Method of welding a component inside a hollow vessel

• US 20060191909A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Powell, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,378,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/633
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3612 comprising fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/368 with a polymer coating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3696 with a coating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7841 Holding or clamping means for handling purposes clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/21 said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/472 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/532 Joining single elements to the wall of tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/61 Joining from or joining on the inside for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8244 magnetically driven
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/863 Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7172 Fuel tanks, jerry cans

Abstract

A method of welding plastic components using an induction weldable plastic material to a wall of a hollow plastic vessel entails providing a metal disk to a first plastic component, providing the first plastic component with a weldable plastic material, inserting the plastic component through a hole in a wall of the hollow plastic vessel, the inserting being from an exterior of the vessel to an interior of the vessel, positioning the first plastic component against or proximate an interior wall of the hollow plastic vessel, orienting an electro-magnet about the exterior of the vessel, orienting an induction coil about the electro-magnet such that the induction coil encircles the electromagnet; energizing the electro-magnet so that the metal disk of the first plastic component is secured against the wall of the vessel, and energizing the induction coil so that the induction weldable plastic material welds to the vessel wall.

Claims

1. A fastening method comprising:

orienting a component inside of a hollow vessel, wherein the component contains an integral meltable material;

positioning a magnet outside of the hollow vessel, adjacent to the component, wherein the component is attracted to the magnet;

positioning an induction coil outside of the hollow vessel, adjacent to the component; and

energizing the induction coil, wherein energizing the induction coil causes the meltable material to melt to the vessel.

2. The fastening method according to claim 1, wherein the component is positioned against an interior wall of the hollow vessel.

3. The fastening method according to claim 1, wherein the component has a metal piece to which the magnet is attracted.

4. The fastening method according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

6. The fastening method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow vessel is plastic.

7. The fastening method according to claim 1, wherein orienting the component inside of the hollow vessel is orienting the component against a wall of the vessel.

5. (canceled)

8. A fastening method comprising:

orienting a component inside of a hollow vessel, wherein the component contains an integral meltable material;

positioning a magnet outside of the hollow vessel, adjacent to the component, wherein the component is attracted to the magnet;

positioning an induction coil outside of the hollow vessel, adjacent to the component; and

energizing the induction coil, wherein energizing the induction coil causes the meltable material to melt to the vessel.

9. The fastening method according to claim 8, wherein the component is positioned against an interior wall of the hollow vessel.

10. The fastening method according to claim 9, wherein the component has a metal piece to which the magnet is attracted.

11. The fastening method according to claim 10, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

13. The fastening method according to claim 11, wherein the hollow vessel is plastic.

14. The fastening method according to claim 13, wherein orienting the component inside of the hollow vessel is orienting the component against a wall of the vessel.

12. (canceled)

15-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A fastening method comprising:

providing a metal disk to a first component;

providing the first component with a meltable material;

inserting the first component through a hole defined by a wall of a hollow vessel, wherein the inserting is from an exterior of the vessel to an interior of the vessel;

positioning the first component against an interior wall of the hollow vessel;

orienting an electro-magnet about the exterior of the vessel, wherein the orienting of the electro-magnet is opposite the first component, which is on the interior of the hollow vessel;

orienting an induction coil about the electro-magnet such that the induction coil encircles the electro-magnet;

energizing the electro-magnet and attracting the metal disk of the component against the interior wall of the vessel; and

energizing the induction coil so that the meltable material welds to the vessel wall.

22. The fastening method according to claim 21, further comprising:

energizing the electro-magnet until the first component and the hollow vessel are at a temperature equal to their surrounding air temperature.

23. The fastening method according to claim 21, wherein the electro-magnet attracts the metal disk of the first component equilaterally.

24. The fastening method according to claim 21, wherein the meltable material contains metal fibers.

25. The fastening method according to claim 21, wherein the meltable material is attached to the first component as a separate component.