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. 29, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1998
Howard Douglas Blair, Romulus, MI (US);
John Michael Nicholson, Romulus, MI (US);
Tsung-Yu Pan, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of enhancing a joint in a metal assembly. At least two metal members are joined together. Each member has a joining surface that mates with the other joining surface. The metal members are contacted against one another such that the joining surfaces mate. The mated joining surfaces are welded together at multiple locations. The welding process leaves a small gap between the metal members between these welding locations. Heat is applied to the joining surfaces adjacent to the gap. A solder is applied to the heated joining surfaces. The joining surfaces cause the solder to melt and to be wicked into the gap by the capillary force. The solder fills the length, width and thickness of the gap and joins the metal members together with a metallurgical bond. The entire joint including areas between the welding locations becomes joined.