Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Robert A McFall

Simon L Engel

The invention is concerned with an improvement in a process for forming a tubing-machined metallic member joint and with said joint, the process comprising providing a metallic member of substantially full theoretical density having a portion thereof adapted to matingly receive a metallic tube, placing one end of said tube against the mating portion of said member, said tube being formulated of a less hard metal than said member, and urging said one end of said tube against said mating portion of said member thereby forming said joint. The improvement comprises an increase in the torque strength of said joint attained by contacting said member, prior to the placing the one end of said tube in mating contact with the mating portion of said member, with steam at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a thin hard metal oxide on said mating portion and cooling the member after completion of the contacting and prior to placing said tube in mating contact with said mating portion. The resulting tubing-member joint has a far greater resistance to torque than do the tubing-member joints of the prior art.

Joint and process for forming same

An apparatus for modulating a high energy beam such as a laser beam comprising a rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced selectively shaped openings formed in a periphery thereof and adapted to rotate in the path of said high energy beam for permitting modulated portions of said beam to pass through to a work piece. Impeller blades are integrally formed on the rotor to provide a supply of cooling air that is pumped axially inward and directed radially outward through a space between the rotor and end shroud positioned thereover. The shroud contains a plurality of vanes formed to direct the cooling air against the peripheral portion of the rotor exposed to the laser beam to effect cooling thereof. The periphery is also provided with a reflective surface adapted to reflect the impinging portions of the beam to a beam trap to reduce the heating effect of the beam on the rotor.

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Robert A McFall