A method of joining a multiple member work-piece includes providing a first steel work-piece having a first thickness and a second steel work-piece having a second thickness. The first thickness is at least twice the second thickness. A third material is disposed in contact with the second steel work-piece. For example, the third material may be in the form of a rivet, a plurality of pins, or a coating material. The method includes resistance welding the first and second work-pieces together. A bonded assembly includes the first and second steel members and the third material being bonded together, where the thickness of the first member is at least twice the thickness of the second member.

A welding electrode may comprise a welding electrode body and a welding electrode cap that is connected or connectable to the welding electrode body for making contact between the welding electrode and a component for producing a welded connection. The problem of achieving an efficient heating of the sandwich sheet to be welded in a compact layout with the fewest possible modifications of the welding electrodes used heretofore is solved in that an electrically conductive resistance element integrated, or which can be integrated, in the welding electrode and which is connected or connectable in an electrically-conductive manner to the welding electrode body and the welding electrode cap is provided for the heating of the component. Furthermore, a method and a device with the welding electrode and a use are disclosed.

A welding electrode may comprise a welding electrode body and a welding electrode cap that is connected or connectable to the welding electrode body for making contact between the welding electrode and a component for producing a welded connection. The problem of achieving an efficient heating of the sandwich sheet to be welded in a compact layout with the fewest possible modifications of the welding electrodes used heretofore is solved in that an electrically conductive resistance element integrated, or which can be integrated, in the welding electrode and which is connected or connectable in an electrically-conductive manner to the welding electrode body and the welding electrode cap is provided for the heating of the component. Furthermore, a method and a device with the welding electrode and a use are disclosed.

A method of resistance welding a component to a sandwich sheet, which includes a thermoplastic layer disposed between two metallic outer layers, may involve heating a region of the sandwich sheet to be welded such that the thermoplastic layer softens, displacing the thermoplastic layer from the region by pressing the outer layers together, and welding the outer layers to the component by an electrical current flow for welding in a first circuit. The first circuit may include a first power source via a first welding electrode arranged at a side of the sandwich sheet and a second welding electrode arranged at a side of the component. This method is easy to run and achieves short cycle times due at least in part to the region being heated by a current flow for preheating in a second circuit that comprises a second power source and an electrical conductor that is arranged between the first welding electrode and the sandwich sheet.”

A method of resistance welding a component to a sandwich sheet, which includes a thermoplastic layer disposed between two metallic outer layers, may involve heating a region of the sandwich sheet to be welded such that the thermoplastic layer softens, displacing the thermoplastic layer from the region by pressing the outer layers together, and welding the outer layers to the component by an electrical current flow for welding in a first circuit. The first circuit may include a first power source via a first welding electrode arranged at a side of the sandwich sheet and a second welding electrode arranged at a side of the component. This method is easy to run and achieves short cycle times due at least in part to the region being heated by a current flow for preheating in a second circuit that comprises a second power source and an electrical conductor that is arranged between the first welding electrode and the sandwich sheet.”

A laminate structure and method of forming is provided. The laminate structure includes a first metal sheet having a first thickness, a second metal sheet having a second thickness, and an adhesive core having an adhesive thickness. The adhesive core is disposed between and bonded to the first and second metal sheets. The first and second metal sheets are made of an aluminum based material and the adhesive core is made of an adhesive material also described as a viscoelastic adhesive material. The laminate structure is configured such that a ratio of the sum of the first and second thickness to the adhesive thickness is greater than either to one (8:1). The laminate structure including the viscoelastic adhesive core is characterized by a composite loss factor at 1,000 Hertz which is continuously greater than 0.1 within a temperature range of 25 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius.

The method comprises applying a spot load to a joint part between a first metal material and a second metal material in a state where sites to form the joint part are superposed on each other. When a total thickness of the first metal material and the second metal material at the joint part before bonding is defined as T.sub.0 mm, the total thickness thereof after bonding is defined as T.sub.1 mm, and T.sub.0/T.sub.1=R is defined as a reduction ratio, the reduction ratio R is 1.4 or more.

A method of forming an assembly includes providing a metallic first workpiece having base and a first layer disposed on the base and adhering a second layer onto the first layer. One of the first and second layers is formed of a zinc-based material formed of at least a majority of zinc, and the other of the first and second layers is formed of a metallic alloying material having a melting point higher than the melting point of the zinc-based material. Preferably, the first layer is formed of the zinc-based material, and the second layer is formed of the metallic alloying material with the higher melting point. A metallic second workpiece is disposed in contact with the second layer. A welding operation is performed to join the first workpiece to the second workpiece. A welded assembly is also provided.

A rechargeable battery pack. The rechargeable battery pack includes a housing, at least one rechargeable battery cell including a cell connector, and a circuit board. The at least one rechargeable battery cell being electrically connected to the circuit board via the cell connector. The circuit board includes a connection point for the materially bonded connection of the cell connector to the circuit board, the connection point being situated on a side of the circuit board facing away from the rechargeable battery cells.

A method for joining by welding or gluing joining elements to components, with the following steps: preparation of a joining element, which comprises a first joining surface, and preparation of a component, which comprises a second joining surface; preparation of the first or second joining surface; and carrying out the joining process, in which the joining element is joined to the component; wherein the preparatory step comprises at least one of the following cleaning methods for cleaning the first or second joining surface: a TIG arc method, a plasma gas cleaning method, and a snow jet method.