US4386728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hermetic sealing of abutment joints by non-vacuum focused energy welding
Assignee: Leybold Heraeus Vacuum Systems Inc
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Filing: 1981-04-15
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of hermetically sealing by NVFE (non-vacuum focused energy) welding abutment joints formed by elongate surfaces. At substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves are formed across one of the surfaces, while leaving between the vent grooves separating lengths of many times the length of the groove width. The grooves enable the NVFE welding to be effected continuously in unidirectional pass along the joint, the gases venting from the joint through the successive vent grooves as the welding progresses continuously along the joint. Continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, each vent groove is sealed by the NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Torok
- 👤 Ernest Gajdusek, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:51
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K15/00; B23K15/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2121; Y10T74/2122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of hermetically sealing by NVFE (non-vacuum focused energy) welding, an abutment joint formed by two elongate surfaces comprising: providing at substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves across one of said surfaces while leaving between said vent grooves separating lengths of said one surface and each of which lengths extends between a pair of the grooves many times the groove width; effecting substantially uninterrupted abutment joint contact of said surfaces along each of said lengths; NVFE welding the abutment joint in a continuous unidirectional pass therealong; venting gases from the abutment joint through the successive vent grooves as said welding progresses continuously along said joint; and continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, sealing each vent groove by said NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of hermetically sealing by NVFE (non-vacuum focused energy) welding, an abutment joint formed by two elongate surfaces comprising: providing at substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves across one of said surfaces while leaving between said vent grooves separating lengths of said one surface and each of which lengths extends between a pair of the grooves many times the groove width; effecting substantially uninterrupted abutment joint contact of said surfaces along each of said lengths; NVFE welding the abutment joint in a continuous unidirectional pass therealong; venting gases from the abutment joint through the successive vent grooves as said welding progresses continuously along said joint; and continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, sealing each vent groove by said NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, which comprises forming said vent grooves with a shallow curvature from side to side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2, which comprises providing a reverse curvature juncture with each of the separating lengths of said one surface at each side of said grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, which comprises seating a member having thereon said one surface against a shoulder on another member having thereon the other of said surfaces, and said grooves opening from said joint in the opposite direction from said shoulder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, which comprises forming said grooves at spaced intervals of about 1 to 2 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5, which comprises forming said vent grooves to a depth of from 0.004 to 0.006 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, which comprises NVFE welding a joint between a housing of a viscous torsional vibration damper defining a working chamber therein and a cover closing said working chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said housing has an initial annular axially directed opening and said cover is of complementary annular form having radially inner and radially outer edges, providing said narrow shallow vent grooves at substantially spaced intervals along each of said cover edges, effecting press fit engagement of each of said edges with complementary surfaces on said housing about said opening, and effecting NVFE welding of the joints between each of said cover edges and said complementary housing surfaces.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of making a viscous torsional vibration damper having a housing defining a working chamber accommodating an annular inertia mass in relatively rotatable relation, and the housing having an axial opening through which the inertia mass is loaded into the working chamber, there being an annular cover for said opening and the housing having at the radially inner and radially outer sides of said opening axially outwardly facing annular shoulders and axially extending substantially cylindrical rabbet groove surfaces respectively associated with said shoulders, and an annular cover for closing said opening, comprising: providing at substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves across each of radially inner and radially outer edge surfaces on the cover and leaving between said vent grooves separating lengths of said edge surfaces and each of which lengths extends between a pair of the grooves many times the groove width; assembling said cover by press fitting and effecting substantially uninterrupted abutment joint contact of said edge surfaces along each of said lengths with said axially extending rabbet groove surfaces and bottoming said cover against said shoulders; NVFE welding each of the press fit abutment joints in a continuous unidirectional pass along each joint; venting gases from the abutment joints through the successive vent grooves as said welding progresses continuously along each joint; and continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, sealing each vent groove by said NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of making a viscous torsional vibration damper having a housing defining a working chamber accommodating an annular inertia mass in relatively rotatable relation, and the housing having an axial opening through which the inertia mass is loaded into the working chamber, there being an annular cover for said opening and the housing having at the radially inner and radially outer sides of said opening axially outwardly facing annular shoulders and axially extending substantially cylindrical rabbet groove surfaces respectively associated with said shoulders, and an annular cover for closing said opening, comprising: providing at substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves across each of radially inner and radially outer edge surfaces on the cover and leaving between said vent grooves separating lengths of said edge surfaces and each of which lengths extends between a pair of the grooves many times the groove width; assembling said cover by press fitting and effecting substantially uninterrupted abutment joint contact of said edge surfaces along each of said lengths with said axially extending rabbet groove surfaces and bottoming said cover against said shoulders; NVFE welding each of the press fit abutment joints in a continuous unidirectional pass along each joint; venting gases from the abutment joints through the successive vent grooves as said welding progresses continuously along each joint; and continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, sealing each vent groove by said NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9, which comprises forming each of said grooves on a shallow radius.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 10, comprising forming a convex juncture at each side of each of the grooves with the adjoining separating lengths.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said cover has a radially outer diameter of about 12" and a radially inner diameter of about 7.5", which comprises providing said vent grooves at from 1" to 2" intervals along said cover edge surfaces, and forming said grooves to a depth of 0.004" to 0.006".
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 12, which comprises fine blanking said cover and forming said grooves simultaneously with the blanking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9, comprising fine blanking said cover and forming said grooves simultaneously with the blanking.
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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) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |