US3909583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for manufacturing embryonic wire coils having noduled ends
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1973-05-30
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-05-30
Abstract
Abstract The tangling of helically coiled wire articles during bulk handling and shipment is prevented by providing integral nodules or beads of fused metal at each end of the articles which enclose the severed ends of the wire. In the case of tungsten wire coils that are designed for use in electric lamps and similar devices and are wound on iron mandrels, the fused beads are composed of tungsten-iron alloy and are formed in situ during coil manufacture by melting the ends of the mandrel with a source of concentrated heat, such as a laser, focused electron beam, plasma torch, or oxy-hydrogen flame. The tungsten-iron alloy beads remain on the end turns of the coil during the subsequent mandrel-dissolving operation, are ductile and are formed without embrittling the tungsten wire. Apparatus for manufacturing such beaded-end coils on a mass production basis using a continuous mandrel-coil stock wire and a laser is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 James Petro
- 👤 Clair M Rively
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:48
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/14; B23K26/1435; B23K26/08; B23K26/083; B23K26/0838; B23K26/0846; B23K26/1438; B23K26/1462; B23K26/1464; B23K26/147; B23K26/36; B23K26/40; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/10; H05B3/16; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/02; B23K2103/08; B23K2103/10; B23K2103/12; B23K2103/14; B23K2103/18; B23K2103/26; B23K2103/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for manufacturing embryonic mandrel-containing wire coils having noduled ends from a continuous stock wire comprising a metal mandrel and a wire of dissimilar metal that is wound around said mandrel, which apparatus comprises; means for holding the stock wire and periodically moving it along a predetermined path relative to a controllable source of heat which provides a concentrated heat zone at a location along said path such that the portions of said stock wire are sequentially positioned in the heat zone established by said heat source when the latter is actuated, means for actuating said heat source for a predetermined period in timed sequence with the operation of said stock wire holding-moving means such that the heat source melts the positioned portion of said stock wire and forms a molten pool of metal while the stock wire is held stationary relative to said heat zone, and means for applying a force to the free end of the stock wire (a) in timed sequence with the operation of said holding-moving means and heat source actuating means such that said force is applied immediately after the said positioned portion of the stock wire is melted and (b) in a direction such that the formed molten pool of metal is divided and separated so that the end segment of the stock wire is thereby severed from the rest of said stock wire and the severed ends of the stock wire are each provided with a nodule of fused metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for manufacturing embryonic mandrel-containing wire coils having noduled ends from a continuous stock wire comprising a metal mandrel and a wire of dissimilar metal that is wound around said mandrel, which apparatus comprises; means for holding the stock wire and periodically moving it along a predetermined path relative to a controllable source of heat which provides a concentrated heat zone at a location along said path such that the portions of said stock wire are sequentially positioned in the heat zone established by said heat source when the latter is actuated, means for actuating said heat source for a predetermined period in timed sequence with the operation of said stock wire holding-moving means such that the heat source melts the positioned portion of said stock wire and forms a molten pool of metal while the stock wire is held stationary relative to said heat zone, and means for applying a force to the free end of the stock wire (a) in timed sequence with the operation of said holding-moving means and heat source actuating means such that said force is applied immediately after the said positioned portion of the stock wire is melted and (b) in a direction such that the formed molten pool of metal is divided and separated so that the end segment of the stock wire is thereby severed from the rest of said stock wire and the severed ends of the stock wire are each provided with a nodule of fused metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said forceapplying means comprises an annular electromagnet that is periodically energized in timed sequence with the operation of said stock wire holding-moving means and said heat source actuating means and applies an axial pull on the end segment of the stock wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controllable heat source comprises an oxy-hydrogen flame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controllable heat source comprises a laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controllable heat source comprises a laser that has means associated therewith which focuses the laser beam onto the mandrel component of the portions of the stock wire that are sequentially positioned in the laser beam by the stock wire holding-moving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said controllable heat source comprises a laser, and said holding-moving means advances the stock wire along a predetermined path that is substantially normal to the beam generated by said laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein means for directing a flow of oxygen onto the portion of the stock wire that is positioned in the laser beam is disposed adjacent said predetermined path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein; said laser comprises a CO2 type laser, said stock wire holding-moving means comprise two sets of clamping jaws that are actuated by cams which are rotated by a common drive shaft, and the operation of said laser is controlled by a circuit that includes a switch that is operated by a cam which is also rotated by said common drive shaft.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |