公开(公告)号：US20150352658A1

公开(公告)日：2015-12-10

申请号：US14729693

申请日：2015-06-03

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David Yang ,  David R. Sigler ,  Hui-Ping Wang

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20

CPC classification number: B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A method of spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an adjacent aluminum alloy workpiece involves passing an electrical current through the workpiece stack-up and between facially aligned welding electrodes in contact with opposed sides of the stack-up. The formation of a weld joint between the adjacent steel and aluminum alloy workpieces is aided by an intruding feature located in an aluminum alloy workpiece that provides and delineates one side of the workpiece stack-up and against which a welding electrode is pressed over the intruding feature at the weld site. The intruding feature affects the flow pattern and density of the electrical current that passes through the overlapping workpieces and is also believed to help minimize the effects of any refractory surface oxide layer(s) that may be present on the aluminum alloy workpiece that lies adjacent to the steel workpiece.

Abstract translation: 点焊包括钢工件和相邻的铝合金工件的工件堆叠的方法包括使电流通过工件叠层以及与堆叠的相对侧接触的面对齐的焊接电极之间。 在相邻的钢和铝合金工件之间形成焊接接头由位于铝合金工件中的入侵特征辅助，其提供并描绘了工件叠层的一侧，并且焊接电极被压在入侵特征上 在焊接部位。 入侵特征影响通过重叠工件的电流的流动模式和密度，并且还被认为有助于最小化可能存在于铝合金工件上的任何难熔表面氧化物层的影响， 钢工件。

公开(公告)号：US20150083693A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-26

申请号：US14488799

申请日：2014-09-17

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： James G. Schroth ,  David R. Sigler ,  Thomas A. Perry

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/34 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a steel workpiece to an aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece is disclosed. One step of the disclosed method involves providing a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum workpiece. Another step involves preheating the welding electrode that is meant to contact the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece. Yet another step of the disclosed method involves pressing the preheated welding electrode and another welding electrode against opposite sides of the workpiece stack-up, with the preheated welding electrode abutting the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece, and passing an electrical current between the two welding electrodes at a weld site to initiate and grow a molten weld pool within the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种将钢工件电阻点焊到铝或铝合金工件上的方法。 所公开的方法的一个步骤包括提供包括钢工件和铝工件的工件叠层。 另一步骤是预热焊接电极，其意图是接触铝或铝合金工件。 所公开的方法的另一步骤包括将预热的焊接电极和另一个焊接电极压在工件叠层的相对侧上，预热的焊接电极邻接铝或铝合金工件，并在两个焊接电极之间通过电流 在焊接部位，以在铝或铝合金工件内引发和生长熔融焊池。

公开(公告)号：US11524358B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-13

申请号：US16183453

申请日：2018-11-07

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  F16B5/08 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K103/10 ,  B23K103/04

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum workpiece includes adhering an aluminum patch to faying surface of a steel workpiece, positioning an aluminum workpiece over the aluminum patch and the steel workpiece to assemble a workpiece stack-up, passing an electric current through the workpiece stack-up to create a molten aluminum weld pool, and terminating passage of the electric current to solidify the molten aluminum weld pool into a weld joint that bonds the steel and aluminum workpieces together through the aluminum patch. A workpiece stack-up having a weld joint that bonds an aluminum workpiece and a steel workpiece together through an aluminum patch is also disclosed. The weld joint establishes a bonding interface with the faying surface of the steel workpiece, and the aluminum patch is adhered to the faying surface of the steel workpiece around the weld joint.

公开(公告)号：US11132986B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US16213135

申请日：2018-12-07

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Anil K. Sachdev ,  Raja K. Mishra ,  Jon T. Carter ,  Tyson W. Brown ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  David R. Sigler ,  Robert N. Saje ,  Matthew P. Simonin

IPC: B32B7/05 ,  G10K11/168 ,  B32B7/02 ,  B32B15/04 ,  B32B15/18 ,  B32B15/20 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B21D26/021 ,  B21D35/00 ,  B32B15/01 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B60R7/06 ,  B60R13/08 ,  B62D21/00 ,  B62D25/04 ,  B62D25/10 ,  F16M13/02 ,  B60R13/02 ,  B32B37/00

Abstract: A panel assembly is formed by a plurality of bonds between two sheet materials in a face to face relationship to form a preform. The plurality of bonds define a closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials and an open perimeter region between the two sheet materials. The preform may be formed into a predefined shape. Pressurized fluid is applied through an inlet into the open perimeter region to expand the preform. The pressurized fluid expands the open perimeter region such that the two sheet materials expand in an opposing direction, thereby defining an expanded open perimeter region. The closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials remains vacant of the pressurized fluid such that the closed perimeter region is not expanded. The expanded open perimeter region is filled with a filler material for improving a performance characteristic of the panel assembly, e.g., strength, sound absorption, or stiffness.

