Patent US4326902A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4326902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for ultrasonically welding composite structures
Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Co
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Filing: 1980-06-12
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Granted: 1982-04-27
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Expires: 2000-06-12
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic welding energy concentrating chain comprising a plurality of relatively flat members integrally formed from a flat stock of energy concentrating material having a predetermined thickness and joined together adjacent their peripheries by integral portions to interconnect adjacent members into a longitudinally extending chain, said integral portions being formed as to permit each manual separation of adjacent members, said members being adapted to being interposed between sheets of thermoplastic material and upon application of ultrasonic energy to the sandwich of thermoplastic sheets, the shape of the weld of such thermoplastic sheets generally approximating the shape of said flat members. A method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members comprising interposing an energy concentrating member between the two or more members to form a sandwich structure, subjecting the sandwich structure to sufficient pressure to bring said energy concentrating member and two or more members into intimate contact sufficient to permit ultrasonic welding, and applying sufficient ultrasonic energy to the sandwich structure for sufficient time to cause the two or more thermoplastic material members to be welded together.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald D. Peddie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:18
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29C65/50; B29C65/5057; B29C65/5064; B29C65/5071; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/22; B29C66/229; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2422; B29C66/24221; B29C66/246; B29C66/302; B29C66/3024; B29C66/305; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/721; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/82; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/90; B29C66/92; B29C66/922; B29C66/9221; B29C66/924; B29C66/9241; B29C66/92431; B29C66/94; B29C66/944; B29C66/21; B29C66/7212; B29C66/7214; B29C66/72141; B29C66/929; B29C66/95; B29C66/951; B29C66/9513; B29C66/9516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of ultrasonically welding together two or more sheets of thermoplastic material members of selected thickness by the formation of a discrete weld nugget therebetween comprising the steps of: interposing an energy concentrating member of a color contrasting with the color of said sheets of thermoplastic members between the thermoplastic members to form a sandwich structure; subjecting the sandwich structure to sufficient pressure to bring said energy concentrating member and thermoplastic material members into intimate contact sufficient to permit ultrasonic welding; applying sufficient ultrasonic energy to the sandwich structure for sufficient time to cause the thermoplastic material members to be welded together at said energy concentrating member; and visually inspecting the weld nugget through the sheets of thermoplastic material members to insure that it takes the shape of said energy concentrating member thereby insuring a satisfactory weld joint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of ultrasonically welding together two or more sheets of thermoplastic material members of selected thickness by the formation of a discrete weld nugget therebetween comprising the steps of: interposing an energy concentrating member of a color contrasting with the color of said sheets of thermoplastic members between the thermoplastic members to form a sandwich structure; subjecting the sandwich structure to sufficient pressure to bring said energy concentrating member and thermoplastic material members into intimate contact sufficient to permit ultrasonic welding; applying sufficient ultrasonic energy to the sandwich structure for sufficient time to cause the thermoplastic material members to be welded together at said energy concentrating member; and visually inspecting the weld nugget through the sheets of thermoplastic material members to insure that it takes the shape of said energy concentrating member thereby insuring a satisfactory weld joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein the strength of the weld between said thermoplastic members is determined by the shape of the energy concentrating member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein the size and shape of the weld node between the thermoplastic materials is determined by the size and shape of the energy concentrating members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein the energy concentrating member is composed of a thermoplastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic energy is applied by a single welder horn and the shape of the weld node is determined by the shape of the energy concentrating member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the weld node is determined by the thickness of the energy concentrating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of ultrasonically welding together two or more thermoplastic material members according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of differently shaped weld nodes are formed by a single welding horn by interposing differently shaped energy concentrating members in the interfaces between the thermoplastic materials.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-04-26 | 1985-10-26 | 1986-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-26 | 1989-10-26 | 1990-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-26 | 1993-10-26 | 1994-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |