Laser welding overlapping metal workpieces
US10688595B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2103/08
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.