A Vacuum Insulating Glazing Unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

A Vacuum Insulating Glazing Unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

Additive particles are introduced to a braze joint by combining the additive particles with a flux and using the flux with additive particles to form a core or coating of a braze product including braze alloy and flux. Additive particles are selected to provide some improvement to the finished braze joint that cannot be achieved by combining the additive particles directly into the braze alloy. Methods of brazing include application of vibration to a braze joint while the braze joint is maintained at a brazing temperature. Vibration applied to the materials being joined is transmitted through the flux, molten braze alloy and additive particles, producing a braze joint of increased strength and uniformity.

Additive particles are introduced to a braze joint by combining the additive particles with a flux and using the flux with additive particles to form a core or coating of a braze product including braze alloy and flux. Additive particles are selected to provide some improvement to the finished braze joint that cannot be achieved by combining the additive particles directly into the braze alloy. Methods of brazing include application of vibration to a braze joint while the braze joint is maintained at a brazing temperature. Vibration applied to the materials being joined is transmitted through the flux, molten braze alloy and additive particles, producing a braze joint of increased strength and uniformity.

Methods and systems for bonding of structures using high intensity focused ultrasound are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for assembling components using ultrasound includes: positioning a first part of an assembly with respect to a second part of the assembly; heating a region of the assembly by focusing the ultrasound from an ultrasound transducer to the region of the assembly; and, in response to heating the region of the assembly, bonding the first part of the assembly to the second part of the assembly.

Methods and systems for bonding of structures using high intensity focused ultrasound are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for assembling components using ultrasound includes: positioning a first part of an assembly with respect to a second part of the assembly; heating a region of the assembly by focusing the ultrasound from an ultrasound transducer to the region of the assembly; and, in response to heating the region of the assembly, bonding the first part of the assembly to the second part of the assembly.

A method for supplying a sliding process material to or removing it from a surface of an object to be slid using a sliding part including a plurality of sliding bodies each having a flat working surface, the sliding part is regularly moved, preferably by a second driving mechanism, in parallel with the working surfaces of the sliding bodies and in a direction different from a moving direction of the sliding bodies while the sliding bodies are regularly moved, preferably by a first driving mechanism, in parallel with the working surfaces. This configuration uniformly supplies the sliding process material to the surface of the object to be slid.

A brazing apparatus (100) according to this invention includes a stage (10) supporting the assembly (AS) with the brazing materials (120) being interposed between the joint surfaces (130) of the plurality of to-be-joined materials (110); a pressure applier (20) applying a pressure to the assembly toward the stage; a heater (30) heating the assembly to a predetermined temperature that melts the brazing material in the assembly; and a vibration applier (40) applying ultrasonic vibration. The vibration applier removes oxide film on the joint surfaces of the plurality of to-be-joined materials by vibrating the stage and the pressure applier relative to each other with the assembly under the pressure having been heated to the predetermined temperature.

A brazing apparatus (100) according to this invention includes a stage (10) supporting the assembly (AS) with the brazing materials (120) being interposed between the joint surfaces (130) of the plurality of to-be-joined materials (110); a pressure applier (20) applying a pressure to the assembly toward the stage; a heater (30) heating the assembly to a predetermined temperature that melts the brazing material in the assembly; and a vibration applier (40) applying ultrasonic vibration. The vibration applier removes oxide film on the joint surfaces of the plurality of to-be-joined materials by vibrating the stage and the pressure applier relative to each other with the assembly under the pressure having been heated to the predetermined temperature.