Fatigue resistant slot and tab design fabrication assembly, slot and tab welded element and method of joining the latter

摘要

Engineers have found that use of a slot and tab method to assemble a fabrication assembly is limited to fabrication assemblies that will be subjected to relatively low stress. In order to expand the use of the slot and tab method to fabrication assemblies that are subjected to relatively higher stress, the present invention increases the fatigue resistance of a welded slot and tab joint. A fabrication assembly includes a first fabrication element (31) including a perimetric inner surface (33) defining a slot (34) and a second fabrication element (32) including a tab (35). The tab (35) includes a shoulder (42) that includes a perimetric side surface (44). The tab (35) is cooperative with the slot (34) to lock the first fabrication element (31) to the second fabrication element (32). At least one of the perimetric inner surface (33) and the perimetric side surface (44) includes portions that are oriented to one another at an angle different than 0 degree (0 DEG ) and 90 degree (90 DEG ). The geometry of at least one of the shoulder (42) of the tab (35) and the perimetric inner surface (33) defining the slot (34) can increase the fatigue resistance of the welded slot and tab joint (50).