Fabrication of welded wheels without filler material

Abstract

A hermetically sealed wheel assembly which has been welding autogenously is provided, along with a method and system for welding the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is made up of at least two components which are laser welded to each other without the use of filler material to create a hermetically sealed wheel assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of welding a wheel structure, comprising:
 positioning a first wheel section having a first web portion adjacent to a second wheel section having a second web portion, such that each of said first and second web portions are contacting each other;   directing a laser beam to said first web portion; and   autogenously welding said first web portion to said second web portion with a laser beam such that said laser beam passes through an entire thickness of said first web section and said laser beam penetrates at least a portion of a thickness of said second web portion;   wherein said autogenously welding creates a continuous hermetically sealed weld joint around a center the welded first and second wheel sections.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weld joint penetrates 5 to 100% of said thickness of said second web portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weld joint penetrates 20 to 75% of said thickness of said second web portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weld joint is welded in a pattern having a nonconstant radial distance from said center. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a depth of said weld joint in said second web portion varies along a length of said weld joint. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said weld joint has a first portion with a first depth of up to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion and a second depth of to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, where said second depth is less than said first depth. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said weld joint has a first portion with a first depth of 20 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion and a second depth of 5 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, where said second depth is less than said first depth. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first web portion has a web length between a hub portion positioned radially inward from said first web portion and an angled portion positioned radially outward from said first web portion, and said weld joint is positioned on the first web portion  10  to 80% of the web length inward from said angled portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weld joint has a width in the range of 10 to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion at the point at which said first and second web portions contact each other. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said weld joint at the point at which said first and second web portions contact each other varies between a first width and a second width, where said first width is in the range of 10 to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion and said second width is in the range of 5 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, and wherein said second width is less than said first width. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second web portions has cavities through an entire thickness of said first or second web portion and said weld joint is positioned radially outward from said cavities. 
     
     
         12 . A welded wheel structure, comprising:
 a first wheel section having a first web portion;   a second wheel section having a second web portion, where each of said first and second web portions are contacting each other; and   a continuous hermetically sealed weld joint which welds said first web portion to said second web portion, such that said weld joint passes through an entire thickness of said first web portion and at least a portion of a thickness of said second web portion;   wherein said weld joint is positioned radially around a center of said welded first and second sections, and   wherein said weld joint is an autogenous weld joint.   
     
     
         13 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein said weld joint penetrates 5 to 100% of said thickness of said second web portion. 
     
     
         14 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein said weld joint penetrates 20 to 75% of said thickness of said second web portion. 
     
     
         15 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein said weld joint is welded in a pattern having a nonconstant radial distance from said center. 
     
     
         16 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein a depth of said weld joint in said second web portion varies along a length of said weld joint. 
     
     
         17 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 16 , wherein said weld joint has a first portion with a first depth of up to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion and a second depth of 5 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, wherein said second depth is less than said first depth. 
     
     
         18 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 16 , wherein said weld joint has a first portion with a first depth of 20 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion and a second depth of 5 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, wherein said second depth is less than said first depth. 
     
     
         19 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein said first web portion has a web length between a hub portion positioned radially inward from said first web portion and an angled portion positioned radially outward from said first web portion, and said weld joint is positioned on the first web portion  10  to 80% of the web length inward from said angled portion. 
     
     
         20 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein said weld joint has a width in the range of 10 to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion at the point at which said first and second web portions contact each other. 
     
     
         21 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein a width of said weld joint at the point at which said first and second web portions contact each other varies between a first width and a second width, where said first width is in the range of 10 to 100% of the thickness of said second web portion and said second width is in the range of 5 to 50% of the thickness of said second web portion, and wherein said second width is less than said first width. 
     
     
         22 . The welded wheel structure of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first and second web portions has cavities through an entire thickness of said first or second web portion and said weld joint is positioned radially outward from said cavities.