The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2001
Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Troy, MI (US);
Victor J. Malczewski, Warren, MI (US);
Richard Ashley, Berkley, MI (US);
Magna International Inc., Aurora, CA;
Abstract
A welding material in positioned in electrically conductive relation between exterior surface portions of first and second weldable members, such as hydroformed tubes, at a location where the first and second weldable members are to be joined. A welding device comprises first and second electrodes or conductive ends that extend along substantially the entire extent of first sides of the first and second weldable members, respectively. The first and second conductive ends include first and second concave recesses, which nest with the first and second weldable members, respectively. Electrical current is applied across the first and second weldable members by the nesting first and second conductive ends such that the applied current melts the welding material and thereby welds the exterior surface portions to one another. The welding device can be mounted on a robotic mechanism, which can move the welding device between first and second welding positions.