Methods Patents (Class 219/121.14)
  • Publication number: 20090255981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for repairing components that consist of a superalloy. The method comprises the following steps: a solder material is applied to the repair site; the repair site with the applied solder material is heated until the latter melts; and the melted solder material is left to solidify. A powder blend, whose average composition corresponds to the component alloy constitutes the solder material, the blend comprising at least one elementary powder of the component alloy as one powder type and/or a pre-alloy of the component alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Singer, Andreas Volek
  • Publication number: 20090188099
    Abstract: A method for preparing a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell stack is provided. The method first includes the steps of providing a first unipolar plate having a first active area with a plurality of channels formed on a first inner surface thereof, and a second unipolar plate having a second active area with a plurality of lands formed on a second inner surface thereof. The first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate are aligned to dispose the first active area adjacent the second active area. A first pressure is then applied to the first and second active areas to pre-nest the first active area and the second active area. The perimeters of the first and second unipolar plates are then joined. A clamping fixture and associated method for assembling the bipolar plate assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mark W. Keyser, Jeffrey A. Rock, Keith E. Newman, Lewis Dipietro, Scott Ofslager, Steven J. Spencer
  • Publication number: 20090155623
    Abstract: Provided are precipitation hardened high strength nickel based alloy welds that yield improved properties and performance in joining high strength metals. The advantageous weldments include two or more segments of ferrous or non-ferrous components, and fusion welds, friction stir welds, electron beam welds, laser beam welds, or a combination thereof bonding adjacent segments of the components together, wherein the welds comprise a precipitation hardened nickel based alloy weld metal composition including greater than or equal to 1.4 wt % of combined aluminum and titanium based on the total weight of the nickel based alloy weld metal composition. Also provided are methods for forming the welds from the nickel based alloy weld compositions, wherein the precipitation hardening occurs in the as-welded condition. The nickel based welds do not require a separate heat treatment step after welding to produce advantageous strength properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Raghavan Ayer, Neeraj Srinivas Thirumalai, Hyun-Woo Jin, Daniel B. Lillig, Douglas Paul Fairchild, Steven Jeffrey Ford
  • Publication number: 20090131904
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an internally threaded tube of virtually limitless length that can be easily and reliably constructed. In one aspect, the invention provides an internally threaded tube that includes a tube casing and a coil. A ratio of the length of the tube casing to the inner diameter of the tube casing can be greater than 5:1. The coil can be positioned coaxially within the tube casing. In this position, the coil can exert a radially outward force on the inner surface of the tube casing, which can aid in bonding. A portion of the coil can be specially adapted to be bonded to the tube casing. Methods of creating internally threaded tubes and methods of spirally delivering surgical components with internally threaded tubes are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: John D. Wright, Charles M. Berg, Robert Palme, John W. Warling
  • Publication number: 20090104525
    Abstract: In a secondary battery, a positive metal foil having a laminated portion in which parts of the metal foil are laminated in close contact with each other, and a positive electrode current collector terminal member has a contact portion placed in close contact with at least one side of the positive foil laminated portion in a lamination direction thereof The secondary battery is manufactured by welding the parts of the positive metal foil to each other and the positive foil laminated portion and the contact portion to each other by irradiation of an energy beam emitted to travel in the lamination direction while an irradiation site is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yugo Nakagawa, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7520043
    Abstract: An annular facing is machined in an inside surface of the spherical wall around the periphery of a zone where the wall has a bore for securing the tube passing therethrough. A first welding material is deposited in the facing, and the bore is made by drilling through a portion of the spherical wall that is surrounded by the facing. The tube is engaged tightly in the bore, and a second welding material is deposited in the facing at the periphery of the tube in order to weld the tube to the first welding material. At least one of the operations of depositing the first and second welding materials in the facing is performed automatically by causing a welding torch to turn around the axis of the bore while moving the torch in a direction that is parallel to the axis of the bore and while causing it to pivot about an axis that is orthogonal to the axis of the bore while rotation is taking place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Framatome ANP
    Inventors: Bernard Bon, Patrick Poret
  • Publication number: 20090050608
