SCHWEISSVORRICHTUNG UND -VERFAHREN ZUM VERBINDEN EINES ERSTEN BLECHES ZU EINEM ZWEITEN TEILWEISE KONKTAKTIERENDEN BLECHES UNTER VERWENDUNG VON MITTELS ZUM DRUCKVERMINDERUNGEN ZWISCHEN DEN BEIDEN BLECHEN UND MITTELS ZUM LOKALISIEREN ERZEUGTE DEHNUNGEN DES ERSTEN BLECHES RELATIV ZUM ZWEITEN BLECH

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method which may be used for welding a first panel (24) to a second panel (22), the first panel (24) having an inboard side (34) partially contacting the second panel (22) and an opposite outboard side (36). The apparatus has means for generating a welding beam. The apparatus has means for reducing a pressure along the inboard side (34) of the first panel (24) relative to an adjacent pressure along the outboard side (36) so as to produce inward deflection of the first panel (24) along a first portion (40) of the first panel not contacting the second panel (22) relative to a second portion (42). The apparatus further has means for locating the means for generating the welding beam based on said deflection at least one of said first portion (40) or said second portion (42).