Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for joining a first metal having a higher melting point to a second metal having a lower melting point, said first and second metals being substantially insoluble in one another, comprising depositing a thin layer of a third metal on the surface of one of said first and said second metals, placing the other of said first and said second metals in contact with said thin layer of third metal, directing a high energy particle beam over an area including the first metal, the second metal, and the third metal to heat the first metal, to partly melt the second metal, and to at least partly dissolve the third metal in the second metal, and cooling the resultant weld, said third metal melting at a temperature intermediate the melting temperature of said first metal and said second metal and being capable of wetting said first metal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for joining a first metal having a higher melting point to a second metal having a lower melting point, said first and second metals being substantially insoluble in one another, comprising depositing a thin layer of a third metal on the surface of one of said first and said second metals, placing the other of said first and said second metals in contact with said thin layer of third metal, directing a high energy particle beam over an area including the first metal, the second metal, and the third metal to heat the first metal, to partly melt the second metal, and to at least partly dissolve the third metal in the second metal, and cooling the resultant weld, said third metal melting at a temperature intermediate the melting temperature of said first metal and said second metal and being capable of wetting said first metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thin layer of third metal is deposited by ion sputtering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thin layer of third metal is deposited by vapor deposition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first metal comprises a ferrous alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said second metal comprises an aluminum alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said third metal substance comprises silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein approximately one-third of the energy of said beam is directed to the portion of said first member directly adjacent to said area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the remainder of said beam is directed to said third metal substance and to the portion of said second member directly adjacent to said area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first metal comprises one of the refractory metals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said second metal comprises a ferrous alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said third metal substance comprises gold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said gold comprises approximately 82% gold and 18% nickel.