Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A transitional connector for use in joining an aluminum tube to a tube of another material comprising a first tube of commercially pure aluminum, a tube of steel and a second tube of aluminum alloy consisting, by weight, of about 1.0 to 1.5 percent silicon, 0.3 to 0.6 percent iron, 0.001 percent zinc (max.), not more than 0.02 percent of any other element other than aluminum, not more than 0.12 percent total of said other elements, and the balance aluminum, said tubes being disposed in coaxial relation to each other with said second tube of aluminum alloy being disposed intermediate said first aluminum tube and said steel tube, said second aluminum tube being metallurgically bonded to said first aluminum tube and to said steel tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A transitional connector for use in joining an aluminum tube to a tube of another material comprising a first tube of commercially pure aluminum, a tube of steel and a second tube of aluminum alloy consisting, by weight, of about 1.0 to 1.5 percent silicon, 0.3 to 0.6 percent iron, 0.001 percent zinc (max.), not more than 0.02 percent of any other element other than aluminum, not more than 0.12 percent total of said other elements, and the balance aluminum, said tubes being disposed in coaxial relation to each other with said second tube of aluminum alloy being disposed intermediate said first aluminum tube and said steel tube, said second aluminum tube being metallurgically bonded to said first aluminum tube and to said steel tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A transitional connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said steel tube embodies a material consisting, by weight, of about 0.08 percent carbon, 0.32 percent manganese, 0.011 percent phosphorous, 0.034 percent sulfur, 0.01 percent silicon, 0.015 percent aluminum, 0.04 percent copper, about 0.39 percent of other elements present as impurities and the balance iron.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transitional connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein an additional tube of material selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and cupronickel is disposed in coaxial relation to said steel tube oppositely of said second aluminum tube, said copper tube being metallurgically bonded to said steel tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transitional connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein said aluminum tubes are disposed interiorly of said steel tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transitional connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein said aluminum tubes are disposed exteriorly of said steel tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transitional connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said steel tube extends outwardly from within said aluminum tubes at one end of said aluminum tubes.