公开(公告)号：US20170361392A1

公开(公告)日：2017-12-21

申请号：US15616252

申请日：2017-06-07

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Hui-Ping Wang ,  Nannan Chen

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K35/02

CPC classification number: B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/3009 ,  B23K35/0205 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A spot welding electrode and a method of using the electrode to resistance spot weld a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent overlapping steel workpiece are disclosed. The spot welding electrode includes a weld face having a multistep conical geometry that includes a series of steps centered on a weld face axis. The series of steps comprises an innermost first step in the form of a central plateau and, additionally, one or more annular steps that surround the central plateau and cascade radially outwardly from the central plateau towards an outer perimeter of the weld face. The weld face has a conical cross-sectional profile in which a periphery of a top plateau surface of the central plateau and a periphery of a top annular step surface of each of the one or more annular steps are contained within a conical sectional area.

公开(公告)号：US20170291248A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-12

申请号：US15482742

申请日：2017-04-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  David S. Yang

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/30

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/3018 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A welding electrode is disclosed that includes an electrode welding shell and a blind adapter that are joined together to cooperatively define an internal cavity. The electrode welding shell and the blind adapter may be integrally formed or they may be distinct components that are attached together. The presence of the internal cavity defined by the electrode welding shell and the blind adapter reduces the thermal mass of the welding electrode and slows the rate of conductive heat transfer from the weld face to a cooling fluid, which allows in the center of the weld face to retain heat for a longer duration once current flow through the welding electrode is terminated, thereby positively affecting the spot welding process for particular types of workpiece stack-ups including those that include an aluminum workpiece and an overlapping adjacent steel workpiece.

公开(公告)号：US20170252853A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-07

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 ,  B23K11/16 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/163 ,  B23K11/3009 ,  B23K2101/34 ,  B23K2103/20

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：US09662738B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-30

申请号：US14305461

申请日：2014-06-16

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Sampath K. Vanimisetti ,  David R. Sigler

IPC: B23K11/00 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K35/02

CPC classification number: B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/3018 ,  B23K35/0205 ,  B23K35/0261

Abstract: A welding electrode includes an electrode holder and an electrode cap removably attached to the holder and having a central longitudinal axis. The cap includes a body having an end, and a welding surface that is substantially smooth and free from any grooves defined therein, and has a first diameter of from about 7 to 10 mm, a first radius of curvature, and a second radius of curvature that is different from the first radius. The cap includes a skirt portion extending away from the body and configured to bear against the holder. The skirt portion has a first face that is substantially parallel to the axis and spaced apart from the surface. The body has a second face interconnecting the first face and the surface, and the body tapers from the first face to the surface. A method of forming a resistance spot weld joint is also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20150231730A1

公开(公告)日：2015-08-20

申请号：US14181955

申请日：2014-02-17

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David Yang ,  David R. Sigler

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

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/14 ,  B23K11/3009 ,  B23K11/314 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a steel workpiece and an aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece (“aluminum workpiece”) together includes several steps. In one step a workpiece stack-up is provided. The workpiece stack-up includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum workpiece. Another step involves forming a protuberance in the steel workpiece. In another step a first and second welding electrode is provided. Yet another step involves clamping the first and second welding electrodes over the workpiece stack-up and over the protuberance. And another step involves performing one or more individual resistance spot welds to the workpiece stack-up.

Abstract translation: 钢工件和铝或铝合金工件（“铝工件”）的电阻点焊方法一起包括几个步骤。 在一个步骤中，提供了工件叠层。 工件堆叠包括钢工件和铝工件。 另一个步骤涉及在钢工件中形成突起。 在另一步骤中，提供第一和第二焊接电极。 另一步骤是将第一焊接电极和第二焊接电极夹紧在工件叠层上和突起上。 另一个步骤涉及对工件叠层执行一个或多个单独的电阻点焊。

公开(公告)号：US20150096962A1

公开(公告)日：2015-04-09

申请号：US14503969

申请日：2014-10-01

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  James G. Schroth ,  Blair E. Carlson ,  Yelena Myasnikova ,  David Yang

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K35/02 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K35/0261 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A resistance spot welding method may involve spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum alloy workpiece that overlap one another to provide a faying interface. A pair of opposed welding electrodes are pressed against opposite sides of the workpiece stack-up with one welding electrode contacting the aluminum alloy workpiece and the other welding electrode contacting the steel workpiece. The welding electrodes are constructed so that, when an electrical current is passed between the electrodes and through the workpiece stack-up, the electrical current has a greater current density in the steel workpiece than in the aluminum alloy workpiece to thereby concentrate heat within a smaller zone in the steel workpiece. Concentrating heat within a smaller zone in the steel workpiece is believed to modify the solidification behavior of the resultant molten aluminum alloy weld pool in a desirable way.

