Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Impeller making
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-09-04
Cuda, Irene (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Impeller making
C029S889000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282785
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a torque converter impeller or turbine and brazing process therefor using a magnetic field heating. More particularly, it pertains to brazing thin sheet metal blades of a fluid coupling or torque converter to a housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Our invention relates generally to a hydrokinetic torque transmitting mechanism, and more particularly to an improvement in the construction and assembly of components of a bladed hydrokinetic member such as the impeller of a torque converter or fluid coupling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,365, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a method for using a laser welding beam to weld the blades to a torque converter housing. The process described in the '365 patent is very effective but time consuming as the laser beam must traverse each of the blades in order to secure each blade to the housing. As further described in the '365 patent, at column 2, brazing has typically been found to be less satisfactory because of the strength of the attachment of the blade to the housing. It does not permit adequate structural deflections of the housing in service. Furthermore, brazing typically requires passing the entire assembly of the torque converter impeller or turbine, including the impeller or turbine blades, through an oven, and uniformly heating the entire assembly to cause adequate heating of the brazing material. Furthermore, the oven typically includes an inert environment to ensure proper brazing of the blades to the housing.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a new method for securing blades to a housing of a torque converter not requiring the use of a laser striking each blade nor requiring heating of the entire assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a method for brazing impeller blades to a housing is provided herein. A method according to the present invention does not require complete heating of the overall housing nor does it require a laser beam weld of each individual impeller blade.
A further advantage of the method according to the present invention is that the hub of the torque converter impeller will not be heat treated during the brazing process. Therefore, the hub may be integrally formed in the impeller cover or welded thereto prior to the brazing operation. Therefore, the additional operations of welding the hub may be eliminated and/or heat treatment thereto.
Accordingly, a method for making a torque converter is provided including the steps of forming a blade having a tab extending outward from the blade and along a portion of a length of the blade. A recess is formed in the housing sized to receive the first tab. The recess defines an edge adjacent the tab and extending along the tab. The tab is inserted within the recess to form a cover assembly for an impeller or turbine. A brazing material is provided between the tab and the housing. The assembly is positioned within a magnetic heating machine and magnetically heated.
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“The Principles of Uniform Magnetic Heating(UMH)”, Mitsubishi International Corporation & CoreFluxSystems International, Ltd.
“Patented Heat Treating System Uses Magnetic Field Technology for Through-Heating of Metal Parts” by D. Keith Patrick, Industrial Heating/Mar. 1998.
“Uniform Magnetic Heating”, CoreFlux Systems International & Mitsubishi International Corporation.
Kolodziej Dennis Raymond
Wilson Jill Marie
Cuda Irene
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Kelley David B.
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