Method for manufacturing an electrical conductor, such as a current rod, for a high-temperature electrochemical device
View Patent ↗A method for manufacturing an electrical conductor, such as a current rod, comprising the following successive steps: —providing a core made of a first metallic material, —providing a sheath made of a second metallic material, the sheath being intended to cover a first part of the core, —providing a connection terminal made of a third metallic material, —assembling the core and the connection terminal, by crimping, or by crimping and brazing, or by braze welding, or by brazing, —assembling the core and the connection terminal with the sheath.
1 . A method of manufacturing an electrical conductor, like a current rod, comprising the following successive steps:
providing a core made of a first metallic material,
providing a sheath, made of a second metallic material, the sheath being intended to cover a first portion of the core,
providing a connection terminal made of a third metallic material,
assembling the core and the connection terminal,
assembling the core and the connection terminal with the sheath,
wherein the sheath is welded on the first portion of the core by hot isostatic pressing,
and in that the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out:
by crimping, or
by crimping and brazing, or
by braze welding, or
by brazing.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out by crimping and in that the method is carried out by:
inserting the core into a counterbore of the connection terminal, so that the connection terminal covers a second portion of the core,
crimping the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal,
covering the first portion of the core with the sheath then welding the sheath on the first portion of the core, by hot isostatic pressing.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out by crimping and brazing and in that the method is carried out by:
positioning a brazing material in a counterbore of the connection terminal,
inserting the core into the counterbore of the connection terminal, so that the connection terminal covers a second portion of the core,
crimping the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal,
carrying out a brazing, so as to melt the brazing material, whereby after cooling of the brazing material, a brazed joint is obtained between the connection terminal and the core,
covering the first portion of the core with the sheath then welding the sheath on the first portion of the core, by hot isostatic pressing.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out by crimping and brazing and in that the method is carried out by
positioning a brazing material in the counterbore of the connection terminal,
inserting the core into the counterbore of the connection terminal, so that the connection terminal covers a second portion of the core,
crimping the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal,
covering the first portion of the core with the sheath then welding the sheath on the first portion of the core, by hot isostatic pressing, at a temperature high enough to melt the brazing material, whereby simultaneously the hot isostatic pressing is carried out and a brazed joint is obtained between the connection terminal and the core.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out by braze-welding and in that the method is carried out by:
positioning a brazing material between the connection terminal and the core,
carrying out a braze-welding, so as to obtain a braze-welded joint between the connection terminal and the core,
covering the first portion of the core by the sheath, the sheath being in contact with the connection terminal then welding the sheath on the first portion of the core, by hot isostatic pressing.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the brazing material is an alloy comprising copper, zinc and nickel.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the core is made of nickel, silver, copper, or a copper alloy.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheath is made of stainless steel or of a stainless nickel alloy and in that the connection terminal is made of a stainless alloy.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connection terminal is made of stainless steel.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheath is made of stainless steel.
11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the core is made of copper.
12 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the brazing material has a thickness between 25 μm and 200 μm.
13 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the brazing material has a thickness between 25 μm and 200 μm.
14 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the brazing is carried out at a brazing temperature greater than 900° C.
15 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature high enough to melt the brazing material is greater than 900° C.
16 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal is crimped with a force in the range of 20 kN.
17 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal is crimped with a force in the range of 20 kN.
18 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the core covered by the connection terminal is crimped with a force in the range of 20 kN.
19 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the alloy further comprises silver.
20 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the core and of the connection terminal is carried out by a method including a brazing step employing a brazing material having a thickness between 25 μm and 200 μm.