US3926358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for deforming tubing for ultrasonic welding of the tubing to a planar structure
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1975-01-07
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1995-01-07
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for deforming tubing to a preselected configuration and urging the deformed tubing and a planar structure into forcible contact with one another ultrasonically welding the deformed tubing to the planar structure.
Inventors
- 👤 William F Hester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:25
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/10; F; F28; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F1/12; F28F1/14; F28F1/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49373; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53113; Y10T29/53122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for urging and deforming a tubing against a structure and maintaining the deformed tubing against the structure during ultrasonically welding of the tubing to the structure, comprising: a pressure block having first surface having a groove of preselected configuration extending across said first surface, said groove having a bottom portion and side portions, said bottom portion being of generally arcuate configuration about a major axis of the groove and having first, second, and middle portions, said first and second groove bottom portions being of arcuate configuration about a respective minor axis spaced laterally from and on opposed sides of the major axis a distance in the range of about 0.9% to about 2.9% of the outside diameter of the tubing to be deformed with the pressure block and each having a common radius in the range of 48% to 52% of said tubing outside diameter, said groove middle portion being at a depth Substantially equal to the greatest depth of the adjacent first and second groove bottom portions and in the range of 70% to 90% of said tubing outside diameter and each of said groove side portions extending outwardly from the respective first and second groove bottom portions at an angle in the range of about 5* to about 25* from the vertical.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for urging and deforming a tubing against a structure and maintaining the deformed tubing against the structure during ultrasonically welding of the tubing to the structure, comprising: a pressure block having first surface having a groove of preselected configuration extending across said first surface, said groove having a bottom portion and side portions, said bottom portion being of generally arcuate configuration about a major axis of the groove and having first, second, and middle portions, said first and second groove bottom portions being of arcuate configuration about a respective minor axis spaced laterally from and on opposed sides of the major axis a distance in the range of about 0.9% to about 2.9% of the outside diameter of the tubing to be deformed with the pressure block and each having a common radius in the range of 48% to 52% of said tubing outside diameter, said groove middle portion being at a depth Substantially equal to the greatest depth of the adjacent first and second groove bottom portions and in the range of 70% to 90% of said tubing outside diameter and each of said groove side portions extending outwardly from the respective first and second groove bottom portions at an angle in the range of about 5* to about 25* from the vertical.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the bottom portion has an opening extending through the block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the block has a plurality of spaced-apart grooves of common configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the block has a plurality of spaced-apart grooves of common configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including means for placing the first surface of the pressure block and the structure into forcible contact one with the other.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for deforming tubing and maintaining tubing in forcible contact with the structure for ultrasonically welding the tubing to the structure, comprising: inserting the tubing in a groove of a pressure block; urging the tubing in the block against the structure; deforming a first side of the tubing into a planar surface in contact with the structure while deforming other portions of the tubing into a preselected curvilinear configuration by urging the tubing in the block against the structure with a preselected force; and maintaining the deformed tubing in forcible contact with the structure for ultrasonically welding the planar surface of the deformed tubing to the structure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for deforming tubing and maintaining tubing in forcible contact with the structure for ultrasonically welding the tubing to the structure, comprising: inserting the tubing in a groove of a pressure block; urging the tubing in the block against the structure; deforming a first side of the tubing into a planar surface in contact with the structure while deforming other portions of the tubing into a preselected curvilinear configuration by urging the tubing in the block against the structure with a preselected force; and maintaining the deformed tubing in forcible contact with the structure for ultrasonically welding the planar surface of the deformed tubing to the structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the tubing is deformed to a configuration at which the planar portion has a width at least 30% of the outside diameter of the tubing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the inside volume of the deformed portion of the tubing is greater than 80% of the inside volume of a common portion of the non-deformed tubing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |