US3705288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Butt welder for fine gauge tungsten/rhenium thermocouple wire
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-12-31
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An electrical resistance butt welder for welding fine wire or other metal parts having small cross sections through the use of a vacuum groove and bow-shaped electrodes to hold the wires alined and abutted.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P Kabana
- 👤 Charles B King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:30
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53191
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An electrical resistance butt welder for joining metals of small cross section comprising: parts to be welded which are butted together at a weld line; vacuum chuck means for positioning and holding said parts to be welded and consisting of two parts separated electrically along said weld line by an electrically non-conducting solid material, said vacuum chuck means including at least one groove for continuously supporting the parts and shaped in cross section to receive said parts to be welded whereby said parts to be welded are alined for welding when placed in said groove; butt welders means including electrode means for welding said parts to be welded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An electrical resistance butt welder for joining metals of small cross section comprising: parts to be welded which are butted together at a weld line; vacuum chuck means for positioning and holding said parts to be welded and consisting of two parts separated electrically along said weld line by an electrically non-conducting solid material, said vacuum chuck means including at least one groove for continuously supporting the parts and shaped in cross section to receive said parts to be welded whereby said parts to be welded are alined for welding when placed in said groove; butt welders means including electrode means for welding said parts to be welded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The butt welder of claim 1 wherein said vacuum chuck means includes orifices adjacent to and along the length of said parts to be welded, said orifices being connected to a vacuum source whereby said parts to be welded are held in position for welding by vacuum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The butt welder of claim 1 wherein the vacuum chuck means includes two metal half shells bonded together along said weld line by an electrically nonconducting solid adhesive of sufficient thickness to insulate said half shells one from the other, said half shells having at least one groove in each of their surfaces, said grooves meeting at said solid adhesive forming at least one continuous groove, said groove being provided with orifices connected to a vacuum source whereby the parts to be welded are held in said groove by vacuum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The butt welder of claim 3 wherein the vacuum chuck half shells are constructed of oxygen-free copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The butt welder of claim 1 wherein the electrode means includes two bow-shaped members which are pressed into contact with said parts to be welded on either side of said weld line whereby the contact pressure causes further bowing of the bow-shaped members and a toeing-in of the electrode tips forcing together said parts to be welded and holding said parts in abutment during fusion, thereby preventing arcing and burnout of said parts to be welded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The buttwelder of claim 3 including a tube for directing a stream of inert gas at the weld area during welding and wherein said electrode means includes two bow-shaped members which are pressed into contact with said parts to be welded on either side of said weld line at a fixed interval whereby the contact pressure serves to force together said parts to be welded and to hold said parts to be welded in abutment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The butt welder of claim 1 wherein the vacuum chuck means includes a plurality of grooves of different cross section to accommodate pairs of parts to be welded of similar cross section whereby different diameter wires may be butt welded and whereby other thin metals may be butt welded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |