Patent ID: 6589380
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,F02D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of assembling an air control valve assembly, the method including:assembling a valve shaft into a passage defining valve body by disposing end portions of the shaft into shaft supports in the body with an intermediate portion of the shaft extending laterally across the body; inserting a valve plate into the passage and positioning in engagement mating parts of the plate and the intermediate portion of the valve shaft, the mating parts including a tongue extending from the valve plate into an open groove of the shaft and arranged for absorbing laser energy at the bottom of the groove; and laser welding the engaged portions of the plate and shaft together within the passage by projecting a laser beam against the engaged portions through an open end of the valve body; wherein the laser beam is directed through a portion of the valve plate that is essentially transparent to the laser beam and the mating parts of the valve shaft absorb the laser energy and in turn melt the mating parts of the valve plate to complete the weld.