication number: 20140061185
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for joining at least two workpieces, the method comprising the following method steps: providing and positioning the workpieces to be joined; providing at least one joining element; heating the joining element to a temperature substantially equal to its plasticizing temperature with at least one heat source; heating the workpieces at least in the region of a joint to a predetermined reaction temperature; and applying material of the joining element to the region of the joint with a relative movement taking place between the joining element and the region of the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Schindele
  • Publication number: 20140057501
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical fastener includes a fastener body having a connection portion materially integrally formed with at least one mounting member. The at least one mounting member has a thickness that is no more than three-times greater than a thickness of a substrate to which the electro-mechanical fastener is joined. The at least one mounting member is configured and disposed to be joined to the substrate through a welded connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David R. Petrucci, Edward D. Moss, Sheng-hong Shih, Louis Meli, Richard E. MacCleery
  • Publication number: 20130337284
    Abstract: A resistance welding method according to the invention includes: a melting start time specification process for specifying a melting start time, which is a time at which at least a part of a welding portion of a welding subject starts to melt while being subjected to Joule heating by a power input from an electrode pressed against the welding subject, by detecting a variation in an ultrasonic wave emitted toward the welding portion; a first power amount calculation process for calculating a first power amount, which is an integrated value of the power input into the welding subject via the electrode from the melting start time; a first determination process for determining whether or not the first power amount has reached a first set value; and a heating process for performing the Joule heating from the melting start time until the first power amount reaches the first set value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Onda, Goro Watanabe, Morimasa Murase, Yasuhiro Ishii, Tsunaji Kitayama, Hisaaki Takao, Hideki Teshima, Yoshinori Shibata, Tokujiro Konishi, Naotoshi Tominaga
  • Publication number: 20130327745
    Abstract: A method of forming a resistance spot welding manufacture includes sandwiching a third metal layer between first and second metal layers to form a workpiece. The second layer has a surface defining an embossed region. The first layer has a first thickness, the third layer has a third thickness, and the second layer has a second thickness that is less than the first and third thicknesses so that a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is greater than about 2:1. The method includes positioning the workpiece between a first and second electrode so that the workpiece is disposed in electrically-conductive relationship with the first and the second electrodes, and applying an electrical current through the first electrode to concurrently melt the first and third layers and the surface at the embossed region to join the first and second layers to the third layer and form the manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chih-Chang Chen, Michael J. Bland, Daniel C. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 8563891
    Abstract: A welding assembly including a current generator, an electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the electrode including a first engagement surface, and a workpiece including at least two members, wherein at least one of the members includes a second engagement surface, defines a recess in the second engagement surface, and is electrically coupled to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Venkatasubramanian Ananthanarayanan
  • Publication number: 20130272484
    Abstract: An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BABCOCK & WILCOX MPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T LEE, Earl B BARGER, Scott L Fitzner, Michael J Nilles
  • Publication number: 20130255619
    Abstract: A bonding method includes bonding a pair of members together made of conductive material and having bonding surfaces which are not positioned on the same plane. In the bonding method, the bonding surfaces of the members to be bonded are positioned to face each other, an electric current is supplied from one of the members to be bonded to the other for carrying out resistance heating while the pair of members to be bonded are slid relative to each other. In this way, the bonding surfaces are bonded to each other. Split or partition surfaces that form a hollow passage and extending along the axis of the hollow passage are set as the bonding surfaces which are not on the same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Mizuno, Toru Fukami, Kenshi Ushijima
  • Patent number: 8525066
    Abstract: Spot welding electrodes with generally dome shaped welding faces are provided with surface features for welding both aluminum alloy sheet assemblies and steel sheet assemblies. A raised circular plateau is formed on the central axis of the dome and, in one embodiment, a suitable number of round bumps are formed in concentric spacing from adjacent the circumference of the plateau toward the circular edge of the welding face. For welding steel workpieces the plateau mainly serves as the engaging feature of the electrode. Both the plateau and concentric bumps are used in penetrating light metal surfaces for suitable current passage. In another embodiment, the domed surface is shaped with concentric terraces for engagement with the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David R. Sigler, James G. Schroth, Michael J. Karagoulis
  • Patent number: 8516674
    Abstract: A method for bonding airfoil sections includes aligning upper and stub airfoil sections having upper airfoil pressure and suction sides and stub airfoil pressure and suction sides respectively, pressing together upper and stub airfoil cross sections at upper and stub airfoil distal ends of the upper and stub airfoil sections respectively, and then resistance welding, preferably solid state resistance welding, the upper and stub airfoil sections together along the upper and stub airfoil cross sections by passing electrical current across the upper and stub airfoil cross sections. The upper and stub airfoil sections may be clamped between pressure and suction side upper airfoil electrodes and between the stub airfoil pressure and suction sides respectively. The method may be performed while the stub airfoil section is attached to an airfoil carrier such as a rotor disk rim, a gas turbine engine drum, or a gas turbine engine blade platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Edward Trewiler, Stephen Joseph Ferrigno, Melvin Howard Wilkins, Timothy Joseph Trapp, Matthew Stewart, Gregory Christopher Firestone
  • Patent number: 8513561
    Abstract: A weld gun system for detecting the orientation of a weld nut relative to the metallic component to which it is to be welded prior to welding is disclosed. The system includes a lower electrode having a weld location pin, an upper electrode having a central circular recess formed therein, a fluid supply fluidly connected to the central circular recess of the upper electrode, and a pressure switch also fluidly connected to the central circular recess of the upper electrode. Once the weld nut is captured between the electrodes the fluid flows from the fluid supply into the central circular recess of the upper electrode. If the weld nut is in proper orientation the fluid continues to flow to the pressure switch and the weld occurs. If the weld nut is not in proper orientation the fluid does not flow to the pressure switch but is instead vented from the central circular recess and the weld does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Kuechenmeister, Grady Gipson
  • Patent number: 8507825
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bonding method for dissimilar materials made from metals and its resulting structures. The materials to be bonded are formed by layering three or more sheets such that a dissimilar material interface and a same material interface are formed. A first current is conducted between a three-sheet layered plate material wherein an aluminum alloy plate, a zinc plated steel plate and a bare steel plate, for example, are layered in order. A nugget is formed in an interface between the zinc plated steel plate and the bare steel plate, which are the same materials. Then, a second current greater than the first current is conducted, and a nugget is formed in an interface between the aluminum alloy plate and the zinc plated steel plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Miyamoto, Shigeyuki Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20130200048
    Abstract: A welding electrode for use in engaging an aluminum alloy workpiece during a spot welding process has a weld face that includes a base surface and a plurality of circular ridges that project outwardly from the base surface. The circular ridges are blunted, and their presence on the weld face provides the first welding electrode with several useful capabilities, including the ability to establish better mechanical and electrical contact with the aluminum alloy workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130186869
    Abstract: A device comprises a frame, a plurality of fingers, and an integrated slide hammer to drive a coupler onto a first pipe. The device may drive the coupler backwards onto a second pipe. The device may position the coupler for fusion without having to remove the device for the backward driving of the coupler. The device may be used above ground or in a trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: CSX Transportation
    Inventor: CSX Transportation
  • Publication number: 20130164590
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotary jig for battery cells to successively manufacture battery cells having different sizes including a main body configured to have a hexahedral structure having a rotary rod mounted at a lower end thereof, the main body being provided at sides thereof with mounting frames having sizes corresponding to sizes of battery cells so that the battery cells can be uprightly mounted in the mounting frames in a state in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are exposed upward, a die disposed at a lower end of the main body, the die connected to the rotary rod so that the die can be rotated manually or by a rotary motor, and support members formed at the die to support the mounting frames of the main body and the battery cells mounted in the mounting frames, wherein the rotary rod is rotated so that resistance welding is performed with respect to a portion of one of battery cells to be welded using a welding rod located above the battery cell in a state in which the battery cells are m
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong-Pyo Kong, Chunyeon Kim, Tae-Wook Kim
  • Publication number: 20130153544
    Abstract: A resistance welding device is provided with a lower tip and an upper tip that serve as welding tips, and pressing rods that serve as pressing members. The upper tip and the pressing rods press a stacked body, which is to be welded, from the metallic plate side, which is the outermost member of the stacked body. The lower tip presses the stacked body from the lowermost metallic plate side. In this state, and electric current is conducted from the upper tip to the lower tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Goto, Shinichi Miyasaka, Tatsuro Ikeda, Yushi Aoki, Mitsutaka Igaue
  • Patent number: 8466386
    Abstract: A method of repairing a bonded metallic structure having a first metallic member bonded to a second metallic member is provided. The method includes the steps of: A) forming a hole in at least one of the first metallic member and second metallic member, wherein said hole is sufficiently configured to receive a slug; B) inserting said slug into said hole; and C) passing electrical current through said slug of sufficient intensity to promote melting at the interface between the first metallic member, second metallic member, and said slug, thereby securing the first metallic member with respect to the second metallic member. Alternately, the method may include: D) positioning said slug near said hole; E) passing electrical current through said slug of sufficient intensity to promote arcing between said slug and the bonded metallic structure; and F) inserting said slug into said hole thereby securing the first metallic member with respect to the second metallic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John D. Fickes
  • Patent number: 8461473
    Abstract: A method for establishing or restoring electrical continuity between metal pipe sections in pipeline rehabilitation according to embodiments of the present invention includes, from an inside of a pipe having first and second pipe sections, removing a layer of the first pipe section at a first location, removing a layer of the second pipe section at a second location, electrically connecting a spanner at the first location and the second location, deploying a tubular liner along the inside of the pipe, injecting grout between the tubular liner and the inside of the pipe, and distributing the grout between the tubular liner and the inside of the pipe, wherein a first radial distance from the inside of the pipe to the innermost extent of the spanner is less than or equal to a second radial distance from the inside of the pipe to the tubular liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: WPW, LLC
    Inventor: Harry L. Baum
  • Publication number: 20130133785
    Abstract: A method of joining using a supporting electrode 4 having a cooling circuit and a pressure electrode 8 movably arranged above the supporting electrode, using a steel material causing martensitic transformation for one of or both of a first member 20 having an opening portion and a second member 24, engaging the second member with the opening portion of the first member, starting conduction from a power supply to the supporting electrode and the pressure electrode, allowing an insertion portion of the second member to enter the opening portion of the first member by a pressure force of the pressure electrode, causing the second member and an inner wall portion of the opening portion to be subjected to solid-phase diffusion joining, rapidly cooling the both members by thermal conduction of the supporting electrode after the joining, and quenching a joined portion and generating compressive residual stress by the rapid cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: OHASHI TECHNICA, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Nozue, Osamu Kimpara
  • Publication number: 20130136944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials 16 including a thermoplastic polymer 18 and a metallic fiber 20 and to light weight composite materials 10, 12 which comprise a metallic layer 14 and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material 16. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using conventional welding techniques. The composites exhibit resistance to delamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Productive Research LLC
    Inventors: Shimon Mizrahi, Moshe Narkis
  • Patent number: 8450633
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the automatic selection of a set of candidate weld guns and candidate orientations for the weld guns from a library of existing weld guns. Minimum values for weld points and test orientations are calculated. The calculated minimum values are added to the library. As each point is added to the library, the set of weld guns that are candidates for the weld point at the tested orientation may be efficiently retrieved, and a matrix of candidate weld guns and orientations is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Tilove, Gopalakrishna Shastry, Sandipan Bandyopadhyay, Ashish Gupta, Narahari K. Hunsur
  • Patent number: 8450634
    Abstract: A resistance welding apparatus is provided with: a pair of electrode chips; a power supply device for supplying the electrode chips a welding current; and a spattering detecting device that detects a spattering. The power supply device supplies to the electrode chips a preset welding current until the spattering is detected. The power supply device supplies a current on which an additional current is added to the preset welding current, after the spattering is detected, until a preset energizing time expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Numano, Yuya Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130115480
    Abstract: Superalloy components are joined by mating a recess formed in one component with a corresponding projection formed in another component along a contact surface. The components are compressed along the contact surface and resistance heat welded to each other. Current is passed between the components at a selected flow rate and application time until localized melting occurs along the contact surface, and they are mutually affixed to each other. When repairing a damaged surface portion of a superalloy material component, the damaged portion is removed to form an excavated recess. A repair splice is formed, preferably of a same material with similar mechanical structural properties, having a mating projection with profile conforming to the corresponding recess profile. The splice and substrate are resistance heat welded under compression pressure until localized melting occurs along the contact surface, so that they are mutually affixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald J. Bruck
  • Patent number: 8431858
    Abstract: The seam welding apparatus welds a workpiece held by a robot while delivering the workpiece between a pair of electrode rolls. The seam welding apparatus includes a load cell mounted on the robot, for detecting a load imposed along a Y direction which is perpendicular to a pressing direction Z along which the electrode rolls press the workpiece at a weld point and a delivering direction X along which the robot delivers the workpiece at the weld point, a robot controller and an arithmetic unit, a turning mechanism for turning the electrode rolls about the pressing direction Z, and a control device for controlling the turning mechanism to operate depending on the magnitude of the load in the Y direction detected by the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Kanaya, Haruo Machida, Naoji Yamaoka, Tsutomu Asaina
  • Patent number: 8426761
    Abstract: A spot welding system including spot welding gun having a movable electrode driven by a servo motor, a counter electrode arranged facing it and with a multiarticulated robot, holding one of the welding workpiece and spot welding gun which moves welding workpiece and spot welding gun relative to each other and thereby make the movable electrode and the welding workpiece approach each other from a separated state or vice-versa, monitoring the current or torque of the servo motor, and detecting the surface position of the welding workpiece from the position of the movable electrode and the position of the multiarticulated robot when the trend of the current or torque changes. The precision of detection of the surface position of the welding workpiece by a movable electrode in a spot welding system can now be improved without lengthening the time required for detection of the surface position of the welding workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Takahashi, Toshimichi Aoki, Akinori Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20130092280
    Abstract: [Summary] [Object] There are provided electric resistance welded oil country tubular goods having strength corresponding to API specification 5CT P110 without a heat treatment being performed on the whole steel pipe and further having excellent toughness, and a manufacturing method of an electric resistance welded oil country tubular goods. [Solution] Electric resistance welded oil country tubular goods according to the present invention have a chemical composition that contains, in mass %, C: 0.05 to 0.12%, Si: 0.03 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.80 to 2.2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.003% or less, Al: 0.08% or less, Nb: 0.01% to 0.10%, Ti: 0.005 to 0.03%, B: 0.0005 to 0.0030%, and N: 0.008% or less, and in which Ti>3.4 N is satisfied, its balance is composed of Fe and inevitable impurities, and, VC90 is 15 to 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sawamura, Hitoshi Asahi
  • Patent number: 8415582
    Abstract: A method of monitoring and maintaining a weld cap which is executing successive resistance welds on a plurality of workpieces includes measuring a first weld indentation formed during a first resistance weld and measuring a second weld indentation formed during a second resistance weld. The measured first and second weld indentations are compared with a severe threshold. If either of the measured first or second weld indentations is greater than the severe threshold, an abnormal condition is signaled. The method may include tip dressing the weld cap based upon the signaled abnormal condition. The method may further include determining a degradation rate between the first resistance weld and the second resistance weld. The degradation rate is the time differential between the measured first and second weld indentations, and either a first or a second tip dressing schedule is chosen based upon the determined degradation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, Daniel C. Hutchinson, Michael J. Karagoulis, Sheila A. Marin
  • Publication number: 20130082033
    Abstract: In various embodiments, joined sputtering targets are formed at least in part by spray deposition of the sputtering material and/or welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: H.C. STARCK, INC.
    Inventor: H.C. Starck, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8403390
    Abstract: A sound-damped vehicle panel assembly, such as a dash panel, is attached to a structural member with one or more weld joints. The vehicle panel assembly may include a main panel member, a sound-damping patch, and a sound-damping adhesive layer arranged therebetween, where the patch covers at least a portion of an acoustically active region of the main panel member. The weld joints that attach the vehicle panel assembly to the structural member are preferably located at weld openings formed in the sound-damping patch and/or the sound-damping adhesive layer so that the weld joint can be formed without melting and vaporizing the adhesive during the welding operation, as such an operation would likely require additional ventilation equipment and could impact the quality of the weld joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Shiloh Industries, Inc., GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Rich, Marcel R. Cannon, Terry A. Swartzell, Andrew W. White, Kenneth D. Schmid, James F. Keys, Jonathan W. Fisk, Stephen A. Fetsko, James J. Evangelista
  • Publication number: 20130062319
    Abstract: An apparatus for resistance welding with a welder includes a heat pipe including a hollow tube and a weld electrode fitted around a portion of the heat pipe. The weld electrode and heat pipe are conductively coupled to conduct heat across an inner surface of the weld electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Blair E. Carlson, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Publication number: 20130062339
    Abstract: A tool to supply heat to a PEX pipe to permit the PEX pipe to be removed from a fitting connection includes a thermal element that can supply heat to the PEX pipe. The thermal element may be heated via electrical processes, such as resistive or inductive heating, or may be heated with a combustion process. The thermal element may be implemented in a pliers to permit the heating element to be placed around the PEX pipe and clamped, to allow the user to pull the PEX pipe off the fitting connection using the pliers. The tool may have a temperature control to regulate an amount of heat provided to the PEX pipe during removal, which control may include a feedback transducer, such as a thermocouple. The tool may be operated with AC or DC power, where the DC power may be provided by one or more batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Carmen T. DeRosa
  • Patent number: 8395072
    Abstract: A resistance welding quality determination method comprises: a step of detecting a voltage value applied to a welding electrode of a resistance welding machine; a step of detecting a current value supplied to the welding electrode; a step of calculating a welding resistance value based on the voltage value and the current value; a step of correcting the welding resistance value based on a change amount of a contact resistance value between the work and the welding electrode during welding of a work; and a step of determining welding quality of the work based on a corrected welding resistance value obtained by correcting the welding resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Yugo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8395096
    Abstract: A heating element includes a continuous planar strip and a plurality of mounting members. A path of the continuous strip from a first end to a second end is circuitous and includes a plurality of repeating cycles, each of which includes a plurality of first straight segments, a plurality of second straight segments and a plurality of radiused segments. A length of the first straight segment is greater than a length of the second straight segment and an angular sum of a single cycle of the circuitous path is greater than 360 degrees. The heating element can be incorporated into a heating assembly for, as an example, semiconductor processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sandvik Thermal Process, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Peck
  • Patent number: 8383978
    Abstract: This invention provides a steel pipe material weld zone heating method and apparatus for melting and welding the weld zone of a steel pipe material that during continuous induction heating and welding of moving steel pipe material as the material being heated controls temperature distribution and molten steel shape and weld frequency fluctuation with high accuracy and high efficiency, irrespective of the shape of the heated region of material being heated or the material properties of the material being heated, which comprises a first imaging device, a weld zone temperature distribution computation device, a heating control device, and a variable frequency alternating current power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukutani, Kenji Umetsu, Yoshiaki Nakamura, Kazuto Yamamoto, Takashi Miyakawa, Ryuichi Shimada, Tadayuki Kitahara, Takanori Isobe
  • Patent number: 8367964
    Abstract: Repair methods involving conductive heat resistance welding includes repairing a crack of a gas turbine engine component using a conductive heat resistance welding technique and a welding technique other than conductive heat resistance welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Nicole Sullivan, John H. Hughes, James J. Moor, David A. Rutz, Sudhangshu Bose
