Structural members for a vehicle at least partially configured for supporting bending loads and methods for manufacturing such structural members are provided. A structural member includes a main piece with a substantially U-shaped cross-section comprising a bottom, a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the main piece comprises a region configured for supporting bending loads. The structural member includes a first patch having a first patch edge and an opposite second patch edge, wherein the first patch is attached to the main piece by continuous laser welding inside the first patch substantially along the first patch edge and along the second patch edge at least in the region configured for supporting bending loads.

The present invention discloses a gas pressure forming method of an ellipsoid. The formability of a closed polyhedral shell including polar plates, ellipsoidal side flap plates, and welded joints is improved, and the closed polyhedral shell is pressurized into an ellipsoid by using compressed gas under a heating condition, specifically comprising: assembling and welding two polar plates and ellipsoidal side flap plates into a closed polyhedral shell; disposing an electrode on the closed polyhedral shell, energizing and heating to a preset temperature, and then inflating compressed gas into the shell; deforming the closed polyhedral shell under the action of internal gas pressure, stopping inflating gas until a desired curvature shell is obtained, discharging gas, and removing the electrode to obtain a formed ellipsoid.

An automated welding apparatus and computer-implemented method are described which generally perform the steps of: scanning a joint interface of a workpiece using a three-dimensional scanner (S4); determining a volume to be filled by a welding process (S6); determining a specification for the welding process based on the volume to be filled using an algorithm (S8, S10); and controlling a welding device so as to execute the specification by moving the welding device relative to the workpiece (S12).

An automated welding apparatus and computer-implemented method are described which generally perform the steps of: scanning a joint interface of a workpiece using a three-dimensional scanner (S4); determining a volume to be filled by a welding process (S6); determining a specification for the welding process based on the volume to be filled using an algorithm (S8, S10); and controlling a welding device so as to execute the specification by moving the welding device relative to the workpiece (S12).

The disclosed laser-based method for pipeline installation includes of forming coronal formations on opposite wall ends of each pipe, continuously interengaging the corona formations of adjacent pipelines and welding a joint between the corona formations unto the desired pipeline length is reached. In particular, the disclosure relates to a pipe connection system including recessed wall ends of respective adjacent pipe segments which are enmeshed with each other to form a corona-like joint, and a laser system operative to weld the corona-like joint.

The disclosed laser-based method for pipeline installation includes of forming coronal formations on opposite wall ends of each pipe, continuously interengaging the corona formations of adjacent pipelines and welding a joint between the corona formations unto the desired pipeline length is reached. In particular, the disclosure relates to a pipe connection system including recessed wall ends of respective adjacent pipe segments which are enmeshed with each other to form a corona-like joint, and a laser system operative to weld the corona-like joint.

A knife configured for use with an electrosurgical forceps having curved jaw members and a method of manufacturing the same. The knife includes a distal body having an inner side and an outer side, a first etching on the outer side of the distal body defining a distal cutting edge and a second etching on the outer side of the distal body extending along a portion of a length of the distal body to define relatively protruded and relatively recessed surfaces extending along a portion of the length of the distal body on the outer side thereof.

A knife configured for use with an electrosurgical forceps having curved jaw members and a method of manufacturing the same. The knife includes a distal body having an inner side and an outer side, a first etching on the outer side of the distal body defining a distal cutting edge and a second etching on the outer side of the distal body extending along a portion of a length of the distal body to define relatively protruded and relatively recessed surfaces extending along a portion of the length of the distal body on the outer side thereof.

An adaptive guide bushing for laser tube cutting systems, the adaptive guide bushing including an elastic material that expands and contracts to hold tubing within a central opening.

A method for forming an article is disclosed, including laser welding a powder of an HTW alloy to a surface of a substrate along a weld path, forming a weld bead of the HTW alloy. The weld path is propagated along a weld direction, forming a cladding layer of the HTW alloy on the surface. The laser welding includes a laser energy density of at least about 11 kJ/cm.sup.2, and laser welding the powder to the surface includes a welding speed of about 5-20 ipm. The weld path oscillates essentially nonparallel to a reference line, establishing a cladding width wider than the weld bead width. The weld bead contacts itself along each oscillation such that the cladding layer is continuous and essentially free of cracks. A turbine bucket is disclosed including a squealer tip having the cladding layer with a cladding layer thickness of at least about 0.2 inches.