    Abstract: There is provided a method for excellently joining an iron member and an aluminum member. A steel sheet (1) composed mainly of iron and an aluminum sheet (3) composed mainly of aluminum are joined, wherein the steel sheet (1) has a zinc-containing zinc plated layer (2) formed on a joining side, and the steel sheet (1) and the aluminum sheet (3) are partially stacked and spot-welded while the zinc plated layer (2) is sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Noboru Hayashi, Fumiaki Niisato, Kazuyoshi Doira
  • Publication number: 20090052857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a component assembly and to a method of fabricating such a component assembly. The component assembly includes a substrate, a mount attached to the substrate, and a component attached to the mount with solder by melting the solder with light from a light source. The mount is composed of a ceramic material having properties advantageous for soldering using a light source. As a first property, the ceramic material is optically absorptive to enable the mount to be heated by the light from the light source. As a second property, the ceramic material has a first thermal conductivity at an operating temperature of the component and a second thermal conductivity at a melting point of the solder, the second thermal conductivity being at least 25% lower than the first thermal conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Skidmore, Richard Duesterberg
  • Publication number: 20090032571
    Abstract: Methods and associated systems for welding a particle-matrix composite body to another body are disclosed. In some embodiments, a particle-matrix bit body may be welded to a metal coupler. In one embodiment, a heating torch may heat a first localized volume of the particle-matrix composite body to a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix material of the particle-matrix composite body. A welding torch may simultaneously melt a second localized volume proximate the first localized volume to a temperature above the melting temperature of the matrix material of the particle-matrix composite body to weld the particle-matrix composite body to another body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Redd H. Smith
  • Patent number: 7406767
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a section of a support strut member of an offshore oil-drilling rig comprising steps which consist in: a) machining each longitudinal edge of a semi-cylindrical stiffener (13) to provide along the longitudinal edge, a lip (18) for support on a main surface (12A) of a main plate (12), by producing along the longitudinal edge an outer bevel (20) on the side opposite the conduit (17) defined by the stiffener (13); b) applying a base plate (22) of the support lip (18) to weld it with main surface (12A) of the plate (12); heating the support lip (18) to weld it with the plate (12) and constitute a support weld joint; and d) forming a weld bead with filler metal from outside the conduit (17) in the space delimited between the support weld joint, the outer bevel (20) and the main surface (12A) of the main plate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Louis Primot, Pierre-Armand Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080121043
    Abstract: A pressure transducer assembly including: a pressure sensor header; a transducer assembly member; and a joining arrangement disposed at an interface of the header and the transducer assembly member, for joining the header with the transducer assembly member, the joining arrangement including: a recessed female joining element formed in one of the header and the transducer assembly member; and a protruding male joining element formed on the other of the header and the transducer assembly member, the male joining element received in the female joining element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kurtz, Adam Kane
  • Publication number: 20080105659
    Abstract: A method of welding superalloy components comprising: preheating one or more components to be welded to a target temperature of at least 1500OF in a vacuum chamber; welding the one or more preheated components in a weldment region utilizing an electron beam, while maintaining the target temperature until welding is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Arnett, Daniel A. Nowak, Paul S. Dimascio
  • Publication number: 20080099446
    Abstract: The invention is a method of repairing an aperture and adjacent defect in a part which is started by removing one or more defects adjacent an aperture in a base material. The material is removed to create a weld seam that extends past an area of high stress concentration on the aperture. An insert of material containing a profile that corresponds to the profile of the base material removed adjacent the aperture and a combination top and runoff plate that encompasses the insert of material are provided. A backing plate is inserted underneath the combination top and runoff plate and insert such that there remains an air space between the backing plate and the combination plate which prevents the combination plate from becoming fused to the backing plate during a welding process. The insert is welded to the base material, and the backing plate is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Philip R. Belanger
  • Publication number: 20080102308
    Abstract: There is provided a method for joining an iron member and an aluminum member, the iron member including a plated layer at least on a joining side with the aluminum member; the aluminum member formed of an aluminum cladding material including an aluminum core material mainly formed of aluminum and an aluminum alloy layer with a melting point lower than that of the aluminum core material, cladded on a joining side with the iron member; the method including a step of stacking the iron member and the aluminum member, and a step of joining the iron member and the aluminum member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Doira, Noboru Hayashi, Masaaki Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20080090146
