APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREFERENTIAL FORMATION OF WELD JOINT

• US 20110220622A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: McClay, Paul C., Tholen, Susan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,304,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.14
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 15/0053 Seam welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49316 Impeller making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12944 Ni-base component

Abstract

A weld set-up and weld process are provided that alleviate micro-cracking as between a pair of welded pieces. The weld set-up is provided in which the weld pieces are configured to cause micro-cracking to occur in a portion of the welded pieces that is then removed by post-processing machining techniques. This weld set-up includes a primary weld piece and a secondary weld piece with a flange portion that extends over the primary weld piece. When used in conjunction with electron beam welding, application of the weld beam onto the secondary weld piece causes the formation of a preferential nailhead that is formed exclusively in the first weld piece.

Claims

1. A method for reducing micro-cracks induced by an electron welding beam, said method comprising:

providing a first piece having a surface facing the welding beam;

abutting a second piece to the first piece to form a weld joint, the second piece including a flange extending over the surface,

wherein the first piece and the second piece form a work-piece that includes a sacrificial portion and a working portion separated from the sacrificial portion by a post-processing zone, and

wherein the second piece receives the electron welding beam with welding parameters that cause a first nailhead to form exclusively in the first piece.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flange is formed monolithically with the second piece.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising clamping the first piece and the second piece.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a pre-weld treatment of each of the first piece and the second piece, wherein the pre-weld treatment changes the material morphology of the first piece and the second piece.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising separating the sacrificial portion from the working portion along a post-processing machining line, wherein the post-processing machining line defines each of the sacrificial portion and the working portion, and wherein the sacrificial portion further includes a portion of the first nailhead.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first piece and the second piece comprise a superalloy have at least about 50% nickel.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the superalloy includes about 19% chromium, about 13% cobalt, about 4% molybdenum, about 3% titanium, and about 1.4% aluminum.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first piece is formed by casting, and wherein the second piece is formed by forging.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the welding parameters cause a second nailhead to form proximate the flange.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising heating the work-piece after formation of the first nailhead.

11. An apparatus prepared for weld by an electron welding beam, said apparatus comprising:

a first piece having a surface facing the electron welding beam; and

a second piece abutting the first piece to form a weld joint, the second piece including a flange extending away from the weld joint over the surface of the first piece,

wherein the first piece and the second piece form a work-piece that includes a sacrificial portion and a working portion separated from the sacrificial portion by a post-processing portion, and

wherein the sacrificial portion includes the flange.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the flange is formed monolithically with the second piece.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first piece and the second piece comprise at least 50% nickel.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first piece and the second piece comprise about 58% nickel, about 19% chromium, about 13% cobalt, about 4% molybdenum, about 3% titanium, and about 1.4% aluminum.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first piece includes a cast material and the second piece includes a forged material, and wherein each of the cast material and the forged material comprise a superalloy.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the post-processing portion includes a post-weld machining line that defines each of the sacrificial portion and the working portion, and wherein the sacrificial portion further includes at least a portion of the first piece.

17. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a means for clamping the first piece and the second piece.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means for clamping applies a clamping force that biases together the flange and the surface of the first piece.

19. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the flange includes an end surface located a relative distance from the weld joint, and wherein the relative distance is larger than a weld zone formed by the electron welding beam in the flange.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the weld zone includes a plurality of nailheads that result from application of the electron welding beam to the second piece, and wherein the nailheads comprise a first nailhead formed exclusively in the first piece.