Squeeze-Welded Spring Seat Stress Management

The patent applies residual stress management by intentionally creating compressive residual stresses through controlled welding sequences and post-weld heat treatment. These compressive stresses counteract the tensile stresses that would otherwise concentrate at the weld zones, converting the harmful effect of welding-induced stress concentrations into a beneficial protective effect that enhances fatigue life.

The patent modifies the stress state parameters at the weld zones by controlling welding parameters (heat input, welding sequence, interpass temperature) and applying post-weld heat treatment. These parameter changes transform the stress distribution from highly concentrated tensile stresses to a more favorable state with compressive residual stresses, thereby improving fatigue performance while maintaining connection strength.

The spring seat is divided into multiple components including the main body, mounting ears, and reinforcement ribs. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while distributing stress concentrations across multiple locations rather than concentrating them at single critical points, thereby enhancing overall robustness without significantly complicating manufacturing.

The patent applies local reinforcement features such as ribs and fillets at specific high-stress locations on the spring seat. These local quality enhancements provide additional structural support where needed without requiring a complete redesign of the entire component, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving robustness at critical locations.