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes embodiments of bipolar plate electrode structures for use in an electrochemical battery assembly and a bipolar battery assembly utilizing the bipolar electrode plate structure as a fundamental building block. An exemplary bipolar electrode assembly can have an electrically isolated mechanical supporting plate sandwiched between two electrically conducting electrode substrate plates which are mechanically and electrically connected through holes in the supporting plate. Vapor and liquid tight sealing can be accomplished with an internal sealing ring placed in compression between and thermally bonded to the two conducting electrode substrates. The exposed metallic edges of the electrode supports and substrates can provide improved heat removal from the bipolar battery assembly. Associated construction methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: David Batson
  • Publication number: 20080000883
    Abstract: A method for the end-side welding of at least two metal sheets disposed on one another in sections, includes selecting welding parameters such that, in the metal sheets to be connected, at least one of which is composed of a high-strength steel, a temperature with which the high-strength steel of the at least one metal sheet is tempered is generated at least in direct vicinity of an end-side weld seam. In addition, through a suitable selection of the welding parameters, a weld pool volume forming the weld seam is generated at an end side of the metal sheets. The weld pool volume has a width greater than the width of the end side of the metal sheets. Therefore, an undercut can be generated between the outer sides of the metal sheets and the weld seam. A form-locking connection can thereby be generated between the metal sheets and the weld seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Heiko Rudolf, Volker Tessmar, Sven Juttner, Bernd Grosser
  • Patent number: 7229598
    Abstract: A honeycomb body, which is composed in such a manner that a strip of corrugated foil made of heat-resistant stainless steel containing aluminum and a strip of flat foil made of stainless steel are alternately wound or laminated on each other, is incorporated into an outer cylinder made of metal and integrated into one body by means of diffusion bonding, so that a diffusion bonded metallic catalyst carrier can be formed. Surface roughness of the strip of foil after the completion of diffusion bonding is 0.001 to 2.0 ?m when it is expressed by center line average height Ra, and no sintered bridges are formed at both end portions of the diffusion bonded section in the longitudinal direction. The catalyst carrier is manufactured in a condition so that ?b, which is defined by ?b=6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Tadayuki Otani, Kazutoshi Iwami, Masayuki Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7005598
    Abstract: A process for is producing a fiber-reinforced semifinished product in the form of metal strips, metal sheets etc., from at least one layer of fibers which includes a number of long to endless reinforcing fibers spaced apart from one another and arranged in parallel and a metal. A metal jacket applied to the reinforcing fiber by a PVD process (physical vapor deposition) may act for example as the metal. At least certain regions of the metal and the reinforcing fibers run through a welding process in which a bonding takes place by planar melting of the metal to form a matrix surrounding the reinforcing fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler AG, MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Andrees, Heiko Fietzek, Falko Heutling, Bertram Kopperger, Juergen Wehr
  • Patent number: 6998570
    Abstract: An apparatus and method may be used for welding a first panel to a second panel, the first panel having an inboard side partially contacting the second panel and an opposite outboard side. The apparatus has a welding beam generator. The apparatus reduces a pressure along the inboard side of the panel relative to an adjacent pressure along the outboard side so as to produce inward deflection of the first panel along a first portion of the first panel not contacting the second panel relative to a second portion. The apparatus has locates, based on said deflection, at least one of said first portion or said second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Watkins, Joseph C. Barone
  • Patent number: 6995333
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprises a rolled-up electrode unit 2 composed of a positive electrode 23, a negative electrode 21 and a separator 22 interposed therebetween, and a negative electrode current collector plate 3 and a positive electrode current collector plate 30 joined to the respective ends of the electrode unit 2. The negative electrode collector plate 3 is joined to an edge of the negative electrode 21 projecting at one of the opposite ends of the electrode unit 2. The collector plate 3 has a two-layer structure comprising a copper layer 31 made of copper or an alloy consisting predominantly of copper, and a metal layer made of a metal not forming an intermetallic compound with lithium and having a lower laser beam reflectivity than copper or an alloy consisting predominantly of the metal. The collector plate 3 has its copper layer 31 contacted with the edge of the negative electrode 21 and welded thereto with a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Nakanishi, Kouichi Satoh, Toshiyuki Nohma, Ikuo Yonezu
