Methods of joining metal components and resulting articles particularly automotive torque converter assemblies
US5902498A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 11, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49321
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Thermal stresses normally associated with joining are alleviated by a low temperature joining technique of the present invention. A low-temperature joining material is applied (as a paste, or as a powder spray, or as a tape, or as a paint, or as a putty) at the junction of two components desired to be joined together. Energy from a source such as a laser beam (for example an Nd:YAG or a CO.sub.2 laser) or by a flame, arc, plasma, or the like, is either "walked" along the joining material to react the entire amount of joining material, or the joining material is self-sustaining and simply requires igniting a selected portion of the joining material by the energy source. In an exemplary application of the process, vanes are brazed to the bowl and/or to the shroud of an automatic transmission bowl (impeller or turbine) assembly, preferably using the low-temperature joining material. Systems for delivering the joining material and the energy are described. The fabrication of hollow vanes is described. The fabrication of shroudless bowl components and stator components subsuming the function of the shroud are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.