Patent US3612387A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3612387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Brazing method and apparatus
Assignee: Aeronca Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-07
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for brazing articles such as honeycomb sandwich structures. The apparatus includes a cold wall boxlike housing separable into upper and lower sections. Each section carries a ceramic die member provided with passageways terminating in small ports for conducting a cooling fluid adjacent to the work. The workpiece is heated by electrical resistance heater strips passing above and below the workpiece. Means are provided for evacuating the housing and backfilling it with argon. When the workpiece is brought to brazing temperature, two expandable bags are inflated. One bag raises the lower die section to form a general fit with the upper one. The second bag is in direct contact with the upper face of the workpiece and exerts a uniform pressure normal to its surface. After brazing, the bags are deflated and chilled argon is introduced through the die passages to cool the work. Other features include localized temperature control by electron emission or cooling tubes and vapor removal by means of a cold trap.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Rathbun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:05
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/0008; B23K1/0014; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for brazing a composite sandwich member, said apparatus comprising: an upper boxlike housing section, a lower boxlike housing section, each of said sections having a peripheral flange, means for raising and lowering said upper housing relative to said lower housing, said flanges on the upper and lower housings being disposed in engagement with one another when said upper housing member is lowered into contact with said lower housing member, clamping means for holding said flanges in sealing airtight relationship, a first die member mounted within and carried by said upper housing section, a second die member mounted within said lower housing section, said first and second die members having opposed working faces, each of said die members further including a plurality of internal passageways and interconnecting ports opening on said work face, one of said die sections being movable mounted within its associated housing section for movement toward the opposite die member, a first expandable bag member interposed between said die member and a wall of said associated housing section for effecting movement of said die member toward the opposite die member, resistance heating elements interposed between each of said die members and said composite sandwich member, means for evacuating the interior of said housing sections, means for introducing an inert gas into said housing sections, means for introducing a coolant fluid into said passageways in each of said die sections, and means for selectively evacuating and pressurizing said expandable bag member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for brazing a composite sandwich member, said apparatus comprising: an upper boxlike housing section, a lower boxlike housing section, each of said sections having a peripheral flange, means for raising and lowering said upper housing relative to said lower housing, said flanges on the upper and lower housings being disposed in engagement with one another when said upper housing member is lowered into contact with said lower housing member, clamping means for holding said flanges in sealing airtight relationship, a first die member mounted within and carried by said upper housing section, a second die member mounted within said lower housing section, said first and second die members having opposed working faces, each of said die members further including a plurality of internal passageways and interconnecting ports opening on said work face, one of said die sections being movable mounted within its associated housing section for movement toward the opposite die member, a first expandable bag member interposed between said die member and a wall of said associated housing section for effecting movement of said die member toward the opposite die member, resistance heating elements interposed between each of said die members and said composite sandwich member, means for evacuating the interior of said housing sections, means for introducing an inert gas into said housing sections, means for introducing a coolant fluid into said passageways in each of said die sections, and means for selectively evacuating and pressurizing said expandable bag member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second expandable bag member interposed between one of said die sections and the sandwich being brazed, said second bag member assuming a configuration conforming to the adjacent die face, and means for selectively evacuating and pressurizing said bag member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cold trap having an airtight chamber in communication with the interior of said housing sections and a well adapted to contain a cooling medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said upper die member is rigidly mounted within said upper die section and said lower die member is movable mounted relative to said lower die section, guide means mounted within the lower section for restricting movements of said lower die member to movements in a vertical direction, said first expandable bag member being interposed between said lower die member and the bottom wall of said lower housing section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second expandable bag interposed between the upper die and the sandwich member being brazed, said second expandable bag having the configuration of the working face of the upper die member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a second expandable bag interposed between the upper die and the sandwich member being brazed, said second expandable bag having the configuration of the working face of the uPper die member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said passageways extends longitudinally of said die member substantially the length thereof, a manifold interconnected to each of said passageways, each of said ports extending transversely from said passageways to the working face of the die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for effecting localized cooling of the edges of said sandwich member being brazed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus of claim 7 in which said means comprise a probe disposed adjacent to said resistance heating elements at the side of the member being brazed, a source of high DC potential, means connecting said source of potential so that said probe is negative relative to said resistance heating means and electrons are emitted from said resistance beating means to said probe to lower the temperature of the resistance heating elements in the area of said emission.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which said means comprise tubes adapted to carry cooling water disposed adjacent to said resistance heating elements at the side of said sandwich member being brazed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |