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:
Jun. 12, 2018
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2012
Dietmar Rotheut, Eschweiler, DE;
Guido H. Mueller, Cologne, DE;
Dietmar Rotheut, Eschweiler, DE;
Guido H. Mueller, Cologne, DE;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for joining first and second sheet metal parts includes a support where the first and second parts are positioned with an edge of the second part surrounded by a beading flange of the first part. A joining electrode is positioned adjacent to the beading flange and a counter-electrode is positioned adjacent to the second part. An abutment of a tong-type welding apparatus in placed in contact with the support, and the joining electrode and the abutment are urged toward one another to press or clamp the beading flange between the joining electrode and the support. An electric current is applied to the beading flange using the joining electrode and the counter-electrode to weld the parts together.