Hollow Element Assembly, and Method and Apparatus for the Manufacture thereof

摘要

A hollow element assembly has a base and a lid. The base has a wall that at least partly defines a recess, and the lid is locatable on the base so as to further bound the recess. Location of the lid on the base is achieved by bringing an edge of the wall into abutting contact with a corresponding contacting surface on the lid. At least one of the edge of the wall and the contacting surface of the lid has a channel running there along, such that when the lid is located on the base, a welding conduit is provided that follows the edge of the wall. At least one of the base and the lid further has an inlet aperture arranged to deliver molten welding material to the welding conduit from a region external to the hollow element assembly, so as to weld the base and the lid together, to provide a hollow element.

主权项

1. A hollow element assembly (10) for assembly into a hollow element, the hollow element assembly comprising a base (12) and a lid (14), the base having a wall (18) that at least partly defines a recess (20), the lid (14) being locatable on the base (12) so as to further bound the recess (20),
the hollow element assembly (10) being arranged such that the lid (14) is locatable on the base (12) through the process of bringing an edge (18a) of the wall (18) into abutting contact with a corresponding contacting surface (30a) on the lid, characterised in that at least one of the edge (18a) of the wall (18) and the contacting surface (30a) of the lid (14) has a channel (22,32) running therealong, such that when the lid is located on the base, a welding conduit is provided that follows the edge of the wall, at least one of the base (12) and the lid (14) further having an inlet aperture (24) arranged to deliver molten welding material to the welding conduit from a region external to the hollow element assembly, so as to weld the base and the lid together, to provide a hollow element.