Patent ID: 6953907

Claim:
A method for metallurgically joining a first tube to a member comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a first tube having a flange; b) obtaining a member; c) after steps a) and b), disposing the first tube and the member with the flange contacting the member directly and/or indirectly through an intervening welding/brazing joining material, wherein at least one of the flange and the member is segmented, and wherein the contact between the flange and the member is a segmented contact at a plurality of spaced-apart contact areas between the flange and the member; d) after step c), creating a resistance welding/brazing current path through the first tube and the member at a first one of the plurality of contact areas creating a first weld/braze zone which includes at least some of the flange and at least some of the member; and e) after step d), creating a resistance welding/brazing current path through the first tube and the member at a different second one of the plurality of contact areas creating a second weld/braze zone which includes at least some of the flange and at least some of the member.