# US 10,307,851 B2 · Techniques for providing stop-offs for brazing materials or other materials on structures being joined > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,851 B2 - Document ID: US10307851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/379,252 - Filed: 2016-12-14 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Christopher E. Pentland; Ryan J. Reeser; Desirée L. Schaub - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307851B2 ## CPC - B23K 1/20: Preliminary treatment of work or areas to be soldered, e.g. in respect of a galvanic coating - B23K 1/0012: {Brazing of heat exchangers} - B23K 26/355: {Texturing} - B23K 26/364: for making a groove or trench, e.g. for scribing a break initiation groove - B23K 37/06: for positioning the molten material, e.g. confining it to a desired area - B23K 2101/06: Tubes - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A method includes obtaining multiple components to be coupled together, such as during a brazing operation. At least one of the multiple components includes a stop-off. The stop-off includes one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component. The one or more markings include (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and/or (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface. The method also includes coupling the multiple components together using a melted or liquid material, such as a filler metal used in the brazing operation. The stop-off controls or interrupts a flow of the melted or liquid material in a joint between the multiple components during the coupling. The one or more markings could interfere with a capillary action that pulls the melted or liquid material into the joint. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: forming a braze stop-off on at least one of multiple components to be brazed together, the braze stop-off comprising one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component, the one or more markings comprising at least one of: (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface; and brazing the multiple components together using a brazing material, wherein the braze stop-off controls or interrupts a flow of the brazing material in a joint between the multiple components during the brazing; wherein the one or more markings form at least one helix around the at least one component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the braze stop-off controls or interrupts the flow of the brazing material in the joint by altering a surface texture of the at least one component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more oxides of the braze stop-off control or interrupt the flow of the brazing material in the joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more markings also form at least one band around the at least one component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple components comprise: a pipe or tube, the one or more markings formed on an outer surface of the pipe or tube; and a manifold through which the pipe or tube at least partially passes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the braze stop-off comprises forming the one or more markings using a laser. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: controlling one or more characteristics of the laser based on a material forming the at least one component. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: obtaining multiple components to be coupled together, at least one of the multiple components comprising a stop-off, the stop-off comprising one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component, the one or more markings comprising at least one of: (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface; and coupling the multiple components together using a melted or liquid material, wherein the stop-off controls or interrupts a flow of the melted or liquid material in a joint between the multiple components during the coupling; wherein the one or more markings form at least one helix around the at least one component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the stop-off controls or interrupts the flow of the melted or liquid material in the joint by altering a surface texture of the at least one component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more oxides of the stop-off control or interrupt the flow of the melted or liquid material in the joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more markings are formed using a laser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more markings interfere with a capillary action that pulls the melted or liquid material into the joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more markings prevent the melted or liquid material from reaching one or more areas of the components being coupled together. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: a first structure; a second structure; and a material coupling the first and second structures; wherein at least one of the structures comprises a stop-off, the stop-off comprising one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component, the one or more markings comprising at least one of: (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface, the stop-off configured to control or interrupt a flow of the material coupling the structures in a joint between the structures; and wherein the one or more markings form at least one helix around the at least one component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the first structure comprises a tube or pipe; the second structure comprises a manifold, at least a portion of the tube or pipe inserted into the manifold; and the material coupling the structures seals the tube or pipe to the manifold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the one or more markings comprise one or more laser-etched markings; and the material coupling the structures comprises a filler metal used in a brazing operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the stop-off is configured to control or interrupt the flow of the material coupling the structures by altering a surface texture of the at least one structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more oxides of the stop-off are configured to control or interrupt the flow of the material in the joint. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more markings also form at least one band around the at least one structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more markings are formed on an outer surface of the tube or pipe.