| US 7,531,766 B2 | ||
| Sheet metal assembly and method to reduce weight | ||
| Pei-Chung Wang, Troy, Mich. (US); and Joseph James Speranza, Rochester Hills, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 14, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/151,839. | ||
| Application 11/151839 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/408770, filed on Apr. 07, 2003, abandoned. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0230361 A1, Oct. 20, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. B23K 11/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 219—118 | 18 Claims |
| 1. A method of welding sheets of metal by flanges at edge portions of the sheets, the method comprising the steps of:
disposing the flanges of the metal sheets in opposed overlapping relation;
disposing a metal shim between and engaging the flanges, the shim extending to outer edges of the flanges; and
resistance welding the flanges together through the shim at at least one location spaced inward from the outer edges of the
flanges;
wherein the shim outer edges remain chemically and mechanically intact and the shim is formed of a metal having substantially
similar metallurgical and mechanical characteristics to those of the metal sheets.
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