Isothermal structural repair of superalloy components including turbine blades
First Claim
1. A method for repairing a cracked superalloy component, comprising:
- providing a superalloy component with a substrate region having a crack therein;
heating the substrate region to a desired isothermal hold temperature in a range of between above 800°
C. (1472°
F.) and below said substrate'"'"'s incipient melting point;
melting superalloy filler in a heater;
isothermally filling the crack at least partially with molten superalloy filler poured from the heater; and
solidifying the cast superalloy filler to form a diffusion bonded, crack-free patch, without any significant localized melting of the substrate material that might otherwise induce solidification crack formation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Structural repair of cracks and other defects in superalloy components, such as steam or gas turbine blades in stationary or aero gas turbines, are performed by heating the blade substrate to an isothermal hold temperature below the substrate'"'"'s incipient melting point and filling the crack with molten superalloy filler material. The molten filler solidifies into a casting and bonds with the component substrate at the isothermal hold temperature. Heat treatment processes are completed, so that the former crack is filled with cast superalloy material having identical or similar structural properties as the adjoining substrate superalloy material. The casting repair method may be utilized universally for all types of superalloy component defects, including those previously repaired by cosmetic, lower strength welding or brazing methods.
10 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for repairing a cracked superalloy component, comprising:
-
providing a superalloy component with a substrate region having a crack therein; heating the substrate region to a desired isothermal hold temperature in a range of between above 800°
C. (1472°
F.) and below said substrate'"'"'s incipient melting point;melting superalloy filler in a heater; isothermally filling the crack at least partially with molten superalloy filler poured from the heater; and solidifying the cast superalloy filler to form a diffusion bonded, crack-free patch, without any significant localized melting of the substrate material that might otherwise induce solidification crack formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification