Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of using a gas torch to apply a smooth and continuous metal coating along a predetermined path on a surface of a metal substrate, which method comprises igniting the torch and directionally applying its discharge to a local region of said path, oscillating said discharge in a regular periodic traverse sweep of said path, continuously advancing said discharge along said path at a relatively slow rate compared to that of the oscillating traverse sweep, and intermittently adding metal powder to the torch flow in synchronism with the oscillating sweep cycle, said last step occurring in a regular pattern in which single powder-spraying sweeps involving metal-powder addition to the torch flow are spaced by full-sweep intervals of the sweep cycle without metal-powder addition, the relatively slow rate of advance along said path and the interval between successive powder-spraying sweeps being selected such that the bead of sprayed metal on the substrate for each successive powder-spraying sweep at least partially overlaps the previously sprayed bead, whereby the sweep intervals without metal-powder addition are fusing sweeps which enhance the smooth and continuous nature of the resultant metal coating and its bond to the metal substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of using a gas torch to apply a smooth and continuous metal coating along a predetermined path on a surface of a metal substrate, which method comprises igniting the torch and directionally applying its discharge to a local region of said path, oscillating said discharge in a regular periodic traverse sweep of said path, continuously advancing said discharge along said path at a relatively slow rate compared to that of the oscillating traverse sweep, and intermittently adding metal powder to the torch flow in synchronism with the oscillating sweep cycle, said last step occurring in a regular pattern in which single powder-spraying sweeps involving metal-powder addition to the torch flow are spaced by full-sweep intervals of the sweep cycle without metal-powder addition, the relatively slow rate of advance along said path and the interval between successive powder-spraying sweeps being selected such that the bead of sprayed metal on the substrate for each successive powder-spraying sweep at least partially overlaps the previously sprayed bead, whereby the sweep intervals without metal-powder addition are fusing sweeps which enhance the smooth and continuous nature of the resultant metal coating and its bond to the metal substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, in which the pattern of powder-spraying sweeps vs. non-spraying sweeps of continuous torch operation is 1 to 4.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which the predetermined path is generally rectilinear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, in which the predetermined path is generally arcuate, and in which the metal substrate is mounted for rotation such that torch oscillation periodically traverses the width of the predetermined path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, in which the predetermined path is curvilinear, and in which the metal substrate and torch are displaced in such curvilinear multiple-component advancing relative motion as to cause the predetermined path to be traversed by said sweep at a substantially constant and relatively short torch-discharge distance.