Sensor pre-load and weld fixture apparatus and method

• US 7,070,086 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenhower, Gary W. Jr., Marsh, Brian J., Ehlers, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerns, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aboagye, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/792,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20050194362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 228/49.1, 228/49.2, 228/49.4, 228/103, 228/49.5, 228/44.3, 228/212, 219/121.63, 219/121.64, 219/158, 219/121.6, 269/283, 269/284, 269/86, 269/100, 269/238
• US Class Current: 228/212
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0452 Orientable fixtures B23K37/0461 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensor pre-load and welding apparatus and method are disclosed. A weld fixture apparatus includes a fixture base upon which a sensor package having a sensor base and a sensor cover is located, and a load bar associated with a spring, wherein the load bar provides a specific weight to the fixture base in order to assist in maintaining the sensor cover and the sensor base parallel to one another upon the fixture base. An adjustable load foot is generally located above the fixture base, such that the adjustable load foot applies a pre-determined load with a specific weight to the sensor base in order to maintain the sensor cover and the sensor base securely in place as the sensor base and the sensor cover are welded to one another in order to configure the sensor package.

Claims

1. A weld fixture apparatus, comprising:

a fixture base upon which a sensor package having a sensor base and a sensor cover is located a load bar associated with a spring, wherein said load bar receives said spring and is perpendicular to said spring and provides a specific weight to said fixture base in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon said fixture base; and

an adjustable load foot located above said fixture base, wherein said adjustable load foot applies a pre-determined load with a specific weight to said sensor base in order to maintain said sensor cover and said sensor base securely in place as said sensor base and said sensor cover are welded to one another in order to configure said sensor package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of guideposts integrated with said load bar in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon fixture base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a welding mechanism for tack welding said sensor cover to said sensor base in order to seal said sensor package.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tack welding is provided by said welding mechanism at a low laser power for sealing said sensor package.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor cover and said sensor base are located perpendicular to a laser beam generated by said welding mechanism for sealing said sensor package.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a welding mechanism for stitch welding said sensor cover to said sensor base via a plurality of stitch welds for sealing said sensor package.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a welding mechanism for welding said sensor cover to said sensor base, wherein said welding mechanism comprises a high power laser.

8. A weld fixture apparatus, comprising:

a fixture base upon which a SAW sensor package having a sensor base and a sensor cover is located a load bar associated with a spring, wherein said load bar is located perpendicular to and receives said spring, thereby providing a specific weight to said fixture base in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon said fixture base; and

a plurality of guideposts Integrated with said load bar in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon fixture base;

an adjustable load foot located above said fixture base, wherein said adjustable load foot applies a pre-determined load with a specific weight to said sensor base in order to maintain said sensor cover and said sensor base securely in place as said sensor base and said sensor cover are welded to one another in order to configure said SAW sensor package.

9. A weld fixture method, comprising the steps of:

providing a fixture base upon which a sensor package having a sensor base and a sensor cover is located;

associating a load bar with a spring, wherein said load bar provides a specific weight to said fixture base in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon said fixture base, wherein said sensor package comprises a SAW sensor; and

locating an adjustable load foot above said fixture base, wherein said adjustable load foot applies a pre-determined load with a specific weight to said sensor base in order to maintain said sensor cover and said sensor base securely in place as said sensor base and said sensor cover are welded to one another in order to configure said sensor package;

tack welding said sensor cover to said sensor base in order to seal said sensor package utilizing low laser power, wherein said sensor cover and said sensor base are located perpendicular to a laser beam generated by said low power laser;

thereafter stitch welding said sensor cover to said sensor base; and

thereafter welding said sensor cover to said sensor base utilizing a high power laser.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of Integrating a plurality of guideposts with said load bar in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon fixture base.

11. A weld fixture method, comprising the steps of:

providing a fixture base upon which a sensor package having a sensor base and a sensor cover is located;

associating a load bar with a spring, wherein said load bar receives said spring and is perpendicular to said spring and provides a specific weight to said fixture base in order to assist In maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon said fixture base; and

locating an adjustable load foot above said fixture base, wherein said adjustable load foot applies a pre-determined load with a specific weight to said sensor base in order to maintain said sensor cover and said sensor base securely in place as said sensor base and said sensor cover are welded to one another In order to configure said sensor package.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of tack welding said sensor cover to said sensor base in order to seal said sensor package, wherein said tack welding is provided by utilizing low laser power, wherein said sensor cover and said sensor base are located perpendicular to a laser beam generated by said low power laser.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

stitch welding said sensor cover to said sensor base; and

thereafter welding said sensor cover to said sensor base utilizing a high power laser.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said sensor package comprises a SAW sensor.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of integrating a plurality of guideposts with said load bar in order to assist in maintaining said sensor cover and said sensor base parallel to one another upon fixture base.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said plurality of guideposts functions as locator pins.