  • Patent number: 6965090
    Abstract: Positive and negative electrode plates, after being dried, are layered alternately upon one another with intervening separators therebetween to constitute electrode plate groups. These electrode plate groups are transferred in succession from one to another of a plurality of preliminary chambers, which are respectively constructed to be able to create vacuum of various levels and arranged so that the vacuum level is gradually increased, and finally introduced into a processing chamber in which the vacuum level is highest, where the welding of collector plates to the electrode plate groups is performed with an electronic beam irradiating device. After that, the electrode plate groups are taken out through a post-processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Karasawa, Yugo Nakagawa, Hiromi Kajiya
  • Patent number: 6953508
    Abstract: A welding method includes performing welding to form a weld metal consisting essentially of, in mass %, C: 0.01-0.15%, Si: 0.02-0.6%, Mn: 0.6-3.0%, Al: 0.004-0.08%, Ti: 0.003-0.03%, B: at most 0.005%, Cu: 0-1.2%, Ni: 0-3%, Cr: 0-1.2%, Mo: 0-2%, V: 0-0.05%, Nb: 0-0.05%, and a remainder of Fe and unavoidable impurities. The amounts of impurities are P: at most 0.03%, S: at most 0.03%, N: at most 0.01%, Ca or Mg: at most 0.005%. The value of Pcm expressed by the following Equation (3) is in the range of 0.23-0.35%, and the time T until the weld metal is cooled to 100° C. after welding satisfies the following Equation (1): T(seconds)?exp(7.0×Pw+4.66)??Equation (1) Pw=Pcm+HD/60??Equation (2) Pcm(mass %)=C+Si/30+Mn/20+Cu/20+Ni/60+Cr/20+Mo/15+V/10+5B??Equation (3) HD [ml/100 g]: amount of hydrogen in the weld metal immediately after welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ikeda, Akio Yamamoto, Shigemichi Yamauchi, Nobuaki Takahashi, Masahiko Hamada
  • Patent number: 6919528
    Abstract: In a welding machine and welding method, for welding cylinder members together about an outside diameter, which prevents the cylinder members from being deformed and corrects the deformation of a portion to be welded, a laser beam, generated by a laser generator, is dispersed in two directions by a spectroscope. The laser beams focus on an outer cylinder member using two optical heads, respectively, in a plane perpendicular to a center axis of outer cylinder member. The optical heads are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees in the plane. The outer and inner cylinder members are welded to each other in the circular direction using laser beams. Therefore, directions, in which the cylinder members are deformed due to the laser beams, are perpendicular to each other creating uniform radial deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Shirai, Koji Murakami, Norio Tanaka, Yoshiki Kariya, Hiroyuki Nishina, Takayuki Hokao
  • Patent number: 6888090
    Abstract: A method of forming a welded component by electron beam welding, and the resulting welded assembly. The method is particularly directed to the welding of a component whose subcomponents are formed of dissimilar metals, with the result that an electron beam used to weld the subcomponents is prone to being deflected away from the contact surface interface between the subcomponents and into one of the subcomponents as it passes through the interface. The method is also suitable for welding applications in which the interface between the subcomponents has an arcuate shape. The method involves magnetically steering the electron beam so that the beam is caused to follow the desired path through the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Thomas Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040222200
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the arc welding of at least one metal workpiece (1) to a matrix (2) comprising at least one brazed zone (3), the braze of which contains copper and phosphorus, in which (a) at least one layer (5, 6, 7) of an alloy containing copper and more than 1% tin by weight is deposited on at least one part of the brazed zone (3) and (b) the metal workpiece (1) is welded to the said at least one layer (5, 6, 7) of copper/tin alloy deposited in step (a). Process for manufacturing a brazed copper heat exchanger, in which such a welding process is carried out. Exchangers thus obtained and their use in the cryogenic separation of gases, particularly air gases, in a cryogenic separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Christian Bonnet, Jean-Marie Fortain, Marc Wagner
  • Publication number: 20040169019
    Abstract: The protective gas according to the invention for the non-vacuum electron-beam welding of metallic materials, particularly light metals in automotive production, consisting of a cold gas in the form of inexpensive nitrogen or helium, allows cost-effective as well as high-quality processing of the materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Bernd Hildebrandt
  • Publication number: 20040129686
    Abstract: A method of forming a welded component by electron beam welding, and the resulting welded assembly. The method is particularly directed to the welding of a component whose subcomponents are formed of dissimilar metals, with the result that an electron beam used to weld the subcomponents is prone to being deflected away from the contact surface interface between the subcomponents and into one of the subcomponents as it passes through the interface. The method is also suitable for welding applications in which the interface between the subcomponents has an arcuate shape. The method involves magnetically steering the electron beam so that the beam is caused to follow the desired path through the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: John Thomas Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040060909
