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US3881084A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of welding galvanized steel

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1973-10-04
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-10-04
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Abstract

Abstract A method of welding galvanized steel with a high energy density beam is disclosed. The high energy density can be created by an electron or laser beam with a power density of at least 4 X 106 watts per square inch. A flux material, such as iron oxide, is disposed adjacent the welding zone, preferably by painting thereon, which is effective to from a compound with the zinc of the galvanized steel upon heating. The compound has a vapor pressure substantially the same or lower than the vapor pressure of the steel substrate so that disruption of the weld puddle is prevented to insure that all of the weld puddle will be available to properly close the weld void.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward Lund Baardsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 06:03
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/20; B23K26/32; B23K15/00; B23K15/0046; B23K15/0093; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/34; B23K2101/35; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/02; B23K2103/04; B23K2103/08; B23K2103/50; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49885

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A METHOD OF JOINING BASE STEEL ARTICLES, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS COATED WITH A SUBSTANCE HAVING A VAPOR PRESSURE HIGHER THAN THE BASE STEEL ARTICLE, COMPRISING: A. MATING SAID ARTICLES ALONG AT LEAST ONE ZONE THEREOF, B. LOCATING A FLUX MATERIAL AT LEAST ALONG ONE PORTION OF SAID ZONE, SAID MATERIAL BEING CONSTITUTED SO AS TO FORM A COMPOUND WITH SAID SUBSTANCE UPON HIGH ENERGY HEATING AND SAID COMPOUND HAVING A VAPOR PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OR LESS THAN SAID BASE STEEL ARTICLE, AND C. HEATING SAID ARTICLES AND FLUX MATERIAL AT LEAST AT SAID ZONE PORTION BY HIGH ENERGY TO PROVIDE A WELD JOINT BETWEEN SAID ARTICLES.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 110 words
A METHOD OF JOINING BASE STEEL ARTICLES, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS COATED WITH A SUBSTANCE HAVING A VAPOR PRESSURE HIGHER THAN THE BASE STEEL ARTICLE, COMPRISING: A. MATING SAID ARTICLES ALONG AT LEAST ONE ZONE THEREOF, B. LOCATING A FLUX MATERIAL AT LEAST ALONG ONE PORTION OF SAID ZONE, SAID MATERIAL BEING CONSTITUTED SO AS TO FORM A COMPOUND WITH SAID SUBSTANCE UPON HIGH ENERGY HEATING AND SAID COMPOUND HAVING A VAPOR PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OR LESS THAN SAID BASE STEEL ARTICLE, AND C. HEATING SAID ARTICLES AND FLUX MATERIAL AT LEAST AT SAID ZONE PORTION BY HIGH ENERGY TO PROVIDE A WELD JOINT BETWEEN SAID ARTICLES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 142 words
In a method of joining base steel articles, at least one of which is coated with a substance having a vapor pressure higher than the base steel articles, the steps comprising: a. mating said articles along at least one zone thereof, b. locating a deposit of flux material along at least one portion of said zone, said flux material being effective to form a compound with said substance having a boiling and melting temperature substantially the same or higher than the steel of said base article and a vapor pressure substantially the same or less than said base steel article, and c. subjecting at least said one portion of said zone to a high energy density beam effective to melt said base steel substance and flux material whereby said compound is formed and whereby splatterfree welding together of said articles is obtained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 142 words
In a method of joining base steel articles, at least one of which is coated with a substance having a vapor pressure higher than the base steel articles, the steps comprising: a. mating said articles along at least one zone thereof, b. locating a deposit of flux material along at least one portion of said zone, said flux material being effective to form a compound with said substance having a boiling and melting temperature substantially the same or higher than the steel of said base article and a vapor pressure substantially the same or less than said base steel article, and c. subjecting at least said one portion of said zone to a high energy density beam effective to melt said base steel substance and flux material whereby said compound is formed and whereby splatterfree welding together of said articles is obtained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method as in claim 2, in which said high energy density beam is characterized by a power density at the point of focus on said base steel article which is greater than 4 X 106 watts per square inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the focus of said high energy beam is shrouded by a helium jet for dispersing the plasma eminating from the surface of said steel based article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the power of said high energy beam is about 5 kilowatts and said beam is focused to affect a spot at said zone which is substantially 0.025 inches in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 1, in which the coating substance is zinc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1, in which the flux material is selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as in claim 1, in which said flux material is deposited by painting a film on one of said steel based articles prior to said mating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the coating substance is zinc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the flux material is selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as in claim 2, in which said flux material is deposited by painting a film on one of said steel based articles prior to said mating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the high energy density beam is a resultant of a high power CO2 laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method as in claim 2, in which the angle of incidence between said high energy density beam and said plane of impingement on said steel based article is variable between 45* and 90*.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method as in claim 5, in which there is provided a space between said mated steel articles no greater than 0.01 inch and the variation of said beam focus relative to the surface of the workpiece during said welding is no greater than 0.2 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The resultant product of the method of claim 2 wherein said substance is present during heating at least at said zone portion and in which the welded assembly is characterized by an absence of voids or porosity.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3679862A Cited
US3649806A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-04-28 1978-10-28 1979-04-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-04-28 1982-10-28 1983-04-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-04-28 1986-10-28 1987-04-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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