DIFFERENT MATERIAL WELDED STRUCTURE

• US 20140248508A1
• Filed: 09/03/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ohhama, Shosuke, Miyahara, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,085,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/638
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/123 Controlling or monitoring the welding process
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/126 Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/1265 Non-butt welded joints, e.g. overlap-joints, T-joints or spot welds
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/16 with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts, e.g. material for absorbing or producing gas
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/2275 the other layer being aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/24 Preliminary treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/006 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/04 Tubular or hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/18 Sheet panels
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/28 Beams
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/20 Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/043 of metal B32B15/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12653 Fe, containing 0.01-1.7% carbon [i.e., steel]

Abstract

Extending portions of a front sub-frame are each formed by stacking two thin plates made of steel, and flange portions of the front sub-frame and flange portions of a rear sub-frame made of aluminum are superimposed on each other, and are friction stir welded, with a seal material applied to the superimposed surfaces. Of the two thin plates, the thin plate joined to the rear sub-frame made of aluminum has, at each end thereof, a bent portion and an extending part. The bent portion is formed by bending. The end of the extending part extends outward farther than the rear sub-frame. The extending part is covered by the seal material. The bent portion is disposed at a farther end of the extending part.

Claims

1. A different material welded structure comprising:

a thin plate-like iron member; and

a thin plate-like light metal member, the iron member and the light metal member being integrally welded with each other,

wherein the iron member comprises a stack of two or more thin steel plates,

wherein the thin steel plates are electrodeposition-coated before welding to the light metal member such that an electrodeposition coating is formed on a first surface of the stack welded to the light metal member, on an opposite surface of the stack located opposite to the first surface, and on respective intermediate surfaces of the thin steel plates located between the first surface and the opposite surface, wherein the iron member and the light metal member are friction stir welded by

superimposing the iron member and the light metal member on each other,

applying a seal material to respective superimposed surfaces of the iron member and the light metal member, the superimposed surfaces facing to each other,

inserting a rotating tool for friction stir welding while rotating into the light metal member toward the iron member by moving the rotating tool in a direction perpendicular to the superimposed surfaces, and

further inserting the rotating tool for friction stir welding while rotating into the iron member, and

wherein, of the two or more thin steel plates, the thin steel plate welded to the light metal member has a bent portion formed by bending at each end thereof.

2. The different material welded structure according to claim 1,

wherein at the each end of the thin steel plate welded to the light metal member, an extending part extending outward farther than the light metal member is provided, the bent portion is disposed at an end of the extending part, and the extending part is covered by the seal material.

3. The different material welded structure according to claim 1,

wherein the bent portion is bent in a direction opposite to the light metal member.

4. The different material welded structure according to claim 2,

wherein the seal material disposed between the iron member and the light metal member is bulged out from an end of the light metal member along a surface of the extending part and along an end surface of the light metal member.