Exothermic welding and method
First Claim
1. A method of welding at least one part with exothermic material comprising the steps of forming a spark gap in a matrix of such material, then creating a high energy spark across such gap sufficient to initiate and sustain an exothermic reaction of such material until such material is converted to molten metal, and directing such molten metal to a location surrounding said part to be welded.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Exothermic reaction mixtures are economically ignited remotely and electrically without the use of a low ignition starting material by creating a predetermined spark gap within a matrix of such mixture and then impressing a high energy spark across the gap through the use of a capacitor discharge circuit. The mixture is contained in a graphite or ceramic vessel or crucible and is supported over a tap hole or runner by a fusible metal disk. The material of the vessel is preferably graphite which is electrically conductive. In one form of the invention, an insulated wire with a bare tip is positioned just below the top surface of the mixture and the tip spaced a predetermined distance from the wall of the vessel. The capacitor discharge circuit is then employed to fire a high energy spark through a matrix of the material across the gap formed between the wire and vessel to initiate the reaction. In another form the spark gap may be established in a small cylindrical cartridge containing the material. The cartridge may be positioned through a hole in the side wall of the mold just below or near the top of the exothermic material so that it can be filled with the material from the main body of the exothermic material.
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Citations
60 Claims
- 1. A method of welding at least one part with exothermic material comprising the steps of forming a spark gap in a matrix of such material, then creating a high energy spark across such gap sufficient to initiate and sustain an exothermic reaction of such material until such material is converted to molten metal, and directing such molten metal to a location surrounding said part to be welded.
- 6. A method of converting exothermic material to molten metal comprising the steps of forming a spark gap in a matrix of such material, and then creating a high energy spark across such gap sufficient to initiate and sustain an exothermic reaction of such material wherein such matrix of exothermic material is contained in a small ignition cartridge and is expelled from such cartridge when ignited in turn to ignite a larger body of exothermic material.
- 36. In combination a crucible and cover containing an exothermic reaction material mixture, ignition device means positioned in the crucible-cover combination including a spark gap, and exothermic reaction mixture material within the gap, and means to impress a high voltage across the gap to create a sufficiently high energy spark to ignite such exothermic reaction material in turn to ignite the exothermic reaction mixture in the crucible.
- 47. An igniter for exothermic material comprising a housing containing exothermic material which is closed at one end and has a frangible cap at the other end, and a spark gap within said housing within said exothermic material, whereby when a high energy spark is created at such spark gap the exothermic material is ignited.
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59. A method of igniting an exothermic reaction mixture contained in a crucible comprising the steps of creating a high energy spark within a matrix of a small amount of such reaction mixture, such that when such small amount of reaction mixture ignites it is caused to spray molten reaction products onto the exothermic reaction mixture contained in the crucible thereby igniting the same.
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60. A method of igniting an exothermic reaction mixture contained in a crucible comprising the steps of forming a spark gap within such reaction mixture, and then impressing a high energy spark across such gap to ignite such reaction mixture.
Specification