Electromagnetic pulse welding of fluid joints

Abstract

A metallurgically formed fluid circuit joint includes a hollow fitting ( 298 ), a tubular conduit ( 297 ), and a metallurgically formed tube/fitting mesh ( 296 ). The tube/fitting mesh ( 296 ) includes a fitting portion of the hollow fitting ( 298 ) and a tube portion of the tubular conduit ( 297 ) that is electromagnetically formed with the fitting portion.

1 . A metallurgically formed fluid circuit joint comprising: 
 a hollow fitting;    a tubular conduit; and    metallurgically formed tube/fitting mesh comprising;    fitting portion of said hollow fitting; and    tube portion of said tubular conduit electromagnetically formed with said fitting portion.    
   
   
       2 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein said tubular conduit is received at least partially within said hollow fitting.  
   
   
       3 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein said tubular conduit is received at least partially over said hollow fitting.  
   
   
       4 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein said hollow fitting prior to electromagnetic forming comprises a plurality of grooves.  
   
   
       5 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein said hollow fitting and said tubular conduit are formed of at least one material selected from stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium.  
   
   
       6 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein the hollow fitting prior to electromagnetic forming thereof comprises: 
 a tube inlay section comprising;    a tube-butting edge associated with an end of said tubular conduit; and    a plurality of internal grooves.    
   
   
       7 . A fluid circuit joint as in  claim 1  wherein the hollow fitting prior to electromagnetic forming comprises: 
 a tube overlap region comprising;    an radius edge associated with an end of the tube;    a plurality of grooves; and    a break edge guiding insertion of the fitting into the tube.    
   
   
       8 . A magnetic forming system for creating a fluid circuit joint between a tube and a fitting comprising: 
 an induction coil forming an electromagnetic current; and    a field concentrator assembly electrically coupled to said induction coil and forming a electromagnetic field in response to said electromagnetic current, said field concentrator assembly comprising:    field concentrator focusing said electromagnetic current to form said electromagnetic field; and    nest configured to contain the tube at least partially positioned within the fitting;    aid field concentrator imposing said electromagnetic field on the fitting to metallurgically weld the fitting to the tube to form the fluid circuit joint.    
   
   
       9 . A system as in  claim 8  wherein said field concentrator imposes said electromagnetic field to compress the fitting on the tube to form the fluid circuit joint.  
   
   
       10 . A system as in  claim 8  wherein said nest resides at least partially within said field concentrator.  
   
   
       11 . A system as in  claim 8  further comprising a mandrel residing within the tube and inwardly constraining the tube and the fitting.  
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a controller generating a current pulse signal; and    a current supply circuit generating an energy pulse in response to said current pulse signal;    said induction coil generating said electromagnetic field in response to said current pulse.    
   
   
       13 . A system as in  claim 8  wherein said field concentrator imposes said electromagnetic field to compress said fitting prior to metallurgical welding thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 an end-forming device expanding said fitting prior to insertion of said tube into said fitting; and    said field concentrator imposing said electromagnetic field on said fitting to metallurgically weld said fitting with said tube to form said fluid circuit joint.    
   
   
       15 . A system as in  claim 8  further comprising an insert electrically coupled to said field concentrator and imposing said electromagnetic field on said fitting to form said fluid circuit joint.  
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 15  wherein said field concentrator is external to said nest and said insert is coupled at partially within said nest.  
   
   
       17 . A magnetic forming system for creating a fluid circuit joint between a tube and a fitting comprising: 
 an end former expanding at least a portion of the tube;    an induction coil forming an electromagnetic current; and    a field concentrator assembly electrically coupled to said induction coil and forming a electromagnetic field in response to said electromagnetic current, said field concentrator assembly comprising:    a concentrator focusing said electromagnetic current to form said electromagnetic field; and    a nest configured to contain the fitting at least partially positioned within said portion;    said field concentrator imposing said electromagnetic field on the tube to metallurgically weld the tube to the fitting to form the fluid circuit joint.    
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein said field concentrator imposes said electromagnetic field to compress said portion on the fitting to form the fluid circuit joint.  
   
   
       19 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein the fitting comprises a tube overlap region having at least one groove.  
   
   
       20 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein the fitting comprises: 
 a tube overlap region comprising;    a radius edge associated with an end of the tube;    a plurality of grooves; and    a break edge guiding insertion of the fitting into the tube.    
   
   
       21 . A system as in  claim 17  further comprising a mandrel residing within the fitting and inwardly constraining the tube and the fitting.  
   
   
       22 . A system as in  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a controller generating a current pulse signal; and    a current supply circuit generating a current pulse in response to said current pulse signal;    said induction coil generating said electromagnetic field in response to said current pulse.    
   
   
       23 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein said field concentrator imposes said electromagnetic field to compress said tube prior to metallurgical welding thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A system as in  claim 17  further comprising an insert electrically coupled to said field concentrator and imposing said electromagnetic field on said tube to form said fluid circuit joint.  
   
   
       25 . A system as in  claim 24  wherein said field concentrator is external to said nest and said insert is coupled at partially within said nest.