Method of tight crack braze repair using acoustics
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorGerald J. Bruck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for braze repair of tight cracks in a superalloy component is provided. The method includes directing energy, e.g., from an acoustic energy source, towards surfaces of the tight crack to break up one or more contaminants, corrosion products, or oxides at the surface. The directed energy may cause opposed walls of the tight crack to vibrate to break up the oxides, and to generate a modest heat for allowing infiltration of the tight crack with a braze material. The braze material is then melted at a melt temperature of the braze material but below the melt temperature of the component. The braze material is then solidified to repair the tight crack.
Claims17
A method comprising:
- vibrating opposed side walls of a crack in a superalloy component to produce relative movement between the side walls and rubbing between the side walls to break up contaminants;
- applying a braze material to a surface of the component proximate to the crack;
- working the braze material into the crack to fill the crack;
- and
- heating at least opposed surfaces of the crack to a melt temperature of the braze material but below a melt temperature of the superalloy component.
A method for braze repair of a superalloy component comprising:
- directing acoustic energy towards a first surface of a crack in the component to break up one or more contaminants, corrosion products, or oxides at the surface and to produce relative movement and rubbing between the first surface and a second surface of the crack opposite the first surface;
- vibrating one of the first surface and the second surface of the crack to generate heat and relative motion for infiltrating the crack with a braze material;
- melting the braze material at a melt temperature below the melt temperature of the component;
- solidifying the braze material to repair the crack with the braze material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.