Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Lg Chem, Ltd

Alexander D Khakhalev

Joseph M Lendway, Iv

Jay Hampton

Roland J Menassa

Wayne Cai

William Koetting

Charles J Bruggemann

Sanjay Mahasukhlal Shah

Michael Joseph Nielson

Daniel C Hutchinson

Donn W Glander

Leo Canale

Vitaly V Neverovich

Don Reams

A joining operation for a stack of three metal sheets performed using only a single welding step, with access to only one sheet side being required. An inner sheet of the stack has formed therein a pair of bifurcated projections, wherein at least one first apex faces in one direction and at least one second apex faces in the opposite direction. First and second outer metal sheets are assembled with the inner sheet, wherein the first outer sheet abuts the at least one first apex, and the second outer sheet abuts the at least one second apex. A projection welding apparatus welds the sheets, using only access to the first outer sheet superposed the bifurcated projections, wherein a majority of the current flows through the second outer sheet.

Method for one-sided, one step joining of a metal sheet stack

An ultrasonic welding system and a method are provided. The system includes an ultrasonic welding device having an ultrasonic welding horn. The system further includes a controller generating control signals for inducing the welding device to form a first weld joint. The system further includes a power adjusting unit that induces the ultrasonic welding controller to increase a power level output by the ultrasonic welding controller to the ultrasonic welding device if a first displacement of the welding horn is less than the desired displacement during partial completion of forming the first weld joint, such that upon completion of the first weld joint an ending position of the ultrasonic welding horn is at a desired ending position.

Ultrasonic welding system and method for forming a weld joint utilizing the ultrasonic welding system

A battery pack for a vehicle has battery cells with foil cell tabs that are welded to an interconnect. Nickel plated copper is bonded to aluminum for either a first set of the battery cells, a second set of the battery cells or for the interconnect. Similar materials are then adjacent to each other at the weld locations between the foil cell tabs and the interconnect to avoid welding of dissimilar metals.

Cell tab and interconnect assembly for a battery pack

A welding electrode assembly that includes a tip member and a coupling member and has certain self-aligning features which promote proper alignment during operation. In one embodiment, the coupling member acts as a self-aligning joint or connection and generally includes a housing, a movable plunger, and a biasing element such as a spring. During operation, contact between the tip member and a work piece surface causes the plunger to lift from an opening in the housing against the urging force of the spring so that the tip member can become properly aligned with the work piece.

Welding electrode assembly having self-aligning features

A battery pack for use in a vehicle may comprise battery cells, with each of the battery cells including a main body and a foil cell tab extending from the main body, with the battery cells arranged into a first set and a second set; an interconnect having a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge connecting the legs; first weld locations securing the foil cell tabs of the first set of battery cells to the first leg; and second weld locations securing the foil cell tabs of the second set of battery cells to the second leg. The foil cell tabs or the legs of the interconnect or both may include relief slots extending between the weld locations. Also, the thickness of a set of the tabs may be equal to the thickness of the leg to which they are welded.

Battery pack having welded cell tab and interconnect assembly

A self-cleaning GMAW nozzle characterized by the inner surface thereof having a laminate group, preferably composed of sequentially alternating layers of metal and bonding material. Over a period of time of welding, welding spatter begins to accumulate upon an outermost metal layer of the laminate group. As the heat of welding proceeds over this same time, the adhesion of the adjoining bonding layer releases, whereby the outermost metal layer detaches, exposing a clean, new outermost metal layer. The process sequentially repeats until all metal layers have detached.

Self-cleaning welding nozzle

A method and apparatus for controlling arc shielding gas during an arc welding operation is disclosed. The method may include the steps of actuating a first valve connected to an arc initiation source of gas to selectively allow arc initiation gas to flow through a mixing chamber; initiating an arc; actuating a second valve connected to a primary shielding source of gas to selectively allow primary shielding gas to flow through the mixing chamber; actuating the first valve to reduce, if needed, the arc initiation gas flow from the arc initiation source of gas; and continuing with the arc welding operation. The arc welding operation may also include actuating the first valve to cause the arc welding operation to operate in a different metal transfer mode when it is desirable, or when the arc welding operation is nearing completion.

Arc welding initiation system and method

A method of minimizing mechanical resonance in an assembly during formation of a vibration-welded joint therein includes positioning work pieces such that they are directly adjacent to each other, and generating a set of control signals that cause one or more sonotrode weld heads to vibrate. A waveform characteristic of a mechanical oscillation of the sonotrode(s) and weld head(s) is varied to minimize the mechanical resonance occurring in the assembly, such as a multi-cell battery for a vehicle. An apparatus for forming the welded joint includes at least one sonotrode having a weld head or heads formed integrally therewith, and a weld controller. The controller is connected to a converter, sonotrode(s), and weld head(s), with the mechanical oscillation occurring in the sonotrode(s) and weld head(s). Variation of the control signals during formation of the welded joint varies a waveform characteristic of the mechanical oscillation, thus minimizing the mechanical resonance.

Method and system for optimized vibration welding

A tool is provided for forming a dimple on the edge of a metal sheet to facilitate projection welding of the sheet to an adjacent metal sheet. A reversible drill motor has a housing and chuck. A mounting bracket clamps onto the housing and a base is attached to the mounting bracket. A frame is attached to the base and has spaced apart arms. A first dimple forming die is mounted on one of the arms and a second dimple forming die is slidably mounted on the other of the arms. A driveshaft has a threaded end engaged in a threaded aperture of the second dimple forming die and a drive end captured in the chuck. Rotation of the driveshaft in one direction advances the second dimple forming die toward the first dimple forming to form a dimple in a sheet edge interposed between the dies.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Alexander D Khakhalev