Luminescent Braze Preforms
AssigneeLucas-Milhaupt, Inc.
InventorsLawrence A. Wolfgram, Alan Belohlav
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braze preform is provided that includes a filler metal and a luminescent material that covers at least a portion of the filler metal and that can luminesce when exposed to a black light. The luminescent material may include a luminescent ink and a solvent that are mixed together before being applied to filler metal. Presence of the braze preform may be determined using automated equipment by detecting luminescence of the braze preform with a sensor. A decision may be made on whether to advance a parts assembly for brazing based on the determination of presence or absence of the braze preform on such parts assembly.
Claims33
A braze preform comprising:
- a filler metal;
- and
- a luminescent material that can luminesce when exposed to a black light, the luminescent material covering at least a portion of the filler metal.
A system for brazing multiple components to each other, the system comprising:
- a braze preform that includes,
- a filler metal;
- and
- a luminescent material that covers at least a portion of the filler metal;
- multiple components that are assembled to each other so that the brazing ring engages each of the multiple components;
- a light source emitting light that can cause the luminescent material of the brazing ring to luminesce;
- and
- a sensor that can detect luminescence and is positioned with respect to the brazing rings so as to detect the luminescence of the brazing ring.
The system of claim 20, further including a plurality of shields defining an enclosure allowing only the light from the light source to enter the enclosure.
The system of claim 21, wherein the sensor s a UV sensor.
A method of determining whether to perform a brazing procedure, the method comprising:
- treating a braze preform with a luminescent material;
- assembling the braze preform to a component to be subjected to a brazing procedure;
- directing a light toward the component to be subjected to a brazing procedure;
- detecting the luminescent material at the parts assembly;
- determining presence or absence of the brazing preform on the component to be subjected to a brazing procedure based on detection of the luminescent material;
- and
- determining whether to perform a brazing procedure to the determined presence or absence of the brazing preform.
A method of detecting presence or absence of a brazing material during an assembly process, the method comprising:
- applying a luminescent material to a brazing filler metal;
- creating a parts assembly that will be subjected to a brazing procedure by:
- assembling the brazing filler metal to a first component of the parts assembly;
- assembling the first component of the parts assembly to a second component of the parts assembly;
- creating an enclosure preventing shielding the parts assembly from secondary light sources;
- directing an ultra violet light toward the parts assembly;
- detecting the luminescent material at the parts assembly;
- and
- determining brazing filler metal presence based on detection of the luminescent material.
The method of claim 24, further comprising sending the parts assembly to at least one of a subsequent assembly station and a brazing station when the luminescent material is detected.
A method of joining multiple components by brazing, the method comprising:
- applying a luminescent material to a brazing filler metal;
- assembling the brazing filler metal to a first component to be brazed;
- detecting the luminescent material;
- assembling a second component to the first component so that the brazing filler metal engages both of the first and second components;
- and
- brazing the first and second components to each other.
The method of claim 26, wherein the luminescent material is detected after the first and second components are assembled to each other and before the first and second components are brazed to each other.
The method of claim 27, wherein the brazing step occurs in a brazing furnace.
The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the assembling steps is performed in an assembly station of a facility having a first light source and the detecting step is performed in a detecting station of the facility having a second light source that is different from the first light source.
The method of claim 33, further comprising verifying the brazed joint is free of contamination with a helium leak check.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.