Laser-plasma hybrid welding method

US6940036B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• MTU Aero Engines AG · DE
• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Erwin Bayer · Dachau, DE
• Joerg Hoeschele · Stuttgart, DE
• Juergen Steinwandel · Überlingen, DE
• Rainer Willneff · Markdorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2002
• Grant date: Sep 6, 2005
• Expiry date: Apr 25, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H05H1/30
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a process for laser-plasma hybrid welding, to weld work pieces, a laser beam and a plasma jet are brought together in the process region close to the work piece. A free microwave-induced plasma jet is generated by the following process. Microwaves are generated in a high-frequency microwave source, and the microwaves are guided in a hollow waveguide. A process gas is introduced into a microwave-transparent tube, which includes a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening, at a pressure p≧1 bar. The process gas is introduced into the microwave-transparent tube through the gas inlet opening in such a manner that it has a tangential flow component. A plasma is generated in the microwave-transparent tube by electrode-free ignition of the process gas, and a plasma jet is generated by introduction of the plasma into the working space through a metallic nozzle arranged at the gas outlet opening of the tube.