Method and apparatus to form a workpiece employing vibration welding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017334016-A1
Application number	US-201615159876-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Nov 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

First claim

1 . A workpiece, comprising:
a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece; wherein a portion of the cable is joined to the substrate by a vibration welding tool; and wherein the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

2 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a single strand formed from a high tensile strength steel.

3 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a single strand formed from a shape-memory alloy.

4 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises multiple strands, wherein each strand is formed from a shape-memory alloy.

5 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the cover piece are fabricated from aluminum.

6 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the cover piece are fabricated from copper.

7 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer.

8 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the cover piece comprises a sheet element.

9 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the cover piece comprises a tubular sheath having a hollow portion, and wherein the portion of the cable is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular sheath.

10 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a channel on surface thereof, and wherein the portion of the cable in the channel is inserted into the channel.

11 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cable joined to the substrate includes a hook portion.

12 . The workpiece of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cable is joined to the substrate in a lap arrangement.

13 . A workpiece, comprising:
an end portion of a first cable, an end portion of a second cable, and a cover piece, wherein the cover piece is employed to join the end portion of the first cable and the end portion of the second cable; wherein a vibration welding tool is employed to join the end portion of the first cable and the end portion of the second cable with the cover piece; and wherein the cover piece is interposed between the vibration welding tool and the end portions of the first and second cables during the joining.

14 . The workpiece of claim 13 , wherein the first cable and the second cable each comprise a single strand formed from a high tensile strength steel.

15 . The workpiece of claim 13 , wherein the first cable and the second cable each comprise a single strand formed from steel having a high Young's modulus.

16 . The workpiece of claim 13 , wherein the first cable and the second cable each comprise a single strand formed from a shape-memory alloy.

17 . The workpiece of claim 13 , wherein the cover piece comprises a tubular sheath is fabricated from aluminum.

18 . The workpiece of claim 13 , wherein the cover piece comprises a thin, flexible foil element that is wrapped around the end portions of the first and second cable elements multiple times.

19 . A method for joining a shape-memory alloy (SMA) cable to a substrate employing a vibration welding system, the method comprising,
positioning a portion of the cable onto a surface of the substrate; interposing an aluminum cover piece overtop of the portion of the cable; placing the substrate, the portion of the cable and the cover piece onto an anvil of the vibration welding system such that the cover piece is interposed between the cable and a sonotrode of the vibration welding system; and applying, via the sonotrode of the vibration welding system, vibration energy onto the cover piece, the portion of the cable and the substrate; wherein applying the vibration energy mechanically joins the substrate, the cable and the cover piece.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
forming a channel on the surface of the substrate; and positioning the portion of the cable in the channel formed on the surface of the substrate.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Rinker Teresa J
• Cai Wayne W
• Balogh Michael P
• Pinto Nicholas W

Classifications

• B23K2103/18

  Dissimilar materials · CPC title

• B23K2103/22

  Ferrous alloys and copper or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23K2103/20

  Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23K20/002

  specially adapted for particular articles or work (B23K20/129 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K20/22

  taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded · CPC title