Metal fusion bonding – With means to handle work or product – Including means to orient work or position work portion...
Patent
1996-07-01
1997-11-04
Heinrich, Samuel M.
Metal fusion bonding
With means to handle work or product
Including means to orient work or position work portion...
228 61, B23K 3704
Patent
active
056830270
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for fusing together two metal sheets along a joint by welding, and comprises support members for the sheets, retainer devices for positionally fixing the sheets in relation to the support members, these being movable in relation to one another for advancing the sheets at and during the welding process, and a welding device which is arranged to heat the metal sheets to the welding temperature in the joint region.
BACKGROUND ART
Increasingly far-reaching demands are placed in the automotive industry on the possibility of employing rational welding processes to fuse together sheet metal parts which later constitute the blanks in a pressing process. By such means, considerable material waste is avoided in that the blank may be given a configuration which corresponds to that of the finished part. Those blanks which are under consideration here may many times consist of sheet metal materials of different thicknesses, and the sheet material may have different types of surface coatings. In such instance, it is then important that the surface coatings are damaged as little as possible, and that the effects of heat on the material are also kept within very narrow limits.
In blanks of different sheet metal thicknesses, it is also important that these may optionally be joined together in such a manner that the finished blank will have a planar underface, that the thickness difference is distributed on both sides of the thinnest sheet metal blank or that the blank has a planar upperface.
Laser welding has previously been tried in practical applications of the type under consideration here. This welding method results in superior quality because of welding in a butt joint. However, productivity is low and investment costs are so high that this method can only be employed in exceptional cases.
PROBLEM STRUCTURE
The present invention has for its object to realise an apparatus of the type disclosed by way of introduction, the apparatus being designed in such a manner that it, by correct adjustment, partly of the sheets mutually in relation to one another, and partly of the sheets in relation to the welding device, always gives a correct and high quality welding joint. In particular, the present invention has for its object to realise an apparatus which, in high productivity, is capable of realising adjustment of the metal sheets in a vertical direction in relation to one another, as well as adjustment of the joint in relation to the welding device in a direction which is transversely directed to the joint and parallel with the plane of extent of the metal sheets.
SOLUTION
The object forming the basis of the present invention is attained if the apparatus disclosed by way of introduction is characterized in that the one support member is shiftably disposed and connected with an advancement device in order to execute an advancement movement for the sheets; that the second support member is stationary but connected to an adjustment arrangement, which is disposed to realise adjustment of the second support member in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of advancement; and that the welding device is movable towards and away from the joint region in a direction which is transversely directed to the direction of advancement.
In one preferred embodiment, it suitably also applies according to the present invention that the adjustment apparatus is disposed to realise adjustment of the second support member in one direction which is transversely directed to its plane of extent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawing. This shows a vertical side elevation of the subject matter of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
On the Drawing, reference numeral 1 relates to a frame for the apparatus according to the invention, reference numerals 2 and 3 to support members or tables for those sheets 4
REFERENCES:
patent: 3647130 (1972-03-01), Hahne
patent: 5536915 (1996-07-01), Peru et al.
AB Volvo
Heinrich Samuel M.
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