Joining wire-like members
AssigneeWestern Electric Company, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Howell Cranston, Gary Evan Kleinedler, Donald Arthur Machusak, Charles Augustus Wiechard
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Abstract
A device for use in joining wires such as electrical conductors is disclosed. The device comprises a ferrule, the exterior surface of which is covered with a coat or layer comprising an explosive composition. The method of joining includes coaxially aligning the end portions of two wires within the ferrule and then detonating the explosive composition to produce a metallurgical bond between the ferrule and each wire end. Apparatus for forming the novel splice is also disclosed.
Claims12
A method of joining first and second wire-like metallic members, comprising:
- coating a substantial portion of the exterior surface of a hollow metallic member with a primary explosive composition;
- juxtaposing the end portions of the first and the second members in approximate coaxial alignment within said hollow metallic member;
- and
- detonating said primary explosive composition to propel and impact said hollow member against said aligned first and second members at a velocity of impact sufficient to spurt a jet of material, comprising at least one member surface, between said impacted hollow member and said impacted first and second members, respectively, to form metallurgical bonds therewith to indirectly join said aligned first and second members.
A method of joining a metallic wire member to another metallic wire member comprising the steps of:
- juxtaposing within a ferrule corresponding first surfaces of said members with one another and juxtaposing within said ferrule corresponding second surfaces, adjacent said first surfaces, with one face of said ferrule having a coating comprising a primary explosive on the opposite face thereof;
- and
- detonating said primary explosive to propel said one ferrule face against said second surfaces to spurt a jet of material, comprising at least said second surfaces or said face, from between said propelled ferrule face and each of said propelled-against second surfaces to form metallurgical bonds between said ferrule and said members to indirectly join said members by not forming a metallurgical bond therebetween.
A method of joining an end portion of one conductor wire to an end portion of another conductor wire adjacent to and held in approximate coaxial alignment with the one conductor wire, comprising the step of:
- inserting the end portions of the conductor wires into a ferrule coated on an exterior surface thereof with a layer comprising a primary explosive composition and having an opening therethrough concentric with and slightly larger in cross-section than the end portions, and
- detonating the primary explosive composition to impact said ferrule against the end portions at a velocity of impact sufficient to form substantially a solid phase bond between the end portions and the ferrule to indirectly join the end portions without forming a metallurgical bond therebetween.
A method of joining first and second wire-like metallic members, comprising:
- juxtaposing the end portions of said members in approximate coaxial alignment within a third, hollow metallic member;
- and
- detonating a primary explosive composition placed contiguous to said third member to propel said third member against said aligned first and second members with an impact velocity sufficient to form metallurgical bonds therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.