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US 9,314,862 B2Granted
Process for flux coating braze preforms and discrete parts
AssigneeLucas-Milhaupt, Inc.
InventorDaniel J. Jossick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for evenly applying a flux coating to any number of different shaped parts with a single machine are described. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the flux coating may be applied accurately within 2% to 4% of desired thickness with 85% to 95% of the total yield of flux being applied, this minimizing waste. Thousands of parts may be batch treated with a single machine without operator input.
Claims20
A method of applying a brazing flux coating on a plurality of parts for a brazing operation comprising:
- preparing the plurality of parts from a metal alloy into a preform in the shape of at least one of a ring, helix, triangle, and other geometric shape;
- preparing the flux coating while preventing airborne humidity from being absorbed by the flux coating;
- adding an acrylic resin binder to the flux coating;
- tumbling the parts in a tumbling drum with a controlled atmosphere including a user definable temperature and humidity within the tumbling drum;
- cycling the parts through a coating cycle comprising:
- spraying the brazing flux coating from at least one nozzle within the tumbling drum during the tumbling for a user defined period of time;
- coating the parts with the brazing flux coating with a uniform thickness of up to 0.015 in (0.381 mm), wherein the brazing flux coating is configured to melt and separate from the preform during the brazing operation;
- tumbling the parts following the user defined period of time to cure the brazing flux to a desired hardness;
- and
- repeating the coating cycle for a plurality of repetitions wherein the uniform thickness of brazing flux coating on the parts is uniformly increased with each coating cycle.
7 more elements
A method of applying a brazing flux coating on a plurality of parts for a brazing operation comprising:
- preparing the plurality of parts from a metal alloy into a preform in the shape of at least one of a ring, helix, triangle, and other geometric shape;
- adding an acrylic resin binder to the flux coating;
- preventing a moisture from ambient air from being absorbed by the flux coating by sealing the flux coating at all times prior to a spraying operation;
- maintaining the brazing flux coating in a moisture-free environment prior to application;
- spraying the brazing flux coating from at least one nozzle within a tumbling drum during a tumbling operation for a user defined period of time;
- maintaining a moisture and temperature level within the tumbling drum at a predetermined level;
- coating the parts with the sprayed brazing flux with a uniform thickness up to 0.015 in (0.381 mm) thick while maintaining the coating thickness within a 2% deviation of a targeted thickness, wherein the brazing flux coating is configured to melt and separate from the preform during the brazing operation;
- tumbling the parts following the user defined period of time;
- and
- curing the brazing flux to a desired hardness within the tumbling drum with the maintained moisture and temperature level.
7 more elements
A method of applying a brazing flux coating on a plurality of parts comprising:
- preparing the plurality of parts from a metal alloy into a preform in the shape of at least one of a ring, helix, triangle, and other geometric shape;
- adding an acrylic resin binder to the flux coating;
- preventing a moisture from ambient air from being absorbed by the flux coating by sealing the flux coating at all times prior to a spraying operation;
- spraying the brazing flux from at least one nozzle with an opening of 0.05 in (1.27 mm) to 0.08 in (2.032 mm);
- tumbling the parts for a user defined period of time within a tumbling drum;
- coating the parts with the sprayed brazing flux to a uniform thickness, wherein the brazing flux coating is configured to melt and separate from the preform during the brazing operation;
- curing the brazing flux to a desired hardness by circulating an atmosphere within the tumbling drum with exhaust ducts;
- maintaining the uniform thickness within at least one of 2% of a desired thickness;
- and
- adhering 85% to 95% of the sprayed flux to the parts.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.