Process and apparatus for treating electrically conductive matrices and products produced by the process

Claim 2

A process for the fusion, at an ambient temperature, of at least one second conductive chemical element into a matrix of a first conductive chemical element which comprises: placing said second conductive element in contact with an adjacent surface of said first conductive chemical element; applying an interrupted electrical signal of a predetermined frequency to said first and second chemical elements, whereby said second chemical element is fused with said first chemical element.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal is a pulsing signal in the range of 2.5 microseconds to 28.6 nanoseconds with an amplitude in the range of 3 amps per 0.3 square mm. for a predetermined period.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second conductive element is moved over said matrix at a rate sufficient to cause a substantially continuous area of fusion of said second conductive chemical element with said first chemical element.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein rate of movement of said second conductive chemical element is substantially proportional to half the frequency of said electrical signal.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said frequency is in the range of 400 Hz to 35 MHz.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first conductive chemical element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous or non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second conductive chemical element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous or non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof.

Claim 9

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first conductive chemical element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous metals or an alloy thereof and said second conductive element is chosen from the group comprising non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof.

Claim 10

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first conductive element is chosen from the group comprising non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof and said second conductive element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous metals or an alloy thereof.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second conductive element is in the form of a solid electrode including said second conductive element.

Claim 12

Apparatus for the fusion of a first conductive chemical element to a second conductive chemical element which comprises, an oscillating circuit for generating an interrupted halfwave signal within a predetermined frequency range, said oscillating circuit having an output and means for applying said oscillating circuit output to a matrix of a first conductive chemical element to which a second conductive chemical element is to be fused and said second chemical element whereby said second conductive chemical element is fused with said first conductive chemical element.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the fusion of a first conductive chemical element to a second conductive chemical element which comprises, an oscillating circuit for generating an interrupted halfwave signal within a predetermined frequency range, said oscillating circuit having an output and means for applying said oscillating circuit output to a matrix of a first conductive chemical element to which a second conductive chemical element is to be fused and said second chemical element whereby said second conductive chemical element is fused with said first conductive chemical element.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said predetermined frequency is fixed.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said predetermined frequency is variable and said apparatus includes means for varying said signal.

Claim 16

An article comprising a matrix of a first conductive chemical element with an outer surface having a second - conductive chemical element fused therewith at least adjacent said outer surface obtained by the process of claim 1.

Claim 17

An article as claimed in claim 14 wherein said first conductive chemical element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous or non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof and said second conductive chemical element is chosen from the group comprising ferrous or non-ferrous metals or an alloy thereof different from said first conductive chemical element.

Claim 18

An article as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first conductive chemical element is ferrous or a ferrous alloy.

Claim 19

An article as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first conductive chemical element is non-ferrous or a non-ferrous alloy.

Claim 20

An article as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second conductive element is non-ferrous or a non-ferrous alloy.

Claim 21

An article as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second conductive element is ferrous or a ferrous alloy.

Claim 22

An article as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first conductive chemical element is steel and second conductive chemical element is chosen from the elements of Groups 4B, 6B of the Periodic Table.

Claim 23

21, Apparatus for fusing one electrically conductive component to another electrically conductive component, said apparatus comprising electrical power supply means, said power supply means having an oscillating circuit and an output to provide a half-wave electrical signal across said output, said output having a pair of terminals, first connector means having one end connected to one output terminal and an opposite end connectable to said other component at one position, and second connector means having one end connected to the other output terminal and an opposite end connectable to said other component at another position, said first connector means comprising said one component at the opposite end of said first connector means to place said one component in contact with said other component when said first connector means is connected thereto and said electrical power supply means is operating and pass an intermittent current through said components to fuse said one component to said other component.

Claim 24

21, Apparatus for fusing one electrically conductive component to another electrically conductive component, said apparatus comprising electrical power supply means, said power supply means having an oscillating circuit and an output to provide a half-wave electrical signal across said output, said output having a pair of terminals, first connector means having one end connected to one output terminal and an opposite end connectable to said other component at one position, and second connector means having one end connected to the other output terminal and an opposite end connectable to said other component at another position, said first connector means comprising said one component at the opposite end of said first connector means to place said one component in contact with said other component when said first connector means is connected thereto and said electrical power supply means is operating and pass an intermittent current through said components to fuse said one component to said other component.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said half-wave signal has a frequency in the range of from about 400 Hz to about 35 MHz.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said intermittent current has a maximum value of about 3 amps, and said first connector means places said one component in contact with about 0.3 sq. mm. of said other component.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said other electrically conductive component is in solid form.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said first connector means comprises means for rotating said first component while in contact with said other component.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said rotating means is operable to rotate the first component at a speed in the range from about 5,000 to about 10,000 rpm.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said other electrically conductive component is in liquid form.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said first connector means includes a reservoir for said liquid other component and means to regulate the flow of said liquid component into contact with said other component.