US4603089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser welding of sandwich structures
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1983-11-21
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Granted: 1986-07-29
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Expires: 2003-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for bonding multi-layer sheet structure by using controlled depth laser welding. The laser energy may be applied in stages, whereby the inner sheets are first welded together and, the outer sheets are then joined thereto. The sheets are thereafter expanded to form the desired structure. Although the laser energy may be varied to control the depth of penetration, one embodiment utilizes a shield material to be applied between two sheets to prevent the laser energy from penetrating and joining the two sheets together. Similarly, shields may be used to control the width of the laser weld.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford C. Bampton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:49
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D47/00; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/18; B23K26/20; B23K26/21; B23K26/24; B23K26/244; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/1234; Y10T428/12347
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises: a. positioning three sheets in a stack relative to each other; b. penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together; and c. expanding said stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises: a. positioning three sheets in a stack relative to each other; b. penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together; and c. expanding said stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said expanding involves accordion expansion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product formed by the process of claim 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises: (a) positioning at least three sheets in a stack relative to each other, said stack comprised of at least one face sheet and at least one core sheet; (b) penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together, said selected areas being in a pattern which defines the core of said sandwich structure; and (c) expanding the welded stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
A process of forming a sandwich structure which comprises: (a) positioning at least three sheets in a stack relative to each other, said stack comprised of at least one face sheet and at least one core sheet; (b) penetrating at selected areas of said stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said selected areas, such that at said selected areas only a select number of said sheets less than all are welded together, said selected areas being in a pattern which defines the core of said sandwich structure; and (c) expanding the welded stack by applying a pressure differential to the interior and exterior of said stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said sheets of said stack are contacting at their principal surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 5, wherein only two of said sheets are welded together at said selected areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 4, wherein only two of said sheets are welded together at said selected areas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said at least one cure sheet is deformed about said selected areas during said expanding step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said at least one core sheet is expanded between said selected areas during said expanded step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 4, wherein during said expanding step said at least one core sheet is caused to separate from said at least one face sheet except at said selected areas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 4, wherein at least one of said core sheets and one of said face sheets possess superplastic properties, and said expanding involves superplastic forming of said sheets having superplastic properties.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said expanding involves accordion expansion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 4, wherein there are two core sheets, and also including joining said core sheets together at selected areas prior to said positioning step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 13, wherein at least one of said core sheets and one of said face sheets possess superplastic properties, and said expanding involves superplastic forming of said sheets having superplastic properties.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 13, wherein said expanding involves accordion expansion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 4, wherein there are three core sheets, and also including prior to step (a) positioning said core sheets in a first stack, and penetrating at preselected areas said first stack to a predetermined controlled depth with a laser beam to effect welding at said preselected areas such that at said preselected areas only two of said core sheets are welded together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 16, wherein at least one of said core sheets and one of said face sheets possess superplastic properties, and said expanding involves superplastic forming of said sheets having superplastic properties.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 16, wherein said expanding involves accordion expansion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-28 | 1990-01-27 | 1990-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-28 | 1994-01-27 | 1994-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-28 | 1998-01-27 | 1998-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |