Intellectual Property Office
Non-Confidential Disclosures
“Concept and Apparatus for Laser Stir Welding with Beam Oscillation”
PSU Inv. Disc. Nos. 2001-0724 and 2004-0806
Field of the Invention:
Laser Welding
Inventors:
Richard P. Martukanitz Jay F. Tressler
Patent status:
US Patent Issued (6,740,845) - other patent applications pending.
Background:
Laser welding is a method of joining metal components using a focused beam of coherent light to melt adjoining components and allowing the melt to solidify into a joint. Common welded joints include butt-joints, lap-penetration joints, and lap-fillet joints. Butt-joints may be produced using laser welding, but are not always suitable in the aerospace, automotive, marine, and similar industries. Lap-penetration joints and lap-fillet joints, more common in these industries, are difficult to accomplish using current laser welding technology. Existing technology for laser welding has limitations due to issues with weld quality specifically in relation to defects arising from instabilities within the keyhole.
Invention description:
The disclosed inventions encompass a novel approach to laser welding using breakthrough technology improvements. These improvements are intended to increase the mainstream usage of laser welding systems throughout many of today’s industrial sectors. This cutting-edge technology is designed to decrease costs associated with laser welding systems while at the same time improving the quality of welds produced. This apparatus and process also overcomes the shortfalls of other methods, such as hybrid welding technologies, which have attempted to solve the problems associated with laser welding.
Advantages:
- Superior quality welds with a wider melt pool and greater pool stability
- Superior to current laser beam and hybrid welding technologies
- Decreased alignment requirements
- Reduced maintenance issues
- Simplified operations
- Decreased laser power output and subsequently less thermal distortion
- Reduced cost of equipment
- Adaptable; little optimization required
Contact:
Mr. Richard M. Weyer
Sr. Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
The Pennsylvania State University
113 Technology Center
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 865-6279
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: rmw4@psu.edu
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