Welding method and means using foil electrode

Claim 2

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing two metallic members together with a thin conductive member positioned thereagainst, applying current via a circuit connected to at least one of said members with at least one of said two members being initially an electrode and the thin member being initially an electrode in said circuit and with the current, relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member, being sufficient to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface of the two members progressively radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the said two metallic members are placed in abutment with the said thin conductive member positioned therebetween.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein one of said two members includes a tubular poriton and the other of said two members includes a portion extended within said tubular portion with surfaces of the portions of two members substantially flush and the thin conductive member thereagainst.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein there is provided a further member which is forced against the thin conductive member to in turn force such member against the said two metallic members.

Claim 6

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing two metallic members together with a thin conductive member positioned thereagainst, applying current by a circuit connected to said members with both of said members being initially an electrode and the thin member being initially an electrode in said circuit and with the current, relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member, being sufficient to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

Claim 7

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing two metallic members together with a thin conductive member positioned thereagainst, applying current by a circuit connected to said members with both of said members being initially an electrode and the thin member being initially an electrode in said circuit and with the current, relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member, being sufficient to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

Claim 8

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing at least two metallic members together with end portions adjacent and with a thin conductive member positioned against said end portions, applying a current by a circuit connected to at least one of said members with at least one of said members being initially an electrode, forcing said thin member against said two portions by a further member which is connected to said circuit so as to be initially an electrode when said further member is forced thereagainst and then through said circuit applying a current relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the said two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 9

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing at least two metallic members together with end portions adjacent and with a thin conductive member positioned against said end portions, applying a current by a circuit connected to at least one of said members with at least one of said members being initially an electrode, forcing said thin member against said two portions by a further member which is connected to said circuit so as to be initially an electrode when said further member is forced thereagainst and then through said circuit applying a current relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the said two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 10

In a method of evenly heating metallic members the steps comprising providing at least two metallic members and a thin conductive member transversely disposed thereagainst and extending radially outwardly of edge surfaces of said members, applying a current in a circuit including at least one of said two members and said thin member in series, said current being sufficient, relative to the thickness of said thin member, to vaporize said thin member drawing an arc extending from portions of said thin member to embrace both of said two members and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 11

In a method of evenly heating metallic members the steps comprising providing at least two metallic members and a thin conductive member transversely disposed thereagainst and extending radially outwardly of edge surfaces of said members, applying a current in a circuit including at least one of said two members and said thin member in series, said current being sufficient, relative to the thickness of said thin member, to vaporize said thin member drawing an arc extending from portions of said thin member to embrace both of said two members and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 12

A connecting method comprising the steps of placing together at least two metal members to be connected together with a thin conductive member disposed therebetween, applying a current of sufficient energy to cause an arc with at least one of said metal members being an electrode and with the thin member being an electrode and with said current causing said thin member to vaporize in the zone adjacent said two members to melt said members and effect a fusion therebetween and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 13

A connecting method comprising the steps of placing together at least two metal members to be connected together with a thin conductive member disposed therebetween, applying a current of sufficient energy to cause an arc with at least one of said metal members being an electrode and with the thin member being an electrode and with said current causing said thin member to vaporize in the zone adjacent said two members to melt said members and effect a fusion therebetween and bringing said members together to form a joint.

Claim 14

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin member is made to extend radially outward of said two members and said current is made sufficient to vaporize said thin member radially outward of said two members.

Claim 15

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin member is made to extend across the entire facing surfaces of said members and said current is made sufficient to vaporize substantially all of said thin member between said two members.

Claim 16

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin member is made to extend radially outward of said two members co-extensive with the periphery thereof and said current is made sufficient to vaporize said thin member to draw said arc to extend from said thin member generally inward toward the ends of said two members to evenly heat both members about the periphery thereof.

Claim 17

The method of claim 8 wherein one of said members includes a tubular portion and the other member is positioned therewithin with the end surfaces of said members substantially flush.

Claim 18

The method of claim 8 wherein said current is made sufficient to vaporize said thin member to a point to provide a gap in said circuit extinguishing said arc.

Claim 19

The method of claim 8 wherein said two members are forced relatively together in engagement with both of said two members becoming electrodes.

Claim 20

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin metallic member is an electro-positive metal.

Claim 21

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin metallic member has characteristics to serve as an oxygen getter during vaporization as said arc is generated.

Claim 22

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin member is a foil.

Claim 23

The method of claim 8 wherein said thin member is aluminum foil.

Claim 24

A welding method comprising the steps of forcing at least two metal members together with a foil-like metallic member disposed transversely therebetween and applying a pulse of sufficient energy to cause an arc to be struck in the zone between said members vaporizing said foil-like metallic member and melting said two members with the force driving said members together assisting a fusion of the melted portions of said members.

Claim 25

A welding method comprising the steps of forcing at least two metal members together with a foil-like metallic member disposed transversely therebetween and applying a pulse of sufficient energy to cause an arc to be struck in the zone between said members vaporizing said foil-like metallic member and melting said two members with the force driving said members together assisting a fusion of the melted portions of said members.

Claim 28

In an apparatus for welding metallic members together a source of energy capable of being switched to develop a current flowing in a circuit including an anode lead and a cathode lead, one of said leads including one of the members to be welded and the other lead including a thin metallic member inserted between the members to be welded together, the said thin member having a thickness controlled to be vaporized by the said current to develop an arc plasma melting the ends of said members providing a fusion thereof and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

Claim 29

In an apparatus for welding metallic members together a source of energy capable of being switched to develop a current flowing in a circuit including an anode lead and a cathode lead, one of said leads including one of the members to be welded and the other lead including a thin metallic member inserted between the members to be welded together, the said thin member having a thickness controlled to be vaporized by the said current to develop an arc plasma melting the ends of said members providing a fusion thereof and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

Claim 30

A welding method comprising the steps of placing at least two metal members with portions thereof in contact and with a foil-like metallic member disposed proximate said portions and overlying said portions, forcing said foil-like metallic member against said portions with a further member to effect an intimate contact therewith, applying a current to said foil sufficient to develop an arc plasma melting said two members to result in a fusion thereof.

Claim 31

A welding method comprising the steps of placing at least two metal members with portions thereof in contact and with a foil-like metallic member disposed proximate said portions and overlying said portions, forcing said foil-like metallic member against said portions with a further member to effect an intimate contact therewith, applying a current to said foil sufficient to develop an arc plasma melting said two members to result in a fusion thereof.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22 wherein said foil is made an electrode and at least one of said two members is made an electrode relative to applied current.