  • Patent number: 8357871
    Abstract: A welding assembly including a current generator, an electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the electrode including a first engagement surface, and a workpiece including at least two members, wherein at least one of the members includes a second engagement surface, defines a recess in the second engagement surface, and is electrically coupled to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Venkatasubramanian Ananthanarayanan
  • Patent number: 8350179
    Abstract: The workpiece-contacting surface of the spot welding electrode may be suitably modified to incorporate a desired shape or form, generally comprising a depressed region outlining a recognizable shape, to form aesthetically-pleasing or functional features in the surface of a workpiece during resistance spot welding. Methods for creating the desired form in the spot welding electrode including abrasion, upsetting, and electrical discharge machining are disclosed. Preferably the electrode face is shaped and subsequently redressed during welding operations at the welding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James G. Schroth, David R. Sigler
  • Publication number: 20120325782
    Abstract: A system for determining a welding sequence is disclosed. The system may have a welding sequence generator configured to create an initial population of welding sequences based on a user-generated constraint. The system may also have a welding simulator configured to simulate welding for at least one welding sequence in the initial population of welding sequences to model distortion for the at least one welding sequence. The welding sequence generator may be further configured to receive the distortion for the at least one welding sequence in the initial population from the welding simulator, determine whether a merit value derived from at least the distortion for the at least one welding sequence satisfies one or more predetermined criteria, output the at least one welding sequence as a potential welding sequence if the merit value satisfies the predetermined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Julian Andres Norato, Sungmoon Jung, Badrinarayan Parthasarathy Athreya, Christopher Ha
  • Publication number: 20120318774
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process and a device for the orbital friction welding of blades to the drum of an axial compressor. The process consists of holding the drum on a cradle via an indexing table, the cradle being able to pivot and vertically movable so as to present different regions of its outer surface parallel to the plane of orbital motion of the blade. The blade is held in the orbital motion device by a clamping device. The inner surface of the drum is braced by supports carried by a core fixed to the cradle. The drum comprises a series of protrusions which have a blade-shaped cross section. These protrusions form faying surfaces for the blades. The blades have a plate to ensure they are satisfactorily clamped by the clamping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: TECHSPACE AERO S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Wlasowski
  • Publication number: 20120305533
    Abstract: In a force freeze welding method and system for joining metal work pieces, a controlled and programmable electrical potential is applied to a circuit including a first work piece (130) and a second work piece (140). The first work piece (130) is linearly translated towards the second static work piece (140) to engage along a faying interface (190). The first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) move together at a controlled rate and voltage is applied to the circuit which produces heat to soften or plasticize the faying interface (190) during a flashing stage (310). A position offset (210) or abrupt compression force is applied to at least one of the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) prior to applying an upset (330) to force the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) together to weld the first work piece (130) and the second work piece (140) along the faying interface (190).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Robert P. Matteson
  • Publication number: 20120292293
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inflator comprises the following steps: Providing a casing (12) that includes a tubular connecting portion (10) having a cylindrical wall (14), providing a closing member (19) that includes a closing portion (18) having a cylindrical contact surface (20) the cross-section of which has small oversize or undersize compared to the cross-section of the connecting portion (10), and axially pressing the closing member (19) into or onto the connecting portion (10) while simultaneously supplying electric current which flows between the cylindrical wall (14) and the contact surface (20) so that the closing member (19) is pressure-welded with the connecting portion (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Christian Bibo, Rainer Eggerdinger, Karl Englbrecht, Thomas Nobach, Martin Oberstarr, Johann Osl, Martin Sedlmeier, Stefan Siglreithmaier, Oskar Sponfeldner
  • Publication number: 20120294671
