The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1993
Charles D Stocks, Huntsville, AL (US);
Abstract
Disclosed are a device and a method for inert gas plasma welding in a low pressure or vacuum environment. The device comprises: (1) a pre-plasma cavity having (a) a first opening therein capable of accepting an inert gas into the pre-plasma cavity, (b) first and second electrodes within the pre-plasma cavity capable of applying an electromagnetic field to the inert gas to thereby convert the inert gas into a plasma and (c) a second opening capable of allowing the plasma to exit the pre-plasma cavity and (2) a structure capable of directing the plasma from the second opening of the pre-plasma cavity to an arc welding cavity adjacent the second opening, the arc welding cavity capable of being placed adjacent to a working surface, the arc welding cavity further capable of accepting a welding material therein, the plasma impinging on the working surface and the welding material, the directing means focusing the plasma within the arc welding cavity to thereby increase a rate of heat transfer between the plasma and the working surface and the welding material. The present invention allows welding to be done in a vacuum by preventing the vacuum from prematurely dispersing the plasma.