Welded blank assembly and method
US9956636B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/477
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A welded blank assembly includes a capping material in a weld region of the assembly. The capping material can help protect a weld joint joining first and second sheet metal pieces together. At least one of the sheet metal pieces has a coating material layer that is removed prior to forming the weld joint so that the coating material does not contaminate the weld joint. The removed coating material can be collected before the weld joint is formed and reapplied as part of the capping material after the weld joint is formed, effectively changing the coating material from a potential weld contaminant to a weld joint protectant. The capping material may also include additional material from a source other than the coating material layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.