Horizontal Laser Welding with Vortex Gas Flow for Cleaner Battery Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser welding techniques for secondary batteries face challenges in preventing fume and spatter from interfering with the welding process and contaminating the battery, leading to product defects.
Innovation Solution
A laser welding apparatus and method that utilize transverse laser irradiation and a vortex formation section to supply gas to the welding region, forming a vortex that discharges fume and spatter, thereby preventing contamination and improving welding quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser welding is performed with vertical laser irradiation, then welding can be completed, but fume and spatter fall into the welding region and interfere with the laser beam transmission and contaminate the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical laser irradiation direction to horizontal laser irradiation. The laser beam is now applied horizontally from the side rather than vertically from above, which fundamentally changes the trajectory of fume and spatter generation. This inversion prevents contaminants from falling into the welding region and interfering with the laser beam transmission, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between welding quality and contamination prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical (one-dimensional) laser irradiation to horizontal (another dimension) laser irradiation. By changing the dimension of laser beam application from top-down vertical direction to side-to-side horizontal direction, the system eliminates the pathway through which fume and spatter would otherwise fall into the welding region, thus preventing contamination while maintaining welding effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gas is supplied to the welding region to remove fume and spatter, then contamination is reduced, but the gas flow may interfere with the laser beam transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the gas supply system to create flow from the welding region toward the chamber exterior, rather than blowing gas directly across the laser path. The gas inlet is positioned at the far end of the chamber and the outlet near the welding region, creating a flow direction that removes contaminants without interfering with horizontal laser beam transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a chamber as an intermediary space between the welding region and the external environment. Fume and spatter are first collected in the chamber, then removed through controlled gas flow. This intermediary chamber allows gas flow to remove contaminants while the horizontal laser beam passes through the chamber without being significantly obstructed by the gas flow, thus mediating between contaminant removal and laser transmission requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents fume and spatter from entering the secondary battery, reducing the occurrence of defects and ensuring a higher rate of good products by fully releasing contaminants through the improved gas flow structure.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex formation section configured to connect the welding region between the members to be welded and the chamber, to supply the welding region with gas, and to form and discharge a vortex of the gas
Implementation Method 2
When a base material (member to be welded) is irradiated with a high-energy laser beam during laser welding, heat is generated and transferred to adjacent elements
Data Source
AI summary
A laser welding apparatus includes a chamber configured to pass a laser beam irradiated transversely to a welding region between members to be welded therethrough; and a vortex formation section configured to connect the welding region between the members to be welded and the chamber, to supply the welding region with gas, and to form and discharge a vortex of the gas