Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for exothermic welding comprising a mold which is formed of a material which withstands exothermic welding temperatures and includes a weld cavity therein for positioning at least two members which are to be exothermically welded together, and an ignition cavity communicating with the weld cavity. The mold is capable of accommodating any one of several exothermic welding procedures which may involve either a flint igniter or the use of an electrical igniter which is readily accommodated by the mold in the performance of several of the procedures. The electrical igniter is formed of a pair of flat, longitudinally extending conductor strips with a sheet of insulation laminated therebetween, a filament adjacent one end of the strips, and one or more positioning tabs adjacent one end of the strips. A cartridge is also provided which contains the weld metal and the electrical igniter and which may be positioned in the ignition cavity of the mold.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for exothermic welding comprising a mold which is formed of a material which withstands exothermic welding temperatures and includes a weld cavity therein for positioning at least two members which are to be exothermically welded together, and an ignition cavity communicating with the weld cavity. The mold is capable of accommodating any one of several exothermic welding procedures which may involve either a flint igniter or the use of an electrical igniter which is readily accommodated by the mold in the performance of several of the procedures. The electrical igniter is formed of a pair of flat, longitudinally extending conductor strips with a sheet of insulation laminated therebetween, a filament adjacent one end of the strips, and one or more positioning tabs adjacent one end of the strips. A cartridge is also provided which contains the weld metal and the electrical igniter and which may be positioned in the ignition cavity of the mold.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for exothermic welding comprising a mold which is formed of a material which withstands exothermic welding temperatures and includes a weld cavity therein for positioning at least two members which are to be exothermically welded together, and an ignition cavity communicating with the weld cavity. The mold is capable of accommodating any one of several exothermic welding procedures which may involve either a flint igniter or the use of an electrical igniter which is readily accommodated by the mold in the performance of several of the procedures. The electrical igniter is formed of a pair of flat, longitudinally extending conductor strips with a sheet of insulation laminated therebetween, a filament adjacent one end of the strips, and one or more positioning tabs adjacent one end of the strips. A cartridge is also provided which contains the weld metal and the electrical igniter and which may be positioned in the ignition cavity of the mold.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for exothermic welding comprising a mold which is formed of a material which withstands exothermic welding temperatures and includes a weld cavity therein for positioning at least two members which are to be exothermically welded together, and an ignition cavity communicating with the weld cavity. The mold is capable of accommodating any one of several exothermic welding procedures which may involve either a flint igniter or the use of an electrical igniter which is readily accommodated by the mold in the performance of several of the procedures. The electrical igniter is formed of a pair of flat, longitudinally extending conductor strips with a sheet of insulation laminated therebetween, a filament adjacent one end of the strips, and one or more positioning tabs adjacent one end of the strips. A cartridge is also provided which contains the weld metal and the electrical igniter and which may be positioned in the ignition cavity of the mold.

Abstract: A low resistance electrical connector comprising a flat bar having multiple lateral fingers projecting from the bar to form flat compression pads for attachment of electrical connectors, and an insulating housing surrounding said bar and including relatively short cylindrical projections enclosing a short extent of each finger and presenting a circular shoulder at the proximal end of each finger or the inner end of each compression pad so that a rocket may telescope over the shoulder and seal the connection to each pad. The number of fingers projecting from each bar may vary and they may project from one or both lateral sides of the bar. The connector is made by laser or waterjet cutting a flat sheet or bar of conductive metal such as copper, aluminum or a laminate to form a blank. The sheet is cut to avoid excessive scrap so that the space between fingers becomes the fingers of another blank. The blank is deburred and placed in a mold to form the insulating housing and cylindrical projections.

Abstract: An exothermic welding jig, molds for the jig, and a method of forming and manipulating the mold parts is disclosed. Upper and lower mold parts are included with a crucible fitted on and clamped to the upper mold part. The upper mold part and crucible may be moved as a unit to open and close the mold and also inverted when open for cleaning and inspection. The crucible can quickly be removed or snapped in place for mold or crucible change out. The jig will fit in cramped quarters and has a handle which may be used as a cane or supporting device. A toggle opens and closes the mold set and will hold the molds at any position where released. A mold system with diagonal sleeving makes it easier to form X-connections and other connections in tight or restrictive locations. The method includes the attachment and manipulative steps.

Abstract: An exothermic welding apparatus and method uses a crucible which can be used with a variety of exothermic weld metal material volumes to produce welds of different sizes while maintaining the desired diameter to height ratio for each volume of exothermic material. In one embodiment, the crucible includes a double or two stage cavity. The crucible includes a somewhat smaller lower stage which reduces the diameter for smaller volumes. This lower stage may have two disk seats to isolate the two stages from the tap hole. A disk seat is provided for a larger disk between the two stages. The crucible may include a volume of exothermic material in the smaller lower chamber, the larger upper chamber, or a combination of both. In a triple stage embodiment, a wider variety of exothermic material volumes or masses may be accommodated, all while maintaining the desired diameter to height ratio for each charge. Although the desired ratio is approximately one, the ratio range should be maintained from about 0.5 to about 1.

Abstract: Exothermic welding apparatus includes a toggle frame jig for supporting vertically split molds. The toggle includes a post projecting parallel to the main pivot of the jig on which telescopes a crucible support. The crucible support includes a handle extending above the crucible when secured to the support. A quick acting toggle connects the support and post enabling the crucible to be assembled, cleaned, or prepared remote from the molds and then quickly installed and locked in position.