A vacuum insulation panel manufacturing method that makes it possible to manufacture low-cost, high-performance vacuum insulation panels, and a vacuum insulation panel are provided. This method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation panel involves: a stacking step in which a first metal plate is stacked on one side of an insulating core material, and in which a backing member having an opening and a second metal plate having an evacuation port are stacked, with the opening and the evacuation port stacking, on the other surface of the core member in the order of backing member and second metal plate from the core member side; a first welding step for welding outwards of where the core member is arranged in the first metal plate and the second metal plate; an evacuating step from the evacuation port to create a vacuum in an inner area which is held between the first metal plate and the second metal plate and in which the core member is arranged; and a laser welding step in which, in a state in which the inner area is made into a vacuum by the evacuating step, the evacuation port is sealed by means of a sealing material and the sealing material, the second metal plate and the backing member are laser welded.

A fastener welding apparatus having a frame assembly, a welding assembly, a coupling assembly and a locating assembly. The welding assembly has a welder frame and a welding electrode assembly coupled thereto. The coupling assembly has a suspension frame, a frame axle and a welding axle. The frame axle is fixedly engaged to the frame assembly and the welding axle is fixedly engaged to the welding assembly. The suspension frame is pivotably coupled to each of the frame axle and the welding axle. The locating assembly is structurally configured to selectively allow the suspension frame to pivot relative to the frame axle and the welding axle.

A fastener welding apparatus having a frame assembly, a welding assembly, a coupling assembly and a locating assembly. The welding assembly has a welder frame and a welding electrode assembly coupled thereto. The coupling assembly has a suspension frame, a frame axle and a welding axle. The frame axle is fixedly engaged to the frame assembly and the welding axle is fixedly engaged to the welding assembly. The suspension frame is pivotably coupled to each of the frame axle and the welding axle. The locating assembly is structurally configured to selectively allow the suspension frame to pivot relative to the frame axle and the welding axle.

A vacuum insulation panel manufacturing method that makes it possible to manufacture low-cost, high-performance vacuum insulation panels, and a vacuum insulation panel are provided. This method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation panel (1) involves: a stacking step in which a first metal plate (20) is stacked on one side of an insulating core material (10), and in which a backing member (50) having an opening (51) and a second metal plate (30) having an evacuation port (32) are stacked, with the opening (51) and the evacuation port (32) stacking, on the other surface of the core member (10) in the order of backing member (50) and second metal plate (30) from the core member (10) side; a first welding step for welding outwards of where the core member (10) is arranged in the first metal plate (20) and the second metal plate (30); an evacuating step from the evacuation port (32) to create a vacuum in an inner area which is held between the first metal plate (20) and the second metal plate (30) and in which the core member (10) is arranged; and a laser welding step in which, in a state in which the inner area is made into a vacuum by the evacuating step, the evacuation port (32) is sealed by means of a sealing material (60) and the sealing material (60), the second metal plate (30) and the backing member (50) are laser welded.

A vacuum insulation panel manufacturing method that makes it possible to manufacture low-cost, high-performance vacuum insulation panels, and a vacuum insulation panel are provided. This method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation panel (1) involves: a stacking step in which a first metal plate (20) is stacked on one side of an insulating core material (10), and in which a backing member (50) having an opening (51) and a second metal plate (30) having an evacuation port (32) are stacked, with the opening (51) and the evacuation port (32) stacking, on the other surface of the core member (10) in the order of backing member (50) and second metal plate (30) from the core member (10) side; a first welding step for welding outwards of where the core member (10) is arranged in the first metal plate (20) and the second metal plate (30); an evacuating step from the evacuation port (32) to create a vacuum in an inner area which is held between the first metal plate (20) and the second metal plate (30) and in which the core member (10) is arranged; and a laser welding step in which, in a state in which the inner area is made into a vacuum by the evacuating step, the evacuation port (32) is sealed by means of a sealing material (60) and the sealing material (60), the second metal plate (30) and the backing member (50) are laser welded.

An electronically-controlled electric resistance welding head and method having a support structure and the electrodes located on the same side. The welding head including a ground electrode having an elastic device and a detecting device for detecting a force load on the elastic device on contact with a component to be welded. A welding electrode is movable relative to the ground electrode and the support structure to contact the component to be welded. An electronic control unit is operable to selectively increase the force applied by each electrode when in contact with the component to be welded until respective threshold values are achieved. Current is generated by a transformer for passage to the electrodes.

An electronically-controlled electric resistance welding head and method having a support structure and the electrodes located on the same side. The welding head including a ground electrode having an elastic device and a detecting device for detecting a force load on the elastic device on contact with a component to be welded. A welding electrode is movable relative to the ground electrode and the support structure to contact the component to be welded. An electronic control unit is operable to selectively increase the force applied by each electrode when in contact with the component to be welded until respective threshold values are achieved. Current is generated by a transformer for passage to the electrodes.

A collet assembly including an actuator and a collet connected to the actuator. The collet assembly is adapted to be installed on a welding electrode holder having an electrode. The collet is moveable by the actuator from an advanced position, in which the collet is adapted to grip a fastener such as a welding rivet, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted into the actuator to enable the electrode to engage the fastener for welding to a work piece, and the collet is adapted to release the fastener.

A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up comprising overlapping first and second steel workpieces is disclosed, wherein at least one of the steel workpieces comprises an advanced high-strength steel substrate. The workpiece stack-up is positioned between a pair of opposed first and second welding electrodes. A cover is disposed between at least one of the first steel workpiece and the first welding electrode or the second steel workpiece and the second welding electrode at an intended weld site. The workpiece stack-up is clamped between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site such that at least one of the weld faces of the first and second welding electrodes presses against the cover. The first and second steel workpieces are welded together by passing an electrical current between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site.

A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up comprising overlapping first and second steel workpieces is disclosed, wherein at least one of the steel workpieces comprises an advanced high-strength steel substrate. The workpiece stack-up is positioned between a pair of opposed first and second welding electrodes. A cover is disposed between at least one of the first steel workpiece and the first welding electrode or the second steel workpiece and the second welding electrode at an intended weld site. The workpiece stack-up is clamped between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site such that at least one of the weld faces of the first and second welding electrodes presses against the cover. The first and second steel workpieces are welded together by passing an electrical current between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site.