Apparatus and method for welding aluminum tubes
First Claim
1. A method of welding tubular members, comprising:
- providing first and second tubular members, each of the first and second tubular members being formed at least in part of aluminum, and each of the first and second tubular members having a respective exterior surface;
providing at least one welding material member, each of the at least one welding material member being constructed of an electrically conductive metallic welding material capable of bonding in weld-forming relation with the first and second tubular members;
securing each of the at least one welding material member on the first tubular member so that each of the at least one welding material member remains in a predetermined position on the first tubular member prior to being in contact with the second tubular member;
positioning the second tubular member adjacent the first tubular member with the at least one welding material member being disposed in current transmitting relation between the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members; and
applying an electrical current across the first and second tubular members such that the applied current flows through the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members and each of the at least one welding material member disposed between the first and second tubular members to weld the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members together.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for welding members that are formed at least in part of aluminum. A welding assembly is constructed and arranged to position a welding material in electrically conductive relation between exterior surface portions of first and second weldable members at a location where the first and second weldable members are to be joined. The welding material assembly includes at least one welding material member mounted on a flexible carrier sheet in a predetermined arrangement with each welding material member being constructed of an electrically conductive metallic welding material capable of melting when heated by application of an electrical current. A welding method includes alternatively attaching the welding material members to a weldable member without a carrier sheet, by a welding process.
114 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of welding tubular members, comprising:
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providing first and second tubular members, each of the first and second tubular members being formed at least in part of aluminum, and each of the first and second tubular members having a respective exterior surface;
providing at least one welding material member, each of the at least one welding material member being constructed of an electrically conductive metallic welding material capable of bonding in weld-forming relation with the first and second tubular members;
securing each of the at least one welding material member on the first tubular member so that each of the at least one welding material member remains in a predetermined position on the first tubular member prior to being in contact with the second tubular member;
positioning the second tubular member adjacent the first tubular member with the at least one welding material member being disposed in current transmitting relation between the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members; and
applying an electrical current across the first and second tubular members such that the applied current flows through the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members and each of the at least one welding material member disposed between the first and second tubular members to weld the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
providing a tubular metallic blank having a tubular metallic wall, placing the tubular metallic blank into a die cavity of a die assembly, the die cavity having die surfaces, and providing a high pressure fluid into an interior of the blank to expand the metallic wall of the blank outwardly into conformity with the surfaces of said die cavity. -
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing a plurality of welding material members.
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5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing at least one welding material member formed at least in part of aluminum.
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6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing at least one welding material member formed at least in part of nickel.
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7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the securing of each of the at least one welding material member is accomplished by welding.
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8. A method of welding tubular members, comprising:
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providing first and second tubular members formed at least in part from aluminum, each of the first and second tubular members having a respective exterior surface;
providing at least one welding material member carried in a predetermined arrangement by a carrier sheet, each of the at least one welding material member being constructed of an electrically conductive metallic welding material capable of bonding in weld-forming relation with the first and second tubular members;
positioning the carrier sheet between the first and second tubular members so that each of the at least one welding material member is disposed in current transmitting relation between the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members; and
applying an electrical current across the first and second tubular members such that the applied current flows through the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members and each of the at least one welding material member disposed between the first and second tubular members to weld the respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members together. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
providing a tubular metallic blank having a tubular metallic wall, placing the tubular metallic blank into a die cavity of a die assembly, the die cavity having die surfaces, and providing a high pressure fluid into an interior of the blank to expand the metallic wall of the blank outwardly into conformity with the surfaces of said die cavity. -
11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing a plurality of welding material members.
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12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing at least one welding material member formed at least in part from aluminum.
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13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the providing at least one welding material member includes providing at least one welding material member formed at least in part from nickel.
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Specification