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:
Jun. 25, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Ramond J Sartini, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Leiv A Folkedal, Kopervik, NO;
Edward J Morley, Kopervik, NO;
Morten Syslak, Onsted, MI (US);
Norsk Hydro a.s., Oslo, NO;
Abstract
An improved process is provided for forming a zinc-base alloy coating on an aluminum alloy profile, such as a tube or microtube used in the assembling and brazing of a heat exchanger which is suitable for automotive applications. The process of the present invention is a continuous, high speed coating technique which can utilize aluminum alloy profiles on which an aluminum oxide layer is present. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses an operation by which the aluminum oxide layer is removed so as to enable the zinc-base alloy to metallurgically adhere to the surface of the aluminum alloy profile. The process of this invention also is capable of closely controlling the thickness of the zinc-base alloy coating, such that a sufficient but minimal amount of coating is present to furnish corrosion protection as well as provide sufficient filler metal for a subsequent soldering or low temperature brazing operation.