    Abstract: A method facilitates manufacturing a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor includes an inner and an outer liner, a dome, and flanges. The method comprises assembling the inner and outer liner such that each includes a series of liner panels, positioning a spatter shield against a downstream side of the inner and outer liners, wherein the spatter shield comprises molybdenum, positioning a mounting flange against the downstream side of the inner and outer liners, such that the spatter shield is positioned at least partially between the mounting flange and the inner and outer liners, and coupling the mounting flange to the inner and outer liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Michael D'Andrea, Adrian Fredrick Crowe
  • Publication number: 20040056211
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a texture to a surface of a workpiece, such as a chamber component is provided. The method comprises providing a workpiece to a texturizing chamber and scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across the surface of the workpiece to form a plurality of features thereon. The features formed are generally depressions, protuberances, and combinations thereof. The chamber components may include, for example, a chamber shield and related assembly, a target, a shadow ring, a contact ring, a substrate support or other component disposable within a processing chamber. Also provided is a method of reducing contamination in a process chamber. The method comprises scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across a surface of one or more process chamber components to form a plurality of features thereon, positioning the one or more chamber components into a process chamber, and initiating a process sequence within the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Popiolkowski, Shannon M. Hart, Marc O. Schweitzer, Alan B. Liu, Jennifer L. Watia, Brian West, Mark Menzie
  • Patent number: 6697448
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method for metallurgically bonding a complete leak-tight enclosure to a matrix-type fuel element penetrated longitudinally by a multiplicity of coolant channels. Coolant tubes containing solid filler pins are disposed in the coolant channels. A leak-tight metal enclosure is then formed about the entire assembly of fuel matrix, coolant tubes and pins. The completely enclosed and sealed assembly is exposed to a high temperature and pressure gas environment to effect a metallurgical bond between all contacting surfaces therein. The ends of the assembly are then machined away to expose the pin ends which are chemically leached from the coolant tubes to leave the coolant tubes with internal coolant passageways. The invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, a contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1966
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: George Korton
  • Publication number: 20040000539
    Abstract: A laser light L is emitted from a laser light source 6 to works 1, 2, to form a laser molten weld pool 3, and immediately thereafter, an arc molten weld pool 4 is formed using an arc welding machine 7; thereby plates 1, 2 are welded. The arc welding machine 7 is provided with a filler wire to form a bead 5 on the plate 1. With the welding process according to the present invention, works can be efficiently and securely welded regardless of shape and material of the works.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Masato Takikawa, Takanori Yahaba, Yasutomo Ichiyama, Toshiyasu Ukena, Hirobumi Sonoda, Kenji Okuyama, Junichi Ibukuro
  • Patent number: 6646222
    Abstract: A method of electron beam welding a copper work piece to a stainless steel work piece is disclosed. In a continuous path on the work pieces, an electron beam is first directed on the stainless steel work piece. The electron beam is then moved across the interface to the copper work piece. The electron beam is then moved on the copper work piece in a path essentially parallel to the interface between the two work pieces at a specified distance from the interface. The electron beam is then moved across the interface to the stainless steel work piece and then terminated. The result is a high quality weld at the interface. The method is used for making a high quality weld on an electrical conductor such as a busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard Ray Burlingame
  • Patent number: 6639173
    Abstract: A method of forming a welded assembly, wherein an electron beam is used to form a weldment that joins two or more articles to form the welded assembly. The method involves directing a second electron beam onto the weldment in the wake of the welding beam, in a manner that inhibits precipitation of a solutioned precipitation-strengthening phase so as to reduce the incidence of strain-age cracking in the weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Thomas Murphy
  • Patent number: 6630643
    Abstract: Energy is applied to a portion of a conducting body. In preferred embodiments, relative motion between the conducting body and the energy source is created such that the energy source moves along a thermal diffusion front, thereby enhancing the thermal diffusion front in the direction of the relative movement. The energy is preferably applied in a portion of the conducting body with higher thermal mass and the enhanced thermal diffusion front is directed toward a portion with lower thermal mass. The lower thermal mass portion expands, thereby creating fissures in surrounding material, then melts, flows through the fissures and contacts another conductor, thereby forming a conductive link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Dueweke