公开(公告)号：US10981244B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16181809

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Hui-ping Wang ,  David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/16 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/00 ,  B23K103/04 ,  B23K101/18

Abstract: A welding electrode includes a weld face that has a convex base weld face surface and a plurality of ringed ridges that are radially spaced apart on the base weld face surface and surround a central weld face axis. The plurality of ringed ridges including an innermost ringed ridge and an outermost ringed ridge. The innermost ringed ridge is located closest to the central weld face axis and rises above a central portion of the base weld face surface, and the outermost ringed ridge is located farthest from the central weld face axis and rises above an outer peripheral portion of the base weld face surface. At least one of the plurality of ringed ridges is a discontinuous ringed ridge.

公开(公告)号：US10857618B2

公开(公告)日：2020-12-08

申请号：US15907996

申请日：2018-02-28

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K103/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and one or more aluminum workpieces involves locally stiffening the steel workpiece to resist steel workpiece deformation. The local stiffening of the steel workpiece is achieved by incorporating an electrode receiving wall into the steel workpiece along with one or more integral elevated portions of the steel workpiece that are disposed at least partially around the electrode receiving wall. The electrode receiving wall includes an electrode-contact surface and an opposed interface contact surface. During welding, a weld face of one welding electrode is pressed against the electrode-contact surface of the electrode receiving wall of the steel workpiece, and electric current is momentarily passed between that welding electrode and another welding electrode on the opposite side of the workpiece stack-up to form a weld joint that bonds to the interface contact surface of the electrode receiving wall.

公开(公告)号：US10766095B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-08

申请号：US15442155

申请日：2017-02-24

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Hui-Ping Wang ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  David R. Sigler ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/16 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/34

Abstract: A spot weld may be formed between an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent overlapping steel workpiece with the use of opposed spot welding electrodes that have mating weld faces designed for engagement with the outer surfaces of the workpiece stack-up assembly. The electrode that engages the stack-up assembly proximate the aluminum workpiece includes a central ascending convex surface and the electrode that engages the stack-up assembly proximate the steel workpiece has an annular surface. The mating weld faces of the first and second spot welding electrodes distribute the passing electrical current along a radially outwardly expanding flow path to provide a more uniform temperature distribution over the intended spot weld interface and may also produce a deformed bonding interface within the formed weld joint. Each of these events can beneficially affect the strength of the weld joint.

公开(公告)号：US10675704B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US15492482

申请日：2017-04-20

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/31 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/24 ,  B23K103/04 ,  B23K103/10 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K101/18 ,  B23K101/00

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding workpiece stack-ups of different combinations of metal workpieces with a single weld gun using the same set of welding electrodes is disclosed. In this method, a set of opposed welding electrodes that include an original shape and oxide-disrupting structural features are used to resistance spot weld at least two of the following types of workpiece stack-ups in a particular sequence: (1) a workpiece stack-up of two or more aluminum workpieces; (2) a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent steel workpiece; and (3) a workpiece stack-up of two or more steel workpieces. The spot welding sequence calls for completing all of the aluminum-to-aluminum spot welds and/or all of the steel-to-steel spot welds last.

公开(公告)号：US10421148B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-24

申请号：US15137778

申请日：2016-04-25

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  David S. Yang ,  Anil K. Sachdev

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K103/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent overlapping steel workpiece is disclosed. The method uses a first welding electrode positioned proximate the aluminum workpiece and a second welding electrode positioned proximate the steel workpiece to effectuate the spot welding process. In an effort to positively affect the strength of the ultimately-formed weld joint, external heat may be supplied to the first welding electrode by an external heating source disposed in heat transfer relation with the first welding electrode either before or after, or both before or after, an electrical current is passed between the first and second welding electrodes to create a molten aluminum weld pool within the aluminum workpiece.

公开(公告)号：US20190262930A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-29

申请号：US15907996

申请日：2018-02-28

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and one or more aluminum workpieces involves locally stiffening the steel workpiece to resist steel workpiece deformation. The local stiffening of the steel workpiece is achieved by incorporating an electrode receiving wall into the steel workpiece along with one or more integral elevated portions of the steel workpiece that are disposed at least partially around the electrode receiving wall. The electrode receiving wall includes an electrode-contact surface and an opposed interface contact surface. During welding, a weld face of one welding electrode is pressed against the electrode-contact surface of the electrode receiving wall of the steel workpiece, and electric current is momentarily passed between that welding electrode and another welding electrode on the opposite side of the workpiece stack-up to form a weld joint that bonds to the interface contact surface of the electrode receiving wall.