Patent EP-1640191-A2 (EP)
Inventor: BARLAS SERGE A
IPC: B60G11/46
Filed: 2001-02-15
Abstract: A method of welding an axle connection device to an axle housing, said axle connection device having a base that includes first and second base end portions separated by a base waist portion, said first base end portion including a first laterally extending side rim, first and second longitudinally extending edges positioned on opposite sides of said device and first and second corners positioned between and adjoining said first side rim with said first and second longitudinally extending edges, and said second base end portion including a second laterally extending side rim, third and fourth longitudinally extending edges positioned on opposite sides of said device and third and fourth corners positioned between and adjoining said second side rim with said third and fourth longitudinally extending edges, said method comprising the steps of:
     beginning a first weld run at a first weld run beginning point positioned along said first longitudinally extending edge of said first base end portion;   continuing said first weld run along said first longitudinally extending edge towards said first corner to a first weld run first end point positioned longitudinally inward of said first corner;   turning said first weld run back onto itself at said first weld run first end point and extending it along said first longitudinally extending edge to said first weld run beginning point to form a first double-pass weld portion for said first weld run;   continuing said first weld run along said first longitudinally extending edge from said first weld run beginning point, along said base waist portion and along said third longitudinally extending edge of the second base end portion to a first weld run second end point positioned longitudinally inward of said third corner,   turning said first weld run back onto itself at said first weld run second end point and extending it along said third longitudinally extending edge to a first weld run termination point positioned along said third longitudinally extending edge to form a second double-pass weld portion for said first weld run;   beginning a second weld run at a second weld run beginning point positioned along one of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges;   continuing said second weld run along said one of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges towards one of said second and fourth corners to a second weld run first end point positioned longitudinally inward of said one of said second and fourth comers;   turning said second weld run back onto itself at said second weld run first end point and extending it along said one of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges to said second weld run beginning point to form a first double-pass weld portion for said second weld run;   continuing said second weld run along said one of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges from said second weld run beginning point, along said base waist portion and along another of said second and fourth Iongitudinally extending edges to a second weld run second end point positioned longitudinally inward of another of said second and fourth comers; and   turning said second weld run back onto itself at said second weld run second end point and extending it along said another of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges to a second weld run termination point positioned along said another of said second and fourth longitudinally extending edges to form a second double-pass weld portion for said second weld run.