  • Patent number: 6617537
    Abstract: A method for combining a golf club head and a ball striking plate, includes the following steps: letting an outer edge of a ball striking plate and an inner edge of a recessed seat of a golf club head incline outward matingly, and forming an annular welding flange around a periphery of the recessed seat of the golf club head; using at least one press block to press the welding flange of the golf club head to form a deformation; using a high energy welding manner to melt and join an interface of the golf club head and the ball striking plate; and trimming the welded interface of the golf club head and the ball striking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Feng Chiu, Jung-Yao Tsai
  • Patent number: 6596411
    Abstract: A method of welding articles formed of single-crystal superalloys, particularly single-crystal nickel-base superalloys containing 10 weight percent or more of refractory metals, and welded assemblies formed thereby. A shim is positioned between the articles, and a backing strip is preferably positioned to contact both articles and bridge the gap between the articles. The articles are then welded together using a high energy beam with a low current pulse frequency and low travel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ganjiang Feng, Daniel Anthony Nowak
  • Patent number: 6589671
    Abstract: A method for joining a first part to a second part wherein the first part comprises machine cast iron and the second part comprises case-hardened steel comprises abrading a surface on each of the parts which are to be welded together with a groove, fitting the abraded surfaces together to form a welding groove and high-energy beam welding within austenitic welding wire for joining the parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oskar Kehrer
  • Publication number: 20030108767
    Abstract: A method of welding articles formed of single-crystal superalloys, particularly single-crystal nickel-base superalloys containing 10 weight percent or more of refractory metals, and welded assemblies formed thereby. A shim is positioned between the articles, and a backing strip is preferably positioned to contact both articles and bridge the gap between the articles. The articles are then welded together using a high energy beam with a low current pulse frequency and low travel speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ganjiang Feng, Daniel Anthony Nowak
  • Patent number: 6573471
    Abstract: Two overlapped semiconductor materials are welded by a melt welding under the influence of a heat source of high energy density. The energy output of the heat source is ramped up slowly at the beginning of welding and ramped down slowly at completion of welding. In one embodiment the semiconductor materials are preheated before welding. In another embodiment, the effective position of the heat source on the semiconductor materials is periodically deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuriyama, Yoichiro Hanada
  • Patent number: 6563074
    Abstract: A cylindrical boss hole 2a with a preferred tolerance is formed beforehand in the portion of a precision cast turbine blade unit 2, where it is to be joined to a rotor shaft 3. One end of the rotor shaft that has been finish machined beforehand is inserted into the hole 2a, and joint portions thereof are welded simultaneously by electron beam welding at a plurality of spots spaced at equal angles in the circumferential direction. Also, the turbine blades are machined using the outer periphery and the end surface of the previously finish machined rotor shaft as machining references. Thus, imbalances that are inevitably produced when using a conventional machining method can be greatly reduced, and the time needed to correct the imbalances is shortened and the yield of the products can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignees: Ishikawajima Mass-Produced Machinery Co., Ltd., Kiso ErectronBeam Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Bazukuri, Kazunori Noda
  • Patent number: 6553667
    Abstract: System, apparatus, and method for making composite articles. Jewelry items such as finger rings, bracelets, earrings, body jewelry, and the like, are examples of such articles. Medical, dental, and industrial devices or components are other examples. Method of manufacturing an article including a substrate comprising a first material and an inlay comprising a second material includes the steps of preheating the substrate; contacting a depression in a surface of the substrate with the second material; heating the second material at a point contact with the substrate causing it to liquify and flow into the depression; and moving the point of contact along the along the depression in the surface of the substrate while continuously feeding the second material and heating the second material at the point contact with the substrate to cause it to substantially fill the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Trent West
  • Publication number: 20030017356
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structural assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing first and second structural members having preselected shapes and dimensions. The first structural member defines a first raised portion and the second structural member defines a second raised portion. According to one embodiment, the providing step includes forming the first and second structural members into preselected shapes and dimensions. The first and second structural members can comprise plates, T-stiffeners or tubular members. The first raised portion of the first structural member is positioned adjacent to the second raised portion of the second structural member following the providing step to thereby define an interface therebetween and wherein the first and second raised portions define a substantially consumable weld land.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary W. Coleman, Terry L. Smith, Joseph Peter Reilley, Warner B. Vanaken, James H. Lee, Kevin L. Nash, Julius J. Schaan, Scott W. Franz
