Welding of hermetic connectors

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7338503· OSTI ID:7338503

Hieber, D. E.

Certain systems use hermetically-sealed multipin connectors welded into a stainless steel support ring. Failure of these hermetic seals during welding continues to be a problem, and similar problems are anticipated on advanced systems. Since the assembly is expensive, and the detection, prevention, and repair of hermetic seal failures is costly, development of an improved welding process is important. Extended service life also requires a lower system leak rate, thus causing an increased need for maintaining the hermetic seal without supplemental epoxy sealing and repair. Experience shows that up to 70 percent of the 10-pin SA1810-2 connectors have gross leaks (greater than 0.003 mm/sup 3//s Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)) after being welded using established welding processes and without using the epoxy pre-seal process. Acceptable leak rates of less than 0.00001 mm/sup 3//s STP were achieved from 20 SA1810-2 10-pin connectors using heat sinks and an intermittent gas-tungsten-arc (GTA) weld technique. The process developed consists of using a massive copper heat sink with silicon thermal joint compound to maintain control of temperature in the hermetic seal area and using a 12-segment GTA weld with compressed argon gas cooling between weld segments. The process and techniques developed are considered acceptable for welding the SA1810 family of connectors.

• Research Organization: Bendix Corp., Kansas City, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: E(29-1)-613
• OSTI ID: 7338503
• Report Number(s): BDX-613-1293(Rev.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
CONNECTORS
GAS TUNGSTEN-ARC WELDING
HEAT SINKS
MECHANICAL TESTS
SEALS
STRAIN GAGES
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
ARC WELDING
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CONTROL
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
JOINING
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
TESTING
WELDING
420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)