Apparatus and methods for repairing tenons on turbine buckets
First Claim
1. A method of repairing tenons on the tips of turbine buckets, comprising the steps of:
- (a) releasably securing a plurality of buckets to a fixture in predetermined positions;
(b) preheating the turbine buckets;
(c) applying weld material sequentially to the tips of the preheated buckets secured to the fixture in a first weld pass;
(d) applying additional weld material sequentially to the tips of the buckets secured to the fixture in at least one additional pass;
(e) stress-relieving the buckets; and
(f) machining the applied weld material to form tenons on the bucket tips.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Bucket tip tenons requiring refurbishment are removed from the bucket tips by grinding. Groups of buckets are clamped on a rotatable table in positions adjacent an induction heating coil and a robotic welding arm, respectively. While one group is preheated, the other group of buckets is in a welding location, enabling the welding head on the robotic arm to sequentially apply weld buildup material to the bucket tips. After applying weld buildup material in multiple passes and sequentially to the bucket tips, the buckets are removed, stress-relieved and the weld buildup material machined to provide refurbished tenons. Upon removal of the buckets from the table, the table is rotated to locate the preheated buckets in welding locations and additional buckets are clamped to the table for preheating.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of repairing tenons on the tips of turbine buckets, comprising the steps of:
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(a) releasably securing a plurality of buckets to a fixture in predetermined positions; (b) preheating the turbine buckets; (c) applying weld material sequentially to the tips of the preheated buckets secured to the fixture in a first weld pass; (d) applying additional weld material sequentially to the tips of the buckets secured to the fixture in at least one additional pass; (e) stress-relieving the buckets; and (f) machining the applied weld material to form tenons on the bucket tips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of repairing tenons on the tips of turbine buckets, comprising the steps of:
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(a) fixing a plurality of buckets in predetermined positions; (b) preheating the turbine buckets; (c) applying weld material sequentially to the tips of the preheated buckets secured to the fixture in a first weld pass while said buckets are fixed in said predetermined positions; (d) applying additional weld material sequentially to the tips of the buckets in at least one additional pass while said buckets are fixed in said predetermined positions; (e) stress-relieving the buckets; and (f) machining the applied weld material to form tenons on the bucket tips. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification