WELDING SYSTEM

• US 20110284501A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wang, Pei-Chung, Zhang, Yansong, Lin, Zhongqin, Lai, Xinmin
• Application Number:
  US13/039,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20110284501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/78.01
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/115 by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/18 of non-ferrous metals B23K11/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/20 of different metals
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/31 Electrode holders and actuating devices therefornot restricted to resistance welding or severing by resistance heating B23K37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/006 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/185 Tailored blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/20 Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof

Abstract

A welding system includes a first electrode, a first metal substrate having a first melting point temperature, and a second metal substrate having a second melting point temperature and disposed adjacent and in contact with the first metal substrate to define a faying interface therebetween. The welding system also includes a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed in electrically-conductive relationship with the second metal substrate. Further, the welding system includes a flexible strip disposed between and in electrically-conductive relationship with each of the first electrode and the first metal substrate. The flexible strip is formed from an electrically-conductive material and has a melting point temperature that is greater than or equal to each of the first melting point temperature and the second melting point temperature.

Claims

1. A welding system comprising:

a first electrode;

a first metal substrate having a first melting point temperature;

a second metal substrate having a second melting point temperature and disposed adjacent and in contact with said first metal substrate to define a faying interface therebetween;

a second electrode spaced apart from said first electrode and disposed in electrically-conductive relationship with said second metal substrate; and

a flexible strip disposed between and in electrically-conductive relationship with each of said first electrode and said first metal substrate, wherein said flexible strip is formed from an electrically-conductive material and has a melting point temperature that is greater than or equal to each of said first melting point temperature and said second melting point temperature.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein said flexible strip has a thickness of from about 0.1 mm to about 0.4 mm.

3. The welding system of claim 1, wherein said first metal substrate has a first thickness and said second metal substrate has a second thickness that is greater than or equal to said first thickness.

4. The welding system of claim 3, wherein said flexible strip has a thickness of about 0.2 mm.

5. The welding system of claim 3, wherein a ratio of said first thickness to said second thickness is greater than or equal to about 1:

2.

6. The welding system of claim 1, wherein said flexible strip is linearly translatable along said first electrode.

7. The welding system of claim 1, further including an additional flexible strip.

8. The welding system of claim 7, wherein said additional flexible strip is disposed between and in contact with each of said second electrode and said second metal substrate.

9. The welding system of claim 7, wherein said additional flexible strip is disposed between and in contact with each of said first electrode and said flexible strip.

10. The welding system of claim 1, further including a weld disposed at said faying interface whereby said first metal substrate and said second metal substrate are joined.