System and method of joining overlapping workpieces

1. A welding system adapted for welding a plurality of overlapping adjacent workpieces to form a lap weld, wherein each workpiece presents an outer edge, said system comprising:

a perforating device configured to engage at least a portion of the plurality of workpieces, so as to produce an opening cooperatively defined by each of the workpieces; and

a heating combination including a plurality of separate and concurrently functionable welding elements,

said elements being oriented relative to the device, and configured to cooperatively and contemporaneously heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum temperature, so as to cause the weld to form at least predominately within the opening,

said opening being adjacent to and spaced from the outer edge of each of said plurality of workpieces,

said combination further including an electrode, wherein said electrode is coaxially aligned with and spaced from a first end of a conductive sleeve,

said electrode and sleeve being cooperatively configured to form an electric arc between the first end and electrode,

said sleeve being fluidly coupled to a gas source, so that the source, electrode and sleeve are cooperatively configured to direct a gaseous stream through the arc, and produce a plasma column between the electrode and an outermost surface of the plurality of workpieces.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a fusible member, at least a portion of which is positionable within the zone and has a melting range less than the minimum zone temperature, so that the combination is operable to melt said portion of the member into the opening.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 ,

said member being formed of material selected from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloys, copper, and copper alloys.

4. A welding system adapted for welding a plurality of overlapping adjacent workpieces to form a lap weld, wherein each workpiece presents an outer edge, said system comprising:

a perforating device including a first laser configured to focus at least one laser beam having a first width, and power output not less than 4 kW upon an outermost surface of said plurality of workpieces, so as to produce an opening cooperatively defined by each of the workpieces, wherein said opening is adjacent, and spaced from the outer edges of, each of said plurality of workpieces;

a heating combination including a second laser beam having a second width greater than the first width, and an electrode, wherein the second laser beam and electrode are cooperatively configured to heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum zone temperature; and

a fusible member, at least a portion of which is positionable within the zone and has a melting range less than the minimum zone temperature, so that the combination is operable to melt the portion of the member into the opening,

said electrode being spaced from and cooperatively configured to form an arc between the electrode and an outermost surface of the plurality of workpieces,

at least a portion of the second laser beam being directed through at least a portion of the arc, such that at least a portion of the arc and second laser beam are coextensive, directed coterminatively towards the outermost surface, and cooperatively form a hybrid laser-arc column.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 ,

said first laser being either a YAG or CO 2 laser.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4 ,

said combination being further configured to produce a gaseous shield, wherein the shield presents a tubular configuration extending from an outermost surface of the workpieces to the electrode and envelops the arc, so that the arc is generally separated from ambient air conditions.

7. The system as claimed in claim 4 ,

said electrode and fusible member being an integral unit, such that the electrode presents a fusible distal section.

8. The system as claimed in claim 4 ,

said combination and workpieces being cooperatively configured to melt a fusible portion of the workpieces adjacent the opening into the opening.

9. A method of welding a plurality of workpieces to form a lap weld, said method comprising:

(a) perforating a portion of the workpieces to produce an opening adjacent to and spaced from the edge of each workpiece;

(b) creating an arc having a first welding efficiency adjacent an outermost surface of the workpieces, and directing a first laser beam having a second welding efficiency into the arc, so that the arc and second laser beam are directed coterminatively towards the outermost surface, cooperatively form a hybrid laser-arc column having a third welding efficiency greater than the sum of the first and second welding efficiencies, and release heat energy sufficient to heat a zone adjacent the opening to a minimum zone temperature after the workpieces have been perforated and the opening produced;

(c) positioning within the zone a fusible material having a melting range less than the minimum zone temperature, so as to produce molten material that flows into the opening and contacts each of said workpieces; and

(d) cooling said molten material to a temperature less than the melting range and allowing the material to re-solidify.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 ,

step (c) further including the step of securing the fusible material a minimum distance from the workpieces, so as to space the material therefrom.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 ,

step (a) further including the step of directing a second laser beam to said portion to perforate the portion and produce the opening.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first and second laser beams are generated from a YAG, CO 2 , or fiber laser beam source.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,

steps (a) and (b) including the further steps of utilizing a single source to create the first and second laser beams.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first and second laser beams are split from an initial laser beam.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein multiple steps (a) through (d) are performed concurrently with respect to multiple sets of workpieces, so as to produce multiple lap welds.