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| United States Patent |
6,423,921
|
|
Beyer
, et al.
|
July 23, 2002
|
Method and apparatus for processing components in which a molten phase is
produced by local energy input
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for processing work piece components in which a
molten phase is produced by a local energy input from at least one of an
electric arc, a jet of combustible gas, an electron plasma, and a laser
beam. At least one transducer is included for imparting oscillations
having a frequency above 15 kHz. The oscillations can be imparted to one
or more of the components, the region of the molten phase, and/or to any
filler material that is added to the region of the molten phase. The
apparatus and methods can be used with known thermal soldering, welding
and cutting methods to improve the quality of weld beads and cut edges
that are formed, and to increase the processing rate.
| Inventors:
|
Beyer; Eckhard (Weipig, DE);
Imhoff; Ralf (Aachen, DE)
|
| Assignee:
|
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (Munich, DE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
802455 |
| Filed:
|
March 9, 2001 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Mar 13, 2000[DE] | 100 12 792 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
219/121.44; 219/121.39; 219/121.72; 219/121.46 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B23K 010/00 |
| Field of Search: |
219/121.45,121.46,121.39,121.44,121.63,121.64,137 R,137 WM,121.72
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5079070 | Jan., 1992 | Chalco et al. | 156/233.
|
| 5149939 | Sep., 1992 | Imaizumi et al.
| |
| 5614113 | Mar., 1997 | Hwang et al. | 219/121.
|
| 5699950 | Dec., 1997 | Jang.
| |
| 6171415 | Jan., 2001 | Statnikov | 228/110.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 0403736 | Dec., 1990 | EP.
| |
| 5185252 | Jul., 1993 | JP.
| |
| 10080765 | Mar., 1998 | JP.
| |
| 1118510 | Oct., 1984 | SU.
| |
Primary Examiner: Paschall; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
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