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United States Patent 6,452,131
Britnell September 17, 2002
Apparatus and control system for laser welding

Abstract

In general, the present invention pertains to an apparatus and control system for working sheet material employs a tilting mechanism which automatically tilts a head about a theoretical point disposed upon the sheet material. In another aspect of the present invention, the head is defined as a laser head and the pivot point corresponds with the laser beam focal point. A further aspect of the present invention provides a seam tracking device and control system which automatically adjust a welding head height relative to the sheet material as a datum rather than relative to a gantry or other structure supporting the welding head. In yet another aspect of the present invention, an optical seam tracking device is employed to automatically tilt the welding head along differing rotational planes. In still another aspect of the present invention, various axial slides are employed in combination with a gantry. A further aspect of the present invention uses a seam tracking device and microprocessor to track a welding seam and move a welding head predetermined amounts due to sensed pre-weld gap widths. Another aspect of the present invention uses an automated tilting mechanism for creating a tailored blank butt weld between dissimilar materials. A method of operating the present invention is also provided.

Inventors: Britnell; James W. (Harrow, CA)
Assignee: Engauge Inc. (Windsor, CA)
Appl. No.: 351834
Filed: July 13, 1999

Current U.S. Class: 219/121.6; 219/121.63; 219/121.64; 219/121.76
Intern'l Class: B23K 026/00
Field of Search: 219/121.6,121.63,121.64,121.76,121.78,121.77,121.82,121.85,124.02

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Other References

Automotive Manufacturing & Production, "Report on Lasers," by Gary S. Vasilash, published May 1999, Gardner Publications, Inc.
"Enhancement of Sheet Metal Formability Via Local Adaptive Controllers," by Brad Kinsey and Jian Cao, pp. 1-4, published on or before Nov. 16, 2000.
"New Apparatus and Method for Forming Tailor Welded Blanks," by Brad Kinsey, Zhihong Liu and Jian Cao, published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. 1999.
"OSAT'S Focus on the Future," by Jay Baron and Brenda Dickinson, published 1997.
"Targeting tailored blank welding, Aug. 1999", pp. 1-5, published Aug., 1999.
"Booming Market," American Iron and Steel Institute, pp. 1-3.
"Steel cars face a weighty decision," by Steven Ashley, pp. 1-14, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, published 1997.
"Tailor Welded Blank Design and Manufacturing Manual," Auto Steel Partnership, believed to have been published in 1995.
"The Growth in Tailor-Welded Blanks and Hydroformed Parts," by Tom Bagsarian, Iron Age New Steel, published May 2000.

Primary Examiner: Elve; M. Alexandra
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
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