Methods Patents (Class 219/121.64)
  • Patent number: 10919284
    Abstract: In order to optimize a method for stiffening a metal component by pressing a fiber-reinforced plastic insert onto the metal component in such a way that the method can be integrated into the serial production of the car body, it is proposed that the fiber-reinforced plastic insert be picked up by means of a robot-controlled application head and pressed onto the metal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert Thomas, Max Ehleben, Thomas Mertens, Anselm Tobias Bochtler, Fabian Fischer
  • Patent number: 10913134
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly manufacturing device and an assembly manufacturing method capable of reducing error when the actual position of a long member is detected, and precisely setting a reference point and a coordinates system. The long member assembly apparatus provides a plurality of hand parts for gripping a long member, a touch plate for securing the first end of the long member and restricting the movement of the long member in the longitudinal direction, a laser tracker for detecting the installation position of the touch plate, and a reference determining part for determining reference coordinates or reference point to be used in for adjusting the position of the hand parts, based on the installation position of the touch plate detected by the laser tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tombe, Naoki Goto, Makoto Hirai
  • Patent number: 10894300
    Abstract: A joining device and method for laser-based joining of two components includes a first laser radiation source, a first radiation guide connected to the first radiation source to couple first laser radiation into the first radiation guide, a second laser radiation source, at least one second radiation guide connected to the second radiation source to couple second laser radiation into the second radiation guide, and a focusing device coupled to the laser radiations and focusing them at a distance from each other into a joining zone of the components. To reduce installation effort, the focusing device focuses the first and second laser radiations through a common beam path and a coupling device is connected on its input side to the first and second radiation guides and on its output side to the focusing device. The coupling device couples the first and second laser radiations into the common beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: IPG Laser GmbH, Volkswagen Aktiengeselschaft
    Inventors: Thorge Hammer, Wilfried Reimann, Eugene Shcherbakov
  • Patent number: 10888947
    Abstract: Various embodiments of welding systems that enable determination of suitable weld settings for a weld part are provided. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a weld part having at least one weld joint to be welded. The welding system also includes a visual acquisition system including an imaging device and being adapted to acquire a visual representation of the weld part and to convert the visual representation into a digital signal representative of the weld part features. The welding system further includes a part recognition system having processing circuitry and memory. The processing circuitry is adapted to receive the digital signal and to compare the digital signal to a database stored in the memory to identify the weld part, weld settings appropriate for welding the weld part, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Patent number: 10888956
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for forming a material layer that may make use of an optical light source for generating an optical beam, and a beam shaping subsystem configured to shape the optical beam to generate a complex beam intensity profile. The complex shaped beam may be used to selectively melt at least portions of a bed of powder particles residing on a substrate during formation of the material layer, as the optical light source is moved. A computer may be used to control the optical light source. The complex beam intensity profile enables control over the microstructure of grains formed during melting of the powder particles as the material layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Tien Roehling, Gabe Guss, Saad Khairallah, Manyalibo Joseph Matthews, Sheldon S. Wu
  • Patent number: 10867638
    Abstract: A hard disc drive includes a base deck, a cover welded to the base deck, and a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor includes a first voice coil motor assembly and a second voice coil motor assembly. Either one or both of the first and second voice coil motor assemblies can be welded to the base deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ivy Ng, Teck Hoon Chua, S Selvaruban, Sok Li Goh, Chee Kwong Cheng
  • Patent number: 10857624
    Abstract: While a laser-beam application position is moved along a locus which circularly or elliptically circles around a locus center so as to cross a weld line that is a boundary between a first metal plate and a second metal plate overlapped with each other, the locus center is moved in a direction parallel to a weld line. A moving direction of the laser-beam application position is set such that the laser beam is first applied to the first metal plate and then to the second metal plate when the laser beam passes through an unmelted zone of the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The unmelted zone is located downstream of a range through which the laser beam has already passed in the direction parallel to the weld line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Hioki, Shuhei Ogura, Hiroki Toriyama, Ryosuke Kawai, Shun Kato
  • Patent number: 10859996
    Abstract: To provide a microchip-type optical measuring apparatus which is able to automatically perform position adjustment of a microchip with respect to an optical axis of laser with high accuracy. A microchip-type optical measuring apparatus includes an irradiation detection unit which detects light generated by irradiating a microchip with laser, a position adjustment unit which changes a relative position of the microchip with respect to the irradiation detection unit, and a control unit which outputs a movement signal for a position in which an integrated value or an average value of a detected intensity of the light in a preset region becomes high to the position adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Muraki, Fumitaka Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10850351
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method in which flat layers are produced in succession so each newly produced layer is stacked on a previously produced layer or on a flat metal support, each layer having at least one metal strip occupying the entire thickness of the corresponding layer. The production of each layer includes: deposition, during which part of the strip is pressed against the previously produced layer or the support; a fusion step carried out during the deposition step during which only a fused portion of the part is fusion-welded to the previously produced layer or to the support; and repeating the deposition and fusion steps, applying them to corresponding parts of the or each strip offset from each other along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, such that the fused portions of two of the parts following each other along the second axis overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: INETYX
    Inventor: Patrick Teulet
  • Patent number: 10850374
    Abstract: A system for controlling a portable tool with autonomous energy source, implementing at least one geo-positioning beacon external to the tool and capable of communicating with the portable tool. The system includes the following elements carried by the portable tool: a receiver, in or on the portable tool, for receiving control information delivered by the at least one beacon; and a processing unit, which determines the presence of the portable tool within or outside at least one pre-determined space, from the control information, communicates with a controller capable of managing the behavior of the tool as a function of the presence of the portable tool within or outside the pre-determined space or spaces and at least one pre-determined production rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ETABLISSEMENTS GEORGES RENAULT
    Inventors: Laurent Pineau, Ghislain Francois, Gatien Butstraen
  • Patent number: 10856402
    Abstract: A superconducting radio frequency cell includes a body defining a hollow cavity having a first iris and second iris at opposite ends of the body, an axis that extends between the first and second irises, and an equator around the axis between the first and second irises. The body includes at least a first weld seam around the axis at a location on the body spaced from the equator. Each weld seam extends through the body and has opposite sides terminating proximate an interior and an exterior of the body, and each weld seam includes a first, conduction weld formed on one side of the weld seam and a second weld formed on the opposite side of the weld seam. The second weld can be a conduction weld, a keyhole weld, or a transition weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Hedges, Kyle Branigan
  • Patent number: 10847860
    Abstract: A superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cell includes a body defining a hollow cavity having a first iris at a first end of the body, a second iris at a second end of the body, an axis that extends between the first and second irises and an equator around the axis between the first and second irises. The body includes a first weld seam around the axis at a location on the body spaced from the equator. A method for producing the SRF cavity includes: (a) providing a first-partial cell including a first cell welding edge; (b) providing a second-partial cell including a second cell welding edge; (c) positioning the first- and second-partial cells with the first and second cell welding edges facing toward each other; and (d) welding the first- and second-partial cells together at a position other than the equator of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Branigan
  • Patent number: 10843293
    Abstract: A laser welding method for welding a plurality of objects to be welded by applying a laser beam scanned by a scanning unit to the plurality of objects to be welded while moving the scanning unit in a welding direction along a welding path, the laser welding method including the steps of: performing a step of preliminary-fixation-welding on a predetermined place in the welding direction of the objects to be welded, and a step of main-welding on a place corresponding to the preliminarily-fixed place of the object to be welded within a scanning range of the scanning unit while moving the scanning unit. Further, when the place corresponding to the preliminarily-fixed place of the object to be welded is main-welded, the place is main-welded in a state where both sides of the place to be main-welded are restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Hisada, Toru Hioki, Kazuyuki Ogusu
  • Patent number: 10835994
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for joining two components (1, 2), a first component (I) and a second component (2), in the region of a joint zone by means of at least one laser beam. In a first phase, the first component (I) is melted, and a melt lens is formed in the first component (I) from the molten material (9). In a second phase, at least one pressure pulse is applied to the melt in the direction of the second component (2) until the melt lens is deflected into the joint gap as a result of the pressure pulse, bridges the joint gap, and comes into contact with the second component (2), and energy is transmitted to the second component (2) as a result of the melt lens coming into contact with the second component. A temperature curve results in the second component (2) as a result of the energy transmission such that the melting temperature is reached on the upper face of the second component (2), and a melt film is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewadten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Simon Britten, Benjamin Mehlmann, Alexander Olowinsky, Arnold Gillner
  • Patent number: 10835987
    Abstract: A method connects at least two components made of different materials by thermal joining. The two components include a first component made of a material that is suitable for thermal joining and a second component made of a material that cannot be processed using the thermal joining method of the first component. The method includes introducing an auxiliary joining part into the second component forming a form-locking connection and/or a force locking connection. The auxiliary joining part of is made of a material that can be thermally joined to the first component. The first component is thermally joined to the auxiliary joining part in the second component so as to produce a connection between the first component and the second component. The thermal joining is carried out by a beam welding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Krevet, Christian Schuebeler
  • Patent number: 10835995
    Abstract: A system for making a welded assembly. The system may include a welding system that is configured to weld a first part to a second part with a laser beam. The system may further include an integrated feeder nozzle that includes an inlet manifold that receives a shield gas, and a nozzle body secured to the inlet manifold. The nozzle body may include a plurality of peripheral apertures that extend through the conical distal region and that are arranged around a central axis of the nozzle body. The system may further include a wire feeder disposed in the inlet manifold and the nozzle body. The wire feeder receives a welding wire and guides the welding wire to the central aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Zhai, Phillip Leicht, David Earl Rogers
  • Patent number: 10828720
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, method of manufacturing, and fabricated part. The system uses a material joining laser system to join together foil sheets to form a metal part. The material joining laser system can be configured to join adjacent foil sheets together in a substantially uniform manner. The manufacturing system also includes a material removal system that removes material from selected locations of the foil sheets to shape the foil sheets to correspond with selective slices of the part. The material removal system can be a laser system, such as a laser system configured to remove material from a foil sheet without removing material from an underlying layer. One embodiment involves the manufacture of amorphous alloy components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Hai-Lung Tsai, Yiyu Shen, Yingqi Li, Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 10825678
    Abstract: A wafer processing method includes: a bonding step of bonding a front surface side of a first wafer chamfered at a peripheral edge portion thereof to a front surface side of a second wafer; a grinding step of holding a back surface side of the second wafer by a chuck table and grinding a back surface of the first wafer to thin the first wafer to a finished thickness, after the bonding step; and a modified layer forming step of applying along a boundary between a device region and a peripheral surplus region of the first wafer a laser beam of such a wavelength as to be transmitted through the first wafer to form an annular modified layer inside the first wafer in the vicinity of the front surface of the first wafer, before the grinding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsukazu Sugiya
  • Patent number: 10808308
    Abstract: A thermal barrier coating includes a highly porous layer and a dense layer. The highly porous layer is formed on a heat-resistant base, is made of ceramic, has pores, has a layer thickness of equal to or larger than 0.3 mm and equal to or smaller than 1.0 mm, and has a pore ratio of equal to or higher than 1 vol % and equal to or lower than 30 vol %. The dense layer is formed on the highly porous layer, is made of ceramic, has a pore ratio of equal to or lower than 0.9 vol % that is equal to or lower than the pore ratio of the highly porous layer, and has a layer thickness of equal to or smaller than 0.05 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Tanigawa, Masahiko Mega, Taiji Torigoe, Yoshifumi Okajima, Daisuke Kudo
  • Patent number: 10807429
    Abstract: In order to reduce both the weight and the production costs in the case of vehicle chassis components consisting of at least two parts, a first part is made as a sheet component by press hardening and the second part is produced by a conventional production method, which does not include press hardening. The part produced by press hardening forms a structural component, whereas the other component serves to stiffen the part produced by press hardening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Philipp Bronswick, Sven Kuhlmann
  • Patent number: 10793943
    Abstract: A method of producing a gas turbine engine fan blade having a geometric configuration is provided. The method includes: plastically deforming an initial substrate comprised of a first metallic material into a formed substrate; depositing a second metallic material onto the formed substrate using an additive manufacturing process to produce a blade blank, which depositing includes: additively depositing second metallic material to at least one of the first face surface or the second face surface of the formed substrate adjacent the first end surface, to form a root portion; additively depositing second metallic material to at least one of the first face surface or the second face surface of the formed substrate between the root portion and the second end surface to form an airfoil portion; and shaping the blade blank into the geometric configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Eric W. Malmborg
  • Patent number: 10792760
