Brazed seam ferrule

Claim 1

A brazed seam generally elongate hollow tubular structure formed from a base member blanked from substantially flat metallic material, said base member having opposing first and second ends, a first surface extending between said first and second ends and defining the interior surface of said tubular structure, and a second surface extending between said first and second ends and defining the exterior surface of said tubular structure, said first surface and first end communicating at a first selectively tapered edge, said first surface and said second end communicating at a second selectively tapered edge, said base member first and second ends being aligned in generally abutting relationship upon the formation of said tubular structure to define a generally longitudinally extending contiguous seam thereat, said base member first surface further having disposed thereon longitudinally aligned rows of generally laterally extending first recessed portions, said rows being selectively spaced from one another and from said base member first and second ends by intervening web portions, said base member second surface having at least two spaced longitudinally extending second recessed portions disposed generally intermediate said base member first and second ends for providing a weakened zone generally adjacent each of said second surface recessed portions, said base member first and second ends having been joined together by brazing to effect a closure thereat, the axis defined by a line joining at least two of said base member second recessed portions in said tubular structure being aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by a generally radially directed line extending between the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and said seam, at least one of said second recessed portions being defined by an open slot extending between said base member first and second surfaces.