US 11,986,898 B2
Laser brazing process
Niklas Malmberg, Gråbo (SE); Kenneth Kajsjö, Ljungskile (SE); and Robert Enbom, Vänersborg (SE)
Assigned to Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Dev. Co., Ltd., Ningbo (CN)
Filed by Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd., Ningbo (CN)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/937,173.
Application 16/937,173 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2019/071816, filed on Jan. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18155157 (EP), filed on Feb. 5, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0353550 A1, Nov. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. B23K 1/00 (2006.01); B23K 1/005 (2006.01); B23K 1/19 (2006.01); B23K 26/06 (2014.01); B23K 35/30 (2006.01); B23K 101/00 (2006.01); B23K 103/04 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 1/0056 (2013.01) [B23K 1/0008 (2013.01); B23K 1/19 (2013.01); B23K 26/0648 (2013.01); B23K 35/302 (2013.01); B23K 2101/006 (2018.08); B23K 2103/04 (2018.08)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for joining a first metal workpiece and a second metal workpiece by laser brazing for forming a vehicle structure, comprising
providing the first metal workpiece and the second metal workpiece in contacting relationship so as to form an elongated contact region, wherein at least one of the first and second metal workpieces is made of hot-dip galvanized steel material,
supplying a laser beam having a beam parameter product lower than 10 mm·mrad from a laser source,
guiding the laser beam through a laser focus head having a total optical magnification in the range of 1:0.5-1:1.5,
directing the laser beam along the elongated contact region, wherein a beam spot formed where the laser beam hits the elongated contact region has a diameter size in the range of 2-6 mm, and
supplying a consumable wire of filler material to the beam spot to melt the consumable wire and braze said first and second metal workpieces together, wherein the consumable wire comprises at least 95% copper.