  • Publication number: 20030006217
    Abstract: A method of operating on a workpiece comprises causing relative movement between the workpiece and a power beam in a traverse direction so as to expose a series of locations on the workpiece to the power beam. At each location the power beam is caused to move relative to the workpiece in a predetermined manner having a component transverse to the traverse direction, and workpiece material is melted and displaced by the power beam so as to form a cavity or hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: The Welding Institute
    Inventor: Bruce Guy Irvine Dance
  • Patent number: 6489583
    Abstract: A modified electron beam welding process effects welding of joints between superalloy materials by inserting a weldable shim in the joint and heating the superalloy materials with an electron beam. The process insures a full penetration of joints with a consistent percentage of filler material and thereby improves fatigue life of the joint by three to four times as compared with the prior art. The process also allows variable shim thickness and joint fit-up gaps to provide increased flexibility for manufacturing when joining complex airfoil structures and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ganjiang Feng, Daniel Anthony Nowak, John Thomas Murphy
  • Patent number: 6462299
    Abstract: An abutting end portions of the strips are heated from below to a temperature range where annealing effects are obtained by means of a movable heating apparatus which performs high-frequency induction heating and a laser beam (or arc or electron beam) is irradiated from above, at the same speed as that of the movable heating apparatus, to laser beam weld (or arc or electron beam weld) the abutting end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akimichi Takeda, Masaru Yoshida, Akio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6441335
    Abstract: In welding joint surfaces of a high-hardness member and a low-hardness member to each other by use of a laser beam or an electron beam, the point of irradiation of the laser beam or electron beam is offset from the joint surfaces of the high-hardness member and the low-hardness member toward the low-hardness member by a predetermined distance, such that the melting provided by the beam is caused to spread from the low-hardness member to the high-hardness member. Thus, even if the two members different in hardness from each other are welded together by use. of the laser beam or electron beam, it is possible to avoid a poor weld, which would otherwise cause a cracking in the high-hardness member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6428218
    Abstract: In a process of splicing optical fibers, a temperature distribution during the splicing of the waveguides at a constant discharge current will depend on ambient parameters, which include temperature, air pressure and air humidity, and these parameters also influence the quality of the splice being produced. The discharge current is regulated by measuring the actual intensity distribution of the thermionic emissions of the waveguide during the splicing operation and by comparing this intensity distribution with a stored reference intensity distribution. The device includes a sensor which is used for measuring the intensity distribution and for adjusting the ends of the waveguides relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dirk Müssig
  • Patent number: 6424697
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for constructing a post-patient collimator for a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system, the method including steps of: edge welding collimator plates to a top rail using at least one directed energy beam welder; and edge welding the collimator plates to a bottom rail, using the at least one directed energy beam welder. The above described embodiment provides an efficient and less expensive method for manufacturing a post-patient collimator for a CT imaging system than embodiments requiring use of precision combs for accurately positioning the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Dale S. Zastrow, Jimmie A. Beacham, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020074317
    Abstract: An electrical discharge machining probe for creation of micrometer and nanometer scale structures. The probe is further designed to allow ions to be accelerated toward a target surface. The probe is further designed and the ions are further selected and energized to either dislodge atoms from the target surface or to be deposited on the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Eric Orace Johnson
  • Patent number: 6365866
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for beam welding of hardenable steels using a short-time heat treatment. A preferred area of application of the invention is motor vehicle and mechanical engineering. In the method according to the invention, the short-time heat treatment occurs first as the sole preheating in a defined manner, and then the beam welding begins after a defined cooling time, at the latest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Arnold Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Berndt Brenner, Rüdiger Arnold Gnann, Dietmar Naunapper, Carsten Duschek