US 11,701,738 B2
Laser welded assembly having a heat affected zone reinforcement and method of making the same
Nannan Chen, State College, PA (US); Joshua L. Solomon, Berkley, MI (US); Hui-Ping Wang, Troy, MI (US); Zixuan Wan, State College, PA (US); Blair E. Carlson, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Paulina G. Torres Guzman, Dearborn, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US); and Penn State Research Foundation, University Park, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/36,786.
Prior Publication US 2022/0097172 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. B23K 26/24 (2014.01); B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B23K 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 26/24 (2013.01) [B23K 26/70 (2015.10); B23K 2101/006 (2018.08)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welded assembly comprising,
a first work piece having an external surface, a faying surface opposite the external surface, and a cross-sectional thickness (T1) defined between the external surface and the faying surface of the first work piece;
a second work piece having an external surface, a faying surface opposite the external surface, and a cross-sectional thickness (T2) defined between the external surface and the faying surface of the second work piece, wherein the faying surface of the first work piece is in abutting contact with the faying surface of the second work piece to define a faying interface;
a weld seam having a core fusion zone extending completely through the first work piece from the external surface of the first work piece through the faying interface and at least partially into the cross-sectional thickness (T2) of the second work piece, wherein the weld seam includes a center linear segment extending along the external surface of the first work piece; and
a protruding fusion zone extending laterally from at least one side of the core fusion zone and extending vertically through only a portion of the cross-sectional thickness (T1) from the external surface to proximal to the faying surface of the first work piece.