Brazing System

Abstract

A brazing system is provided. The brazing system includes a first brazing torch, a second brazing torch, a third brazing torch, a torch carriage having an actuator system configured to simultaneously rotate the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, and a mass flow controller configured to control the flow of gas to each of the first, second, and third brazing torches, based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazed connection using two of the first, second, and third brazing torches, or a second heating profile for making two simultaneous brazed connections using each of the first, second, and third brazing torches.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 685,022, filed August 20, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and U.S. Patent Application No. 19 / 086,395, filed March 21, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automated brazing system, and more particularly to an automated brazing system for making brazed connections to metal tubing. [Background technology]

[0003] Brazing is used to join metal components using a braze, a metal or alloy with a lower melting point than the metals to be joined. Brazing typically involves the use of a torch supplied with two gases. One of the gases includes a combustible fuel gas, such as LP gas, natural gas, acetylene gas, methane, propane, butane, hydrogen, and mixtures and combinations thereof, while the other gas includes a combustion support gas, such as oxygen or compressed air. Mass flow controllers with flow control valves can control the flow of the fuel gas and the combustion support gas to the torch during the brazing operation.

[0004] When making brazed connections, care must be taken to avoid overheating and damaging the components to be joined. This is especially true when brazing aluminum components, as the melting point of the braze alloy or braze material can be close to the melting point of the aluminum component. It is common for manual brazers, especially inexperienced workers, to inadvertently overheat the brazed joint and damage the component. An automated brazing system can eliminate such operator errors. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The following summary presents a simplified overview in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the devices, systems, and / or methods described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the devices, systems, and / or methods described herein. It is not intended to identify key elements or delineate the scope of such devices, systems, and / or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a brazing system is provided. The brazing system includes a stand, a platform movable along the stand in a first axial direction, and a shuttle movable along the platform in a second axial direction toward and away from an object having a first tube extending in the first axial direction and a second tube adjacent to the first tube and also extending in the first axial direction. The second axial direction is perpendicular to the first axial direction. A torch carriage is positionable along the shuttle in a third axial direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. A first brazing torch is attached to the torch carriage and configured to make a first brazing connection along the first tube. A second brazing torch is attached to the torch carriage and configured to make a second brazing connection along the second tube while making the first brazing connection. The platform automatically moves back and forth in the first axial direction while making the first and second brazing connections to adjust the positions of the first brazing torch along the first tube and the second brazing torch along the second tube during the brazing operation being performed on the object.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brazing system including a first brazing torch, a second brazing torch, a third brazing torch, a torch carriage having an actuator system configured to simultaneously rotate the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, and a mass flow controller configured to control a flow of gas to each of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch, respectively, based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazed connection using two of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch, or a second heating profile for making two brazed connections simultaneously using each of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brazing system including a stand, a platform supported by the stand, a shuttle movable along the platform in a first direction, a torch carriage positionable along the shuttle in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first brazing torch mounted on the torch carriage and configured to make a first brazing connection along a first tube, a second brazing torch mounted on the torch carriage and configured to make a second brazing connection along a second tube adjacent to the first tube, and mass flow controllers configured to control the flow of gas to each of the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch, respectively, based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazing connection using only one of the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch, or a second heating profile for making two brazing connections simultaneously using both the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brazing system including a stand, a platform supported by the stand, a shuttle movable in a first direction along the platform, a torch carriage positionable along the shuttle in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a brazing torch mounted on the torch carriage and configured to make a first brazed connection along a tube, and a mass flow controller configured to control a flow of gas to the brazing torch, the mass flow controller controlling the flow of gas based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazed connection using the brazing torch or a second heating profile for making two brazed connections simultaneously using both the brazing torch and a second brazing torch.

[0010] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains upon reading the following description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 shows a brazing system. [Figure 2] 1 shows a portion of a brazing system. [Figure 3] 1 shows a portion of a brazing system. [Figure 4] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 5] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a portion of a brazing system. [Figure 7] 1 shows a heating profile. [Figure 8] 1 shows a heating profile. [Figure 9] 1 shows a portion of a part to be brazed; [Figure 10] Shows brazing operation. [Figure 11] Shows brazing operation. [Figure 12] Shows brazing operation. [Figure 13] Shows brazing operation. [Figure 14] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 15] 1 shows a portion of a brazing torch. [Figure 16] 1 shows a portion of a brazing torch. [Figure 17] 1 shows a portion of a brazing torch. [Figure 18] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 19] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 20] A brazing torch is shown. [Figure 21] 1 shows a portion of a brazing torch. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to an automated brazing system, particularly for making brazed connections to metal tubing, such as aluminum tubing or copper tubing. The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that the various figures are not necessarily to scale, either by the figures or within a given figure, and in particular, the sizes of components are arbitrarily depicted to facilitate understanding of the figures. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it may be apparent that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, other embodiments of the invention are possible, and the invention can be practiced and carried out in ways other than as described. The terms and phrases used in describing the invention are used to facilitate understanding of the invention and should not be taken as limiting.

[0013] As used herein, "at least one," "one or more," and "and / or" are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, the expressions "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, or C," and "A, B, and / or C" each mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. Any disjunctive word or expression indicating two or more alternative terms, whether in the description of embodiments, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the expression "A or B" should be understood to include the possibilities of "A," or "B," or "A and B."

[0014] 1 illustrates a brazing system 100 for automatically making brazed connections. The brazing system 100 may be part of a larger manufacturing assembly line for producing, for example, heat exchanger coils 102. The brazing system 100 may be configured to automatically make a variety of brazed connections. However, the brazing system 100 described herein is particularly well-suited for simultaneously making multiple brazed connections between metal tubing, such as aluminum tubing and copper tubing.

[0015] The brazing system 100 includes a stand 104 or frame to which a platform 106 is mounted. The vertical position of the platform 106 along the stand 104 (e.g., along the Z-axis or Z-direction) is adjustable by an actuator (not shown). Exemplary actuators include pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, servo motors, lead or ball screw actuators, etc. The stand 104 may include a vertical track along which the platform 106 moves up and down along the stand. Atop the platform 106 is a shuttle 108 extending along the length of the platform. The shuttle 108 may alternately move toward and away from the heat exchanger 102 (e.g., along the Y-axis or Y-direction perpendicular to the Z-axis) to respectively engage and disengage the heat exchanger during the brazing process. The shuttle 108 may ride on a series of tracks 110 located above the platform 106 and may be moved by an actuator as described above.

[0016] Multiple torch carriages 112 are mounted on the shuttle 108. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the brazing system 100 has four torch carriages 112; however, the system may include fewer than two or more than four torch carriages, as desired. The positions of the torch carriages 112 along the shuttle 108 are adjustable (e.g., along an X-axis or X-axis direction, which is perpendicular to the Y- and Z-axes). The torch carriages 112 may be mounted on tracks 114 that extend along the length of the shuttle 108. The positions of the torch carriages 112 along the shuttle 108 may be individually adjusted either manually or automatically via actuators. As described further below, each torch carriage 112 includes multiple brazing torches that can be controlled to make a single brazing connection or multiple simultaneous brazing connections between tubes. Each torch carriage 112 may include an actuator or actuator system for rotating the brazing torches as they engage and disengage the tubing to be brazed.

[0017] The operation of the actuators described above may be controlled by an electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC), to automatically control the movement and spatial position and orientation of the brazing torch. PLC-based motion control is well known and need not be described in detail here.

[0018] 2 and 3 show the torch carriage 112 and the rotation of the brazing torches in more detail. Each torch carriage 112 can have one or more brazing torches attached. For example, each torch carriage 112 can have multiple brazing torches, e.g., at least two brazing torches, operating together. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the torch carriage 112 has three brazing torches 116a, 116b, and 116c; however, the torch carriage can have fewer than two or more than three brazing torches, as desired. FIG. 2 shows the torches 116a, 116b, and 116c in a vertical or substantially vertical orientation or position, while FIG. 3 shows the torches rotated to a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation or position. The torch carriage 112 can include an actuator system 118 having a servo motor, gears, or the like, to rotate the torches 116a, 116b, and 116c between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. Torches 116a, 116b, 116c are connected at their respective proximal ends to torch carriage 112. At the distal end of each torch 116a, 116b, 116c is a flame tip or burner. The flame tip or burner is formed by two generally C-shaped sections oriented back-to-back, with multiple flame outlets along the inside of each concave C-shaped section. As explained further below, the C-shaped sections of two adjacent torches work together to form a single brazed connection.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the brazing torches 116a, 116b, 116c, and FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the proximal end of the torches. As noted above, each torch has a flame tip or burner formed by two generally C-shaped sections 120, 122 oriented back-to-back, with one C-shaped section 120 opening to the left side of the torch and one C-shaped section opening to the right side of the torch. It can be seen that the two C-shaped sections of the center torch 116b cooperate with the opposing C-shaped sections of the adjacent torches 116a, 116c to form a generally ring-shaped heating element. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the three brazing torches 116a, 116b, 116c form two ring-shaped burners when rotated to their horizontal orientation. Two ring burners may be operated simultaneously to make two simultaneous brazed connections using multiple torches (e.g., double brazing), or only one of the ring burners may be operated to make a single brazed connection. Additional ring burners may be added to the torch carriage by including additional torches.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the C-shaped sections 120, 122 of the torch 116a are not in the same horizontal plane; the C-shaped section 122 opening to the right side of the torch is slightly higher along the torch than the C-shaped section opening to the left side of the torch. Therefore, the two C-shaped sections 120, 122 are slightly vertically offset from each other when the torch is in a horizontal orientation. The slight vertical offset allows more room for the C-shaped sections 120, 122 to rotate around the tubular joint to be brazed. If the two C-shaped sections were in the same horizontal plane, more space would be required for the torch to rotate comfortably. Due to the vertical offset between the C-shaped sections 120, 122, rotation of the torch from a vertical to a horizontal orientation is clockwise in the view of FIG. 5, and rotation of the torch from a horizontal to a vertical orientation is counterclockwise.

[0021] Each torch may have a separate gas inlet 124, 126 for supplying a mixture of fuel gas and supporting gas to the respective C-shaped section of the torch tip. Each gas inlet 124, 126 is in fluid communication with multiple gas outlets in one of the C-shaped sections 120, 122. This allows either side of the torch tip (i.e., either or both C-shaped sections) to be lit or extinguished independently. Each torch may have one or more igniters for igniting the gas mixture to generate a brazing flame.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a brazing system. The system can include a mass flow controller (MFC) 128 that controls the operation of a flow control valve 130 to control the flow of fuel gas and supporting gas to the torch 116. An exemplary MFC 128 is the PERFECT FLAME mass flow controller available from Harris Products Group (Mason, Ohio). The structure and operation of MFCs for brazing applications are well known and need not be described in detail herein. Such MFCs allow an operator or other controller, such as a PLC 132, to set the ratio of fuel gas to supporting gas (e.g., oxygen). During the brazing operation, the MFC 128 controls the operation of the flow control valve 130 to achieve a desired heating profile (e.g., heat output or BTU over time) at the brazed joint. The MFC 128 can automatically adjust the gas flow to the torch to achieve the desired heating profile while maintaining a set gas ratio. For example, during brazing, the MFC 128 can automatically reduce gas flow to lower the flame temperature to prevent overheating the brazed joint and damaging the connected tubes, as well as heat the brazed joint to a desired final temperature. The MFC 128, or a connected PLC, can store multiple heating profiles that can be selected for a particular brazing job. For example, the MFC 128 can use a first heating profile when brazing a single joint using two adjacent torches and a second heating profile when simultaneously brazing two adjacent joints using a group of three torches. FIG. 7 shows an exemplary heating profile 134 for making a single brazed joint using two adjacent torches, and FIG. 8 shows an exemplary heating profile 136 for simultaneously making two adjacent brazed joints using a group of three torches. Each heating profile 134, 136 has a joint temperature curve 138, 140 that ultimately reaches substantially the same joint temperature during brazing. However, it can be seen that the heating curve 142 for making two brazed connections applies more heat during brazing than the heating curve 144 for making a single brazed connection.The MFC 128 can also have an idle mode that produces very low flame power but maintains the set gas ratio.

[0023] 6, the torches 116 are controlled in groups of three. To make a single brazed connection, one valve 130 on the center torch in the group of three torches is opened and throttled during brazing, and one valve on an adjacent torch with a corresponding C-shaped section is also opened and throttled to create a single ring of burners. To make a double brazed connection, i.e., two adjacent brazed connections, both valves 130 on the center torch in the group of three torches are opened and throttled during brazing, and one valve on each adjacent torch on either side of the center torch is also opened and throttled to create two rings of burners.

[0024] The PLC 132 may communicate bidirectionally with the MFC 128. For example, the PLC 132 may instruct the MFC 128 to perform different brazing operations using stored heating profiles based on the components to be brazed and / or the number of connections to be brazed at one time. Different brazing operations may include information regarding which torches 116 should be activated and / or which torches should remain deactivated during brazing. Thus, different parts requiring different numbers of brazed connections using different heating profiles can be assembled using the brazing system of the present disclosure. The PLC is operably connected to the various actuators 146 of the brazing system described above to control the movement of the platform 106, shuttle 108, and torch carriage 112, as well as the rotation of the torch 116, via the actuator system 118 (see FIGS. 1-3) during brazing. An exemplary series of torch movements controlled by the PLC 132 during a brazing operation is further described below.

[0025] In some embodiments, the brazing system can include a code scanner 148 or code reader to identify the part or object to be brazed by reading a code (e.g., a barcode, a QR code, etc.) on the object. An exemplary code scanner 148 is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode reader, an RFID reader, etc. The PLC 132 can identify the part to be brazed and inform the MFC 128 of the part and / or the brazing operation to be performed (e.g., which torch to activate and heating profile to use based on the output from the code scanner 148). The code scanner 148 can be located upstream of the brazing system along the production line to identify the part as it moves through production. FIG. 9 shows a portion of an exemplary part 102 to be brazed. The part 102 can be a heat exchanger coil. The heat exchanger coil has end plates 152 with two-dimensional barcodes 154 on the end plates that are read by the code scanner 148 ( FIG. 6 ) during production to identify the part 102.

[0026] 10-13, in combination with FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrate exemplary movement of three brazing torches 116 to perform a double braze to connect the tubes 156, 158 of the heat exchanger coil 102 to the tubes 160, 162 from the header 150. The movement of the torches 116 during the brazing operation is controlled by the PLC 132 via the actuator 146 (FIG. 6), as described above. When the heat exchanger coil 102 and header 150 reach the brazing station, the torches 116 are initially in a retracted position due to the shuttle 108 being located toward the rear of the platform 106 (e.g., toward the stand 104). The torches 116 are also initially in their vertical orientation so that the torches can be pushed between the tubes of the heat exchanger coil 102. Braze rings 164, 166 are present at each joint to provide brazing material for the brazing operation. The tubes 156, 158 are adjacent to one another and extend upward in the axial "Z" direction along which the platform (supporting the torches) moves up and down or back and forth while brazing occurs at the joint. Although three torches 116 are shown in Figure 10, it is understood that the brazing system can include additional groups of torches (not shown) to simultaneously make brazed connections at other joints along the coil 102 and header 150.

[0027] In FIG. 11 , the torches 116 are still in their vertical orientation, but now are positioned between the tubes of the heat exchanger coil 102 due to the advancement of the shuttle 108 to the front of the platform 106 and toward the heat exchanger coil. In FIG. 12 , the torches have been partially rotated between their vertical and horizontal orientations by the actuator system 118 on the torch carriage 112. FIG. 13 shows the torches 116 a, 116 b, 116 c fully rotated to a horizontal orientation to form a ring-shaped burner for brazing the tubes 156, 158, 160, 162. Flames are produced by both the C-shaped portion of the center torch 116 b and one of the C-shaped portions of each of the outer torches 116 a, 116 c, forming two generally ring-shaped burners. In an exemplary brazing operation, the joint areas below the brazing rings 164, 166 are heated first. The stage 106 is then raised to heat the joint area above the brazing rings 164, 166. The stage 106 is then lowered to heat the brazing rings 164, 166, and finally the stage is lowered further to draw the molten braze material down to the joint. The stage 106 moves vertically up and down (back and forth) during the brazing operation to adjust the respective positions of the brazing torches along the tubes and distribute heat along the tubes during the brazing operation performed on the heat exchanger coil. Once the desired heating profile and torch movement are complete, the torches are rotated to their vertical orientation and retracted away from the heat exchanger coil 102 so that the coil can be removed from the brazing station.

[0028] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of a brazing torch 200 that does not need to be rotated during the brazing operation. The torch 200 can be extended or retracted between the tubes to be brazed without the need to rotate the torch. The brazing torch 200 can braze one or both of the two joints individually. Additionally, the brazing torch 200 provides more clearance between the torch tip and the brazed joint compared to other torches described herein. In some embodiments, a portion of one brazing torch (e.g., the right side) and another portion of the brazing torch (e.g., the left side) are positioned between the first and second tubes during the brazing operation. The brazing torch 200 can be a conventional brazing torch equipped with valves to control the flow of fuel and support gases. The torch tip 201 can include two burners to direct a heating flame around the tubes to be brazed. Figure 15 shows that the torch tip 201 can have flame outlets that direct the heating flame approximately evenly around the tube. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 15, the torch tip 201 has four flames / flame outlets spaced approximately 90 degrees apart to surround the tube to be brazed, so that the tube is heated approximately evenly during brazing.

[0029] Figures 16 and 17 show two exemplary embodiments of flame tips or burners 202, 204 for a brazing torch. The flame tips or burners 202, 204 are less C-shaped than those described above. However, they still produce back-to-back oriented flames to braze adjacent tubes. In Figure 16, the gas inlets to the flame tips or burners 202, 204 are oriented horizontally, while in Figure 17, the gas inlets are oriented vertically to narrow the width of the burners.

[0030] 18 shows an exemplary embodiment of a brazing torch 206 having a U-shaped flame tip or burner. The torch 206 can be extended and retracted between the tubes to be brazed without having to rotate the torch. The gas holes in the burner can be angled to produce a flame that properly surrounds the area to be brazed.

[0031] 19 and 20 show an exemplary embodiment of a group of four brazing torches, where two inner torches 210 do not rotate but extend and retract, and adjacent outer torches 208 rotate to surround the tubes to be brazed. The outer torches 208 are oriented generally vertically in FIG. 19 while extending and retracting, and are then rotated to a generally horizontal position shown in FIG. 20 for brazing. It is understood that portions of the two inner torches 210 and portions of the two outer torches can be positioned between the adjacent tubes being brazed during the brazing operation.

[0032] 21 shows an example of a brazing torch 212 having a single C-shaped flame tip or burner for brazing one side of a heat exchanger tube. The brazing torch 212 is used in conjunction with a corresponding adjacent torch (e.g., with burners facing in opposite directions) to make a complete brazed connection around the heat exchanger tube.

[0033] 22 illustrates one embodiment of an exemplary controller 800 for a brazing system (e.g., a controller for a PLC and / or MFC). The controller 800 includes at least one processor 814 that communicates with several peripheral devices via a bus subsystem 812. These peripheral devices may include, for example, a storage subsystem 824 including a memory subsystem 828 and a file storage subsystem 826, a user interface input device 822, a user interface output device 820, and a network interface subsystem 816. The input and output devices enable user interaction with the controller 800. The network interface subsystem 816 provides an interface to an external network and is coupled to corresponding interface devices of other computer systems.

[0034] The user interface input devices 822 may include a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, touchpad, or graphics tablet, a scanner, a touch screen integrated into a display, a voice input device such as a voice recognition system, a microphone, and / or other types of input devices. In general, use of the term "input device" is intended to include all possible types of devices and methods for inputting information into the controller 800 or over a communications network.

[0035] The user interface output devices 820 may include a display subsystem, a printer, a fax machine, or a non-visual display, such as an audio output device. The display subsystem may include a cathode ray tube (CRT), a flat panel device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projection device, or some other mechanism for producing a visible image. The display subsystem may also provide a non-visual display, such as via an audio output device. In general, use of the term "output device" is intended to include all possible types of devices and methods for outputting information from the controller 800 to a user or to another machine or computer system.

[0036] The storage subsystem 824 provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores programming configurations and data structures that provide the functionality of some or all of the software operations described herein. For example, the storage subsystem 824 may include programmed torch movements, heating profiles, etc.

[0037] These software operations are typically executed by processor 814, alone or in combination with other processors. The memory 828 used in the storage subsystem may include several memories, including a main random access memory (RAM) 830 for storing instructions and data during program execution, and a read-only memory (ROM) 832 in which fixed instructions are stored. The file storage subsystem 826 may provide persistent storage for program and data files and may include solid-state memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive with associated removable media, a CD-ROM drive, an optical drive, flash memory, or a removable media cartridge. Modules that perform the functions of some embodiments may be stored by the file storage subsystem 826 within the storage subsystem 824 or in another machine accessible by the processor 814.

[0038] Bus subsystem 812 provides a mechanism for allowing the various components and subsystems of controller 800 to communicate with each other as intended. Although bus subsystem 812 is shown schematically as a single bus, alternative embodiments of the bus subsystem may use multiple buses.

[0039] The controller 800 may be of various types, including a workstation, a server, a computing cluster, a blade server, a server farm, or any other data processing system or computing device. Due to the ever-changing nature of computing devices and networks, the description of the controller 800 shown in Figure 22 is intended only as a specific example to illustrate some embodiments. Many other configurations of the controller 800 are possible, having more or fewer components than the controller shown in Figure 22.

[0040] It is apparent that the present disclosure is by way of example and that various modifications may be made by adding, modifying, or deleting details without departing from the proper scope of the teachings contained herein. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the particular details of this disclosure except as necessarily so limited in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 100 Brazing System 102 Heat exchanger coil Stand 104 106 units 108 Shuttle 110 orbit 112 Torch Carriage 114 orbit 116, 116a, 116b, 116c Brazing torch 118 Actuator System 120, 122 C-shaped part 124, 126 Gas inlet 128 Mass Flow Controller (MFC) 130 Flow control valve 132 PLC 134, 136 Heating profile 138, 140 Junction temperature curve 142, 144 Heating curve 146 Actuator 148 Code Scanner 150 headers 152 End Plate 154 2D barcode 156, 158, 160, 162 tube 164, 166 Brazed ring 200 Brazing Torch 201 Torch tip 202, 204 Flame tip or burner 206 Brazing Torch 208 Outer Torch 210 Inner Torch 212 Brazing Torch 800 Controller 812 Bus Subsystem 814 processor 816 Network Interface Subsystem 820 User Interface Output Device 822 User Interface Input Devices 824 Memory Subsystem 826 File Storage Subsystem 828 Memory Subsystem 830 Main Random Access Memory (RAM) 832 Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Claims

1. Stand and; a platform movable in a first axial direction along the stand; a shuttle movable along the platform in a second axial direction toward and away from an object having a first tube extending in the first axial direction and a second tube adjacent to the first tube and also extending in the first axial direction, the second axial direction being perpendicular to the first axial direction; a torch carriage positionable along the shuttle in a third axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction and the second axial direction; a first brazing torch mounted to the torch carriage and configured to make a first brazing connection along the first tube; a second brazing torch mounted to the torch carriage and configured to make a second brazing connection along the second tube while making the first brazing connection; A brazing system comprising: and wherein the platform automatically moves back and forth in the first axial direction while making the first and second brazing connections to adjust the respective positions of the first brazing torch along the first tube and the second brazing torch along the second tube during the brazing operation being performed on the object.

2. The brazing system of claim 1 , wherein the position of the torch carriage along the shuttle is manually adjustable.

3. The brazing system of claim 1 , further comprising a code scanner for identifying the object to be brazed by reading a code on the object.

4. The brazing system of claim 1 , wherein the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch each have a plurality of flame outlets.

5. The brazing system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first brazing torch and a portion of the second brazing torch are positioned between the first tube and the second tube during the brazing operation.

6. The brazing system of claim 1 , further comprising mass flow controllers configured to control the flow of gas to each of the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch during the brazing operation.

7. The brazing system of claim 1 , wherein the object is a heat exchanger coil.

8. a first brazing torch; a second brazing torch; a third brazing torch; a torch carriage having an actuator system configured to simultaneously rotate the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation; a mass flow controller configured to control a respective flow of gas to each of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch, the mass flow controller controlling the respective flows of gas based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazing connection using two of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch, or a second heating profile for making two simultaneous brazing connections using each of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch; A brazing system comprising:

9. moreover: Stand and; a platform supported by the stand; a shuttle movable in a first direction along the platform, the torch carriage being positionable along the shuttle in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; The brazing system of claim 8 , comprising:

10. The brazing system of claim 9 , wherein the position of the torch carriage along the shuttle is manually adjustable.

11. The brazing system of claim 9 , wherein the platform automatically moves the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch up and down during a brazing operation.

12. The brazing system of claim 8 , further comprising a code scanner for identifying the parts to be brazed by reading a code present on the parts.

13. The brazing system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first brazing torch, the second brazing torch, and the third brazing torch has a plurality of flame outlets.

14. Stand and; a platform supported by the stand; a shuttle movable in a first direction along the platform; a torch carriage positionable along the shuttle in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a first brazing torch mounted to the torch carriage and configured to make a first brazing connection along a first tube; a second brazing torch mounted to the torch carriage and configured to make a second brazing connection along a second tube adjacent to the first tube; a mass flow controller configured to control a respective flow of gas to each of the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch, the mass flow controller controlling the respective flows of gas based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazing connection using only one of the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch, or a second heating profile for making two brazing connections simultaneously using both the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch; A brazing system comprising:

15. The brazing system of claim 14 , wherein the position of the torch carriage along the shuttle is manually adjustable.

16. The brazing system of claim 14, further comprising a code scanner for identifying the parts to be brazed by reading a code on the parts.

17. The brazing system of claim 16 , wherein the component is a heat exchanger coil.

18. The brazing system of claim 14 , wherein the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch each have a plurality of flame outlets.

19. The brazing system of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the first brazing torch and a portion of the second brazing torch are positioned between the first tube and the second tube during the brazing operation.

20. 15. The brazing system of claim 14, wherein the stage automatically moves the first brazing torch and the second brazing torch up and down during a brazing operation to adjust the respective positions of the first brazing torch along the first tube and the second brazing torch along the second tube during a brazing operation.

21. Stand and; a platform supported by the stand; a shuttle movable in a first direction along the platform; a torch carriage positionable along the shuttle in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a brazing torch mounted to the torch carriage and configured to make a brazed connection along a tube; a mass flow controller configured to control a flow of gas to the brazing torch, the mass flow controller controlling the flow of gas based on either a first heating profile for making a single brazed connection using only the brazing torch, or a second heating profile for making two brazed connections simultaneously using both the brazing torch and a second brazing torch; A brazing system comprising:

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