Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for performing in-situ vacuum-assisted metal to glass sealing

US4612029A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
11References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 18, 1985
Grant dateSep 16, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B19/02
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling and fusing glass to metal in a glass-metal electrical component is disclosed. The component includes a metallic shell formed with upper and lower cylindrical recesses connected together by longitudinal passages, a pair of metal rings and plural metal pins assembled to define electrical feed-throughs. The component parts are assembled on a fixture having a sleeve-like projection and a central mounting projection establishing concentric nesting surfaces to which the metal rings are slip-fitted in concentric alignment with each other spaced from sidewalls of the lower recess. The pins are in electrical contact with the metal rings. A glass pre-form is seated within the upper recess. The assembled structure is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the glass pre-form which flows under gravity through the passages into the lower recess to provide an insulative seal between the metal parts. The gravity flow of glass is assisted by applying vacuum to the lower recess, ensuring that all spaces between the metal parts are filled with sealing glass without formation of bubbles.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.