US3748432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for welding corrugated materials by plasma electron beam welding system
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for achieving electron beam or plasma electron beam welding of corrugated panels utilizing a particular vacuum chamber arrangement that encompasses only a small portion of the workpieces. This chamber is formed by the part being welded and a relatively soft rubber belt molded to fit the contour of the corrugations and formed of two interlocking havles. The interlocked lips of the belt and the configuration of the shell portion of the welding chamber is such that the belt seal opens and closes allowing passage of the welding head along its length while maintaining the vacuum seal. In one concept, the belt functions as a clamp-on chamber held on the parts by frictional force, while in a second concept, an endless seal belt integral with the welding unit is used to form a traveling chamber which ''''walks'''' along the panel surface.
Inventors
- 👤 T Bosworth
- 👤 L Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:53
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K15/00; B23K15/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus which incorporates an electron beam or plasma electron beam welding means for welding corrugated panels or the like edge-to-edge in a controlled atmosphere, comprising: a. means defining a chamber having an open end and carrying said welding means for producing a welding beam directed toward said open end; b. means for disposing the open end of said chamber means on one side of said to-be-welded edge-to-edge corrugated panels for forming an elongated chamber therewith; c. means for effecting a partial vacuum within said enclosed chamber; d. sealing means for maintaining the partial vacuum within said chamber; e. said sealing means being resilient material comprising two parallel strips extending past said chamber means in engagement with opposite sides thereof; f. said strips having inner edges in interlocking engagement with each other in front of and behind said chamber means. g. the base surfaces of the strips being corrugated to fit against said one side of the panels by conforming to their corrugations; and h. means for disconnecting said interlocked edges in front of said chamber and means for reconnecting said edges behind said chamber, whereby upon translational movement betweEn said chamber means and said panels said sealing means provide for a minimum of leakage between said enclosed chamber and outside atmosphere so that the welding together of said panels can be accomplished in a predetermined vacuum environment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus which incorporates an electron beam or plasma electron beam welding means for welding corrugated panels or the like edge-to-edge in a controlled atmosphere, comprising: a. means defining a chamber having an open end and carrying said welding means for producing a welding beam directed toward said open end; b. means for disposing the open end of said chamber means on one side of said to-be-welded edge-to-edge corrugated panels for forming an elongated chamber therewith; c. means for effecting a partial vacuum within said enclosed chamber; d. sealing means for maintaining the partial vacuum within said chamber; e. said sealing means being resilient material comprising two parallel strips extending past said chamber means in engagement with opposite sides thereof; f. said strips having inner edges in interlocking engagement with each other in front of and behind said chamber means. g. the base surfaces of the strips being corrugated to fit against said one side of the panels by conforming to their corrugations; and h. means for disconnecting said interlocked edges in front of said chamber and means for reconnecting said edges behind said chamber, whereby upon translational movement betweEn said chamber means and said panels said sealing means provide for a minimum of leakage between said enclosed chamber and outside atmosphere so that the welding together of said panels can be accomplished in a predetermined vacuum environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing strips are endless belts disposed side by side, said apparatus including rotatable means supporting said belts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interlocking inner edges of said strips extend away from the side of the strips opposite to said base surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means close to the front of said chamber means holding the interlocked edges of said strips together, said disconnecting means being formed by a forwardly tapered portion of said chamber means that separates said edges directly behind said holding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said reconnecting means include means close to the back of said chamber means for guiding said inner edges of said strips into interlocking relationship, the back of said chamber means having a rearwardly tapered portion adjacent said guiding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means ooposed to said chamber means open end for engaging the other side of said panels for supporting them and sealing said other side from said enclosed chamber, said supporting means being corrugated to fit against said other side of the panels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including spring means for urging said sealing means and said supporting means toward each other, whereby to press them against said panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including a strip of metal foil adapted to be pressed against said panels by said supporting means to serve as a heat sink and backup for the weld.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber means has a centrally located means defining a second chamber and wherein said second chamber has a second means for effecting a vacuum that is higher than said partial vacuum and wherein said second chamber means has an open end directed towards said panels to be welded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said welding means electron beam travels towards said panels within said second chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said welding apparatus is provided with automatic beam-weld aligning means and with weld area sensing means for controlling said automatic beam-weld aligning means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus which incorporates an electron beam or plasma electron beam welding means for welding corrugated panels or the like to one another in a controlled atmosphere, comprising: a. a frame carrying means defining a first chamber of dome type bottomless configuration; b. means defining a second chamber centrally located within said first chamber and having an open end, said second chamber means carrying said associated electron beam welding means for producing a welding beam directed toward said open end; c. said first and second chamber means adapted to be disposed with said open end on said to-be-welded corrugated panels for forming an enclosed chamber therewith; d. first means for effecting a partial vacuum within said first chamber means and second means for effecting a partial vacuum within said second chamber means; e. sealing means for maintaining the partial vacuum within said first and second chamber means, said sealing means being of resilient material comprising an endless first belt of two endless parts having means to interlock with one another and a base surface which is disposed on and complements with said associated corrugated panel corrugations; f. means for disconnecting said interlocking means in front of said first chamber and means for connecting said interlocking means aft of said first chamber; g. means for moving said welding apparatus over said to-be-welded panels whereby said seaLing means endless first belt travels over said panels and provides for a minimum of leakage between said enclosed chamber means; h. second endless belt support/sealing means arranged on a carriage positioned under said panels, and i. spring type clamping means provided between said carriage and said frame means for producing seal-tight arrangement between said panels and said first and second chamber means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus which incorporates an electron beam or plasma electron beam welding means for welding corrugated panels or the like to one another in a controlled atmosphere, comprising: a. a frame carrying means defining a first chamber of dome type bottomless configuration; b. means defining a second chamber centrally located within said first chamber and having an open end, said second chamber means carrying said associated electron beam welding means for producing a welding beam directed toward said open end; c. said first and second chamber means adapted to be disposed with said open end on said to-be-welded corrugated panels for forming an enclosed chamber therewith; d. first means for effecting a partial vacuum within said first chamber means and second means for effecting a partial vacuum within said second chamber means; e. sealing means for maintaining the partial vacuum within said first and second chamber means, said sealing means being of resilient material comprising an endless first belt of two endless parts having means to interlock with one another and a base surface which is disposed on and complements with said associated corrugated panel corrugations; f. means for disconnecting said interlocking means in front of said first chamber and means for connecting said interlocking means aft of said first chamber; g. means for moving said welding apparatus over said to-be-welded panels whereby said seaLing means endless first belt travels over said panels and provides for a minimum of leakage between said enclosed chamber means; h. second endless belt support/sealing means arranged on a carriage positioned under said panels, and i. spring type clamping means provided between said carriage and said frame means for producing seal-tight arrangement between said panels and said first and second chamber means.
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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) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |