The present description relates to devices for flowing fluids therethrough and, in particular, devices having a first structure bonded to a second structure with at least one fluid channel at an interface thereof.
In the related art, there are devices for flowing fluids therethrough, in which the devices include a first structure bonded to a second structure with a plurality of fluid channels at an interface thereof, in which the first structure and second structure are joined by electron beam welding or brazing. However, electron beam welding is typically suitable for joining first and second structures having comparable chemistries, and brazing is typically suitable for joining first and second structures having melting points significantly above that of the brazing material. Additionally, devices joined by electron beam welding or brazing have a problem with a failure to preserve an intended structure of the fluid channels. For example, during the joining process, a fluid channel may become partially or fully blocked and/or a barrier between adjacent fluid channels may breakdown to unintentionally connect adjacent fluid channels.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development in the field of devices for flowing fluids therethrough and methods for manufacturing thereof.
In one embodiment, a device for flowing fluids therethrough includes: a first structure having a first major side, said first structure comprising a first metal composition; a second structure having a second major side abutting said first major side of said first structure, said second structure comprising a second metal composition; at least one welded region affixing said first major side of said first structure with said second major side of said second structure; at least one fluid channel defined at an unwelded interface of said first major side of said first structure and said second major side of said second structure; and at least one sealing member compressed between said first major side of said first substrate and said second major side of said second substrate, said at least one sealing member comprising a material having a lower hardness than that of said first metal composition and said second metal composition.
In another embodiment, a device for flowing fluids therethrough includes: a first structure having a first major side, said first structure comprising a first metal composition; a second structure having a second major side abutting said first major side, said second structure comprising a second metal composition different from said first metal composition; a plurality of welded regions affixing said first major side of said first structure with said second major side of said second structure; a plurality of fluid channels defined at unwelded interfaces of said first major side of said first structure and said second major side of said second structure; and at least one sealing member compressed between said first major side of said first substrate and said second major side of said second substrate, said at least one sealing member sealing between adjacent fluid channels, said at least one sealing member comprising a third metal composition having a lower hardness than that of said first metal composition and said second metal composition.
In yet another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a device for flowing fluids therethrough includes: providing a first structure having a first major side, said first major side defining a first portion of a plurality of fluid channels; providing a second structure having a second major side, said second major side defining a second portion of said plurality of fluid channels; and affixing said first major side of said first structure with said second major side of said second structure by at least one interference pin weld.
In yet another embodiment, a device for flowing fluids therethrough, the device includes: a first structure having a first major side, said first structure comprising a first metal composition; a second structure having a second major side abutting said first major side of said first structure, said second structure comprising a second metal composition; at least one brazed region affixing said first major side of said first structure with said second major side of said second structure, wherein one of said first major side of said first structure and said second major side of said second structure comprises a pin, the other of said first major side of said first structure and said second major side of said second structure comprises a recess, and said at least one brazed region affixes said pin with said recess; and at least one sealing member compressed between said first major side of said first substrate and said second major side of said second substrate, said at least one sealing member comprising a material having a lower hardness than that of said first metal composition and said second metal composition.
Other embodiments of the disclosed devices for flowing fluids therethrough and methods for manufacturing thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
The present description relates to devices for flowing fluids therethrough having a first structure bonded by welding or brazing, e.g., furnace brazing or resistance brazing, to a second structure with at least one fluid channel at an interface thereof, and methods for manufacturing thereof. It will be understood that following detailed description discloses the invention with reference to bonding the first structure to the second structure by welding, but the invention is equally applicable to bonding the first structure to the second structure by brazing.
As shown by
The first major side 111 of the first structure 110 and the second major side 121 of the second structure 120 together define fluid channel surfaces 140A and 140B at an interface of said first major side 111 and said second major side 121 for flowing fluids through a fluid channel of the device.
As further shown by
As shown by
Moreover, the first structure may be formed from a first metal composition, and the second structure may be formed from a second metal composition different from said first metal composition.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the sealing channel 113 is positioned along one side of the fluid channel 140. However, sealing channel 113 can be arranged in any number of positions to provide a desired sealing effect.
Additionally, it will be understood that the position of sealing channel 113 may be reversed, such the second major side 121 of the second structure 120 includes the sealing channel 113.
The sealing member 130 is formed of a material that is softer than that of the first structure 110 and the second structure 120. Preferably, the sealing member 130 is formed of a metal that is softer (i.e. lower hardness) than that of the first structure 110 and the second structure 120. When the first structure 110 and second structure 120 are bonded together, the sealing member 130 is compressed therebetween to thereby seal the fluid channel 140 or seal between adjacent fluid channels 140.
As shown by
The first major side 211 of the first structure 210 and the second major side 221 of the second structure 220 together define fluid channel surfaces 240A and 240B at an interface of said first major side 211 and said second major side 221 for flowing fluids through a fluid channel of the device.
As further shown by
As shown by
Moreover, the first structure may be formed from a first metal composition, the second structure may be formed from a second metal composition different from said first metal composition, and the welding rivet may be formed from a third metal composition different than that of the first metal composition and second metal composition. Thus, due to the absence of welding between the first metal composition of the first structure and the second metal composition of the second structure, the first metal composition and second metal composition may be selected from chemistries that are incompatible for welding with each other.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the sealing channel 213 is positioned along one side of the fluid channel 240. However, sealing channel 213 can be arranged in any number of positions to provide a desired sealing effect.
Additionally, it will be understood that the position of sealing channel 213 may be reversed, such the second major side 221 of the second structure 220 includes the sealing channel 213.
The sealing member 230 is formed of a material that is softer than that of the first structure 210 and the second structure 220. Preferably, the sealing member 230 is formed of a metal that is softer (i.e. lower hardness) than that of the first structure 210 and the second structure 220. When the first structure 210 and second structure 220 are bonded together, the sealing member 230 is compressed therebetween to thereby seal the fluid channel 240 or seal between adjacent fluid channels 240.
As shown, the device 300 for flowing fluids therethrough includes the first structure 310 having a first major side 311, the second structure 320 having a second major side 321, and the sealing member 330.
The first major side 311 of the first structure 310 and the second major side 321 of the second structure 320 together define a plurality of fluid channel surfaces 340A and 340B at an interface of said first major side 311 and said second major side 321 for flowing fluids through a fluid channel of the device.
As further shown, the first major side 311 of the first structure 310 includes a plurality of welding pins 312, and the second major side 321 of the second structure 320 includes a plurality of welding recesses 322. It will be understood that the positions of the welding pin 312 and welding recess 322 may be reversed, such that the second major side 321 of the second structure 320 includes the welding pin 312, and the first major side 311 of the first structure 310 includes the welding recess 322, or such that the second major side 321 of the second structure 320 includes one welding pin and one welding recess and the first major side 311 of the first structure 310 includes another welding pin and another welding recess.
As shown, the first structure 310 and second structure 320 are bonded together by an interference pin weld between the welding pins 312 and the welding recesses 322 creating a metallurgical bond affixing together the first structure 310 and the second structure 320 localized at the connections of the welding pins 312 and welding recesses 322. Due to localized welding of the first structure 310 and the second structure 320, other portions of the first major side 311 and second major side 321 remain unmelted. Therefore, the fluid channel 340 formed at the interface of the first major side 311 and the second major side 321 are not affected by the welding process. Therefore, the structures of the fluid channels 340 are preserved during the bonding of the first structure 310 and the second structure 320, and the fluid channels 340 do not may become partially or fully blocked due to melting and adjacent fluid channels do not become connected due to a breakdown of a barrier therebetween. This preservation of the structures of the fluid channels 340 permits for smaller fluid channels and concentration of multiple adjacent fluid channels with reduced concern that the process of bonding together the first structure and the second structure will unintentionally block a fluid channel or break down a barrier between adjacent fluid channels.
Furthermore, the device 300 provides for sealing of the fluid channels or sealing between adjacent fluid channels. In particular, the first major side 311 of the first structure 310 includes a sealing channel 313 for retaining sealing member 330 therein.
As illustrated, the sealing channel 313 is positioned along one side of the fluid channels 340. However, sealing channel 313 can be arranged in any number of positions to provide a desired sealing effect.
Additionally, it will be understood that the position of sealing channel 313 may be reversed, such the second major side 321 of the second structure 320 includes the sealing channel 313.
