公开(公告)号：US09925617B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-27

申请号：US13953017

申请日：2013-07-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

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

CPC classification number: B23K11/3063 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/3009 ,  B23K35/0205

Abstract: Spot welding electrodes with generally dome shaped welding faces are provided with surface features for welding both aluminum alloy sheet assemblies and steel sheet assemblies. A raised circular plateau is formed on the central axis of the dome and, in one embodiment, a suitable number of round bumps are formed in concentric spacing from adjacent the circumference of the plateau toward the circular edge of the welding face. For welding steel workpieces the plateau mainly serves as the engaging feature of the electrode. Both the plateau and concentric bumps are used in penetrating light metal surfaces for suitable current passage. In another embodiment, the domed surface is shaped with concentric terraces for engagement with the workpieces.

公开(公告)号：US20170297137A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15491376

申请日：2017-04-19

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K35/30 ,  B23K9/30 ,  C22C9/00 ,  B23K9/235

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K1/0008 ,  B23K1/19 ,  B23K9/042 ,  B23K9/232 ,  B23K9/235 ,  B23K9/30 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/163 ,  B23K35/302 ,  B23K2101/006 ,  B23K2101/18 ,  B23K2101/34 ,  B23K2103/20 ,  C22C9/00

Abstract: A method of joining an aluminum workpiece and an adjacent overlapping steel workpiece by reaction metallurgical joining, and the resultant metallurgical joint formed between the two workpieces, are disclosed. The method involves compressing a reaction material located between the aluminum and steel workpieces and heating the reaction material momentarily to form a metallurgical joint that comprises bonding interface between the reaction material and the steel workpiece and a bonding interface between the reaction material and the aluminum workpiece. The reaction material is formulated to be able to interact with both aluminum and steel in order to establish the bonding interfaces of the metallurgical joint. Moreover, the practice of oscillating wire arc welding may be employed to deposit the reaction material in the form of a reaction material deposit onto the steel workpiece prior to assembling the steel and aluminum workpieces in a workpiece stack-up.

公开(公告)号：US20170297136A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15485996

申请日：2017-04-12

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  C22C38/04 ,  C22C38/02 ,  B23K35/36 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K35/30 ,  B23K35/02 ,  B23K35/00 ,  C22C38/16 ,  B23K103/20 ,  B23K103/04 ,  B23K103/10

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/163 ,  B23K11/185 ,  B23K35/002 ,  B23K35/004 ,  B23K35/0294 ,  B23K35/3053 ,  B23K35/3612 ,  B23K2101/006 ,  B23K2101/18 ,  B23K2101/34 ,  B23K2101/35 ,  B23K2103/04 ,  B23K2103/10 ,  B23K2103/20 ,  C22C38/02 ,  C22C38/04 ,  C22C38/16

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum workpiece and an overlapping adjacent steel workpiece so as to minimize the thickness of an intermetallic layer comprising Fe—Al intermetallic compounds involves providing reaction-slowing elements at the faying interface of the aluminum and steel workpieces. The reaction-slowing elements may include at least one of carbon, copper, silicon, nickel, manganese, cobalt, or chromium. Various ways are available for making the one or more reaction-slowing elements available at the faying interface of the aluminum and steel workpieces including being dissolved in a high strength steel or being present in an interlayer that may take on a variety of forms including a rigid shim, a flexible foil, a deposited layer adhered to and metallurgically bonded with a faying surface of the steel workpiece, or an interadjacent organic material layer that includes particles containing the reaction-slowing elements.

公开(公告)号：US20170282303A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-05

申请号：US15470062

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

IPC: B23K35/02 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/11

CPC classification number: B23K35/0255 ,  B23K11/0026 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/185 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/3009 ,  B23K11/3018 ,  B23K35/02 ,  B23K2101/006 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A radially slotted welding electrode is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with a companion second welding electrode to conduct resistance spot welding on a workpiece stack-up assembly that includes a steel workpiece and an overlapping adjacent aluminum workpiece, especially when an intermediate organic material layer is disposed between the workpiece faying surfaces of the steel and aluminum workpieces. The radially slotted welding electrode includes a weld face that has a central upstanding plateau and a convex dome portion that surrounds the central upstanding plateau and which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced trapezoidal weld face sections that include transverse upstanding arcuate ridges. Together, the central upstanding plateau and the trapezoidal weld face sections of the convex dome portion define an annular channel that surrounds the central plateau and a plurality of radial slots that communicate with and extend outwards from the central channel.

公开(公告)号：US20170225263A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15418771

申请日：2017-01-29

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

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

IPC: B23K11/30 ,  B23B5/16

CPC classification number: B23K11/3063 ,  B23B5/166 ,  B23K11/20

Abstract: A cutting tool that can simultaneously cut and restore asymmetric weld face geometries of two welding electrodes that are subject to different degradation mechanisms is disclosed along with a method of using such a cutting tool during resistance spot welding of workpiece stack-ups that include dissimilar metal workpieces. The cutting tool includes a first cutting socket and a second cutting socket. The first cutting socket is defined by one or more first shearing surfaces and the second cutting is defined by one or more second shearing surfaces. The first shearing surface(s) and the second shearing surface(s) are profiled to cut and restore a first weld face geometry and a second weld face geometry, respectively, that are different from each other upon receipt of electrode weld faces within the cutting sockets and rotation of the cutting tool.

公开(公告)号：US09682439B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-20

申请号：US13777345

申请日：2013-02-26

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Michael J. Karagoulis

IPC: B23K9/24 ,  B23K11/30 ,  H05B3/03 ,  B23K9/28 ,  B23K11/00 ,  B23B5/16 ,  B23K35/02 ,  B23K11/14

CPC classification number: B23K11/3009 ,  B23B5/166 ,  B23K11/14 ,  B23K11/3063 ,  B23K35/0205 ,  Y10T82/16442 ,  Y10T83/9372 ,  Y10T407/19

Abstract: A welding electrode for resistance spot welding includes a weld face comprising rings of ridges that project outwardly from a base surface of the weld face. The rings of ridges are positioned on the weld face to contact and impress into a sheet metal workpiece surface during resistance spot welding. If the welding electrode is used during resistance spot welding of light metal alloy workpieces, such as those of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy, the rings of ridges on the weld face can contribute to improved welding performance.

公开(公告)号：US20170106625A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-20

申请号：US15252878

申请日：2016-08-31

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: B32B7/02 ,  B60R13/02 ,  B32B37/10

CPC classification number: B32B7/02 ,  B21D26/021 ,  B21D35/006 ,  B32B7/045 ,  B32B15/043 ,  B32B15/18 ,  B32B15/20 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B32B37/0076 ,  B32B2250/02 ,  B32B2307/102 ,  B32B2307/41 ,  B32B2307/412 ,  B32B2307/414 ,  B32B2307/50 ,  B32B2307/546 ,  B32B2307/732 ,  B32B2309/105 ,  B32B2310/0806 ,  B32B2605/00 ,  B60R13/02

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：US20170106466A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-20

申请号：US14883249

申请日：2015-10-14

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

IPC: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/24 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/18

CPC classification number: B23K11/20 ,  B23K11/115 ,  B23K11/185 ,  B23K11/24 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A workpiece stack-up that includes at least a steel workpiece and an adjacent and overlapping aluminum workpiece can be resistance spot welded by a multi-stage spot welding method. The multi-stage spot welding method involves initially forming a weld joint between the steel and aluminum workpieces. The weld joint extends into the aluminum workpiece from the faying interface of the two workpieces and includes an interfacial weld bond area adjacent to and joined with the faying surface of the steel workpiece. After the weld joint is initially formed, the multi-stage spot welding method calls for remelting and resolidifying at least a portion of the weld joint that includes some or all of the interfacial weld bond area. At least a portion of the resultant refined weld joint may then be subjected to the same remelting and resolidifying practice, if desired. Multiple additional practices of remelting and resolidifying may be carried out.

公开(公告)号：US20160288242A1

公开(公告)日：2016-10-06

申请号：US14673106

申请日：2015-03-30

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： David R. Sigler ,  Blair E. Carlson

IPC: B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/20

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

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpieces and an aluminum alloy workpiece that overlie and contact one another to establish a faying interface at a weld site is disclosed. The method comprises passing a DC electrical current through the workpiece stack-up at the weld site and causing the current to assume a conical flow pattern. The conical flow pattern has a path of current flow that expands along a direction leading from a first welding electrode in electrical communication with the steel workpiece towards a second welding electrode in electrical communication with the aluminum alloy workpiece.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种电阻点焊焊接包括钢工件和铝合金工件的工件叠层的方法，该工件叠合并彼此接触以在焊接部位建立接合界面。 该方法包括使直流电流通过焊点处的工件叠层并使电流呈现锥形流动图案。 锥形流动图案具有电流流动路径，其沿着从与钢工件电连通的第一焊接电极朝向与铝合金工件电连通的第二焊接电极的方向扩展。

公开(公告)号：US20160279732A1

公开(公告)日：2016-09-29

申请号：US15074690

申请日：2016-03-18

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

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

IPC: B23K11/30 ,  B23K11/18 ,  B23K11/20

CPC classification number: B23K11/3009 ,  B23K11/20 ,  B23K35/0205 ,  B23K35/32 ,  B23K2103/20

Abstract: A resistive welding electrode includes at least a weld face constructed of a refractory-based material that exhibits an electrical conductivity that is less than or equal to 65% of the electrical conductivity of commercially pure annealed copper as defined by the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS). A method of using the resistive welding electrode to resistance spot weld a workpiece stack-up that includes an aluminum alloy workpiece and steel workpiece that overlap and contact each other at a faying interface is also disclosed.

Abstract translation: 电阻焊接电极至少包括由耐火材料构成的焊接面，其表现出小于或等于国际退火铜标准（IACS）定义的商业纯退火铜的电导率的65％的电导率 ）。 还公开了一种使用电阻焊接电极对包含铝合金工件和钢制工件的工件叠层进行电阻点焊的方法，该铝合金工件和钢工件在接合界面处彼此重叠和接触。