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US 5,276,298 AGranted
Apparatus and method for laser joining bimetallic materials to circuit breaker terminals and braid extensions
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMarshall G. Jones, Jose A. Solero, Joseph Criniti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Laser joining of dissimilar material in order to form an integral structure. Such structure of this type, generally, allow circuit breaker components which are constructed of different material, to be joined together to form an integral circuit breaker.
Claims7
An apparatus for joining circuit breaker components, said apparatus comprised of:
- a circuit breaker terminal means;
- a braid extension means located at a predetermined distance away from said terminal means;
- a bimetal connection means located between said terminal means and said extension means wherein said bimetal is further comprised of a nickel(34)-iron(64)-nickel .DELTA. based alloy bimetal;
- a laser means;
- and
- a first and second joint means, wherein said first joint means is substantially located between said terminal means and said bimetal connection means such that said first joint means is formed by said laser means and is constructed substantially of a portion of said terminal means and a portion of said bimetal connection means and said second joint means is substantially located between said braid extension means and bimetal connection means such that said second joint means is formed by said laser means and is constructed substantially of a portion of said braid extension means and a portion of said bimetal connection means.
3 more elements
A method for joining circuit breaker components including a circuit breaker terminal means, a braid extension means, a bimetal connection means, a laser means, wherein said method is comprised of the steps of:
- retaining said terminal means to said connection means;
- retaining said extension means to said connection means such that said extension means is located at a predetermined distance from said terminal means;
- operating said laser means;
- traversing said laser means past said terminal means and said connection means to form a first joint means which is constructed substantially of a portion of said terminal means and said connection means wherein said steps of traversing said laser means is further comprised of the step of traversing said laser means at approximately 50 mm/min.;
- and
- traversing said laser means past said extension means and said connection means to form a second joint means which is constructed substantially of a portion of said extension means and a portion of said connection means wherein said steps of traversing said laser means is further comprised of the step of traversing said laser means at approximately 50 mm/min.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.