The sealing member 330 is formed of a material that is softer than that of the first structure 310 and the second structure 320. Preferably, the sealing member 330 is formed of a metal that is softer (i.e. lower hardness) than that of the first structure 310 and the second structure 320. When the first structure 310 and second structure 320 are bonded together, the sealing member 330 is compressed therebetween to thereby seal the fluid channels 340 or seal between adjacent fluid channels 340.
As shown in
As shown by
As further shown by
The welding pin 412 and welding recess 422 are welded together by resistance welding. Thus, an electric current is applied between the first structure 410 and the second structure 420, and the current is focused to the contact of the welding pin 412 and welding recess 422. Meanwhile, a compressive force is applied between the first structure 410 and the second structure. The compressive force effects a frictional force between the welding pin 412 and the welding recess 422 to remove surface oxides or other surface materials, thereby providing for electrical connection between the welding pin 412 and the welding recess 422.
The electric current then heats and melts the welding pin 412 and the welding recess 422 by resistance heating. Meanwhile, the compressive force moves the first structure 410 and the second structure 420 together until the first major surface of the first structure 410 and the second major surface of the second structure 420 are contacted together. Once the first major surface of the first structure and the second major surface of the second structure are contacted, then current applied between the first structure 410 and the second structure 420 is no longer focused to the contact between the welding pin 412 and the welding recess 422, which are then thereby permitted to cool and solidify as a welded region.
As further shown by
In comparison to the interference pin welding of
As shown by
As further shown by
The welding pin 512 and welding recess 522 are welded together by resistance welding. Thus, an electric current is applied between the first structure 510 and the second structure 520, and the current is focused to the contact of the welding pin 512 and welding recess 522. Meanwhile, a compressive force is applied between the first structure 510 and the second structure. The compressive force effects a frictional force between the welding pin 512 and the welding recess 522 to remove surface oxides or other surface materials, thereby providing for electrical connection between the welding pin 512 and the welding recess 522.
The electric current then heats and melts the welding pin 512, the welding interlayer 525, and the welding recess 522 by resistance heating. Meanwhile, the compressive force moves the first structure 510 and the second structure 520 together until the first major surface of the first structure 510 and the second major surface of the second structure 520 are contacted together. Once the first major surface of the first structure and the second major surface of the second structure are contacted, then current applied between the first structure 510 and the second structure 520 is no longer focused to the contact between the welding pin 512 and the welding recess 522, which are then thereby permitted to cool and solidify as a welded region.
By including the welding interlayer 525 between the welding pin 512 and the welding recess 522, a first welded region may be formed between the welding interlayer 525 and the welding pin 512 and a second welded region may be formed between the welding interlayer 525 and the welding recess 522. Due to the absence of welding between a first metal composition of the first structure and a second metal composition of the second structure, the first metal composition and second metal composition may be selected from chemistries that are incompatible for welding with each other.
In an alternative embodiment, the welding interlayer may be deposited on one of the welding pin and the welding recess prior to welding such a metallurgical bond is created therebetween prior to welding with the other of the welding pin and welding recess.
As further shown by
According to the present description, the first structure may be formed from a first metal composition, and the second structure may be formed from a second metal composition different from said first metal composition. Thus, the present description is capable of providing a device for flowing fluids therethrough, which has a first structure formed from a first metal composition bonded to a second structure formed from a second metal composition with at least one fluid channel at an interface thereof, in which the first and second metal compositions may not have compatible chemistries for welding and in which one or both of the first and metal compositions may have a low melting point such that brazing becomes problematic. For example, in a preferred embodiment, one of said first metal composition and said second metal composition is alloy suitable for high-temperatures, such as a nickel-based alloy, and the other of said first metal composition and said second metal composition is high conductivity, low temperature metal or alloy, such as copper or a copper-based alloy.
It will be understood that above detailed description discloses the invention with reference to bonding the first structure to the second structure by welding, but the invention is equally applicable to bonding the first structure to the second structure by brazing. For example, the welding pin may be brazed to the welding recess using a braze filler, and thus the geometries of the present description by be used with braze at welding pin locations. In particular, the welding interlayer of
Although various embodiments of the disclosed devices for flowing fluids therethrough and methods for manufacturing thereof have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.