Method for resistance welding/brazing a tube to a member

Abstract

A method for welding/brazing a tube to a member. The tube has an axially-extending first portion and has a tube form which extends transversely from the first portion. A filler material is obtained. The tube, the member and the filler material are positioned such that the filler material contacts the tube form and the member. A resistance current path is created through the tube, the filler material and the member which melts at least some of the filler material creating a weld/braze zone which includes at least some of the tube, at least some of the member, and at least some of the filler material.

1 . A method for welding/brazing a tube to a member comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a tube having an axially-extending first portion and having a tube form which extends transversely from the first portion;    b) obtaining a member;    c) obtaining a filler material having a different chemical composition from that of the tube and the member;    d) after steps a) through c), disposing the tube, the member and the filler material such that the filler material contacts the tube form and the member; and    e) after step d), creating a resistance current path through the tube, the filler material and the member which melts at least some of the filler material creating a weld/braze zone which includes at least some of the tube, at least some of the member, and at least some of the filler material.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material includes at least one gasket, and wherein step d) disposes the at-least-one gasket between the tube form and the member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material includes a coating disposed on the tube form.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the coating is plated on the tube form.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material includes a coating disposed on the member.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material includes a first coating portion disposed on the tube form and includes a second coating portion disposed on the member.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the member is a tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the member is a non-tubular member.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube form is disposed proximate an end of the tube.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube form is a flange.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the flange is an outwardly-extending annular flange.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube form is a fold.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fold is an outwardly-extending annular fold.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step e) is performed without relatively axially moving the tube form deformingly toward the member.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step e) includes relatively axially moving the tube form deformingly toward the member.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weld/braze zone created by step e) is a leak-tight annular weld/braze zone.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a chemical composition which is different from that of the member.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a chemical composition which is identical to that of the member.  
     
     
         19 . A method for welding a tube to a member comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a tube having an axially-extending first portion and having a tube form which extends transversely from the first portion;    b) obtaining a member;    c) obtaining a filler material;    d) after steps a) through c), disposing the tube, the member and the filler material such that the filler material contacts the tube form and the member; and    e) after step d), creating a resistance current path through the tube, the filler material and the member which melts at least some of the filler material creating a weld zone which includes at least some of the tube, at least some of the member, and at least some of the filler material.    
     
     
         20 . A method for brazing a tube to a member comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a tube having an axially-extending first portion and having a tube form which extends transversely from the first portion;    b) obtaining a member;    c) obtaining a filler material having a different chemical composition from that of the tube and the member;    d) after steps a) through c), disposing the tube, the member and the filler material such that the filler material contacts the tube form and the member; and    e) after step d), creating a resistance current path through the tube, the filler material and the member which melts at least some of the filler material creating a braze zone which includes at least some of the tube, at least some of the member, and at least some of the filler material.