    Abstract: A method for connecting a shaft and a hub, the hub having a first joining portion and a second joining portion for a connection to corresponding joining portions of the shaft. The shaft and the hub are pressed together at contact points in the area of the first joining portions, while the second joining portions are not yet in contact with one another, and a welding current is fed via the contact points of the parts that have been pressed together, so that the contact points fuse. The shaft is pressed into the hub, while the first joining portions are being fused, until substantially a press fit is formed between the second joining portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Dietrich, Markus Schuiki
  • Patent number: 8304683
    Abstract: A seam welding apparatus and a seam welding method perform a seaming process on workpieces of various shapes having flange sections, by preventing a welding track formed by upper and lower rotary electrodes from becoming displaced from a welding reference line established on the flange section. The seam welding apparatus includes two rotary electrodes for gripping the flange section therebetween while seam-welding the flange section, a support for synchronizing movements of the two rotary electrodes with each other in a widthwise direction of the flange section, a turning mechanism for pressing at least one of the two rotary electrodes toward the workpiece body, a roller that abuts against an end face of the flange section, and roller adjusting means for positionally adjusting the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisaku Hasegawa, Shogo Matsuda, Takafumi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8283592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser welding method of welding an electrode and a cable core to each other satisfactory by irradiation of a laser beam, even when the core is thin and the area of the electrode is small. The laser welding method welds on a substrate the electrode and the core of a coaxial cable to each other by irradiation of the laser beam. The core is sandwiched between a pressing member and the electrode, while the electrode and the core are brought into contact with each other at a connection section. The pressing member is a member that is transparent to the processing laser beam. A part of the core is molten by radiating the laser beam from the pressing member side. As a result, the electrode and the core are connected with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Nakamae
  • Patent number: 8283591
    Abstract: A welding apparatus includes a first electrode tip; a second electrode tip opposing the first electrode tip; and an electrically conductive part which is provided so as to be freely interposed between the second electrode tip and a work and ensures electrical conduction between the second electrode tip and the work when the electrically conductive part is interposed between the second electrode tip and the work, the electrically conductive part including an electrically conductive member one side of which opposes the work with a presence of a void space from the work when the electrically conductive member is interposed between the second electrode tip and the work, and against which the second electrode tip is abutted on another side thereof, and a pair of electrically conductive abutment members which are provided integrally with the electrically conductive member in such a manner as to extend toward the work, and distal ends of which are abutted against the work, a position of abutment of the electrically
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kitagawa, Toshiyuki Horimukai, Junya Tanabe, Shinya Oyama, Kazunao Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20120234799
    Abstract: A welding electrode includes an electrode holder and an electrode cap removably attached to the holder and having a central longitudinal axis. The cap includes a body having an end, and a welding surface that is substantially smooth and free from any grooves defined therein, and has a first diameter of from about 7 to 10 mm, a first radius of curvature, and a second radius of curvature that is different from the first radius. The cap includes a skirt portion extending away from the body and configured to bear against the holder. The skirt portion has a first face that is substantially parallel to the axis and spaced apart from the surface. The body has a second face interconnecting the first face and the surface, and the body tapers from the first face to the surface. A method of forming a resistance spot weld joint is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sampath K. Vanimisetti, David R. Sigler
  • Publication number: 20120217227
    Abstract: A method of introducing compressive stress in a weld joint having at least one weld toe is provided. The method includes the step of covering the weld toe of the welded joint with a resistance wire. The method also includes the step of heating the weld toe by the resistance wire, where the weld toe is heated to a selected temperature. The method includes the step of maintaining the weld toe at the selected temperature for a selected amount of time. The method includes the step of removing the resistance wire from the weld toe. The method includes the step of quenching the weld toe with a cooling medium. Compressive stress is introduced to the weld toe during quenching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jin Xu