US 12,415,233 B2
Fluid treatment tank having a laser welded distributor plate
Don Vaughan, Waunakee, WI (US); and Michael Paquette, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Clack Corporation, Windsor, WI (US)
Filed by Clack Corporation, Windsor, WI (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/773,816.
Application 18/773,816 is a division of application No. 16/406,576, filed on May 8, 2019, granted, now 12,090,573.
Prior Publication US 2024/0367263 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B23K 26/28 (2014.01); C02F 5/00 (2023.01)
CPC B23K 26/28 (2013.01) [C02F 5/00 (2013.01); C02F 2201/002 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
engaging an outer peripheral surface of a distributor plate with an inner peripheral surface of a fluid treatment tank, the distributor plate being configured to separate a bed of treatment media from a lower end of the tank, the distributor plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer peripheral surface, and a plurality of fluid permeable openings formed through the distributor plate from the upper surface to the lower surface for the passage of a liquid being treated by the treatment media, wherein the tank is made of a first material and at least an outer peripheral portion of the distributor plate is made of a second material that is more absorbent to laser light of a designated frequency than the first material; and
laser-welding the outer peripheral surface of the distributor plate to the inner peripheral surface of the tank using a laser welder that transmits laser energy through the tank from outside of an outer peripheral surface of the tank, wherein
the engaging comprises deflecting a biasing mechanism on the distributor plate against the inner peripheral surface of the tank.