Welded blank assembly and method
US11198195B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2017 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/477
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A welded blank assembly is formed by welding first and second sheet metal pieces together at a weld joint. At least one of the sheet metal pieces includes a boron steel or press hardenable steel base material layer and an aluminum-based coating material layer, along with a weld notch where at least a portion of the coating material layer is removed before welding. An additional material can be provided during welding to influence weld joint composition and/or a secondary heat source can be used to heat and flow a protective material in a weld region of the blank assembly. The weld notch has a width that may be related to the width of a heat-affected zone formed during welding.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.