    Abstract: Laser processing systems and methods image a multiple core array to a work surface in a multiple processing beam array. An optical system separates processing beams and converges the beams toward the work surface and focuses each beam of the array at or near the work surface. A central axis with access for filler material flow to the work surface is provided. The processing beam array and central filler material feed provide omni-directional additive laser processing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Mustafa Coskun, Felix Stukalin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
  • Patent number: 10785992
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inner tube extending longitudinally along a central axis and having an inner surface bounding a product chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of channels disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals in alternating relationship with a plurality of fins about the circumference of the outer surface of the inner tube; and a longitudinally extending outer tube disposed coaxially about and circumscribing the inner tube in radially spaced relationship, the outer tube having an inner surface contacting the plurality of fins of the inner cylinder, the outer surface being welded to the fins at a plurality of weld locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TAYLOR COMMERCIAL FOODSERVICE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert K. Newton, Stephen M. Wadle
  • Patent number: 10780529
    Abstract: A welded blank includes a first pre-coated steel sheet, a second pre-coated steel sheet the first pre-coated steel sheet including a principal first face and an opposite principal first face, the first layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a first peripheral zone of the first pre-coated steel sheet, and the second pre-coated steel sheet including a second principal face and an opposite second principal face, the second layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a second peripheral zone of the second pre-coated steel sheet. At least one welded joint defining a median plane perpendicular to the first and second principal faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10767318
    Abstract: An improved process for repair of worn and damaged surfaces of railway structures such as frog and diamond transition surfaces, rail head surfaces and wheels. A worn or damaged surface is prepared using a robotically-controlled laser to melt or gouge away metal using controlled laser energy and air pressure to remove existing worn or damaged surfaces. The process further utilizes laser cladding, laser weld overlaying, or laser additive manufacturing, of formulated powder, wire or stick welding material to worn surfaces that have been prepared for material build-up to original dimensions and similar metallurgical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Holland, L.P., Titanova, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Lindemulder, Richard F. Kral, John Haake
  • Patent number: 10745060
    Abstract: A vehicle pillar structure and a method for manufacturing a vehicle pillar in which, in a pillar framework, a member is easily disposed on a surface facing a transparent panel in an overlapping manner, while reducing the width of the pillar framework, and a corner butt portion on the side of the transparent panel has increased welding accuracy are provided. A flange of an outer panel and a flange of an inner panel are welded by spot welding. An end surface of a front end of the inner panel is butted against an inner surface end of the outer panel, and is welded thereto by laser welding, such that welding beads are thereby linearly formed at established intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kawashita, Shinichi Washizu, Yosuke Tateya, Daisuke Noritake, Masanori Kokume, Jun Ikarashi
  • Patent number: 10730782
    Abstract: Provided is a method that can manufacture a glass material having excellent homogeneity by containerless levitation. A block (12) of glass raw material is heated and melted by irradiation with a plurality of laser beams with the block (12) of glass raw material held levitated, thus obtaining a molten glass, and the molten glass is then cooled to obtain a glass material. The plurality of laser beams include a first laser beam (13A) and a second laser beam (13B). A size (?) of an angle formed between the first laser beam (13A) and the second laser beam (13B) is 0° or more but less than 180°. A center (C1) of a spot (S1) of the first laser beam (13A) on the surface of the block (12) of glass raw material and a center (C2) of a spot (S2) of the second laser beam (13B) on the surface of the block 12 of glass raw material are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoko Yamada, Fumio Sato
  • Patent number: 10730139
    Abstract: This laser irradiation mechanism includes a control unit which has a function allowing the focal point of a laser beam to describe a circle, performs control such that the focal point describes a spiral, and performs control such that the central axis of the spiral moves along a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Akahoshi, Kotaro Fujikura, Chiyoko Nemoto, Yuichiro Tamura, Ken Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10710197
    Abstract: A method is provided for the remote laser welding of two coated sheets, wherein by way of a scanner, a laser beam is directed at the sheets to be connected to each other and guided on the sheets. The sheets are connected to each other by producing an end fillet weld on a lap joint. The continuous production of the weld is recorded by a camera and, if necessary, the path of the laser beam is corrected and adapted to a target weld course on the basis of an automatic evaluation of the recorded images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Roos, Florian Oefele
  • Patent number: 10695835
    Abstract: Method and system for manufacturing of three dimensional objects comprising of base substrate (18) placed on the supporting plate (30), electron beam gun (2), feed means (17) for feeding of feedstock material to melting zone, positioning system (31, 36) for positioning of said supporting plate (30) with base substrate (18), vacuum tight operating chamber (29), wherein an energy source for generating of molten pool on the substrate and for melting of feedstock material in said system is gas-discharge electron beam gun (2) with cold circular cathode (8) placed between two circular anodic electrodes placed coaxially to said cathode (8) which generates electron beam (9) in the shape of hollow inverted cone, and feedstock guide (17) is placed along the axis of said of said electron beam gun (2), and said gas-discharge electron beam gun (2) and said feedstock guide (17) are combined in one functional assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: JOINT STOCK COMPANY “NVO CHERVONA HVILYA”
    Inventors: Dmytro Kovalchuk, Ihor Melnyk, Vitalii Melnyk, Borys Tugai
  • Patent number: 10688596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the manufacture of a solid wire using additive manufacturing techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fine powdery material is sintered or melted or soldered or metallurgically bonded onto a metal strip substrate in a compacted solid form or a near-net shape (e.g., a near-net solid wire shape) before being turned into a final product through forming or drawing dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Hsu
  • Patent number: 10688595
    Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces (12, 14) comprises directing a laser beam (40) at a top surface (26) of the workpiece stack-up to form a keyhole (56) surrounded by a molten steel weld pool (58). The laser beam is conveyed along a predefined weld pattern that includes one or more nonlinear inner weld paths (66) and an enclosed outer peripheral weld path (68) surrounding the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths. During conveyance of the laser beam along the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths, the keyhole fully penetrates through the workpiece stack-up from the top surface of the stack-up to the bottom surface (28) of the stack-up. The method produces weld joints between the steel workpieces that do not have an intentionally imposed gap formed between their faying surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David S. Yang, Justin Allen Wolsker, Jing Zhang, Wu Tao, Dalong Gao
  • Patent number: 10682718
    Abstract: A method for welding a galvanized steel sheet includes utilizing a pulse welding of repeatedly applying a pulse peak current and a base current, setting a welding speed to 100 cm/min or less, and using a shielding gas in which 1 vol % or more and 10 vol % or less of at least either one of CO2 and O2 is added to Ar. The pulse peak current has a pulse peak time being in a range of 7% or more and less than 50% of one period depending on a sheet thickness of the galvanized steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Miyata, Reiichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10675712
    Abstract: A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up that includes two or three overlapping aluminum alloy workpieces involves constraining a free end of an overlapping portion of a first aluminum alloy workpiece against movement away from an underlying second aluminum alloy workpiece to counteract the thermally-induced forces that cause out-of-plane deformation of one or more of the aluminum alloy workpieces during laser welding. Such constraint of the free end of the first aluminum alloy workpiece may be accomplished by clamping, spot welding, or any other suitable practice. By constraining the free end of the first aluminum alloy workpiece, and thus inhibiting out-of-plane deformation of the aluminum alloy workpieces when laser welding is practiced in a nearby welding region, the occurrence of hot cracking is minimized or altogether eliminated in the final laser weld joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Hui-Ping Wang, Michael G. Poss, Blair E. Carlson, Fenggui Lu, Haichao Cui
  • Patent number: 10668570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of steel sheets to be fabricated into a welded steel blank. The method includes procuring at least one pre-coated first steel sheet and one pre-coated second steel sheet, made up of a steel substrate and a pre-coating made up of an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy, the first sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face, the second sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face and at least one secondary face, positioning the first and second sheets, leaving a gap of between 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, René Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10668583
    Abstract: In order to hold a long member without using a fixing jig and without deforming the long member in holding the long member, a long member assembling device is provided with: multiple hand parts for gripping a long member; and arm parts and trunk parts for moving the hand parts to adjust the positions of the hand parts gripping the long member. The hand parts have a configuration such that, when the positions thereof are adjusted by the arm parts and the trunk parts, the hand parts are capable of moving in the longitudinal direction of the long member while gripping the long member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Inagaki, Toshihiro Tombe, Takuya Goto, Makoto Hirai, Naoki Goto, Masanobu Mizukami, Katsumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10668565
    Abstract: Apparatus for laser welding a first metal part (1) to a second metal part (2), which apparatus comprises: a laser (3) which emits a laser beam (6) in the form of laser pulses (21), a scanner (4) for moving the laser beam (6) with respect to a metal surface (7) of the first metal part (1), an objective lens (5) which focuses the laser beam (6) onto the metal surface (7), and a controller (12) which controls the scanner (4) such that it moves the laser beam (6) with respect to the metal surface (7) to a plurality of focussed spots (16), characterised in that the apparatus focuses the laser pulses (21) with a spot size (34) and a pulse fluence (36) that causes the formation of a plurality of melt pools (19) in the first metal part (1) and heat stakes (17) in the second metal part (2), each heat stake (17) extends from a different one of the melt pools (19) and has a distal end (101), and the controller (12) spaces the focussed spots (16) apart by a distance (18) that is small enough to cause the melt pools (19)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SPI Lasers UK Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Anthony Capostagno, Jacek Tadeusz Gabzdyl
  • Patent number: 10661343
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple-feature compact direct-metal deposition additive manufacturing (AM) print head. The head configures off-axis, solid-state diode or diode-pumped lasers into an array to perform precision controlled, direct metal deposition printing through a single print nozzle. Dual-mode printing capability using metal wire and powder feedstock sources in the same print nozzle is provided with in-line control, precision wire feed driver/controller, adjustable shield gas diffuser, and nozzles tailored to wire feedstock diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ADDITEC ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Matthews, Lukas Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10661381
    Abstract: A structure and a method of creating the structure in which relatively thin pieces of non-weldable aluminum alloy or other non-weldable material are welded together. First layers of a weldable material, such as a weldable aluminum alloy or other weldable material, having a total thickness of between 0.01 and 0.30 inches, are built up on a surface of the first piece using an ultrasonic or other solid state joining technique, and second layers of the weldable material having a similar total thickness are built up on a surface of the second piece using the same technique. The first piece is then welded to the second piece at the first and second layers of weldable material using a fusion welding technique. The resulting structure may be part of an aircraft, landcraft, watercraft, or spacecraft type of vehicle or may be used in other high-performance applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Heath Edward Misak
  • Patent number: 10661384
    Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam includes a beam shaping element configured to receive the laser beam having a transverse input intensity profile and to impose a beam shaping phase distribution onto the laser beam. The optical system further includes a near field optical element, arranged downstream of the beam shaping element at a beam shaping distance and is configured to focus the laser beam into the focus zone. The imposed phase distribution results in a virtual optical image of the elongated focus zone located before the beam shaping element. The beam shaping distance corresponds to a propagation length of the laser beam within which the imposed phase distribution transforms the transverse input intensity profile into a transverse output intensity profile at the near field optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMPF Laser—und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Malte Kumkar, Jonas Kleiner, Daniel Grossmann, Daniel Flamm, Myriam Kaiser
  • Patent number: 10661389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the laser welding of monolithic semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, known to the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”, comprising the following steps: supplying at least two aluminium alloy semi-finished products, of which at least one is a rolled sheet of composition (wt.-%): Si: 2.5-14, preferably 2.7-5.0; Fe: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.15-0.60; Cu: ?0.20, preferably ?0.10, also <0.05, and even <200, also 100 ppm; Mg: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.20-0.40; Mn: ?0.70, preferably ?0.30; Cr: <0.35; Ti: 0.02-0.30; Sr up to 500 ppm; Na up to 200 ppm; Sb up to 0.15%, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, remainder aluminium, on the condition that A: 5.2 Fe+1.95 Si?0.5 Cu?Mg?7.0; and welding semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, a method known the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Constellium Neuf-Brisach
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Masse, Ravi Shahani
  • Patent number: 10654134
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10643645
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider which includes a slider body with a leading edge and a trailing edge and a plurality of slider bond pads disposed at the trailing edge. The slider bond pads are configured to align opposite to suspension trace bond pads on a suspension to form a solderable gap between the slider bond pads and the suspension trace bond pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Paul Davidson, Scott Damon Matzke, Christopher Unger, Aaron Collins
  • Patent number: 10618135
    Abstract: A source of heat energy and a source of material for performing a material additive process upon the thin wall member is disclosed. A fixture is located relative to the thin wall element. The source of heat energy used for forming a joining member between the workpiece and the fixture to fixedly secure the fixture to the workpiece preventing the thin wall member from deforming when subject to the source of heat energy. A direct material additive process is upon the thin wall member adding material to the thin wall member to improve physical characteristics of the thin wall member. The joining member is mechanically removed from the workpiece after the work piece cools. A portion of the material is mechanically removed from the thin wall member to achieve desired dimensional characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: DM3D TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Bhaskar Dutta, Mark David Lewan, Jason David Franceschina
  • Patent number: 10618384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-part component for a vehicle body comprising an outer sheet (1) and an inner sheet (2), wherein the outer sheet (1) is connected to the inner sheet (2) along their rims at least in one connection section (3) in such a manner that the outer sheet (1) and the inner sheet (2) run parallel to one another in a first region (4) of the outer sheet (1), wherein an adhesive material (5) is introduced in the first region (4) between the outer sheet (1) and the inner sheet (2), and wherein in a second region (6) of the outer sheet (1), the outer sheet (1) is bent against the inner side of the inner sheet (2), wherein in the second region (6) of the outer sheet (1), the outermost rim of the outer sheet (1) is welded to the inner side of the inner sheet along the connection section (3), and to a production method for same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Haselwanter, Aytac Temur, Juergen Wening
  • Patent number: 10610962
    Abstract: A laser welding method includes guiding laser pulses to a workpiece surface of workpieces and adjusting a power of the laser pulses according to a time pulse curve to spot weld the workpieces together. The time pulse curve has a first pulse section having a rising pulse flank for generating a melting temperature and subsequently a vaporization temperature in the workpieces, a second pulse section for melt bath generation having a vapor channel in the workpieces, a third pulse section having a pulse flank which initially drops vertically to at least ¾ of the power at an end of the second pulse section and subsequently drops more flatly for reversion of the vapor channel, and a fourth pulse section having a low pulse plateau and a level of between ? and ¼ of the power at the end of the second pulse section for oscillation of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMOF LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Elke Dolores Kaiser
  • Patent number: 10615523
    Abstract: A battery bridge for an electronic device, preferably for an electronic implant, has an electrically conductive first contact element, an electrically conductive second contact element and an insulator. The first contact element and the second contact element comprise a weldable material. In a first state of the battery bridge, the first contact element is distanced from the second contact element via a predefined air gap and the first contact element is electrically insulated from the second contact element by the air gap and the insulator. The battery bridge is formed in such a way that it can be transferred, by welding the first contact element and the second contact element together, into a second state, in which the air gap between the first contact element and the second contact element is closed electrically conductively, at least in part. A method for activating such an electronic device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Henschel
  • Patent number: 10605283
    Abstract: A method for producing a component connection includes the steps of: providing a metal sheet; producing a through-hole in the metal sheet, wherein at least one rim portion or the entire peripheral rim of the through-hole is bent towards a side of the metal sheet, as a result of which at least one clamping collar-like element is created; providing an additional component, from which a spherical or spheroidal element projects; inserting the spherical or spheroidal element from the side of the metal sheet located opposite the at least one clamping collar-like element into the through-hole such that the spherical or spheroidal element at least partially projects from the through-hole on the side of the at least one clamping collarlike element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 10601014
    Abstract: A plurality of battery cells are connected by a busbar. Electrode terminals of the battery cells each include a protruding portion and a welding surface around the protruding portion. The busbar includes a welding plate portion being in surface-contact with the welding surface and having a cut-away portion for guiding the protruding portion, and an exposure gap that exposes the welding surface between the inner side of the cut-away portion and the protruding portion. The busbar is welded to the welding surface in a predetermined welding width (H) by both of a fillet weld part and a penetration welding portion such that the inner edge of the cut-away portion as the fillet weld part is welded to the welding surface, and the boundary between the busbar and the welding surface is welded by the penetration welding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Okada, Yoshihiro Shiotsu, Tomomi Tanaka, Seiji Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 10589379
    Abstract: A method for producing a tube from metal is stated, by use of which method a metal strip by means of a drawing-off installation is moved in the longitudinal direction of said metal strip and is guided through a forming station in which said metal strip is formed to a slot tube having a slot running the in the longitudinal direction. The two edges of the metal strip abut to one another at the slot. Said two ends for producing a fully closed tube are welded to one another by use of a welding installation that is equipped with a laser. The slot tube after leaving the forming station is initially moved into the region of the laser and is then stopped. Thereafter, the regions of the edges of the slot tube that are to be welded to one another are pre-treated by the laser. Thereafter, the power of the laser is set to the welding power thereof that corresponds to the welding temperature, and by switching on the drawing-off installation the slot tube is simultaneously moved in the longitudinal direction of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Rainer Soika, Claus-Friedrich Theune