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:
Nov. 11, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 02, 2003
Pei-Chung Wang, Troy, MI (US);
Wenkao Hou, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
This invention provides a method of joining overlapping galvanized steel parts using two lasers for in tandem slot cutting and welding. A first laser beam impacts the steel parts at an energy level sufficient to cut a slot at least through the facing steel part to provide a path for vaporized zinc to escape from a welding interface. Immediately after the first laser beam passes, a second laser beam is directed along the slot at an energy level sufficient to melt ferrous material to fill the slot. After the second laser beams passes, the molten metal is cooled by the surrounding unheated metal to solidify and form a weld nugget.