Process for the production of a shaped parts from pieces of sheet metal of different thicknesses

US4827100A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Thyssen Stahl AG · DE

Inventors

• Adam Frings · Essen, DE
• Wilfried Prange · Dinslaken, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 1987
• Grant date: May 2, 1989
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/12799
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A process for making a shaped member from sheet metal pieces (37,38) of different thicknesses. In the process flat sheet metal pieces (37,38) are butt welded at their cut edges by laser beam welding. Then the unit, welded together from a number of sheet metal pieces (37,38) of different thickness, are converted into a shaped member by pressing or deep drawing. Since the material of sheet metal pieces (37,38) is not much affected by laser beam welding and the laser-beam-welded joint (39) does not expand much, the joint (39) has no adverse effect on shaping, nor is any anti-corrosion protection, for example, of zinc lost during laser beam welding.