Apparatus for brazing

Claim 2

Brazing apparatus comprising: means for pressurizing a brazing gas; heating means operably associated with said pressurizing means to receive pressurized brazing gas and to heat the pressurized brazing gas to a brazing temperature; and a brazing chamber operably associated with said heating means to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive the heated brazing gas from said heating means, said heating means separate from said brazing chamber to heat the pressurized brazing gas before said heated brazing gas is received by said brazing chamber to braze the assembly enclosed within said brazing chamber, said pressurizing means receiving the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 3

The brazing apparatus of claim 1 and in addition by-pass means operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber.

Claim 4

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; and a brazing chamber operaBly associated with said heater and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said heated, compressed brazing gas from said heater, said heater separate from said brazing chamber and comprising means to heat the brazing gas before said heated, compressed brazing gas enters said brazing chamber to braze the assembly enclosed therein, said compressor to receive the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 5

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; and a brazing chamber operaBly associated with said heater and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said heated, compressed brazing gas from said heater, said heater separate from said brazing chamber and comprising means to heat the brazing gas before said heated, compressed brazing gas enters said brazing chamber to braze the assembly enclosed therein, said compressor to receive the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 6

The brazing apparatus of claim 3 wherein said brazing gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Claim 7

The brazing apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the brazing gas is reactive with the assembly to be brazed.

Claim 8

The brazing apparatus of claim 3 and in addition a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater and said brazing chamber to receive said heated brazing gas from said heater, said brazing chamber to receive the entire flow of said purified, heated brazing gas from said purifier.

Claim 9

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and first by-pass means operably associated with said purifier to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier and second by-pass means operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber.

Claim 10

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and first by-pass means operably associated with said purifier to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier and second by-pass means operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber.

Claim 11

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive the heated, purified brazing gas from said purifier and reduce the temperature of said brazing gas to the brazing temperature and a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 12

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive the heated, purified brazing gas from said purifier and reduce the temperature of said brazing gas to the brazing temperature and a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 13

The brazing apparatus of claim 8 and in addition recuperator means operably associated with said brazing chamber, said compressor, and said heater, said recuperator to receive the entire flow of brazing gas from said brazing chamber and to remove heat therefrom before said brazing gas is compressed in said compressor and transfer at least a portion of the heat removed to said brazing gas after said brazing gas has been compressed and before said brazing gas is heated in said heater.

Claim 14

The brazing apparatus of claim 9 wherein said brazing chamber includes flow reversing means to direct the flow of heated brazing gas around the assembly to be brazed after the brazing gas has flowed through the assembly to be brazed.

Claim 15

The brazing apparatus of claim 10 wherein said flow reversing means comprises an inner chamber within said brazing chamber to enclose the assembly to be brazed and to receive the heated brazing gas and baffle means within said brazing chamber to reverse the flow of heated brazing gas around the exterior of said inner chamber after the brazing gas has passEd through said inner chamber.

Claim 16

The brazing apparatus of claim 11 and in addition porous, heat reflecting means positioned within said inner chamber on both sides of the assembly to be brazed.

Claim 17

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a heater to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a purifier operably associated with said heater to receive said heated brazing gas and to purify said heated brazing gas; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive said heated, purified brazing gas and to cool the gas to a brazing temperature; a first by-pass conduit operably associated with said purifier and said cooler to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier and said cooler, valve means operably associated with said first by-pass conduit to control the flow of brazing gas therethrough; a brazing chamber operably associated with said cooler and said first by-pass conduit to receive brazing gas from said cooler and said first by-pass conduit, said brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a recuperator having a cooling side and a heating side operably associated with said brazing chamber, the cooling side receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing gas; and a compressor operably associated with said recuperator to receive brazing gas from the cooling side of said recuperator and to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; the heating side of said recuperator receiving brazing gas from said compressor to heat the brazing gas; said heater receiving brazing gas from said heating side of said recuperator to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 18

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a heater to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a purifier operably associated with said heater to receive said heated brazing gas and to purify said heated brazing gas; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive said heated, purified brazing gas and to cool the gas to a brazing temperature; a first by-pass conduit operably associated with said purifier and said cooler to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier and said cooler, valve means operably associated with said first by-pass conduit to control the flow of brazing gas therethrough; a brazing chamber operably associated with said cooler and said first by-pass conduit to receive brazing gas from said cooler and said first by-pass conduit, said brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a recuperator having a cooling side and a heating side operably associated with said brazing chamber, the cooling side receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing gas; and a compressor operably associated with said recuperator to receive brazing gas from the cooling side of said recuperator and to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; the heating side of said recuperator receiving brazing gas from said compressor to heat the brazing gas; said heater receiving brazing gas from said heating side of said recuperator to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 19

The brazing apparatus of claim 13 and in addition a second by-pass conduit operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber and valve means operably associated with said brazing chamber and said second by-pass conduit to control the flow of brazing gas therethrough.

