US4847467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser welding clamp
Assignee: CITATION ACQUISITION Corp A CORP OF MI
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Filing: 1988-08-19
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2008-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A clamp for laser welding operations includes a solid member having at least one aperture extending completely therethrough. A portion of the solid member surrounds the entire periphery of the aperture. A connector is attached to the solid member for connecting the solid member to a moving device which moves the solid member between unclamping and clamping positions. The solid member, when in the clamping position, engages a stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the metal sheets together against an underlying backup into continuous contact along the length of a weld site defined by the peripheral extent of the aperture in the solid member.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Ausilio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:08
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K37/00; B23K37/04; B23K37/0426; B23K37/0435; B23K26/00; B23K26/20; B23K26/21; B23K26/24; B23K26/244; B23K26/70; B23K26/702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A clamp for use in laser welding in which a weld is formed at a weld site in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation and the clamp is moved by a moving means from an unclamped position to a clamped position engaging the stack of metal sheets under pressure, the clamp comprising: a solid member configured to continuously engage the stack of metal sheets and surround the weld site when in the clamped position; and an aperture formed in and surrounded in its entire periphery by the solid member and disposable over the weld site.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A clamp for use in laser welding in which a weld is formed at a weld site in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation and the clamp is moved by a moving means from an unclamped position to a clamped position engaging the stack of metal sheets under pressure, the clamp comprising: a solid member configured to continuously engage the stack of metal sheets and surround the weld site when in the clamped position; and an aperture formed in and surrounded in its entire periphery by the solid member and disposable over the weld site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The clamp of claim 1 further including: means, fixedly attached to the solid member, for attaching the solid member to a clamp moving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A clamp for use in laser welding in which a weld is formed at a weld site in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation and the clamp is moved by a moving means from an unclamped position to a clamped position engaging the stack of metal sheets under pressure, the clamp comprising: a solid member configured to continuously engage the stack of metal sheets and surround the weld site when in the clamped position; and a plurality of apertures formed in the solid member and disposable over separate weld sites.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A clamp for use in laser welding in which a weld is formed at a weld site in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation and the clamp is moved by a moving means from an unclamped position to a clamped position engaging the stack of metal sheets under pressure, the clamp comprising: a solid member configured to continuously engage the stack of metal sheets and surround the weld site when in the clamped position; and a plurality of apertures formed in the solid member and disposable over separate weld sites.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The clamp of claim 1 wherein the solid member surrounds the entire periphery of the aperture formed in the solid member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; an aperture formed in and extending through the solid clamp member and forming an opening surrounded along its entire periphery by the solid member through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the weld.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; an aperture formed in and extending through the solid clamp member and forming an opening surrounded along its entire periphery by the solid member through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the weld.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser welding clamp apparatus of claim 5 wherein a portion of the clamp member surrounds the entire periphery of the aperture formed in the clamp member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; an aperture formed in and extending through the solid clamp member and forming an opening through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the weld, the moving means comprising: a fluid operated cylinder; and a linkage attached to the cylinder and the solid clamp member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; an aperture formed in and extending through the solid clamp member and forming an opening through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the weld, the moving means comprising: a fluid operated cylinder; and a linkage attached to the cylinder and the solid clamp member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser welding apparatus of claim 7 further including: means, fixedly attached to the solid clamp member, for connecting the clamp member to the linkage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser welding apparatus of claim 8 wherein the connecting means comprises: an arm fixedly attached to the clamp and connected to the linkage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; a plurality of apertures formed in and extend through the solid clamp member forming openings through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the wled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
A laser welding clamp apparatus for forming a laser weld in a stack of metal sheets by a focused beam of laser radiation comprising: a solid backup underlying a stack of metal sheets; a solid clamp member; a plurality of apertures formed in and extend through the solid clamp member forming openings through which the beam of laser radiation is directed into the stack of metal sheets; and means for moving the clamp member from an unclamped position to a clamped position in which the clamp member engages the stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the stack of metal sheets continuously together along the length of the wled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser welding clamp apparatus of claim 5 wherein the backup comprises: a solid strip; and an open-ended, outwardly facing recess formed in the solid strip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The clamp of claim 1 wherein the aperture is an elongated slot having a length greater than its width.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The laser welding clamp apparatus of claim 5 wherein the moving means comprises: linkage means, movable between first and second positions corresponding to the unclamped and clamped positions of the clamp member, respectively.
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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) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |