Welding method and means using foil electrode

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing two metallic members together with a thin conductive member positioned thereagainst, applying current by a circuit connected to said members with both of said members being initially an electrode and the thin member being initially an electrode in said circuit and with the current, relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member, being sufficient to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

In a method of forming an arc for joining metallic members, the steps comprising placing at least two metallic members together with end portions adjacent and with a thin conductive member positioned against said end portions, applying a current by a circuit connected to at least one of said members with at least one of said members being initially an electrode, forcing said thin member against said two portions by a further member which is connected to said circuit so as to be initially an electrode when said further member is forced thereagainst and then through said circuit applying a current relative to the thickness and characteristics of the thin member to cause said thin member to vaporize at the interface with the said two members progressively and radially outward from the said interface to draw an arc extending from said thin member to the two members around said interface and bringing said members together to form a joint.

In a method of evenly heating metallic members the steps comprising providing at least two metallic members and a thin conductive member transversely disposed thereagainst and extending radially outwardly of edge surfaces of said members, applying a current in a circuit including at least one of said two members and said thin member in series, said current being sufficient, relative to the thickness of said thin member, to vaporize said thin member drawing an arc extending from portions of said thin member to embrace both of said two members and bringing said members together to form a joint.

A connecting method comprising the steps of placing together at least two metal members to be connected together with a thin conductive member disposed therebetween, applying a current of sufficient energy to cause an arc with at least one of said metal members being an electrode and with the thin member being an electrode and with said current causing said thin member to vaporize in the zone adjacent said two members to melt said members and effect a fusion therebetween and bringing said members together to form a joint.

A welding method comprising the steps of forcing at least two metal members together with a foil-like metallic member disposed transversely therebetween and applying a pulse of sufficient energy to cause an arc to be struck in the zone between said members vaporizing said foil-like metallic member and melting said two members with the force driving said members together assisting a fusion of the melted portions of said members.

A method for welding at least two metallic members together, including the steps of butting one member against a foil-like metallic member and thereby against a further metallic member under compression and striking an arc sufficient to form an arc plasma disintigrating at least the portion of the foil-like member between said members to effect a melting of the two members in a region of contact therebetween left by the disintegrated foil-like member whereby the ends of said metallic members are fused in the region of melt.

In an apparatus for welding metallic members together a source of energy capable of being switched to develop a current flowing in a circuit including an anode lead and a cathode lead, one of said leads including one of the members to be welded and the other lead including a thin metallic member inserted between the members to be welded together, the said thin member having a thickness controlled to be vaporized by the said current to develop an arc plasma melting the ends of said members providing a fusion thereof and means for bringing said members together after vaporization of said thin metallic member.

A welding method comprising the steps of placing at least two metal members with portions thereof in contact and with a foil-like metallic member disposed proximate said portions and overlying said portions, forcing said foil-like metallic member against said portions with a further member to effect an intimate contact therewith, applying a current to said foil sufficient to develop an arc plasma melting said two members to result in a fusion thereof.