Abstract:
Thermal stresses normally associated with brazing are alleviated by a low temperature brazing technique of the present invention. A low-temperature brazing paste, preferably suitable to be melted at temperatures of no greater than 200.degree. C. (e.g., 100-200.degree. C.), containing nanoscale (.ltoreq.100 nanometer) size particles of gold, cadmium, copper, zinc, tin, lead, silver, silicon, chromium, cobalt, antimony, bismuth, aluminum, iron, magnesium, nitrogen, carbon, boron, and alloys and composites of these materials, is applied as a bead or as a powder spray at the junction of two components desired to be joined together. Energy from a source such as a laser beam (for example a CO.sub.2 laser, an Nd-Yag laser or an excimer laser), flame, arc, plasma, or the like, is "walked" along the brazing material. The energy beam is sufficient to cause melting and re-crystallization of the nanoscale-particle-containing brazing paste. In an exemplary application of the process, blades (vanes) are brazed to the housing and/or to the shroud of an automatic transmission impeller assembly, preferably using the low-temperature brazing paste containing nanoscale (.ltoreq.100 nanometer) size particles of gold, cadmium, copper and/or zinc, or other suitable nanoscale brazing materials.
Abstract:
Provided are a gas turbine multi-hole film-cooled combustor liner, which can be manufactured with improved accuracy in shape and position of cooling holes in a very short time, ensuring desirable buckling strength and satisfactory cooling performance. A planar flat member is curved to form a liner shell of a cylindrical shape, the cylindrical member is welded in the longitudinal direction thereof to form a cylindrical shell. Then a wavy configuration and a corrugated configuration are formed on the cylindrical shell by a hydro-bulging method, cooling holes are formed through the liner shell by laser drilling at or near wave crest portions of the wavy configuration of the liner shell, and inner rings are attached to the liner shell by resistance spot welding or vacuum brazing.
Abstract:
A method for weld repairing an article formed of a low-alloy steel, such as a steam turbine component. The method generally includes the step of depositing a first weld repair (14) on a surface of the article, during which a hard heat-affected zone (HAZ) (18) having a fine grain size is formed in the article beneath the surface on which the weld repair (14) is deposited. The first weld repair (14) and at least a portion of the HAZ (18) adjacent the first weld repair (14) are then locally heat treated at a temperature above a critical temperature A.sub.1 of the alloy from which the article is formed. As a result of this localized heat treatment, the original grain structures of the first weld repair (14) and the HAZ (18) are entirely replaced with a fine-grain structure with acceptable hardness. Thereafter, at least one additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited on the first weld repair (14). The first weld repair (14) is intentionally formed to have a sufficient thickness to avoid formation of additional HAZ in the surface of the article as the additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited. Without a post-weld heat treatment of the additional weld repair layer (16) or the article as a whole, the method yields a repair weld (12) that exhibits properties that are comparable to and can even exceed that of the base material (10) of the article.
Abstract:
A low pressure steam turbine and generator low alloy steel disc rotors with extended useful life properties. A ring member of the disc rotor has disposed on it multiple weld layers of ferrous material, forming a weld region. The ring member is made of a low alloy ferrous metal alloy having less than about six weight percent alloying ingredients including chromium. The chromium content of the weld region increases overall from a portion of the weld region adjacent to the ring member to a portion of the weld region farthest from the ring member. This general increase is accomplished using weld metal of a single chromium concentration of between 9% and 17% chromium and varying the welding parameters.
Abstract:
Process for welding two blade parts (9, 10) by a means such as a linear friction welding machine, in which a collar or flange (15) of material to be sacrificed is placed between the contact surfaces (16) or around the latter in order to increase the heat produced by the friction at the leading and trailing edges of the blade. As a result of this arrangement it is possible to start with two blade parts (9, 10) having the dimensions of the finished product, possibly with the exception of the area around the contact surfaces, so that the final machining is very significantly reduced.
Abstract:
A plurality of titanium sheets are assembled into a stack. At least one of the sheets is provided with a stop off material on one of its surfaces to prevent diffusion bonding at predetermined positions. The edges of the sheets are welded together and a pipe is welded to the stack to interconnect with the stop off material to form a sealed assembly. The assembly is heated and externally pressurized to diffusion bond the sheets together. The integral structure so formed is heated and opposite ends of the integral structure are twisted relatively to contour the integral structure to a predetermined shape. The integral structure is internally pressurized to break the adhesive bonds. The integral structure is heated and internally pressurized to superplastically form one sheet to produce an article, e.g. a fan blade.
Abstract:
A method for depositing material on a tip of a gas turbine engine airfoil includes the steps of: selecting a linear principal weld path across the airfoil tip relative to an airfoil contour at the tip; selecting a weld bead stitch pattern to substantially completely cover the airfoil tip with the stitch pattern crisscrossing the linear principal weld path between opposite edges of the airfoil and advancing across the airfoil in the direction of the linear principal weld path; and depositing at least a first layer of tip material corresponding to the weld bead stitch pattern and the linear principal weld path by welding.
Abstract:
Novel methods for repairing worn surfaces of turbine rotors, are disclosed. These methods include depositing a first layer of weld metal on a worn surface of the component, whereby a heat-affected zone is created. A second layer of weld metal is then deposited over the first layer using a greater amount of heat to temper at least a portion of the heat-affected zone produced by the first layer. The preferred embodiments include the use of gas tungsten arc welding for producing fine-grain size and more creep resistance, especially in the weld and heat-affected zone. The resulting build-up can be machined, for example into a blade fastening to produce a component having properties equal to or better than the base-metal alloy. The invention also provides a longer lasting turbine system, including rotors which have serrated steeples that are more resistant to failure.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for drilling holes through a component (16) from a first surface to a second surface. The method includes the step of applying a thixotropic water soluble medium to the second surface. The medium contains material to disperse the laser light and light emitting material (which could be fluorescent, phosphorescent or luminescent). Monitoring means and beam splitter are provided for monitoring light emitted, or reflected, by the component 16, along the length of the hole drilled by the laser and for monitoring light emitted by the medium. In this way one can detect when the laser breaks through the second surface and also produce an image indicative of the size and shape of the hole.
Abstract:
Method of manufacturing a workpiece of any given cross-sectional dimensions from an oxide-dispersion-hardened nickel-based superalloy available in the form of coarse-grained longitudinally directed columnar crystals by connecting previously very finely machined workpiece parts derived from a semi-finished product by diffusion-bonding using hot isostatic pressing, the workpiece parts being first heat-treated under a protective gas in the temperature range of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. below the recrystallization temperature, under a pressure p.sub.k of not more than 5 MPa with the machined surfaces to be connected joined together, the workpiece then being heated at least to a critical temperature T.sub.K, above which no further cold working takes place, and the pressure then being gradually increased to the diffusion bonding pressure p.sub.max of 100 to 300 MPa with simultaneous increase in temperature are a heating rate of not more of 2.degree. C./min to the diffusion bonding temperature T.sub.D of 0 to 50.degree. C. below the recrystallization temperature, this condition being maintained for 1 to 24 hours. Safe variant: only raise the pressure when T.sub.D has been reached!Application: gas turbine blading of large dimensions.