US4969592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide with large dimensions in a materially bonded manner and apparatus for performing the method
Assignee: Interatom Internationale Atomreaktorbau GmbH
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Filing: 1989-06-21
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Granted: 1990-11-13
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Expires: 2009-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide with large dimensions includes surrounding each of two silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide workpieces with at least one tightly closing shell in the vicinity of a junction between the workpieces, defining at least one intermediate space between the shell and the workpieces. A vacuum or an inert gas atmosphere is maintained in the intermediate space or spaces. Solder is placed at the junction and the junction is locally heated to soldering temperature for materially bonding the workpieces by soldering at the junction.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohamed Yarahmadi
- 👤 Hartmut Kainer
- 👤 Juergen Sommerer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:55
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B37/00; C04B37/003; C04B37/006; C04B2237/00; C04B2237/02; C04B2237/10; C04B2237/12; C04B2237/122; C04B2237/123; C04B2237/124; C04B2237/126; C04B2237/128; C04B2237/30; C04B2237/32; C04B2237/36; C04B2237/365; C04B2237/50; C04B2237/76; C04B2237/765
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide, comprising at least one shell gas-tightly enclosing each of two silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide workpieces in the vicinity of a junction between the workpieces, defining at least one intermediate space between said at least one shell and the workpieces; a line communicating with said at least one intermediate space for adjusting the atmosphere therein; a heating element in the vicinity of the junction for locally heating the junction to soldering temperature and materially bonding the workpieces with solder at the junction; and a cooling apparatus for cooling said at least one shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide, comprising at least one shell gas-tightly enclosing each of two silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide workpieces in the vicinity of a junction between the workpieces, defining at least one intermediate space between said at least one shell and the workpieces; a line communicating with said at least one intermediate space for adjusting the atmosphere therein; a heating element in the vicinity of the junction for locally heating the junction to soldering temperature and materially bonding the workpieces with solder at the junction; and a cooling apparatus for cooling said at least one shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said line includes means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one intermediate space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said line includes means for maintaining an inert gas atmosphere in said at least one intermediate space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating element is formed of a material from the group consisting of tungsten, iridium and molybdenum and is sufficient for radiating heat onto the junction provided with solder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including an elastomer seal disposed between said at least one shell and the workpieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, including at least one elastomer seal being disposed between said at least one shell and the workpieces and being cooled by said cooling apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including at least one plastically deformable metal seal disposed between said at least one shell and the workpieces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one shell is in the form of one shell having first and second half-shells through which workpieces in the form of first and second tube lengths can be gas-tightly passed for soldering two tube lengths together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide, wherein one of the workpieces is a tube plate and the other workpiece is a tube to be joined to the tube plate, and the tube plate has a side facing toward and a side facing away from the tube, comprising shells gas-tightly enclosing the workpieces in the vicinity of a junction between the workpieces, defining at least one intermediate space between said shells and the workpieces, said shells being in the form of a first shell resting gas-tightly on the side of the tube plate facing away from the tube and a second shell partly surrounding the tube and resting gas-tightly on the side of the tube plate facing toward the tube; a line communicating with said at least one intermediate space for adjusting the atmosphere therein; and a heating element in the vicinity of the junction for locally heating the junction to soldering temperature and materially bonding the workpieces with solder at the junction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for uniting workpieces of silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide, wherein one of the workpieces is a tube plate and the other workpiece is a tube to be joined to the tube plate, and the tube plate has a side facing toward and a side facing away from the tube, comprising shells gas-tightly enclosing the workpieces in the vicinity of a junction between the workpieces, defining at least one intermediate space between said shells and the workpieces, said shells being in the form of a first shell resting gas-tightly on the side of the tube plate facing away from the tube and a second shell partly surrounding the tube and resting gas-tightly on the side of the tube plate facing toward the tube; a line communicating with said at least one intermediate space for adjusting the atmosphere therein; and a heating element in the vicinity of the junction for locally heating the junction to soldering temperature and materially bonding the workpieces with solder at the junction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said heating element is disposed in the interior of the tube in the vicinity of the tube plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, including a stopper firmly closing the free end of the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said at least one intermediate space is in the form of one intermediate space disposed between said first shell and said junction and another intermediate space disposed between said second shell and said junction, and including separate heat insulation means disposed in said intermediate spaces and in the free end of the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said heating element includes a plurality of heating wires grouped around the tube lengths parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, including separate heat insulation means disposed in said half-shells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, including separate heat insulation means disposed in said half-shells and in the tube lengths.
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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) | 1993-11-12 | 1994-05-14 | 1994-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-12 | 1998-05-14 | 1998-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-12 | 2002-05-14 | 2002-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |