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:
Sep. 17, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2011
Wayne W. Cai, Troy, MI (US);
Thomas B. Stoughton, Birmingham, MI (US);
David Yang, Pudong, CN;
Xiang Zhao, Novi, MI (US);
Wayne W. Cai, Troy, MI (US);
Thomas B. Stoughton, Birmingham, MI (US);
David Yang, Pudong, CN;
Xiang Zhao, Novi, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for beam welding a multi-sheet work stack includes providing a reduced thickness feature in a first sheet, positioning the first sheet adjacent to a second sheet to define a first welding interface, and positioning a third sheet adjacent to the second sheet to define a second welding interface. A laser or electron beam is directed through the first sheet at the feature to form a fusion weld at one of the welding interfaces. A second beam may be directed onto the other interface to form a second fusion weld. Providing a reduced thickness feature in the first sheet may include forming the feature with the beam and mechanically pre-forming the feature. One of the interfaces may be pre-heated using the beam, and the beam may be split using a beam splitter to form multiple beams. A welded assembly formed via the method is also disclosed.