Claim 20

The brazing apparatus of claim 13 and in addition evacuation means operably associated with said brazing chamber to evacuate gas from said brazing chamber and the substantially closed loop.

Claim 21

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a hot brazing gas loop associated with said brazing chamber to supply hot brazing gas to said brazing chamber at a temperature above a brazing temperature; a cold brazing gas loop operably associated with said brazing chamber to supply cold brazing gas to said brazing chamber; and valve means operably associated with said hot loop and said cold loop to control the mixture of hot and cold brazing gas to said brazing chamber.

Claim 22

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a hot brazing gas loop associated with said brazing chamber to supply hot brazing gas to said brazing chamber at a temperature above a brazing temperature; a cold brazing gas loop operably associated with said brazing chamber to supply cold brazing gas to said brazing chamber; and valve means operably associated with said hot loop and said cold loop to control the mixture of hot and cold brazing gas to said brazing chamber.

Claim 23

The brazing apparatus of claim 15 wherein said hot brazing loop comprises: a recuperator having a cooling side and a heating side, the cooling side receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing gas; a cooler operably associated with cooling side of said recuperator to further remove heat from said brazing gas; a compressor operably associated with said cooler to receive the cooled brazing gas from said cooler to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; the heating side of said recuperator operably associated with said compressor to receive the pressurized brazing gas and to heat the brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said heating side of said recuperator to receive the brazing gas and to further heat the brazing gas to above a brazing temperature, and a purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas and to purify the heated brazing gas, said brazing chamber receiving heated purified brazing gas from said purifier; and said cold brazing loop comprises: a cooler receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing chamber; and a compressor operably associated with said cooler to receive brazing gas froM said cooler to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; said brazing chamber receiving pressurized brazing gas from said compressor.

Claim 24

The brazing apparatus of claim 17 and in addition evacuation means operably associated with said brazing chamber to evacuate gas from said brazing chamber and said hot and cold brazing loops.

Claim 25

The brazing apparatus of claim 17 wherein said brazing chamber includes flow reversing means comprising: an inner chamber within said brazing chamber to enclose the assembly to be brazed and to receive the heated brazing gas; baffle means within said brazing chamber to reverse the flow of heated brazing gas around the exterior of said inner chamber after the brazing gas has passed through said inner chamber; and heat reflecting means positioned within said inner chamber on both sides of the assembly to be brazed.

Claim 26

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; increase a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and by-pass means operably associated with said purifier to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier.

Claim 27

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; increase a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and by-pass means operably associated with said purifier to by-pass brazing gas around said purifier.

Claim 28

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and by-pass means operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber.

Claim 29

Brazing apparatus comprising: a brazing gas; a compressor to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; a heater operably associated with said compressor to receive said compressed brazing gas and to heat said brazing gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing gas purifier operably associated with said heater to receive heated brazing gas from said heater; a brazing chamber operably associated with said brazing gas purifier and said compressor to enclose an assembly to be brazed and to receive said purified, heated, compressed brazing gas from said purifier, said compressor to receive the brazing gas from said brazing chamber to complete a substantially closed loop; and by-pass means operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber.

Claim 30

A braze cycle comprising: a brazing gas; a heater to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a purifier operably associated with said heater to receive said heated brazing gas and to purify said heated brazing gas; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive said heated, purified brazing gas and to cool the gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing chamber operably associated with said cooler to receive brazing gas from said cooler, said brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a by-pass conduit operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber and valve means operably associated with said by-pass conduit to control the flow of brazing gas therethrough; a recuperator having a cooling side and a heating side operably associated with said brazing chamber, the cooling side receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing gas; and a compressor operably associated with said recuperator to receive brazing gas from the cooling side of said recuperator and to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; the heating side of said recuperator receiving brazing gas from said compressor to heat the brazing gas; said heater receiving brazing gas from said heating side of said recuperator to complete a substantially closed loop.

Claim 31

A braze cycle comprising: a brazing gas; a heater to heat said brazing gas above a brazing temperature; a purifier operably associated with said heater to receive said heated brazing gas and to purify said heated brazing gas; a cooler operably associated with said purifier to receive said heated, purified brazing gas and to cool the gas to a brazing temperature; a brazing chamber operably associated with said cooler to receive brazing gas from said cooler, said brazing chamber to enclose an assembly to be brazed; a by-pass conduit operably associated with said brazing chamber to by-pass brazing gas around said brazing chamber and valve means operably associated with said by-pass conduit to control the flow of brazing gas therethrough; a recuperator having a cooling side and a heating side operably associated with said brazing chamber, the cooling side receiving brazing gas from said brazing chamber to remove heat from said brazing gas; and a compressor operably associated with said recuperator to receive brazing gas from the cooling side of said recuperator and to increase the pressure of said brazing gas; the heating side of said recuperator receiving brazing gas from said compressor to heat the brazing gas; said heater receiving brazing gas from said heating side of said recuperator to complete a substantially closed loop.