Laser welding apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for joining a first piece and a second piece at a junction region, a portion of the junction region being laser welded and a remaining portion of the junction region being diffusion bonded, the apparatus comprising:
- a fixture for securing the first piece;
a pressing plate configured to hold the second piece against the first piece and apply a forging force to the second piece toward the first piece, the forging force causing the second piece to physically deform in relation to the first piece at the junction region and causing diffusion bonding between the first and the second pieces at the junction region; and
a laser configured to direct a laser beam to a target area in the vicinity of the junction region, the laser beam liquefying material at a weld region of the junction region welding the first and second pieces together at the weld region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for joining a first piece and a second piece at a junction region, a portion of the junction region being laser welded and a remaining portion of the junction region being diffusion bonded, the apparatus comprising:
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a fixture for securing the first piece; a pressing plate configured to hold the second piece against the first piece and apply a forging force to the second piece toward the first piece, the forging force causing the second piece to physically deform in relation to the first piece at the junction region and causing diffusion bonding between the first and the second pieces at the junction region; and a laser configured to direct a laser beam to a target area in the vicinity of the junction region, the laser beam liquefying material at a weld region of the junction region welding the first and second pieces together at the weld region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A welding apparatus, comprising:
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a base fixture configured to secure a first metal piece; a pressing plate configured to apply a forging force to a second metal piece at a direction that causes the second metal piece to contact the first metal piece and to physically deform in relation to the first metal piece at a junction region, the forging force causing diffusion bonding between the first and the second metal pieces at the junction region; a laser configured to direct a laser beam to a target area in the vicinity of the junction region providing laser energy to the junction region, the laser energy liquefying material at a weld region of the junction region welding the first and second metal pieces together at the weld region; and a gas source configured to provide an inert gas in the target area during a welding operation, the inert gas substantially preventing oxidation reactions in the target area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification