Crack resistant member and tower

• US 8,959,864 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johnston, Bill Damon, Goller, George Albert, Sayers, Colwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Brent W
• Application Number:
  US14/244,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 525/14, 528/48, 52/40, 522/45, 527/451.7, 527/451.8, 416/244.R, 228/170, 228/174, 228/178, 228/225, 219 53- 54, 219/121.11, 219/121.13, 219/121.36, 219/121.45, 219/136, 219/137.R, 219/74, 219/75, 219/69.12, 298/973.1, 294/020.8, 294/021.3, 294/021.6, 295/251.4
• US Class Current: 52/514
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/92 Protection against other undesired influences or dangers buildings providing protection against external dangers E04H9/00; shielding against dangerous radiation G21F
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/00 Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures cooling towers E04H5/12; derricks for oil drilling E21B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/085 Details of flanges for tubular masts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49737 Metallurgically attaching preform
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining

Abstract

A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation, a method of preventing crack propagation, and method of assembly a tower are provided. The crack-resistant member includes at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower. The at least one insert is positioned perpendicular to a weld direction and intersecting the girth weld. The at least one insert prevents crack propagation in the girth weld of the tower.

Claims

1. A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation in a tower comprising:

at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower, the at least one insert;

being essentially flush with the girth weld;

being positioned perpendicular to a weld direction; and

having a plurality of substantially linear edges, wherein the plurality of substantially linear edges;

intersect the girth weld normal to the weld direction; and

extend beyond the adjacent heat affected zones,

wherein the at least one insert prevents fatigue crack propagation in the girth weld.

2. The crack-resistant member of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert has a greater material tensile strength than the girth weld material tensile strength.

3. The crack-resistant member of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert comprises a metal plate.

4. The crack-resistant member of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert comprises a plurality of weld beads.

5. The crack-resistant member of claim 1, wherein the crack-resistant member comprises a plurality of inserts.

6. The crack-resistant member of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inserts are equidistant around the girth weld.

7. The crack-resistant member of claim 1, wherein the attachment of the at least one insert to the at least one removed portion comprises a gas tungsten arc weld or a shielded metal arc weld.

8. A tower comprising a plurality of metal rings and at least one crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation in the tower, wherein:

the plurality of metal rings comprise at least one girth weld, and at least one heat affected zone adjacent to the at least one girth weld, circumferentially joining the plurality of metal rings; and

the at least one crack-resistant member comprises at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along the at least one girth weld and adjacent the at least one heat affected zone, the at least one insert;

being positioned perpendicular to a weld direction;

being essentially flush with the girth weld; and

having a plurality of substantially linear edges, wherein the plurality of substantially linear edges;

intersect the at least one girth weld normal to the weld direction; and

extend beyond the at least one adjacent heat affected zones,

wherein the at least one insert prevents fatigue crack propagation in the at least one girth weld.

9. The tower of claim 8, wherein the at least one insert has a greater material tensile strength than the at least one girth weld material tensile strength.

10. The tower of claim 8, wherein the at least one insert comprises a metal plate.

11. The tower of claim 8, wherein the at least one insert comprises a plurality of weld beads.

12. The tower of claim 8, wherein the at least one crack-resistant member comprises a plurality of inserts.

13. The tower of claim 12, wherein the plurality of inserts are equidistant around the at least one girth weld.

14. The tower of claim 8, wherein the attachment of the at least one insert to the at least one removed portion comprises a gas tungsten arc weld or a shielded metal arc weld.

15. The tower of claim 8, wherein the at least one girth weld comprises a sub arc weld.

16. The tower of claim 8, wherein the tower is a wind tower.