Abstract translation: 电阻点焊方法可以包括点焊包括钢工件和铝合金工件的工件叠层，以使其彼此重叠以提供接合界面。 一对相对的焊接电极被压在工件堆叠的相对两侧，一个焊接电极与铝合金工件接触，另一个焊接电极与钢工件接触。 焊接电极被构造成使得当电极在电极之间通过并且通过工件堆叠时，电流在钢工件中的电流密度比在铝合金工件中大，从而将热量集中在较小的 钢工件区。 认为在钢工件的较小区域内集中热量以所需的方式改变所得熔融铝合金焊池的凝固特性。

公开(公告)号：US20150096961A1

公开(公告)日：2015-04-09

申请号：US14503504

申请日：2014-10-01

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Blair E. Carlson ,  David Yang ,  David R. Sigler ,  Robert T. Szymanski ,  Anil K. Sachdev

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/36 ,  B23K11/11

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

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a steel workpiece and an aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece together includes several steps. One step involves inserting a cover between the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece and an adjacent welding electrode. In another step, the adjacent welding electrode is pressed against cover, and another opposed welding electrode is pressed against the steel workpiece at a weld site. In yet another step, electrical current is passed between the welding electrodes, passed through the cover, and passed through the workpieces in order to initiate and grow a molten weld pool within the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece.

Abstract translation: 钢工件和铝或铝合金工件的电阻点焊方法包括几个步骤。 一步涉及在铝或铝合金工件和相邻焊接电极之间插入盖子。 在另一步骤中，将相邻的焊接电极压在盖上，另一个相对的焊接电极在焊接部位被压在钢工件上。 在另一个步骤中，电流在焊接电极之间通过，穿过盖子并通过工件，以便引发和生长铝或铝合金工件内的熔融焊池。

公开(公告)号：US20150083694A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-26

申请号：US14556713

申请日：2014-12-01

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  James G. Schroth ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K11/3009 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/185 ,  C21D2251/04

Abstract: A welding electrode for use in resistance spot welding an assembly of overlying metal workpieces that includes an aluminum alloy workpiece is disclosed. The welding electrode includes a body, a convex weld face at one end of the body, and ringed protrusions that project outwardly from the convex weld face. The ringed protrusions are positioned to make contact with, and indent into, a surface of the aluminum alloy workpiece when the convex weld face is pressed against the aluminum alloy workpiece during a spot welding event. When brought into contact with the surface of the aluminum alloy workpiece, the ringed protrusions disrupt the oxide film present on the aluminum alloy workpiece surface, which improves the spot welding process.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种用于电阻点焊的焊接电极，包括铝合金工件的上覆金属工件的组件。 焊接电极包括主体，主体一端的凸焊接面和从凸焊接面向外突出的环形突起。 当在点焊事件期间将凸焊接面压在铝合金工件上时，环形突起被定位成与铝合金工件的表面接触并压入。 当与铝合金工件的表面接触时，环形突起破坏铝合金工件表面上存在的氧化膜，从而改善了点焊过程。

公开(公告)号：US20140367368A1

公开(公告)日：2014-12-18

申请号：US13918244

申请日：2013-06-14

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David Yang ,  Michael J. Karagoulis ,  David R. Sigler

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/16

CPC classification number: B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/0033 ,  B23K11/166

Abstract: Resistance spot welding of a thin-gauge steel workpiece to another steel workpiece is achieved by through the combined use of specific spot welding electrodes and a pulsating welding current. Each of the spot welding electrodes has a weld face that is smaller in diameter than a typical steel spot welding electrode. And the pulsating welding current that is used in conjunction with the smaller-sized spot welding electrodes includes at least two stages of electrical current pulses.

Abstract translation: 通过组合使用特定的点焊电极和脉动焊接电流，实现了薄钢板工件对另一个钢工件的电阻点焊。 每个点焊电极的直径小于典型的钢点焊电极的焊接面。 并且与较小尺寸的点焊电极结合使用的脉动焊接电流包括至少两级的电流脉冲。

公开(公告)号：US20140251961A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-11

申请号：US14174339

申请日：2014-02-06

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Michael J. Karagoulis ,  David R. Sigler

IPC: B23K11/24 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K11/241 ,  B23K11/115

Abstract: A programmable polarity module that permits rapid on-demand control of the polarities assigned to the welding electrodes retained on a welding gun is disclosed. The programmable polarity module is electrically connectable to the welding gun and a direct current power supply unit to provide direct current to the welding electrodes for exchange during spot welding. A first interchangeable polarity output lug and a second interchangeable polarity output lug of the programmable polarity module permit the polarities of the welding electrodes to be switched without having to electrically disconnect the module from the welding gun.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种可编程极性模块，其允许快速按需控制分配给保持在焊枪上的焊接电极的极性。 可编程极性模块可电连接到焊枪和直流电源单元，以在点焊期间向焊接电极提供直流电流以进行更换。 可编程极性模块的第一可互换极性输出凸耳和第二可互换极性输出凸耳允许切换焊接电极的极性，而不必将模块与焊枪电气断开。