Patent · US Active

Multi-beam laser spot welding of coated steels

US11148226B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
28References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 14, 2016
Grant dateOct 19, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23K2101/35
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of laser spot welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces (12, 14, 150) is disclosed. The method includes directing a plurality of laser beams (24, 24′, 24″) at the top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up to create a molten steel weld pool (92) that penetrates into the stack-up. The molten steel weld pool is then grown to penetrate further into the stack-up by increasing an overall combined irradiance of the laser beams while reducing the total projected sectional area (88) of the laser beams at a plane of the top surface of the workpiece stack-up. Increasing the overall combined irradiance of the laser beams may be accomplished by moving the focal points (66, 66′, 66″) of the laser beams closer to the top surface or by reducing the mean angle of incidence (86) of the laser beams so as to reduce the eccentricity of the individual projected sectional areas of the laser beams.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.